anything else.

FANNY. Thank you.

DR. FREEMANTLE. I merely meant that--well, I was not expecting
anything so delightfully demure.

FANNY. That's the idea--"seemly." The Lady Bantocks have always
been "seemly"? [She puts it as a question.]

DR. FREEMANTLE [more and more puzzled]. Yes--oh, yes. They have
always been--[His eye catches that of Constance, first Lady Bantock,
looking down at him from above the chimney-piece. His tone changes.]
Well, yes, in their way, you know.

FANNY. You see, I'm in the difficult position of following her LATE
ladyship. SHE appears to have been exceptionally "seemly." This is
her frock. I mean it WAS her frock.

DR. FREEMANTLE. God bless my soul! You are not dressing yourself up
in her late ladyship's clothes? The dear good woman has been dead
and buried these twenty years.

FANNY [she looks at her dress]. Yes, it struck me as being about
that period.

DR. FREEMANTLE [he goes across to her]. What's the trouble? Too
much Bennet?

FANNY [she looks up. There is a suspicion of a smile]. One might