PHOEBE [Laughs.] Is she coming--the Villiers woman?

JANET Yes. I ran her down at last--at her dress-maker's. She
made an awful fuss about it, but I wouldn't leave till she'd
promised. Tell me, it's something quite important, isn't it?

PHOEBE I don't know anything, except that I had an urgent telegram
from mamma this morning to call a meeting of the entire Council
here at three o'clock. She's coming up from Manchester on purpose.
[To HAKE.] Mrs. Chilvers hasn't returned yet, has she?

HAKE Not yet, miss. Shall I telephone -

PHOEBE [Shakes her head.] No; it's all right. I have seen her.
Let her know we are here the moment she comes in.

HAKE Yes, miss. [He has finished the arrangements. The table has
been placed in the centre of the room, six chairs round it, one of
them being a large armchair. He has placed writing materials and a
large silver gravy spoon. He is going.]

PHOEBE Why aren't you sure your wife wasn't at the meeting last
night? Didn't she say anything?

HAKE Well, miss, unfortunately, just as she was starting, Mrs.
Comerford--that's the wife of the party that keeps the shop
downstairs--looked in with an order for the theatre.

PHOEBE Oh!