_The door opens softly_. _Newte steals in_. _He fumbles his way across to the windows_, _draws the blinds_. _The morning sun streams in_. _He listens—no one seems to be stirring_. _He goes out_, _returns immediately with a butler’s tray_, _containing all things necessary for a breakfast and the lighting of a fire_. _He places the tray on table_, _throws his coat over a chair_, _and is on his knees busy lighting the fire_, _when enter the Misses Wetherell_, _clad in dressing-gowns and caps_: _yet still they continue to look sweet_. _They also creep in_, _hand in hand_. _The crouching Newte is hidden by a hanging fire-screen_. _They creep forward till the coat hanging over the chair catches their eye_. _They are staring at it as Robinson Crusoe might at the footprint_, _when Newte rises suddenly and turns_. _The Misses Wetherell give a suppressed scream_, _and are preparing for flight_. NEWTE [_he stays them_]. No call to run away, ladies. When a man’s travelled—as I have—across America, in a sleeping-car, with a comic-opera troop, there’s not much left for him to know. You want your breakfast! [_He wheedles them to the table_.] We’ll be able to talk cosily—before anybody else comes. _They yield themselves_. _He has a way with him_. THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. We haven’t slept all night. _Newte answers with a sympathetic gesture_. _He is busy getting ready the breakfast_. THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. There’s something we want to tell dear Vernon—before he says anything to Fanny. THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. It’s something very important. NEWTE. We’ll have a cup of tea first—to steady our nerves. THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. It’s so important that we should tell him before he sees Fanny. NEWTE. We’ll see to it. [_He makes the tea_.] I fancy they’re both asleep at present. THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. Poor boy! THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. If she only hadn’t— _Dr. Freemantle has entered_. DR. FREEMANTLE. I thought I heard somebody stirring— NEWTE. Hush! [_He indicates doors_, _the one leading to her ladyship’s apartments_, _the other to his lordship’s_.] THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL [_turning and greeting him_]. It was so kind of you not to leave us last night. THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. We were so upset. _Dr. Freemantle pats their hands_. THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. We hope you slept all right. DR. FREEMANTLE. Excellently. Shall be glad of a shave, that’s all. [_Laughs_. _Both he and Newte suggest the want of one_.] NEWTE [_who has been officiating_]. Help yourself to milk and sugar. DR. FREEMANTLE [_who has seated himself_]. Have the Bennets gone? NEWTE. Well, they had their notice all right. THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL [_they have begun to cry_]. It has been so wrong and foolish of us. We have never learnt to do anything for ourselves. THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. We don’t even know where our things are.