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be stirring。 He goes out； returns immediately with a butler's tray； containing all things necessary for a breakfast and the lighting of a fire。 He places the tray on table； throws his coat over a chair； and is on his knees busy lighting the fire； when enter the Misses Wetherell； clad in dressing…gowns and caps： yet still they continue to look sweet。 They also creep in； hand in hand。 The crouching Newte is hidden by a hanging fire… screen。 They creep forward till the coat hanging over the chair catches their eye。 They are staring at it as Robinson Crusoe might at the footprint； when Newte rises suddenly and turns。 The Misses Wetherell give a suppressed scream； and are preparing for flight。
NEWTE ＇he stays them＇。 No call to run away； ladies。 When a man's travelledas I haveacross America； in a sleeping…car； with a comic…opera troop； there's not much left for him to know。 You want your breakfast！ ＇He wheedles them to the table。＇ We'll be able to talk cosilybefore anybody else comes。
They yield themselves。 He has a way with him。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 We haven't slept all night。
Newte answers with a sympathetic gesture。 He is busy getting ready the breakfast。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 There's something we want to tell dear Vernonbefore he says anything to Fanny。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 It's something very important。
NEWTE。 We'll have a cup of tea firstto steady our nerves。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 It's so important that we should tell him before he sees Fanny。
NEWTE。 We'll see to it。 ＇He makes the tea。＇ I fancy they're both asleep at present。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 Poor boy！
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 If she only hadn't …
Dr。 Freemantle has entered。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 I thought I heard somebody stirring …
NEWTE。 Hush！ ＇He indicates doors； the one leading to her ladyship's apartments； the other to his lordship's。＇
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL ＇turning and greeting him＇。 It was so kind of you not to leave us last night。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 We were so upset。
Dr。 Freemantle pats their hands。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 We hope you slept all right。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 Excellently。 Shall be glad of a shave； that's all。 ＇Laughs。 Both he and Newte suggest the want of one。＇
NEWTE ＇who has been officiating＇。 Help yourself to milk and sugar。
DR。 FREEMANTLE ＇who has seated himself＇。 Have the Bennets gone？
NEWTE。 Well； they had their notice all right。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL ＇they have begun to cry＇。 It has been so wrong and foolish of us。 We have never learnt to do anything for ourselves。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 We don't even know where our things are。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 They can't all have gonethe whole twenty…three of them； at a couple of hours' notice。 ＇To Newte＇ Haven't seen any of them； have you？
NEWTE。 No sign of any of them downstairs。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 Oh； they must be still here。 Not up； I suppose。 It isn't seven o'clock yet。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 But they have all been discharged。 We can't ask them to do anything。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL ＇to her sister＇。 And the Grimstones are coming to lunch with the new curate。 Vernon asked them on Sunday。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 Perhaps there's something cold。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 Vernon so dislikes a cold lunch。
DR。 FREEMANTLE ＇to Newte＇。 Were you able to get hold of Vernon last night？
NEWTE。 Waited up till he came in about two o'clock。 Merely answered that he wasn't in a talkative moodbrushed past me and locked himself in。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 He wouldn't say anything to me either。 Rather a bad sign when he won't talk。
NEWTE。 What's he likely to do？
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 Don't know。 Of course it will be all over the county。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 And dear Vernon is so sensitive。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 It had to comethe misfortune IS …
NEWTE。 The misfortune IS that people won't keep to their own line of business。 Why did he want to come fooling around her？ She was doing well for herself。 She could have married a man who would have thought more of her than all the damn fools in the county put together。 Why couldn't he have left her alone？
DR。 FREEMANTLE ＇he is sitting at the head of the table； between Newte on his right and the Misses Wetherell on his left。 He lays his hand on Newte's sleevewith a smile＇。 I'm sure you can forgive a man with eyes and ears in his headfor having fallen in love with her。
NEWTE。 Then why doesn't he stand by her？ What if her uncle is a butler？ If he wasn't a fool； he'd be thanking his stars that 'twas anything half as respectable。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 I'm not defending himwe're not sure yet that he needs any defence。 He has married a clever； charming girl ofas you saya better family than he'd any right to expect。 The misfortune is； thatby a curious bit of ill…luckit happens to be his own butler。
NEWTE。 If she takes my advice； she'll return to the stage。 No sense stopping where you're not wanted。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 But how can she？
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 You see； they're married！
DR。 FREEMANTLE ＇to change the subject＇。 You'll take an egg？
Newte has been boiling some。 He has just served them。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL ＇rejecting it＇。 Thank you。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 We're not feeling hungry。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 He was so fond of her。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 She was so pretty。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 And so thoughtful。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 One would never have known she was an actress。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 If only she hadn't …
Bennet has entered。 Newte is at fireplace。 The old ladies have their backs to the door。 Dr。 Freemantle； who is pouring out tea； is the first to see him。 He puts down the teapot； staring。 The old ladies look round。 A silence。 Newte turns。 Bennet is again the perfect butler。 Yesterday would seem to have been wiped out of his memory。
BENNET。 Good morning； Miss Wetherell。 Good morning； Miss Edith。 ＇To the two men＇ Good morning。 I was not aware that breakfast was required to be any earlier than usual； or I should have had it ready。
THE YOUNGER MISS WETHERELL。 We are sure you would； Bennet。 But you see； under the circumstances； wewe hardly liked to trouble you。
BENNET ＇he goes about the room； putting things to rights。 He has rung the bell。 Some dead flowers he packs on to Newte's tray； the water he pours into Newte's slop…basin＇。 My duty； Miss Edith； I have never felt to be a trouble to me。
THE ELDER MISS WETHERELL。 We know； Bennet。 You have always been so conscientious。 But； of course； after what's happened＇They are on the verge of tears again。＇
BENNET ＇he is piling up the breakfast things＇。 Keziah requested me to apologise to you for not having heard your bell this morning。 She will be ready to wait upon you in a very few minutes。 ＇To the Doctor＇ You will find shaving materials； doctor； on your dressing… table。
DR。 FREEMANTLE。 Oh； thank you。
Ernest has entered； with some wood； he is going towards the fire。
BENNET ＇to Ernest＇。 Leave the fire for the present。 Take away this tray。 ＇Ernest takes up the tray； and