NORAH (_patiently_). It is Mr. Chillingham’s house, but Mrs. Chillingham has been away for a few weeks. So Iris is playing hostess. I happened to mention that I had a disreputable little boy-cousin called Ronald Derwent, and she very kindly—— RONNY. Not so much of it, Norah. I knew Iris before you did, and I knew Jack as soon as you did. And if it’s old man Chillingham’s house, all I can say is that old man Chillingham has got a pretty taste in claret. NORAH. Really, Ronny, to hear you talk about claret, anybody would think that you were grown up. Whereas we all know what you do with your threepence a week every Saturday. Pear-drops, my lad, pear-drops. RONNY (_grimly_). Very well, Norah, you’ve done for yourself. (_He seizes a cushion and advances upon her. She jumps out of the chair and runs to the other side of the hall, picking up a cushion on the way._) NORAH. You’ll get your hair ruffled if you aren’t careful. RONNY. You’ll be lucky if you have any hair left by the time I’ve finished with you. (_He hurls a cushion at her._) NORAH. Oh, rotten shot! (_He goes to the sofa to get more cushions, and dodges behind it as she flings hers at him. They are interrupted by BENHAM, who is crossing the hall with whisky and papers for SIR ROGER._) RONNY (_who is about to throw a cushion_). All right, Benham. You go on. BENHAM (_politely_). After you, sir. (_The cushion whizzes past his head at NORAH_) Thank you, sir. (_He goes on to the morning-room. By the time that he returns the combatants have disappeared, leaving most of their ammunition behind them. As he crosses by the window, BROXOPP is seen approaching from the outside. BROXOPP is now the complete country gentleman, with fishing outfit. But he looks unhappy in his new clothes, and he is not the BROXOPP he was._) BROXOPP. Ah, Benham. BENHAM (_taking his things_). Any sport, sir? BROXOPP. No.... That is to say, _I_ didn’t have any. I can’t speak for the fish. They may have enjoyed it. BENHAM. I’ve heard gentlemen say that it can be a very attractive recreation, even when (_he looks into the obviously empty basket_)—as in this case, sir. BROXOPP. To a man who really enjoys fishing—as I am told I do—no doubt that is so. BENHAM. Yes, you’re quite an enthusiast, sir. BROXOPP. So they assure me, Benham. Golf is another pastime to which—I understand—I am devoted. (_He looks in astonishment at the disordered hall, with its overturned chairs and scattered cushions_) Has anything been happening? BENHAM (_as he begins to restore the place to order_). Nothing at all out of the way, sir. BROXOPP. Oh! BENHAM. Quite a feature of the best country-house life, sir, as you might say. The younger members of the party are often extremely partial to it. In this case, sir, Mr. Derwent and Miss Field were letting off their high spirits with a few cushions. It brought back the old castle days very pleasurably, sir.