SCENE: The sitting-room at “Sunnybank,” Hammersmith. There is no centre table, but there are various small ones against the wall and in the window. There is a piano, a tall palm in the window, and one or two wicker chairs that creak. The rest of the furniture is upholstered in saddlebags with antimacassars over the sofa head and armchairs. Gramophone in the corner. Big mirror over mantelpiece. Gilt clock in glass case and lustres.
MRS. MASSEY is sleeping in one armchair. MR. MASSEY is asleep on sofa, pulled across centre. MAGGIE sits reading at small table. MAGGIE softly rises and goes to fire. She pokes it and a piece of coal falls out. MRS. M. turns her head.
MAGGIE. I’m so sorry, Mother, I tried to poke it gently.
MRS. M. I was hardly asleep, my dear.
MAGGIE. Mother!—you’ve been sleeping for half an hour!
MRS. M. It didn’t seem like it, dear. Why, your father’s asleep.
MAGGIE. Isn’t that extraordinary!
MRS. M. [admiringly.] How soundly he sleeps! What’s the time?
MAGGIE. Four o’clock.
MRS. M. I should have thought they’d have been here now.