COLONEL. What's that? You got four by the first post. MISS BEECH. Exceptions! COLONEL. [Looking over his glasses.] Why! You know, you get 'em every day! MRS. HOPE. Molly says she'll be down by the eleven thirty. [In an injured voice.] She'll be here in half an hour! [Reading with disapproval from the letter.] "MAURICE LEVER is coming down by the same train to see Mr. Henty about the Tocopala Gold Mine. Could you give him a bed for the night?" [Silence, slight but ominous.] COLONEL. [Calling into his aid his sacred hospitality.] Of course we must give him a bed! MRS. HOPE. Just like a man! What room I should like to know! COLONEL. Pink. MRS. HOPE. As if Molly wouldn't have the pink! COLONEL. [Ruefully.] I thought she'd have the blue! MRS. HOPE. You know perfectly well it's full of earwigs, Tom. I killed ten there yesterday morning. MISS BEECH. Poor creatures! MRS. HOPE. I don't know that I approve of this Mr. Lever's dancing attendance. Molly's only thirty-six. COLONEL. [In a high voice.] You can't refuse him a bed; I never heard of such a thing. MRS. HOPE. [Reading from the letter.] "This gold mine seems to be a splendid chance. [She glances at the COLONEL.] I've put all my spare cash into it. They're issuing some Preference shares now; if Uncle Tom wants an investment"--[She pauses, then in a changed, decided voice ]--Well, I suppose I shall have to screw him in somehow. COLONEL. What's that about gold mines? Gambling nonsense! Molly ought to know my views. MRS. HOPE. [Folding the letter away out of her consciousness.] Oh! your views! This may be a specially good chance. MISS BEECH. Ahem! Special case! MRS. HOPE. [Paying no attention.] I 'm sick of these 3 per cent. dividends. When you've only got so little money, to put it all into that India Stock, when it might be earning 6 per cent. at least, quite safely! There are ever so many things I want. COLONEL. There you go! MRS. HOPE. As to Molly, I think it's high time her husband came home to look after her, instead of sticking out there in that hot place. In fact-- [Miss BEECH looks up at the tree and exhibits cerebral excitement] I don't know what Geoff's about; why doesn't he find something in England, where they could live together. COLONEL. Don't say anything against Molly, Nell! MRS. HOPE. Well, I don't believe in husband and wife being separated. That's not my idea of married life. [The COLONEL whistles quizzically.] Ah, yes, she's your niece, not mime! Molly's very---- MISS BEECH. Ouch! [She sucks her finger.] MRS. HOPE. Well, if I couldn't sew at your age, Peachey, without pricking my fingers! Tom, if I have Mr. Lever here, you'll just attend to what I say and look into that mine! COLONEL. Look into your grandmother! I have n't made a study of geology for nothing. For every ounce you take out of a gold mine, you put an ounce and a half in. Any fool knows that, eh, Peachey?