(The tapping is resumed.)
SIMON. I don’t know whether you have noticed a sound from up above?
MR. MORLAND. I did think I heard something.
SIMON. That is Mary Rose in the apple-room.
MRS. MORLAND. No!
SIMON. Yes; she is doing that to help me. I promised to knock back as soon as I thought things were going well. What do you say? May I?
(He gives them an imploring look, and mounts a chair, part of a fishing rod in his hand.)
MR. MORLAND (an easy road in sight). I think, Fanny, he might?
MRS. MORLAND (braver). No. (Tremulously.) There is a little thing, Simon, that Mary Rose’s father and I feel we ought to tell you about her before—before you knock, my dear. It is not very important, I think, but it is something she doesn’t know of herself, and it makes her a little different from other girls.
SIMON (alighting—sharply). I won’t believe anything against Mary Rose.