te, Mrs. Tremayne,
but I feel an entirely different man. There is something in the air
which--yes, I shall certainly go over to Mariton this afternoon.

BELINDA (gravely). I have had the same feeling sometimes, Mr. Baxter. I
am not always the staid respectable matron which I appear to you to
be. Sometimes I--(She looks absently at the watch on her wrist.) Good
gracious!

BAXTER (alarmed). What is it!

BELINDA (looking anxiously from the door to him). Mr. Baxter, I'm going
to throw myself on your mercy.

BAXTER. My dear Mrs. Tremayne--

BELINDA (looking at her watch again). A strange man will be here
directly. He must not find you with me.

BAXTER (rising, jealously). A man?

BELINDA (excitedly). Yes, yes, a man! He is pursuing me with his
attentions. If he found you here, there would be a terrible scene.

BAXTER. I will defend you from him.

BELINDA. No, no. He is a big man. He will--he will overpower you.

BAXTER. But you--?

BELINDA. I can defend myself. I will send him away. But he must not find
you here. You must hide before he overpowers you.

BAXTER (with dignity). I will withdraw if you wish it.

BELINDA. No, not withdraw, hide. He might see you withdrawing. (Leading
the way to a door on the right) Quick, in here.

BAXTER (embarrassed at the thought that this sort of thing really only
happens in a bedroom farce). I don't think I quite--

BELINDA (reassuring him). It's perfectly respectable; it's where we keep
the umbrellas. (She takes him by the hand.)

BAXTER (still resisting). I'm not at all sure that I--

BELINDA (earnestly). Oh, but don't you see what _trust_ I'm putting in
you? Some people are so nervous about their umbrellas.

BAXTER. Well, of course, if you--but I don't see why I shouldn't just
slip out of the door before he comes.

BELINDA (reproachfully). Of course, if you grudge me every little
pleasure--Quick! Here he is.

(She bundles him through the door, and with a sigh of happiness comes
back and looks at herself in the mirror. She goes to the front-door,
moves her hand to somebody in the distance, and comes into the hall
again. Seeing MR. BAXTER'S bowler hat on the sofa, she carries across to
his door, knocks, hands it to him, saying, "Your hat. S'sh!" and returns
to her chair. TREMAYNE comes in.)

TREMAYNE (at the door). It's no good your pretending to be surprised,
because you said I could come.

BELINDA (welcoming him). But I can still be surprised that you wanted to