Mrs Scholz (most violently startled).

Oh God-oh-God-oh-God!!!

Mrs Buchner.

Why?—what—?

[Augusta is tall, lanky, and noticeably thin: she is dressed in the height of fashion but without any taste. Fur jacket, fur cap and muff. The face and the feet are long: the face is sharply cut and bitter featured, with thin lips tightly pressed together. She wears a lorgnette. Her nature unites with her mother’s excitability, something of a pathologically disagreeable character. Her personality diffuses round it an atmosphere of discontent, dissatisfaction and comfortlessness.]

Augusta.

Out there!—as true as I’m here—someone—was following me.

Mrs Buchner (pointing to the clock).

William, perhaps.—No! not yet. The train can’t be in yet. (To Augusta) Wait a moment!

[She puts out her hand to open the door.