MAID. If you please, ma'am, there's been rather a little accident in the dining-room. MRS. TIMBRELL. } { Oh! dear! What's that? } [_Together._] ADA. } { An accident! MAID. Well, the soot came down the chimney just now and it's made such a mess. We're just clearing it away but it's a job. We'll have to change the tablecloth. MARY. [_Who has taken a great interest in this._] That damper wants a bit of coaxing but I expect it's the coals. [_To TIMBRELL, reproachfully._] You've not gone back to those cheap coals again, sir? They do make such a lot of soot. TIMBRELL. Well--er-- MRS. TIMBRELL. You would do it, you know. [_To MRS. PENDLETON._] Does your husband come and shew you how to save money in the house? MRS. PENDLETON. I'd like to see him try. MRS. TIMBRELL. I'm afraid I don't stand up against him. I'm very weak. Well, get things straight as soon as you can, Beryl. MAID. Yes, ma'am. It'll be a little time yet. I'm afraid. [_She goes out._] MRS. PENDLETON. What did you call her? MRS. TIMBRELL. Beryl. MRS. PENDLETON. Well, I never. MRS. TIMBRELL. She said that was her name. TIMBRELL. I told you, my dear, that it was quite unsuitable. MRS. TIMBRELL. She seemed to like the name. TIMBRELL. I suggested Jane. LEONARD. Ah! you may interfere about coals but not in things that matter like this. Of course Beryl is abominable but when you know that Mother let the poor girl stick to it--why! then it's charming. EDGAR. Well, we've a little time to put in, it seems. Mrs. Pendleton, you haven't seen the album that Sheila and I made up when we were honeymooning. We took a lot and bought some. [_He gets out album and shows photographs. SHEILA and ADA hover about._] TIMBRELL. [_Looking at his watch._] Very annoying. PENDLETON. Don't you bother. TIMBRELL. [_With an effort at geniality._] Well, Mary, my girl. It's a shame to keep you waiting. MARY. It doesn't matter a bit, sir. TIMBRELL. [_Testily._] Don't call me Sir. MARY. No, sir--I mean No, Mr. Timbrell. LEONARD. Call him Daddy. She calls me Sir sometimes. I rather like it. It feeds my vanity. What I like about Mary is that she has none of that absurd pretence that woman is the equal of man. ADA. What nonsense! SHEILA. He always does talk nonsense. MRS. TIMBRELL. I expect Mary keeps you in good order at home. Do you Mary? Is he behaving nicely? MARY. I think so sometimes. MRS. TIMBRELL. Now what does that mean? MARY. I find it so hard to understand him. LEONARD. She's simple. I'm ironical. I can't get out of the habit. MARY. I'm stupid and I can only judge by what he does. LEONARD. Ay, ay. That's the devil. It's explanations I'm good at--not doing things. MARY. But I don't understand the explanations. MRS. TIMBRELL. Poor Mary. MARY. Did you understand him? MRS. TIMBRELL. He thinks I didn't. But I'm afraid all this will not interest our friends. We don't let Mr. Pendleton have a word.