MRS. MORLAND. Twenty-five years, a third of our lifetime. It will soon be dark; I can see the twilight running across the fields. Draw the curtains, dear. (_He does so and turns on the lights; they are electric lights now._) Simon’s train must be nearly due, is it not? MR. MORLAND. In ten minutes or so. Did you forward his telegram? MRS. MORLAND. No, I thought he would probably get it sooner if I kept it here. MR. MORLAND. I dare say. (_He joins her on the sofa, and she sees that he is troubled._) MRS. MORLAND. What is it, dear? MR. MORLAND. I am afraid I was rather thoughtless about the apple-tree, Fanny. I hurt you. MRS. MORLAND (_brightly_). Such nonsense. Have another pipe, James. MR. MORLAND (_doggedly_). I will not have another pipe. I hereby undertake to give up smoking for a week as a punishment to myself. (_His breast swells a little._) MRS. MORLAND. You will regret this, you know. MR. MORLAND (_his breast ceasing to swell_). Why is my heart not broken? If I had been a man of real feeling it would have broken twenty-five years ago, just as yours did. MRS. MORLAND. Mine didn’t, dear. MR. MORLAND. In a way it did. As for me, at the time I thought I could never raise my head again, but there is a deal of the old Adam in me still. I ride and shoot and laugh and give pompous decisions on the bench and wrangle with old George as if nothing much had happened to me. I never think of the island now; I dare say I could go back there and fish. (_He finds that despite his outburst his hand has strayed towards his tobacco-pouch._) See what I am doing! (_He casts his pouch aside as if it were the culprit._) I am a man enamoured of myself. Why, I have actually been considering, Fanny, whether I should have another dress suit. MRS. MORLAND (_picking up the pouch_). And why shouldn’t you? MR. MORLAND. At my age! Fanny, this should be put on my tombstone: ‘In spite of some adversity he remained a lively old blade to the end.’ MRS. MORLAND. Perhaps that would be a rather creditable epitaph for any man, James, who has gone through as much as you have. What better encouragement to the young than to be able to tell them that happiness keeps breaking through? (_She puts the pipe, which she has been filling, in his mouth._) MR. MORLAND. If I smoke, Fanny, I shall despise myself more than ever. MRS. MORLAND. To please me. MR. MORLAND (_as she holds the light_). I don’t feel easy about it, not at all easy. (_With a happy thought._) At any rate, I won’t get the dress suit. MRS. MORLAND. Your dress suit is shining like a mirror. MR. MORLAND. Isn’t it! I thought of a jacket suit only. The V-shaped waistcoat seems to be what they are all wearing now. MRS. MORLAND. Would you have braid on the trousers? MR. MORLAND. I was wondering. You see-- Oh, Fanny, you are just humouring me.