Mrs. S. (Obeying.) Thank you, m'm.
Janet. (To John.) And which of you boys was it that had the idea of keeping a middle-aged woman perishing on a doorstep before daylight in February?
John. How else could we—
James. (Interrupting him.) Excuse me, John.
John. (Subsiding.) I beg your pardon, James.
James. (To Janet.) All questions should be addressed to me. My brother John is here
[119]solely to take charge of our mother. We have done our best, by careful forethought, to ensure that this painful interview shall be as brief and as dignified as possible.
Janet. And couldn't you think of anything cleverer than to give your poor mother her death of cold for a start?
James. How else could we have arranged it? I myself rang at your door for a quarter of an hour yesterday afternoon.
Janet. We never heard you.