[_Walking about uneasily._] Harriet, your theories and suspicions have involved us in an entanglement of—ah—an unexpected kind. CLAUDE. [_Moodily._] A reg’lar mess, I call it. SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. I wish your choice of expressions was a little happier, Claude—— MRS. CLOYS. The boy is right; and we must get out of this as quickly as possible. SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. Yes, yes; yes, yes. CLAUDE. But I don’t believe the woman will have the daring effrontery to show her face to us; to _me_—the brother! MRS. CLOYS. If she does appear, Fletcher, how on earth are we to explain our visit? SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. Never explain, Harriet. I once explained in the House—— MRS. CLOYS. Devil take the House! SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. Harriet! MRS. CLOYS. Heaven forgive me! SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. You are unhinged—not yourself. No, no, we must simply avail ourselves of any topic that presents itself. MRS. CLOYS. Mercy on us! there’s only one topic that _can_ present itself. SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. I am not often nonplussed. You had better watch me closely; follow my lead—tsch! JOHN _enters with_ OLIVE, _who is now without her outdoor apparel_. JOHN. [_After bowing to_ MRS. CLOYS.] How do you do, Sir Fletcher? [_Nodding to_ CLAUDE.] How are you, Emptage? SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. [_With a wave of the hand towards_ MRS. CLOYS.] My sister, Mrs. Cloys. JOHN. Mrs. Cloys, Sir Fletcher; there have been some most unhappy differences between my wife and myself in the past, as you know too well. Unfortunately, she and I have not been the only sufferers from these differences; we have dragged others along with us. However, we met this evening, half an hour ago, and are—reconciled—— SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. [_In a murmur._] Very proper—very sensible—— JOHN. And I have my wife’s authority for saying that her feeling towards Mrs. Fraser are now considerably—in fact, entirely—— But she will speak for herself. [_Presenting_ OLIVE, _awkwardly_.] Er—my wife. OLIVE. [_To_ SIR FLETCHER _and_ MRS. CLOYS, _graciously_.] Pray sit down. [MRS. CLOYS _sits again_.] Sir Fletcher, we knew each other years ago—— SIR FLETCHER PORTWOOD. I am delighted to renew—[_pulling himself up uneasily_]—that is, of course—— [OLIVE _sits on the left and_ SIR FLETCHER _on the right of the table_. OLIVE.