BILL

Only doing my duty.

[John stops and reflects at this, deciding it isn’t good enough.  He shrugs his shoulders, turns round and goes away.]

JOHN

I shouldn’t be surprised if I didn’t get even
with you one of these days, you . . . . . and
some way you won’t expect.

Curtain

SCENE 2

Yesterday evening.

[Curtain rises on John and Mary in their suburban home.]

JOHN

I say, dear.  Don’t you think we ought to plant an acacia?

MARY

An acacia, what’s that, John?

JOHN

O, it’s one of those trees that they have.

MARY

But why, John?

JOHN

Well, you see the house is called The Acacias, and it seems rather silly not to have at least one.

MARY

O, I don’t think that matters.  Lots of places are called lots of things.  Everyone does.

JOHN

Yes, but it might help the postman.

MARY

O, no, it wouldn’t, dear.  He wouldn’t know an acacia if he saw it any more than I should.

JOHN

Quite right, Mary, you’re always right.  What a clever head you’ve got!

MARY

Have I, John?  We’ll plant an acacia if you like.  I’ll ask about it at the grocer’s.

JOHN

You can’t get one there.

MARY

No, but he’s sure to know where it can be got.

JOHN

Where do they grow, Mary?

MARY

I don’t know, John; but I am sure they do, somewhere.

JOHN

Somehow I wish sometimes, I almost wish I could have gone abroad for a week or so to places like where acacias grow naturally.

MARY

O, would you really, John?

JOHN

No, not really.  But I just think of it sometimes.

MARY

Where would you have gone?