SYLVIA. Hello, mother. (_Kiss across_ L. _banisters._) MRS. DERMOTT. Good morning, darling. Are there any letters? SYLVIA. Only one for you, I think. MRS. DERMOTT (_taking letter from table_). From Tibbets, I expect. (_Sniffs at it._) No! From Isobel Harris. (_Sits at the head of the table._) I do hope she doesn't want to come and stay--I couldn't bear that. (_Opens it._) Oh no, it's only to say that Fanny's engaged to an officer in the Coldstream Guards. How splendid for her. SYLVIA. Poor Fanny--I'm glad. (_Sits in chair on her mother's left._) MRS. DERMOTT. Why do you say poor Fanny, dear? I'm sure she's very fortunate. Now-a-days when nice men are so scarce. I was only saying---- SYLVIA. She didn't say he was a nice man--only that he was in the Coldstream Guards. I said poor because I can just imagine all her awful relations as bridesmaids, and her father and mother shoving her up the altar steps in their efforts to get her safely married. MRS. DERMOTT. Isobel means well, although she's a little trying. But I've never liked Charlie--no man with such a long, droopy moustache could ever be really trusted. Besides, they're so insanitary. Sound the gong again, dear. I do wish they'd all learn to be a little more punctual. (SYLVIA _does so, and returns to sideboard. Enter_ JOYCE _downstairs followed by_ OLIVER; _they are both obviously suffering from temper. They both kiss mother._) JOYCE (_disagreeably, as she comes downstairs_). All right! All right!--we're coming. What's the fuss? (_Sits on form._) (OLIVER _crosses to Chesterfield, picks up_ SYLVIA'S _paper and reads, pacing up and down._) MRS. DERMOTT. There's no fuss, darling, but it's stupid to let the breakfast get cold. I've got mushrooms this morning, specially because Uncle Daniel likes them. (_Enter_ BOBBIE _from garden profoundly gloomy. Kisses mother._) BOBBIE. You could hear that beastly gong a mile off. (SYLVIA _crosses to table with coffee and milk._) MRS. DERMOTT. I'm so glad, dear. It shows it's a good gong. Ring the bell, will you, Oliver? (OLIVER _does so._) Where's Evangeline? She's generally quite an early bird. (_Enter_ EVANGELINE _downstairs. She is distinctly depressed._) EVANGELINE (_on the stairs_). Here I am, mother (_kisses_ MRS. DERMOTT). (_With sarcasm._) What a pity it is that the bath water isn't a _little_ hotter. I hate tepidity in anything. (_Sits on_ SYLVIA'S _left._) (BOBBIE _serves bacon, sitting at the foot of the table, facing_ MRS. DERMOTT.) OLIVER. If Joyce didn't bounce in and take it all it _would_ be hotter. JOYCE. I didn't have a bath at all this morning, so there. OLIVER. Well, you're a dirty little pig then. MRS. DERMOTT. There's probably something wrong with the boiler. I'll see about it after breakfast. (_Enter_ GRIGGS, _comes below_ MRS. DERMOTT.) Oh, Griggs, just tap on Miss Crombie's door, will you, and tell her that breakfast is ready.