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Alec: So that’s where you all are! Amory Blaine is here.

Cecelia: (Quickly) Take him down-stairs.

Alec: Oh, he is down-stairs.

Mrs. Connage: Well, you can show him where his room is. Tell him I’m sorry that I can’t meet him now.

Alec: He’s heard a lot about you all. I wish you’d hurry. Father’s telling him all about the war and he’s restless. He’s sort of temperamental.

(This last suffices to draw Cecelia into the room.)

Cecelia: (Seating herself high upon lingerie) How do you mean—temperamental? You used to say that about him in letters.

Alec: Oh, he writes stuff.

Cecelia: Does he play the piano?

Alec: Don’t think so.

Cecelia: (Speculatively) Drink?

Alec: Yes—nothing queer about him.

Cecelia: Money?

Alec: Good Lord—ask him, he used to have a lot, and he’s got some income now.

(Mrs. Connage appears.)

Mrs. Connage: Alec, of course we’re glad to have any friend of yours——

Alec: You certainly ought to meet Amory.

Mrs. Connage: Of course, I want to. But I think it’s so childish of you to leave a perfectly good home to go and live with two other boys in some impossible apartment. I hope it isn’t in order that you can all drink as much as you want. (She pauses.) He’ll be a little neglected to-night. This is Rosalind’s week, you see. When a girl comes out, she needs all the attention.