WAITER. Thank you, ma'am. (As he withdraws, Phil and Dolly, in the highest spirits, come tearing in. He holds the door open for them; then goes out and closes it.) DOLLY (ravenously). Oh, give me some tea. (Mrs. Clandon pours out a cup for her.) We've been out in a boat. Valentine will be here presently. PHILIP. He is unaccustomed to navigation. Where's Gloria? MRS. CLANDON (anxiously, as she pours out his tea). Phil: there is something the matter with Gloria. Has anything happened? (Phil and Dolly look at one another and stifle a laugh.) What is it? PHILIP (sitting down on her left). Romeo-- DOLLY (sitting down on her right). --and Juliet. PHILIP (taking his cup of tea from Mrs. Clandon). Yes, my dear mother: the old, old story. Dolly: don't take all the milk. (He deftly takes the jug from her.) Yes: in the spring-- DOLLY. --a young man's fancy-- PHILIP. --lightly turns to--thank you (to Mrs. Clandon, who has passed the biscuits) --thoughts of love. It also occurs in the autumn. The young man in this case is-- DOLLY. Valentine. PHILIP. And his fancy has turned to Gloria to the extent of-- DOLLY. --kissing her-- PHILIP. --on the terrace-- DOLLY (correcting him). --on the lips, before everybody. MRS. CLANDON (incredulously). Phil! Dolly! Are you joking? (They shake their heads.) Did she allow it? PHILIP. We waited to see him struck to earth by the lightning of her scorn;-- DOLLY. --but he wasn't. PHILIP. She appeared to like it. DOLLY. As far as we could judge. (Stopping Phil, who is about to pour out another cup.) No: you've sworn off two cups. MRS. CLANDON (much troubled). Children: you must not be here when Mr. Valentine comes. I must speak very seriously to him about this. PHILIP. To ask him his intentions? What a violation of Twentieth Century principles! DOLLY. Quite right, mamma: bring him to book. Make the most of the nineteenth century while it lasts. PHILIP. Sh! Here he is. (Valentine comes in.) VALENTINE Very sorry to be late for tea, Mrs. Clandon. (She takes up the tea-pot.) No, thank you: I never take any. No doubt Miss Dolly and Phil have explained what happened to me. PHILIP (momentously rising). Yes, Valentine: we have explained. DOLLY (significantly, also rising). We have explained very thoroughly. PHILIP. It was our duty. (Very seriously.) Come, Dolly. (He offers Dolly his arm, which she takes. They look sadly at him, and go out gravely, arm in arm. Valentine stares after them, puzzled; then looks at Mrs. Clandon for an explanation.)