DORA: You did give me a turn! (_Going to the table and taking the box_) I think I'll 'ave a choc. (_Walking towards the hall_) I couldn't 'ave walked a step in those trees all by myself. Coming? DAN (_suddenly_): I'd have come with you with pleasure, only I'm going the other direction. Payley Hill way. MRS. TERENCE (_surprised_): _You_ going out? DORA: Oh? DAN (_in the hall, putting on hat and mackintosh_): Yes. I still feel a bit funny. MRS. TERENCE: But you can't leave 'er 'ere by herself! DORA: She'll scream the place down! DAN (_over-explanatory_): I asked her, this very minute, and she don't seem to mind. You know what she is. Said it'd do me good, and won't hear of me stayin'. It's no good arguin' with her. DORA _puts the chocolates down on the occasional table. She and_ MRS. TERENCE _follow_ DAN _into the hall._ DORA: No good arguin' with her--don't I know it! MRS. TERENCE: You 'ave a nice long walk while you get the chance; you wait on 'er too much.... (_Closing the plush curtains so that they are all out of sight_) Ooh, ain't it dark.... Got the torch, Dora? DORA: O.K., honey. MRS. TERENCE: Laws, I'd be frightened goin' off by meself.... Well, we'd best 'urry, Dora.... Good night, Dan. Pity you aren't comin' our way---DAN'S VOICE: See you in the morning! Good night! DORA'S VOICE: O.K.!... Toodle-oo! _The door bangs. A pause._ DAN'S VOICE (_outside the left window_): Good night! MRS. TERENCE'S VOICE (_outside the right window_): Good night! DORA (_same_): Good night! _Silence._ MRS. TERENCE (_farther away_): Good night! DORA (_same_): Good night! MRS. BRAMSON _comes trundling back from the bedroom in her chair._ MRS. BRAMSON: Good night here, good night there; anybody'd think it was the night before Judgment Day. What's the matter with ... (_Seeing the room is empty_) Talking to myself. Wish people wouldn't walk out of rooms and leave me high and dry. Don't like it. (_She wheels herself round to the table. A pause. She looks round impatiently._) Where's my chocolates?... _She looks round again, gets up out of her chair for the first time in the play, walks quite normally across the room to the mantelpiece, sees her chocolates are not there, walks up to the occasional table, and takes up the box._ That girl's been at them again.... _She walks back to her chair, carrying the chocolates, and sits in it again. She begins to munch. She suddenly stops, as if she has heard something._ What's that?... _She listens again. A cry is heard far away._ Oh, God ... Danny! _The cry is repeated._ Danny! _The cry is heard a third time._ It's an owl ... Oh, Lord! _She falls back in relief, and eats another chocolate. The clock strikes the half-hour. Silence. The silence gets on her nerves. (After a pause, calling softly_) Danny!... (_As there is no answer_) What's the boy doing in that kitchen?