EGERTON.

Come right in.

If you'll allow me, friends, suppose you stand Where you can have my forest in your eye.

(_He arranges them to face right_)

I don't see, ladies, how you ever endure The dulness of these males. We've been at riddles.

Come in. I've kept my best wine for the last.

(_He steps back near the door, centre right_)

Suppose you'd made an Adam out of clay, Worked years to get it to your satisfaction, And now you're looking at it, hands all washed And mind confronting, weighing what's been done.

Suddenly you're aware of something standing by you That whispers in your left ear: 'Make a wish Within the power of G.o.d.' What would it be?

BISHOP HARDBROOKE.

To see it walk about the garden, brother.

EGERTON.

Suppose your Adam was a pine-wood, Bishop, That couldn't walk.

MRS. ORR.

(_Ardently_)

Then just to hear it breathe.

EGERTON.

A woman's intuition!

(_Looks to see who it is_)

Sylvia Orr!

BISHOP HARDBROOKE.

_Sylva_ a forest.

EGERTON.

An old friend of mine.

(_He gives a signal to some one_)

A clear day in the pine-wood.

(_Suddenly the hall is beautifully illuminated_)

GUESTS.

Ah!

EGERTON.

With clouds, The dawn just breaking.

(_The hall becomes gray and shadowy_)

Ancient silence.

MRS. EGERTON.

(_Half in terror_)

Donald!

EGERTON.

Let us be quiet now.

(_The silence is broken by the ringing of a telephone bell in the room forward left_)

GENERAL CHADBOURNE.

Ah!

MRS. ORR.

(_Across to Mrs. Egerton_)

Don't you dare!

(_The Butler goes out to answer the telephone_)

GOVERNOR BRADDOCK.

This age of bells and whistles.

GENERAL CHADBOURNE.

(_Comes forward and takes his stand near the door forward left_)

Just in time!

EGERTON.