Where’s grandmother going, Mummie? JANET Up to the big house. JOHNNY What big house? JANET Brendon Park. JOHNNY Mayn’t I go up to the big house too? JANET No, dear. You’re to stay with mother. JOHNNY Who lives at the big house? JANET Nobody you know, dear. JOHNNY That’s why I asked, Mummie. JANET Well, don’t ask any more, sonny. Mother’s rather tired. Run away and play, there’s a good boy. _[Kisses him._ JOHNNY Very well, Mummie. _[Johnny disappears into the wood. Janet falls into a brown study. Presently a footstep is heard coming along the roady but she seems to notice nothing. Then a young man climbs over the stile. He starts as he sees her and draws back, then advances eagerly, holding out his hand._ MONTY Janet, is that _you!_ JANET _(smiling)_ Yes, Monty. MONTY _(astonished)_ JANET! Here! JANET Yes, Monty. MONTY _(nodding over his shoulder)_ _Our_ stile, Janet! JANET Our stile. MONTY _(nods)_ The stile where you and I first met. JANET _(relapsing for a moment into something like sentiment)_ Yes. I thought I must see it again--for the sake of old times. MONTY How long ago it all seems! JANET _(matter of fact)_ It is a longish time, you know. MONTY _(thoughtfully)_ I believe that was the happiest month of my life, Janet. JANET Was it, Monty? MONTY Yes _(pause)_. I say, when did you come down? You don’t _live_ at home any longer, do you? JANET No. I only came down three days ago. MONTY By Jove it _is_ good to see you again. Why, it’s eight years since we used to be together, you and I. JANET Nearly nine. MONTY Yes... You’re not coming to live down here again, are you? JANET No; why? MONTY I thought perhaps... JANET _(cynically)_ Would you dislike it very much if I did, Monty? MONTY Of course not. JANET Confess. You _did_ feel it would be rather awkward? MONTY Well, of course... JANET However you can set your mind at rest. I’m not. [_His relief at this intelligence enables him to realize the pleasure he is getting from seeing her again._) MONTY I say, Janet, how well you’re looking! I believe you’re handsomer than ever. JANET (smiling) Am I? MONTY You know you are. [_Pause. He looks at her admiringly. She turns away with a little smile._ JANET _(feeling that they are getting on to dangerous ground)_ Well, Monty. Where have you been these eight years? MONTY Abroad with my regiment. We’ve been ordered all over the place. I’ve been home on leave, of course. But not for the last three years. Not since father bought the Park. I’ve never been at Brendon since ... _(pause)_. JANET Since we were here? Don’t blush, Monty. _(He nods shamefacedly.)_ How did he come to buy the place? MONTY