LETTY. What is it? I love news.

GERALD. All ready? Then one, two, three: Bob is coming this
afternoon.

LETTY and TOMMY together. No! Rot!

GERALD (Singing to the tune of "Here we go gathering nuts and may").
Oh, Bob is coming this afternoon, this afternoon, this afternoon!
Oh, Bob is coming this afternoon, all on an autumn morning! Now
then, all together.

(They join hands and march up the hall and back again, singing
together.)

ALL TOGETHER (waving imaginary hats). Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

TOMMY. It doesn't make sense, you know, coming back in the afternoon
on an autumn morning.

GERALD. Who cares for sense?

LETTY (squeezing his arm). Oh, Gerald, I _am_ glad. But I thought he
had another week or so.

GERALD. They always let you out early, you know, if you're good. We
knew he was coming soon, but we didn't quite know when. I've just
had a telegram.