ACT I

Hillcrist’s study.  A pleasant room, with books in calf bindings, and signs that the Hillcrist’s have travelled, such as a large photograph of the Taj Mahal, of Table Mountain, and the Pyramids of Egypt.  A large bureau [stage Right], devoted to the business of a country estate.  Two foxes’ masks.  Flowers in bowls.  Deep armchairs.  A large French window open [at Back], with a lovely view of a slight rise of fields and trees in August sunlight.  A fine stone fireplace [stage Left].  A door [Left].  A door opposite [Right].  General colour effect—­stone, and cigar-leaf brown, with spots of bright colour.

[Hillcrist sits in a swivel chair at the bureau, busy with papers.  He has gout, and his left foot is encased accord:  He is a thin, dried-up man of about fifty-five, with a rather refined, rather kindly, and rather cranky countenance.  Close to him stands his very upstanding nineteen-year-old daughter Jill, with clubbed hair round a pretty, manly face.]

Jill.  You know, Dodo, it’s all pretty good rot in these days.

Hillcrist. Cads are cads, Jill, even in these days.

Jill.  What is a cad?

Hillcrist. A self-assertive fellow, without a sense of other people.

Jill.  Well, Old Hornblower I’ll give you.

Hillcrist. I wouldn’t take him.

Jill.  Well, you’ve got him.  Now, Charlie—­Chearlie—­I say—­the importance of not being Charlie——­

Hillcrist. Good heavens! do you know their Christian names?

Jill.  My dear father, they’ve been here seven years.

Hillcrist. In old days we only knew their Christian names from their tombstones.

Jill.  Charlie Hornblower isn’t really half a bad sport.

Hillcrist. About a quarter of a bad sport I’ve always thought out hunting.

Jill. [Pulling his hair] Now, his wife—­Chloe—–­

Hillcrist. [Whimsical] Gad! your mother’d have a fit if she knew you called her Chloe.

Jill.  It’s a ripping name.

Hillcrist. Chloe!  H’m!  I had a spaniel once——­

Jill.  Dodo, you’re narrow.  Buck up, old darling, it won’t do. 
Chloe has seen life, I’m pretty sure; that’s attractive, anyway. 
No, mother’s not in the room; don’t turn your uneasy eyes.

Hillcrist. Really, my dear, you are getting——­

Jill.  The limit.  Now, Rolf——­

Hillcrist. What’s Rolf?  Another dog?

Jill.  Rolf Hornblower’s a topper; he really is a nice boy.

Hillcrist. [With a sharp look] Oh!  He’s a nice boy?

Jill.  Yes, darling.  You know what a nice boy is, don’t you?

Hillcrist. Not in these days.