_Mrs. De Mullin, poor lady, is a crushed, timid creature of fifty-eight or so, entirely dominated by the De Mullin fetish and quite unable to hold her own against either her husband or her sister-in-law, a hardmouthed, resolute woman of sixty. Even Hester she finds almost too much for her. For the rest a gentle, kindly lady, rather charming in her extreme helplessness. Rolt is the average country doctor, brisk, sensible, neither a fool nor a genius._ ROLT (as they enter the room) He’s better. Distinctly better. A little weak and depressed, of course. That’s only to be expected. Good morning. [_Shakes hands with Hester. Nods to Brown_. MRS. DE MULLIN Mr. De Mullin is always nervous about himself. ROLT Yes. Constitutional, no doubt. But he’ll pick up in a few days. Keep him as quiet as you can. That’s really all he needs now. MRS. DE MULLIN You don’t think he ought to stay in his room? ... Good morning, Mr. Brown. Are you waiting to see me? [_Brown shakes hands with both ladies._ BROWN (_awkwardly_) Not specially. I walked over from the church with Miss De Mullin. HESTER Is father coming downstairs, mother? MRS. DE MULLIN Yes, Hester. He insisted on getting up. You know he always hates staying in his room. HESTER Oh, Dr. Rolt, do you think he _should?_ ROLT I don’t think it will do him any harm. He can rest quietly in a chair or on the sofa.... Well, I must be off. Good-bye, Mrs. De Mullin. [_Shakes hands briskly with every one_. BROWN (_rising ponderously_) I must be going too (_shakes hands with Mrs. De Mullin_). You’ll tell Mr. De Mullin I inquired after him? Good-bye, Mrs. Clouston (_shakes hands_). And you’re coming to help with the Harvest Decorations on Saturday, aren’t you, Miss De Mullin? HESTER _(shaking hands)_ Of course. [_Brown and Rolt go out._ MRS. CLOUSTON _(seating herself and beginning to knit resolutely)_ What singularly unattractive curates the Vicar seems to get hold of, Jane!. MRS. DE MULLIN _(meekly)_ Do you think so, Harriet? MRS. CLOUSTON Quite remarkably. This Mr. Brown, for instance. He has the most enormous _feet!_ And his boots! I’ve never seen such boots! HESTER _(flushing)_ We needn’t sneer if Mr. Brown doesn’t wear fine clothes, Aunt Harriet. MRS. CLOUSTON Of course not Hester. Still, I think he goes to the opposite extreme. And he really is quite abnormally plain. Then there was that Mr. Snood, who was curate when I was down last year. The man with the very red hands. (_These acid comments are too much for Hester, who flounces out angrily. Mrs. Clouston looks up for a moment, wondering what is the meaning of this sudden disappearance. Then continues unmoved._) I’m afraid the clergy aren’t what they were in our young days, Jane. MRS. DE MULLIN I don’t think I’ve noticed any falling off. MRS. CLOUSTON