NEWTE. Hush! [_He indicates doors_, _the one leading to her ladyship’s
apartments_, _the other to his lordship’s_.]
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL [_turning and greeting him_]. It was so kind
of you not to leave us last night.
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. We were so upset.
_Dr. Freemantle pats their hands_.
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. We hope you slept all right.
DR. FREEMANTLE. Excellently. Shall be glad of a shave, that’s all.
[_Laughs_. _Both he and Newte suggest the want of one_.]
NEWTE [_who has been officiating_]. Help yourself to milk and sugar.
DR. FREEMANTLE [_who has seated himself_]. Have the Bennets gone?
NEWTE. Well, they had their notice all right.
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL [_they have begun to cry_]. It has been so
wrong and foolish of us. We have never learnt to do anything for
ourselves.
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. We don’t even know where our things are.
DR. FREEMANTLE. They can’t all have gone—the whole twenty-three of them,
at a couple of hours’ notice. [_To Newte_] Haven’t seen any of them,
have you?
NEWTE. No sign of any of them downstairs.
DR. FREEMANTLE. Oh, they must be still here. Not up, I suppose. It
isn’t seven o’clock yet.
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. But they have all been discharged. We can’t
ask them to do anything.
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL [_to her sister_]. And the Grimstones are
coming to lunch with the new curate. Vernon asked them on Sunday.
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. Perhaps there’s something cold.
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL. Vernon so dislikes a cold lunch.
DR. FREEMANTLE [_to Newte_]. Were you able to get hold of Vernon last
night?
NEWTE. Waited up till he came in about two o’clock. Merely answered
that he wasn’t in a talkative mood—brushed past me and locked himself in.
DR. FREEMANTLE. He wouldn’t say anything to me either. Rather a bad
sign when he won’t talk.
NEWTE. What’s he likely to do?
DR. FREEMANTLE. Don’t know. Of course it will be all over the county.
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL. And dear Vernon is so sensitive.