GWEN: Oh! sorry; I thought you were upstairs. JOHN: Come in. You do know one another, don’t you? COLIN: Yes. We’ve met. How d’you do? [_They shake hands._ JOHN: I’ll get that score. (_He moves to the door._) COLIN (_to GWEN_): I wonder if you remember where we met? GWEN: Quite well; at a concert; you were very nice to me. COLIN: I’m very glad. GWEN: A man played some very modern music--and you asked me what I thought of it; I didn’t like it a bit really, but I didn’t like to say so; and you said it was the sort of music one never ought to hear for the first time. COLIN: Not such a bad remark; I wonder where I heard it ... do you play and sing, and have your brother’s accomplishments? GWEN: I don’t do anything. JOHN (_who has stopped to select a fruit from the table--as he disappears_): Painting’s Gwen’s forte. COLIN: Painting? GWEN: I’ve given it up.... COLIN: Why? GWEN: I don’t know. COLIN: I should like to see something of yours. GWEN: That’s mine. (_She indicates a little painting on the wall that is hung close to another.... He goes to it._) I was very young. COLIN: It’s very good. GWEN: I used to love painting. COLIN (_moving to the other picture_): This yours too? GWEN: No; that’s by ... somebody else. [_He looks at her--and back at the picture._ COLIN (_meaning it_): It’s quite beautiful. GWEN (_with eagerness_): Do you think so?... I do. COLIN: It’s not unlike yours ... you knew the painter? GWEN (_simply_): I wanted to marry him ... only ... well, he was quite poor, so it was stopped. And then he was killed. COLIN: In the war? GWEN: Yes. COLIN: I’m sorry. GWEN: I’ve got over it. I didn’t think I should--but I have. [_They look at each other and smile._ COLIN: Why has your brother kept us apart all this time? GWEN: Has he? COLIN: I know him so well; it seems absurd I know you so little. GWEN: Well--here I am! COLIN: And I’ve got to rush away; I’m sorry---- GWEN: So am I. COLIN: I’m going to hear this new ballet: I wish you were coming. GWEN: So do I. COLIN: I’m taking somebody. I’ve got the last two seats in the house.... Will you come to-morrow night? GWEN: Yes. COLIN: Do you go to bed very early? GWEN (_laughing_): Why? COLIN: If I come in after the ballet--to tell you whether I’ve got tickets--will you have disappeared? GWEN: No. [_JOHN returns with the music score._ COLIN: Thanks ... I must be off.... (_To GWEN_) Then I won’t say good night.... John, I’m going to look in on my way back from the show. JOHN: Do ... bring Margaret ... what time does this thing begin? [_They disappear.... GWEN is quiet in the room till her brother’s return._ JOHN: If you’re going into the drawing-room, I wish you’d tell Frankie I want to see her. GWEN: Is he married? JOHN: Colin? GWEN: Yes. JOHN: No. GWEN: Does he live by himself? JOHN: Er ... as a matter of fact I believe he does, at the moment. GWEN (_point-blank_): What’s that mean, Jacko?