[_With a nod, sitting on the settee._] Alec——[FRASER _advances_.] My aunt Harriet, Mrs. Cloys—my husband. [FRASER _and_ MRS. CLOYS _incline their heads to each other_. FRASER _then turns away and joins_ CLAUDE _and_ JUSTINA, SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD _following him_. THEOPHILA _strips off her gloves_. MRS. EMPTAGE. Let mother take your bonnet, pet. THEOPHILA. [_Her head falling backward, faintly._] Oh, do! MRS. EMPTAGE. [_Removing_ THEOPHILA’S _bonnet_.] In your bonnet all day again; your head must be splitting. _I_ know. Do you remember _my_ head at the flower-show at Eastbourne? [MRS. CLOYS _bends over_ THEOPHILA _and helps her to get rid of her cape_. THEOPHILA. Thanks, awfully. [_She takes her bonnet from_ MRS. EMPTAGE, _and fiercely begins to roll it in her cape, as if about to crush them together_. MRS. EMPTAGE. [_Uttering a little scream, running round the settee to her._] What are you doing? [_There is a general movement._ THEOPHILA. [_Looking round._] It’s all right. [_With an attempt at a laugh._] Those things are to be destroyed. MRS. EMPTAGE. [_Taking the bonnet and cape from_ THEOPHILA.] Destroyed! They were new for the case! THEOPHILA. Sniff them, mother. MRS. EMPTAGE. [_Doing so._] Perfume. THEOPHILA. Phew! I intend to burn every thread I’m wearing, and to have a bath before dinner. FRASER. [_Constrainedly._] We were rather unfortunate in the case that is to follow ours. THEOPHILA. Yes. [_Looking straight before her._] There was a patchouli business waiting to come on after us. MRS. EMPTAGE. [_Holding the things at arm’s length._] Oh, dear! THEOPHILA. It had been flitting about since the morning. It sat down beside me at last. MRS. EMPTAGE. _It?_ THEOPHILA. It, it, it. And it was wearing a bonnet almost precisely like mine; and it looked to be about my own age, and could have had my sort of complexion if it had chosen—— MRS. CLOYS. Hush, Theophila——! THEOPHILA. [_Hysterically._] Ho, ho, ho! these last two days! [_Horton enters with tea._ MRS. EMPTAGE. Here’s tea! Claude, help Justina with the tea-table. Tea is what Theo needs.