It is morning in Belinda's hall, a low-roofed, oak-beamed place, comfortably furnished as a sitting-room. There is an inner and an outer front-door, both of which are open. Up C. is a door leading to a small room where hats and coats are kept. A door on the L. leads towards the living-rooms.
Devenish enters from up L. at back, passes the windows of the inner room and crosses to the porch. He rings the electric bell outside, then enters through the swing doors R.C. Betty enters R. and moves up at back of settee R. to Devenish by the swing doors. He is carrying a large bunch of violets and adopts a very aesthetic attitude.
Betty. Good morning, sir.
Devenish. Good morning. I am afraid this is an unceremonious hour for a call, but my sense of beauty urged me hither in defiance of convention.
Betty. Yes, sir.
Devenish (holding up his bouquet to Betty). See, the dew is yet lingering upon them; how could I let them wait until this afternoon?
Betty. Yes, sir; but I think the mistress is out.
Devenish. They are not for your mistress; they are for Miss Delia.
Betty. Oh, I beg your pardon, sir. If you will come in, I'll see if I can find her. (She crosses to the door R. and goes away to find Delia, dosing the door after her.)
(Devenish tries a number of poses about the room for himself and hit bouquet. He crosses below the table C. and sits L. of it and is about to place his elbow on the table when he finds the toy dog which has been placed there is in his way. He removes it to the centre of the table and then leans with his elbow on table and finds this pose unsuitable so he crosses to above the fireplace and leans against the upper portico, resting on his elbow which slips and nearly prostrates him. He then crosses up to L. of the cupboard door at back centre and leans on his elbow against the wall.)