BOHUN. Come: I'll help you out. What do you object to in the present circumstances of the children? CRAMPTON. I object to the way they have been brought up. BOHUN. How do you propose to alter that now? CRAMPTON. I think they ought to dress more quietly. VALENTINE. Nonsense. BOHUN (instantly flinging himself back in his chair, outraged by the interruption). When you are done, Mr. Valentine--when you are quite done. VALENTINE. What's wrong with Miss Clandon's dress? CRAMPTON (hotly to Valentine). My opinion is as good as yours. GLORIA (warningly). Father! CRAMPTON (subsiding piteously). I didn't mean you, my dear. (Pleading earnestly to Bohun.) But the two younger ones! you have not seen them, Mr. Bohun; and indeed I think you would agree with me that there is something very noticeable, something almost gay and frivolous in their style of dressing. MRS. CLANDON (impatiently). Do you suppose I choose their clothes for them? Really this is childish. CRAMPTON (furious, rising). Childish! (Mrs. Clandon rises indignantly.) McCOMAS } (all ris- } Crampton, you promised-- VALENTINE } ing and } Ridiculous. They dress } speaking } charmingly. GLORIA } together). } Pray let us behave reasonably. Tumult. Suddenly they hear a chime of glasses in the room behind them. They turn in silent surprise and find that the waiter has just come back from the bar in the garden, and is jingling his tray warningly as he comes softly to the table with it. WAITER (to Crampton, setting a tumbler apart on the table). Irish for you, sir. (Crampton sits down a little shamefacedly. The waiter sets another tumbler and a syphon apart, saying to Bohun) Scotch and syphon for you, sir. (Bohun waves his hand impatiently. The waiter places a large glass jug in the middle.) And claret cup. (All subside into their seats. Peace reigns.) MRS. CLANDON (humbly to Bohun). I am afraid we interrupted you, Mr. Bohun. BOHUN (calmly). You did. (To the waiter, who is going out.) Just wait a bit. WAITER. Yes, sir. Certainly, sir. (He takes his stand behind Bohun's chair.) MRS. CLANDON (to the waiter). You don't mind our detaining you, I hope. Mr. Bohun wishes it. WAITER (now quite at his ease). Oh, no, ma'am, not at all, ma'am. It is a pleasure to me to watch the working of his trained and powerful mind--very stimulating, very entertaining and instructive indeed, ma'am. BOHUN (resuming command of the proceedings). Now, Mr. Crampton: we are waiting for you. Do you give up your objection to the dressing, or do you stick to it? CRAMPTON (pleading). Mr. Bohun: consider my position for a moment. I haven't got myself alone to consider: there's my sister Sophronia and my brother-in-law and all their circle. They have a great horror of anything that is at all--at all--well-- BOHUN. Out with it. Fast? Loud? Gay?