PHILIP. H'm! Perhaps I need the calm more than you do. Over the case to-day I actually--eh-- [_Sipping his tea._] slumbered. I heard myself do it. That's how I know. A dressmaker sued on seven counts. [_Reading his newspaper._] Really, the insanity of the United States Senate--you seem restless, my dear. Ah--um--have you seen the evening paper? I see there has been a lightning change in the style or size of hats which ladies-- [_Sweeping a descriptive motion with his hand, he gives the paper to_ CYNTHIA, _then moves his glass, reads, and sips._ CYNTHIA. The lamp, Thomas. THOMAS _blows out the alcohol lamp on the tea-table with difficulty. Blows twice. Movement of_ PHILIP _each time. Blows again._ PHILIP. [_Irritably._] Confound it, Thomas! What are you puffing and blowing at--? THOMAS. It's out, ma'am--yes, sir. PHILIP. You're excessively noisy, Thomas! THOMAS. [_In a fluster._] Yes, sir--I am. CYNTHIA. [_Soothing_ THOMAS'S _wounded feelings._] We don't need you, Thomas. THOMAS. Yes, ma'am. PHILIP. Puffing and blowing and shaking and quaking like an automobile in an ecstasy! [THOMAS _meekly withdraws._ CYNTHIA. [_Not unsympathetically._] Too bad, Philip! I hope my presence isn't too agitating? PHILIP. Ah--it's just because I value this hour with you, Cynthia--this hour of tea and toast and tranquillity. It's quite as if we were married--happily married--already. CYNTHIA. [_Admitting that married life is a blank, begins to look through paper._] Yes, I feel as if we were married already. PHILIP. [_Not recognizing her tone._] Ah! It's the calm, you see. CYNTHIA. [_Without warmth._] The calm? Yes--yes, it's--it's the calm. PHILIP. [_Sighs._] Yes, the calm--the Halcyon calm of--of second choice. H'm! [_He reads and turns over the leaves of the paper._ CYNTHIA _reads. There is a silence._] After all, my dear--the feeling which I have for you--is--is--eh--the market is in a shocking condition of plethora! H'm--h'm--and what are you reading? CYNTHIA. [_Embarrassed._] Oh, eh--well--I--eh--I'm just running over the sporting news. PHILIP. Oh! [_He looks thoughtful._ CYNTHIA. [_Beginning to forget_ PHILIP _and to remember more interesting matters._] I fancied Hermes would come in an easy winner. He came in nowhere. Nonpareil was ridden by Henslow--he's a rotten bad rider. He gets nervous. PHILIP. [_Still interested in his newspaper._] Does he? H'm! I suppose you do retain an interest in horses and races. H'm--I trust some day the--ah--law will attract--Oh [_Turning a page._], here's the report of my opinion in that dressmaker's case--Haggerty _vs._ Phillimore. CYNTHIA. [_Puzzled._] Was the case brought against you? PHILIP. Oh--no. The suit was brought by Haggerty, Miss Haggerty, a dressmaker, against the--in fact, my dear, against the former Mrs. Phillimore. [_After a pause, he returns to his reading._ CYNTHIA. [_Curious about the matter._] How did you decide it?