NORIA'S interest in CARVE.) Yes, he's
a little unhinged. And who wouldn't be?

PETER. Got 'em--if you ask me! (Moving to leave.)

LOOE. (Moving to leave.) Honoria.

JANET. (Very soothingly and humouringly to CARVE.) So this is what you
call being shy!

CARVE. (To JANET, who is now bending over him.) It must be stopped.

JANET. (As the others go out; humouring him.) Yes, yes! (Absently in
reply to bows and adieux of LOOE, HONORIA, and PETER HORNING.) Good
morning! (When they are gone, with a sigh of relief.) Well, it is a
mighty queer place! My word, how cold your hands are! (Going quickly to
telephone and speaking into telephone.) Please send up two hot-water
bottles at once. Yes, hot-water bottles. Never heard of a hot-water
bottle before?

The Stage is darkened for a few moments to indicate the passage of
time.

SCENE 2

TIME.--Afternoon, four days later.

JANET is dozing in an easy-chair. Enter CARVE in his
dressing-gown.

JANET. (Starting up.) Mr. Shawn, what are you doing out of bed? After
such a dose of flu as you've had!

CARVE. I'm doing nothing out of bed. (Twiddles his thumbs.)

JANET. But you've no right to be out of bed at all.

CARVE. I was afraid I hadn't. But I called and called, and there was no
answer. So then I began to argue the point. Why not get up? I'd had a
tremendous long sleep. I felt singularly powerful. And I thought you'd
gone home.

JANET. Nay--that you never did!

CARVE. I did, honestly.

JANET. Do you mean to say you thought for a single moment I should go
home and leave you like that?

CARVE. Yes. But of course I thought you might be coming back sooner or
later.

JANET. Well I never!

CARVE. You've scarcely left me for three days and three nights, Mrs.
Cannot, so far as I remember. Surely it was natural for me to suppose
that you'd gone home to your own affairs.

JANET. (Sarcastically.) It didn't occur to you I might have dropped
off to sleep?

CARVE. Now, don't be angry. I'm only convalescent.

JANET. Will you kindly march right back to bed this instant?

CARVE. No, I'm dashed if I do!

JANET. I beg pardon.

CARVE. I say, I'm dashed if I do! I won't stir until I've thanked you.
I've been ill I don't know how many times; but this is the first time in
my life I've ever enjoyed being ill. D'you know (with an ingenuous
smile.) I'd really no idea what nursing was.

JANET. (Drily.) Hadn't you? Well, if you call that nursing, I do