[MABEL _and_ HILDA _enter, followed by_ JOHN HALLIWELL. BASIL _going towards them very cordially, half stops when he notices who they are; and a slight expression of embarrassment passes over his face. But he immediately recovers himself and is extremely gracious._ HILDA MURRAY _is a tall, handsome woman, self-possessed and admirably gowned_. MABEL HALLIWELL _is smaller, pretty rather than beautiful, younger than her sister, vivacious, very talkative, and somewhat irresponsible_. JOHN _is of the same age as_ BASIL, _good-humoured, neither handsome nor plain blunt of speech and open_. BASIL. [_Shaking hands._] How d'you do? MABEL. Look pleased to see us, Mr. Kent. BASIL. I'm perfectly enchanted. HILDA. You _did_ ask us to come and have tea with you, didn't you? BASIL. I've asked you fifty times. Hulloa, John! I didn't see you. JOHN. I'm the discreet husband, I keep in the background. MABEL. Why don't you praise me instead of praising yourself? People would think it so much nicer. JOHN. On the contrary, they'd be convinced that when we were alone I beat you. Besides, I couldn't honestly say that you kept in the background. HILDA. [_To_ BASIL.] I feel rather ashamed at taking you unawares. BASIL. I was only slacking. I was cutting a book. MABEL. That's ever so much more fun than reading it, isn't it? [_She catches sight of the tea things._] Oh, what a beautiful cake--and two cups! [_She looks at him, questioning._] BASIL. [_A little awkwardly._] Oh--I always have an extra cup in case some one turns up, you know. MABEL. How unselfish! And do you always have such expensive cake? HILDA. [_With a smile, remonstrating._] Mabel! MABEL. Oh, but I know them well, and I love them dearly. They cost two shillings at the Army and Navy Stores, but I can't afford them myself. JOHN. I wish you'd explain why we've come, or Basil will think I'm responsible. MABEL. [_Lightly._] I've been trying to remember ever since we arrived. You say it, Hilda; you invented it. HILDA. [_With a laugh._] Mabel, I'll never take you out again. They're perfectly incorrigible, Mr. Kent. BASIL. [_To_ JOHN _and_ MABEL, _smiling_.] I don't know why _you've_ come. Mrs. Murry has promised to come and have tea with me for ages. MABEL. [_Pretending to feel injured._] Well, you needn't turn me out the moment we arrive. Besides, I refuse to go till I've had a piece of that cake. BASIL. Well, here's the tea! [MRS. GRIGGS _brings it in as he speaks_. _He turns to_ HILDA.] I wish you'd pour it out. I'm so clumsy. HILDA. [_Smiling at him affectionately._] I shall be delighted. [_She proceeds to do so, and the conversation goes on while_ BASIL _hands_ MABEL _tea and cake_. JOHN.