A sitting-room in the only hotel at a small seaside resort in Essex. Old-fashioned Victorian furniture, producing a picturesque general effect. Some modern touch, such as a framed coloured advertisement of pneumatic tyres.
Door, R., leading to hall, principal entrance, and kitchen. Door, L., leading through a porch to the garden. A large window, divided into three portions by stonework, at the back: the panes are small; one of these portions is open, the others are closed.
Through the window can be seen a view of the garden, and the sea in the distance. The fireplace is not seen.
Cedric and Flora are seated at either side of a tea-table.
Time: Afternoon in June. Sunshine.
Flora. Another cup? (Cedric, looking at her, makes no reply.) Cedric! Another cup? (with a touch of very good-humoured impatience).
(Cedric rises, goes round the table to her, takes hold of her, and kisses her.)
Cedric. (Standing over her, she looking up at him.) I've been wanting to do that for about thirty solid minutes.
Flora. Then why didn't you, my poor boy? (Cedric gives a gesture to show that he doesn't know why) ... Instead of keeping us both waiting like that! (Reflective.) And yet it's barely three hours since you kissed me in the vestry!
Cedric. Vestry be dashed! And here's another thing I've been wanting to do (he carefully kisses her ear).