Which means that you’ve found him a wife, and you’re going to marry him to some one whether he likes it or not. MRS. DOT. [_Suddenly._] Freddie. FREDDIE. Hulloa! MRS. DOT. Go away and play. FREDDIE. Hang it all, I want to drink my coffee. MRS. DOT. Go and make a mud pie in the garden. There’s a dear. [_A bell is heard ringing loudly._ AUNT ELIZA. There they are! MRS. DOT. Come on! [_They all get up._ MRS. DOT _and_ AUNT ELIZA _go out_. FREDDIE _and_ BLENKINSOP _light cigarettes_. FREDDIE. What’s the matter with my virtuous aunt? BLENKINSOP. How old are you, dear boy? FREDDIE. Twenty-two. Why? BLENKINSOP. The delightful age when it’s still possible to feel desperately wicked. But you are old enough to have learnt that the moods of women are inscrutable. FREDDIE. Oh, rot! I never met a woman whom I couldn’t read at a glance. BLENKINSOP. [_Ironically._] Really? FREDDIE. You know, they talk about the incomprehensibility of women, but it’s all humbug. BLENKINSOP. When you see a blank wall, does it _ever_ occur to you that there’s anything on the other side? [MRS. DOT _and_ AUNT ELIZA _come in with_ LADY SELLENGER, NELLIE _and_ HOLLINGTON. _They are all talking._ LADY SELLENGER. We had a delightful journey. Oh, how beautiful your garden is! So romantic. I love romance. BLENKINSOP. When it’s backed by an adequate income. LADY SELLENGER. How d’you do? You cynic. BLENKINSOP. I’m nothing of the sort. But I occasionally tell the truth. LADY SELLENGER. You’re the most cynical man in London, and I’m frightened to death of you. BLENKINSOP. There’s nothing the world loves more than a ready-made description which they can hang on to a man, and so save themselves all trouble in future. When I was quite young it occurred to some one that I was a cynic, and since then I’ve never been able to remark that it was a fine day without being accused of odious cynicism. LADY SELLENGER. My dear Mr. Blenkinsop, what every one says is always true. That is one of the foundations of society. BLENKINSOP. I gained my reputation by remarking once that it was possible for a penniless young man who married a very rich woman old enough to be his mother to be genuinely in love with her. LADY SELLENGER. I think it was a very cynical observation. MRS. DOT. [_To_ LADY SELLENGER.] You know my nephew, don’t you? LADY SELLENGER. How d’you do? I think we met at dear Gerald’s a week or two ago. FREDDIE. [_Shaking hands._] How d’you do? [_To_ NELLIE.] Have you quite forgotten me? NELLIE. Not quite! FREDDIE. Jolly day, isn’t it? NELLIE. Awfully jolly. [MRS. DOT _watches them as they shake hands_. AUNT ELIZA. [_To_ LADY SELLENGER.] Would you like me to show you your rooms? LADY SELLENGER. Thanks, so much. MRS. DOT. Freddie, is Gerald’s room ready? FREDDIE. Yes, I think so. I’ll just go and find out. [_He goes out._ MRS. DOT.