Baron, (_l._) Ja, I say to myself, my fren Rollitt--I always call you my fren--my fren Rollitt, I say, he is a gut fellow--he has money--all he vants is family. (_Guss. goes to Dex. l. c._) He must marry family. (_Dex. goes c. and tries to hear conversation--Baron notices it and crosses to r.with Allen._) Now, Miss Dexter, she is a nice girl--ach, such a nice girl--but she has no family. Allen. No--not yet. (_Luke gets near fireplace R._) Baron, (_r. Seeing it after a while._) Ah, nein, nein--I do not mean vat you mean--I mean family de oder vay--backvards--dead uns. Allen. Oh! Baron. Ja. Now, dere is my niece, look at her family! Look at her ancestors--all barons--German barons! And she is such a nice girl--so beaudiful--so plump--ach, I will indroduce her to you. She vill mash you--so much. She-- (_Enter Mrs. R., Deb. behind her, lower l. door. Seeing the room full she stands by door hesitatingly._) Guss. (_Coming down and interrupting, with a sneering laugh._) Your nurse, Rollitt, I think. (_Comes c. Luke goes to fireplace R._) Allen. (_Turns and sees them, and then goes towards them._) Yes, Mr. Gussett--the best nurse a man can have--my mother. (_Guss. confused, but soon recovers himself and laughs it off. Col. D., Luke, and Clara come forward to greet Mrs. R. and Deb. l. c., and the customary ceremony, etc., is gone through--all speaking together._) Clara. (_Smiling pleasantly, shakes hands with Mrs. R._) Good-morning, Mrs. Rollitt. You are looking so well and jolly. How are you, my dear? (_To Deb. Between these two the greeting is really strained and awkward, although outwardly pleasant enough. Clara kisses Deb., but Deb. seems to shrink--she turns away. Clara notices this, and follows Deb. as she turns away up c., with a meaning look. While it has been going on the greeting between Mrs. R. and Luke has taken place--Mrs. R. down l._) Allen. (_Finishing his introduction of Mrs. R. and Baron._) The Baron von Schnorr--Mrs. Rollitt, my mother. Baron. Your mudder--Oh, impossible. (_Goes l. c._) Mrs. R. (_Huffy._) I beg your pardon, Mr. Snort. Baron. Ach, ja, you are laughing at me--not your mudder. (_Clara walks round at back, drops down r. near Luke._) Mrs. R. (_Very indignant._) Yes--his mother. Don’t you cast any of your nasty foreign insinuations upon me. I’m his lawful married mother, and his father was his father, and a better man never lived, as anyone in Exmoor-- Allen. (_Soothing her._) It’s all right, mother, the Baron only means it complimentary. Thee’st supposed to look too young to be anybody’s mother. He has to take (_Clara sits r._) thee for my sister. (_Laughing--goes up l. c. with Dex._) Baron. Ja--I take you for his sister. Ach, you English ladies, you never seem to get more old--you only get more round, more--more jolly. Mrs. R. (_Still indignant._) Ah--foolishness. (_Ruffling her dress and sitting very stiff l. on sofa._)