Enter Mrs. Culver ( L ).
MRS. CULVER. Mr. Tranto, how are you? ( Shaking hands .) I'm delighted to see you. So sorry I didn't warn you we dine half an hour
later—thanks to the scandalous way the Government slave-drives my poor husband. Please do excuse me. ( She sits ).
TRANTO. On the contrary, it's I who should ask to be excused—proposing myself like this at the last moment.
MRS. CULVER. It was very nice of you to think of us. Come and sit down here. ( Indicating a place by her side on the sofa .) Now in my poor addled brain I had an idea you were engaged for to-night at your aunt's, Lady Blackfriars'.
TRANTO ( sitting ). Mrs. Culver, you forget nothing. I was engaged for Auntie Joe's, but she's ill and she's put me off.
MRS. CULVER. Dear me! How very sudden!
TRANTO. Sudden?
MRS. CULVER. I met Lady Blackfriars at tea late this afternoon and it struck me how well she was looking.
TRANTO. Yes, she always looks particularly well just before she's going to be ill. She's very brave, very brave.