MRS. CLANDON. Thank you, yes. (She turns her chair away from the
writing table, and sits down again. Gloria crosses to the hearth and
sits crouching there with her face averted.)

WAITER (placing the tray temporarily on the centre table). I thought
so, ma'am. Curious how the nerves seem to give out in the afternoon
without a cup of tea. (He fetches the tea table and places it in front
of Mrs. Cladon, conversing meanwhile.) the young lady and gentleman
have just come back, ma'am: they have been out in a boat, ma'am. Very
pleasant on a fine afternoon like this---very pleasant and invigorating
indeed. (He takes the tray from the centre table and puts it on the tea
table.) Mr. McComas will not come to tea, ma'am: he has gone to call
upon Mr. Crampton. (He takes a couple of chairs and sets one at each
end of the tea table.)

GLORIA (looking round with an impulse of terror). And the other
gentleman?

WAITER (reassuringly, as he unconsciously drops for a moment into the
measure of "I've been roaming," which he sang as a boy.) Oh, he's
coming, miss, he's coming. He has been rowing the boat, miss, and has
just run down the road to the chemist's for something to put on the
blisters. But he will be here directly, miss---directly. (Gloria, in
ungovernable apprehension, rises and hurries towards the door.)

MRS. CLANDON. (half rising). Glo--- (Gloria goes out. Mrs. Clandon
looks perplexedly at the waiter, whose composure is unruffled.)

WAITER (cheerfully). Anything more, ma'am?