I'll go and see to that little matter of
Mrs. Chloe. Never fear, we'll do them is somehow.

[He winks, lays his finger on the side of his nose, and goes
out at the door.]

[MRS. HILLCRIST mounts the two steps, sits down Right of the
door, and puts up a pair of long-handled glasses. Through the
door behind her come CHLOE and ROLF. She makes a sign for him
to go, and shuts the door.]

CHLOE. [At the foot of the steps in the gangway--with a slightly
common accent] Mrs. Hillcrist!

MRS. H. [Not quite starting] I beg your pardon?

CHLOE. [Again] Mrs. Hillcrist----

MRS. H. Well?

CHLOE. I never did you any harm.

MRS. H. Did I ever say you did?

CHLOE. No; but you act as if I had.

MRS. H. I'm not aware that I've acted at all--as yet. You are
nothing to me, except as one of your family.

CHLOE. 'Tisn't I that wants to spoil your home.

MRS. H. Stop them then. I see your husband down there with his
father.

CHLOE. I--I have tried.

MRS. H. [Looking at her] Oh! I suppose such men don't pay
attention to what women ask them.

CHLOE. [With a flash of spirit] I'm fond of my husband. I----

MRS. H. [Looking at her steadily] I don't quite know why you spoke
to me.

CHLOE. [With a sort of pathetic sullenness] I only thought perhaps
you'd like to treat me as a human being.

MRS. H. Really, if you don't mind, I should like to be left alone
just now.

CHLOE. [Unhappily acquiescent] Certainly! I'll go to the other
end.

[She moves to the Left, mounts the steps and sits down.]

[ROLF, looking in through the door, and seeing where she is,
joins her. MRS. HILLCRIST resettles herself a little further
in on the Right.]

ROLF. [Bending over to CHLOE, after a glance at MRS. HILLCRIST.]
Are you all right?

CHLOE. It's awfully hot.

[She fans herself wide the particulars of sale.]

ROLF. There's Dawker. I hate that chap!

CHLOE. Where?

ROLF. Down there; see?

[He points down to stage Right of the room.]

CHLOE. [Drawing back in her seat with a little gasp] Oh!

ROLF. [Not noticing] Who's that next him, looking up here?

CHLOE. I don't know.

[She has raised her auction programme suddenly, and sits
fanning herself, carefully screening her face.]

ROLE. [Looking at her] Don't you feel well? Shall I get you some
water? [He gets up at her nod.]

[As he reaches the door, HILLCRI