COLONEL. [Rising.] Arbutus tree! [To his daughter.] Where's your mother? LETTY. In the blue room, Father. ERNEST. The ball was a good foot out; at the height it was coming when it passed me. COLONEL. [Staring at him.] You're a--you're aa theorist! From where you were you could n't see the ball at all. [To LETTY.] Where's your mother? LETTY. [Emphatically.] In the blue room, Father! [The COLONEL glares confusedly, and goes away towards the blue room.] ERNEST. [In the swing, and with a smile.] Your old Dad'll never be a sportsman! LETTY. [Indignantly.] I wish you wouldn't call Father old, Ernie! What time's Molly coming, Peachey? [ROSE has come from the house, and stands waiting for a chance to speak.] ERNEST. [Breaking in.] Your old Dad's only got one fault: he can't take an impersonal view of things. MISS BEECH. Can you find me any one who can? ERNEST. [With a smile.] Well, Peachey! MISS BEECH. [Ironically.] Oh! of course, there's you! ERNEST. I don't know about that! But---- ROSE. [To LETTY,] Please, Miss, the Missis says will you and Mr. Ernest please to move your things into Miss Peachey's room. ERNEST. [Vexed.] Deuce of a nuisance havin' to turn out for this fellow Lever. What did Molly want to bring him for? MISS BEECH. Course you've no personal feeling in the matter! ROSE. [Speaking to Miss BEECH.] The Missis says you're to please move your things into the blue room, please Miss. LETTY. Aha, Peachey! That settles you! Come on, Ernie! [She goes towards the house. ERNEST, rising from the swing, turns to Miss BEECH, who follows.] ERNEST. [Smiling, faintly superior.] Personal, not a bit! I only think while Molly 's out at grass, she oughtn't to---- MISS BEECH. [Sharply.] Oh! do you? [She hustles ERNEST out through the wall, but his voice is heard faintly from the distance: "I think it's jolly thin."] ROSE. [To DICK.] The Missis says you're to take all your worms and things, Sir, and put them where they won't be seen. DICK. [Shortly.] Have n't got any! ROSE. The Missis says she'll be very angry if you don't put your worms away; and would you come and help kill earwigs in the blue----? DICK. Hang! [He goes, and ROSE is left alone.] ROSE. [Looking straight before her.] Please, Miss Joy, the Missis says will you go to her about your frock. [There is a little pause, then from the hollow tree joy's voice is heard.] JOY. No-o! ROSE. If you did n't come, I was to tell you she was going to put you in the blue. [Joy looks out of the tree.] [Immovable, but smiling.] Oh, Miss joy, you've done your hair up! [Joy retires into the tree.] Please, Miss, what shall I tell the Missis? JOY. [Joy's voice is heard.] Anything you like. ROSE. [Over her shoulder.] I shall be drove to tell her a story, Miss. JOY. All right! Tell it.