SYLVIA (_rising_). No, you're not to do anything of the sort, you're to stay here. (_Firmly._) They can be as disagreeable as they like, we'll go about together; you can come to the studio with me to-morrow morning. DANIEL (_up to her_). You, Sylvia, are what is described as a sympathetic character. You've been very nice to me all along. Can I leave you anything? SYLVIA. Don't joke about it, uncle, it's all so horrid. DANIEL. If I don't joke I shall burst into storms of passionate sobbing. (_Moves down_ C.) SYLVIA. That would be rather awful. Here comes mother.... (_Enter_ MRS. DERMOTT _downstairs._) MRS. DERMOTT. Danny darling, why were you so silly as to take any notice of the children? They're unkind and heartless, and I ordered the mushrooms specially for you this morning. Sit down and have them now. They'll be quite hot still. (_She pushes him into chair._) Sylvia, get them, if you please. I can't think why they're all behaving like this, I shall never forgive them, Danny dear. You won't let them upset you, will you? (_She kisses him._ MRS. DERMOTT _sits in_ SYLVIA'S _chair_, DANIEL _in_ MRS. DERMOTT'S.) DANIEL. Well, they seem to have upset everything else. (_Enter_ GRIGGS, R.) MRS. DERMOTT. Bring some more toast and coffee, Griggs. Or would you rather have tea? DANIEL. Tea, please. MRS. DERMOTT. Tea then, Griggs. GRIGGS. Very good, madam. (_Picks up remains of paper above Chesterfield and exit_ R.) SYLVIA (_handing him plate of mushrooms and bacon_). Here you are, uncle dear--I'm going upstairs. Call me if you want anything. (_Exit_ SYLVIA _upstairs._) DANIEL. I will. MRS. DERMOTT. I'm sure he won't. DANIEL. Now look here, Anne, you're not to include Sylvia in your fury against the family. She has been perfectly sweet. MRS. DERMOTT. So she ought to be--and the others as well. Such nonsense, I never heard of such a thing. Not being able to take a joke better than that. I don't know what's happened to them, they were such dear good-natured children. They used to make booby traps and apple-pie beds for one another and not mind a bit. (MRS. DERMOTT _keeps buttering toast for him, arranging it round his plate._) DANIEL. But you see, Anne, this perhaps has irritated them more than an apple-pie bed. MRS. DERMOTT. I don't see why, it's just as harmless, and much less trouble. DANIEL. If I had known they were going to take it so badly I should have thought of something else. I have lots of ideas. But even now, when I come to look back over everything, I don't see what else I could have done. MRS. DERMOTT. You're just the kindest old darling in the world and everything, every single thing you have done for us, has been perfect. DANIEL. Dear Anne, don't be absurd. It was nothing, worse than nothing, but I'd given it a lot of thought, and after all it has bucked them up and made them work. They're looking much better in health, too.