OLIVIA (_reading_): "'Thank God,' inwardly breathed Miss Corny.... 'Forgive me,' she said loudly and in agitation. 'I want to see Archibald,' whispered Lady Isabel." MRS. BRAMSON: You don't see many books like _East Lynne_ about nowadays. HUBERT: No, you don't. OLIVIA (_reading_): "'I want to see Archibald,' whispered Lady Isabel. 'I have prayed Joyce to bring him to me, and she will not----'" MRS. BRAMSON (_sharply_): Olivia! OLIVIA: Yes, auntie? MRS. BRAMSON (_craftily_): You're not skipping, are you? OLIVIA: Am I? MRS. BRAMSON: You've missed out about Lady Isabel taking up her cross and the weight of it killing her. I may be a fool, but I do know _East Lynne_. OLIVIA: Perhaps there were two pages stuck together. MRS. BRAMSON: Very convenient when you want your walk, eh? Yes, I _am_ a fool, I suppose, as well as an invalid. OLIVIA: But I thought you were so much better---- NURSE: You'd two helpings of bacon at breakfast, remember---- MRS. BRAMSON: Doctor's orders. You know every mouthful's agony to me. HUBERT (_deep in his paper_): There's a man here in Weston-super-Mare who stood on his head for twenty minutes for a bet, and he hasn't come to yet. MRS. BRAMSON (_sharply_): I thought this morning I'd never be able to face the day. HUBERT: But last night when you opened the port---- MRS. BRAMSON: I've had a relapse since then. My heart's going like anything. Give me a chocolate. OLIVIA _rises and fetches her a chocolate from a large box on the table._ NURSE: How does it feel? MRS. BRAMSON: Nasty. (_Munching her chocolate._) I _know_ it's neuritis. NURSE: You know, Mrs. Bramson, what you want isn't massage at all, only exercise. Your body---- MRS. BRAMSON: Don't you dictate to me about my body. Nobody here understands my body or anything else about me. As for sympathy, I've forgotten the meaning of the word. (_To_ OLIVIA) What's the matter with your face? OLIVIA (_startled_): I--I really don't know. MRS. BRAMSON: It's as long as my arm. OLIVIA (_drily_): I'm afraid it's made like that. _She crosses the room, and comes back again._ MRS. BRAMSON: What are you walking up and down for? What's the matter with you? Aren't you happy here? OLIVIA: It's a bit lonely, but I'll get used to it. MRS. BRAMSON: Lonely? All these lovely woods? What _are_ you talking about? Don't you like nature? NURSE: Will that be all for to-day? MRS. BRAMSON: I suppose it'll have to be. NURSE (_rising and taking her bag from the sofa_): Well, I've that confined lady still waiting in Shepperley. (_Going into the hall_) Toodle-oo! MRS. BRAMSON: Mind you call again Wednesday. In case my neuritis sets in again. NURSE (_turning in the hall_): I will that. And if paralysis pops up, let me know. Toodle-oo! _She marches cheerily out of the front door._ MRS. BRAMSON _cannot make up her mind if the last remark is sarcastic or not. She concentrates on_ OLIVIA.