Mrs. R. Haslam. (Interrupting, to Cedric and Flora.) You needn't be alarmed. As I said, the circumstances are painful, but once faced as we shall face them, they really amount to nothing. The principal thing was to catch you in time. Thank heaven, we've done that!
Charles. Thank my masterly and audacious driving!
Mrs. R. Haslam. (Staring him down.) If we had failed! (Gesture of despair to Mr. Reach Haslam.) Dear——
Mr. R. Haslam. (Nodding to her politely.) As soon as we had finished lunch your mother set herself to work, her work being very much behind——
Mrs. R. Haslam. Never mind all that. Do it as gently as you can, but come to the point at once. I am quite sure that is best.
Mr. R. Haslam. The telephone?
Mrs. R. Haslam. The telephone.
Mr. R. Haslam. (Nodding to her politely.) We were rung up on the telephone. Your mother was walking about in meditation, and as she was nearest to the telephone she answered it. She then said to me, "It's the Bishop of Chelmsford." I was at the desk. In another moment she asked me to come to the telephone and listen for myself as she could scarcely believe her ears. I did so, and the Bishop—he was telephoning from the Palace at Chelmsford—repeated at my request what he had said to your mother, namely, that that curate who—er—officiated this morning, suddenly awakened to a sense of beauty——
Mrs. R. Haslam. Sense of duty.
Mr. R. Haslam. I quite understood "beauty." It's true the Bishop hasn't got a good telephone voice—probably more impressive at a confirmation than on the telephone. I heard "beauty." However——