_Bennet has entered_. _Newte is at fireplace_. _The old ladies have their backs to the door_. _Dr. Freemantle_, _who is pouring out tea_, _is the first to see him_. _He puts down the teapot_, _staring_. _The old ladies look round_. _A silence_. _Newte turns_. _Bennet is again the perfect butler_. _Yesterday would seem to have been wiped out of his memory_. BENNET. Good morning, Miss Wetherell. Good morning, Miss Edith. [_To the two men_] Good morning. I was not aware that breakfast was required to be any earlier than usual, or I should have had it ready. THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. We are sure you would, Bennet. But you see, under the circumstances, we—we hardly liked to trouble you. BENNET [_he goes about the room_, _putting things to rights_. _He has rung the bell_. _Some dead flowers he packs on to Newte’s tray_, _the water he pours into Newte’s slop-basin_]. My duty, Miss Edith, I have never felt to be a trouble to me. THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. We know, Bennet. You have always been so conscientious. But, of course, after what’s happened—[_They are on the verge of tears again_.] BENNET [_he is piling up the breakfast things_]. Keziah requested me to apologise to you for not having heard your bell this morning. She will be ready to wait upon you in a very few minutes. [_To the Doctor_] You will find shaving materials, doctor, on your dressing-table. DR. FREEMANTLE. Oh, thank you. _Ernest has entered_, _with some wood_; _he is going towards the fire_. BENNET [_to Ernest_]. Leave the fire for the present. Take away this tray. [_Ernest takes up the tray_, _and goes out_. _Bennet speaks over the heads of the Misses Wetherell to Newte_] Breakfast will be ready in the morning-room, in a quarter of an hour. NEWTE [_at first puzzled_, _then indignant_, _now breaks out_]. What’s the little game on here—eh? Yesterday afternoon you were given the sack—by your mistress, Lady Bantock, with a month’s wages in lieu of notice—not an hour before you deserved it. What do you mean, going on like this, as if nothing had happened? Is Lady Bantock to be ignored in this house as if she didn’t exist—or is she not? [_He brings his fist down on the table_. _He has been shouting rather than speaking_.] I want this thing settled! BENNET. Your bath, Mr. Newte, is quite ready. NEWTE [_as soon as he can recover speech_]. Never you mind my bath, I want— _Vernon has entered_. _He is pale_, _heavy-eyed_, _short in his manner_, _listless_. VERNON. Good morning—everybody. Can I have some breakfast, Bennet? BENNET. In about ten minutes; I will bring it up here. [_He collects the kettle from the fire as he passes_, _and goes out_.] VERNON. Thank you. [_He responds mechanically to the kisses of his two aunts_, _who have risen and come to him_.] NEWTE. Can I have a word with you? VERNON. A little later on, if you don’t mind, Mr. Newte. [_He passes him_.]