Still, she _ought_ to be told, Janet. I think _she must_ be told. JANET My dear mother, if _she_ knows everybody will know, and the scandal will make all the dead and gone De Mullins turn in their graves. As for father it would simply kill him out of hand. MRS. DE MULLIN _(sadly)_ Poor father. JANET _(briskly)_ So, on the whole, I don’t think we’ll tell any one. Come, mother, it’s time we started. _(More kindly)_ Poor mother. Don’t fret. Perhaps Hester will have some news to cheer you when we get home. MRS. DE MULLIN Hester? JANET _(rallying her)_ An engagement, mother. Hester’s engagement. Hester and Mr. Brown have been decorating the church for the last _four_ hours. What an opportunity for a declaration! Or don’t people propose in church? MRS. DE MULLIN Janet, how can you laugh after what has happened? JANET Laugh? Of course I can laugh. What else is there to do? Let’s go home. Johnny! Johnny! _(calls)_. [_By this time twilight is falling. A full moon has begun to risey lighting uf the scene._ JOHNNY _(off r.)_ Yes, Mummie. JANET Come along, dear. Mother’s going to start. Johnny _(off r.)_ All right, Mummie. _(entering r.)_ Oh, Mummie, you’ve not seen my rabbits yet! JANET No. It’s too dark to-night. Mother must come and see them another time. JOHNNY You won’t forget, will you, Mummie? _(looking at Mrs. De Mullin)_ Grandmother, you’ve been crying. Is that because I stung myself with a nettle? JANET Little egoist! Of course it is. Give your grandmother a kiss and we’ll all walk home together. [_Mrs. De Mullin stoop and kisses Johnny passionately. They go off through the gate and the curtain falls._ ACT III Five days have passed since Act II _Scene:_ As in Act I _Time:_ Late afternoon [_When the curtain rises Mrs. Clouston, Mrs. De Mullin, and Janet are on the stage. The nervous tension of the last few days has clearly told on Janet, who looks feverish and irritable._ MRS. DE MULLIN _(speaking off into the hall on the right)_ Good-bye. Good-bye. JANET _(who is standing about c., scornfully)_ Good-bye! Good-bye! MRS. CLOUSTON _(shocked)_ Janet! JANET _(fiercely)_ How many times a week does that Bulstead woman think it necessary to call on us? MRS. CLOUSTON _(sitting)_ She doesn’t call very often. JANET She’s been three times this week. MRS. DE MULLIN _(closing door r.)_ Naturally she wants to hear how your father is, dear. JANET _(irritably)_ My dear mother, what _can_ it matter to Mrs. Bulstead whether father lives or dies? MRS. DE MULLIN Janet! JANET _(exasperated)_ Well, mother, do you seriously believe she cares? Or Miss Deanes? Or Miss Rolt? Or any of these people? They only call because they’ve nothing better to do. It’s sheer mental vacuity on their part. Besides, father’s perfectly well now. They know that. But they go on _calling, calling!_ I wonder Miss Deanes doesn’t bring her cockatoo to inquire.