MAZZINI. I hope so. [To Ellie]. So here you are, Ellie, dear. [He draws her arm affectionately through his]. I must thank you, Mrs Hushabye, for your kindness to my daughter. I'm afraid she would have had no holiday if you had not invited her.
MRS HUSHABYE. Not at all. Very nice of her to come and attract young people to the house for us.
MAZZINI [smiling]. I'm afraid Ellie is not interested in young men, Mrs Hushabye. Her taste is on the graver, solider side.
MRS HUSHABYE [with a sudden rather hard brightness in her manner]. Won't you take off your overcoat, Mr Dunn? You will find a cupboard for coats and hats and things in the corner of the hall.
MAZZINI [hastily releasing Ellie]. Yes—thank you—I had better— [he goes out].
MRS HUSHABYE [emphatically]. The old brute!
ELLIE. Who?
MRS HUSHABYE. Who! Him. He. It [pointing after Mazzini]. "Graver, solider tastes," indeed!
ELLIE [aghast]. You don't mean that you were speaking like that of my father!
MRS HUSHABYE. I was. You know I was.