Some sort of chill, Dr. Rolt said. I was _dreadfully_ anxious. JANET What a pity! ‘Colds are such troublesome things for children. MISS DEANES (puzzled) Children? JANET Yes. You were speaking of a child, weren’t you? Miss Deanes Oh no. Dicky is my _cockatoo_. He’s the _sweetest_ bird. Talks quite like a human being. And never a coarse expression. That’s so unusual with cockatoos. JANET Indeed? MISS DEANES Yes. The voyage, you see. They come all the way from South America and generally they pick up the most dreadful language, poor lambs--from the sailors. But Dicky didn’t. He has such a pure mind _(rising)_. And now I really must be going. I have all kinds of people I want to tell about Mr. Bulstead’s engagement. _[Shaking hands with Mrs. Clouston and Janet._ BROWN I must be off too. Wait one moment, Miss Deanes. Good-bye, Mrs. Clouston. _[Shakes hands with Mrs. Clouston and bows stiffly to Janet. He has not yet forgiven Johnny for not knowing his catechism._ _(To Hester.)_ Good-bye, Miss De Mullin. Shall I see you at Evensong? _[Shakes hands with Hester._ I expect so. HESTER Poof! _[Brown and Miss Deanes go out._ JANET What a fool Miss Deanes is! MRS CLOUSTON _(indifferently)_ She always was, wasn’t she? JANET I suppose so. Going on in that way about her ridiculous cockatoo! And that _hideous_ little curate! HESTER I don’t see why you should sneer at all my friends. JANET Are they your friends, Hester? Then I won’t sneer at them. But you can’t call Mr. Brown _handsome_, can you? HESTER Mr. Brown is a very good man and works very hard among the poor. That’s better than being handsome. JANET Yes. But less agreeable, isn’t it? However, if _you_ like him there’s an end of it. But he needn’t have begun asking Johnny his catechism the very first time he met him. I don’t call it good manners, HESTER How was he to know the poor child was being brought up to be a little heathen? _[Takes up her hat and cape and begins putting them on._ JANET _(shrugs)_ How, indeed! MRS. CLOUSTON Are you going out, Hester? Lunch will be ready in half an hour. . HESTER Only to take Mrs. Wason her soup, Aunt Harriet. JANET _(looking curiously at Hester)_ Do you want to marry Mr. Brown, Hester? MRS. CLOUSTON My dear Janet! JANET Well, Aunt Harriet, there’s nothing to be ashamed of if she does. Do you, Hester? HESTER Why do you ask such a question? JANET Never mind. Only answer it _(pause)_. You do like him, don’t you? HESTER I’ve a great respect for Mr. Brown. JANET Don’t blush, my dear. I dare say that’s much the same thing. HESTER I won’t talk to you about it. You only sneer. Janet I wasn’t sneering. Come, Hester, don’t be cross. Why shouldn’t we be friends? I might help you. HESTER How could _you_ help me? JANET _(looking quizzically at poor Hester’s headgear)_ I might make you a hat, my dear. HESTER Mr. Brown doesn’t notice those things.