NICHOLAS. Won’t you have a little more of this, and won’t you have a little more of that, and how is the poor cold to-day, and—— LEONARD. You really think that women talk like that? NICHOLAS. How else do you think they talk? LEONARD. My dear fellow!... Why, I mean, just take my own case as an example. Here am I, with a very nasty cold, the first I’ve ever had in my life. I sit down for a bit of breakfast—not wanting it particularly, but feeling that, for the sake of my health, I ought to try and eat something. And what happens? (_LATIMER has come in during this speech. He stops and listens to it._) LATIMER (_trying to guess the answer_). You eat too much. LEONARD (_turning round angrily_). Ah, so it’s you! You have come just in time, Mr. Latimer. I propose to leave your house at once. LATIMER (_surprised_). Not like that? Not with a little bit of soap behind the ear? (_LEONARD hastily wipes it._) The other ear. (_LEONARD wipes that one_) That’s right. LEONARD. At once, sir. NICHOLAS. You’d better come with us. We’re just going. LEONARD. Thank you. LATIMER. Four of you. A nice little party. _ANNE comes in._ LEONARD. Anne, my dear, we are leaving the house at once. Are you ready? ANNE. But—— EUSTASIA (_from outside_). Nich-o-las! (_LEONARD looks up in astonishment._) NICHOLAS (_gloomily_). Hallo! EUSTASIA. Where are you? NICHOLAS. Here! _EUSTASIA comes in._ EUSTASIA. Are you ready, darling? (_She stops on seeing them all, and looks from one to the other. She sees her husband_) Leonard! NICHOLAS (_understanding_). Leonard! LEONARD. Eustasia! ANNE. Eustasia! (_They stare at each other—open-mouthed—all but MR. LATIMER. MR. LATIMER has picked up “The Times,” and seems to have forgotten that they are there...._) ANNE (_after hours and hours_). Oh, isn’t anybody going to say anything? Mr. Latimer, while Leonard is thinking of something, you might introduce me to his wife. LATIMER (_recalled suddenly from the leading article_). I beg your pardon! Eustasia, this is Anne. ANNE. How do you do? (_Not that she minds._) EUSTASIA. How do you do? (_Nor she._) LATIMER. Leonard, this is Nicholas. NICHOLAS (_nodding_). We’ve met. Quite old friends. LEONARD (_indignantly_). I repudiate the friendship. We met under false pretences. I—I—Well, upon my word, I don’t know _what_ to say. NICHOLAS. Then don’t say it, old boy. Here we all are, and we’ve got to make the best of it. LEONARD. I—I—_a-tish-oo!_ EUSTASIA (_alarmed_). Leonard, you have a cold? NICHOLAS. A very nasty cold. ANNE (_coldly_). It will be better when he has finished his breakfast. LEONARD (_hurt_). I _have_ finished my breakfast. A long time ago. ANNE. I beg your pardon. (_She indicates the towel round his neck_) I misunderstood. LEONARD (_pulling it away_). I’ve been shaving. EUSTASIA. But, Leonard dear, I don’t understand. I’ve never known you ill before.