There’s an omelette with asparagus-tops on the way. CLARE. I’m not hungry. DEAN. Oh, that’s a pity! I suppose it’s this exceptionally early summer. CLARE. Yes. I was unbearably hot all night. And so thirsty that I drank nearly all the water in my jug. DEAN. Dear me! Wasn’t there any in the carafe? CLARE. I drank that as well. DEAN. Really? It seems to me that for a log you were somewhat restive last night. CLARE. A log? DEAN. I thought you slept like a log. CLARE. I scarcely slept a wink. DEAN. Well, well, my dear, so long as you feel—to use your expression—as fit as a fiddle, it—— CLARE. I feel rotten. (_JOHN enters with the omelette, ROBERT with plates._) DEAN. I’m sorry. I didn’t go to bed until very late myself. Those little additions to my sermon took me longer than I had anticipated. (_JOHN and ROBERT go out, having placed the dish before the DEAN._) This looks most inviting. And as there doesn’t seem to be much of it, I’m not, on the whole, sorry that you’ve lost your appetite this morning! It’s an ill wind that—— CLARE. May I have some, please? DEAN. Changeable young person! CLARE. Well, of course, if you grudge me a little piece of your omelette—— DEAN. Not at all, my dear! Not at all! (_He offers her a liberal helping._) CLARE. You needn’t give me three-quarters of it. DEAN. Very well. You had better take the other piece, then. CLARE. Oh, it doesn’t matter! (_Impatiently she takes the larger helping._) DEAN. (_Genially._) I don’t mind confessing that I’m very hungry, so unless you really want it, my dear—— CLARE. Oh, for goodness’ sake, father, take the whole lot! I’m sure I don’t want to deprive you of your food! DEAN. What a peppery young lady it is! I was only joking. CLARE. I may be sadly lacking in humour, but jokes about omelettes and the condition of one’s stomach never much appealed to me. DEAN. Really, my dear child, I should much prefer your not using that word. CLARE. Stomach? DEAN. Yes. CLARE. Oh! I do hope you’re not going to suggest I should say “Little Mary”! DEAN. (_Puzzled._) Little Mary? I—er—don’t quite see the connection.... Is there any reason for alluding to that—er—portion of the anatomy? CLARE. I was under the impression that _you_ made the first allusion to it. DEAN. My dear, I merely mentioned the fact that I was hungry. CLARE. Well, you’re not hungry with your foot, are you? DEAN. Don’t you think this bickering rather silly and childish? CLARE. Very. DEAN. (_After a pause, and with a change of voice but unabated cheerfulness._) Unclouded sunshine and a sense of deep peace and repose! My ideal of an English Sunday! John told me just now that he feels inclined to sing the _Te Deum_ on mornings like this. CLARE. Why don’t you come to the point, father? DEAN. The point?... CLARE. Yes. DEAN. I don’t quite understand. CLARE.