GUSS. (Coming down and interrupting, with a sneering laugh.) Your nurse, Rollitt, I think. (Comes c. Luke goes to fireplace R.)
ALLEN. (Turns and sees them, and then goes towards them.) Yes, Mr. Gussett—the best nurse a man can have—my mother.
(Guss. confused, but soon recovers himself and laughs it off. Col. D., Luke, and Clara come forward to greet Mrs. R. and Deb. l. c., and the customary ceremony, etc., is gone through—all speaking together.)
CLARA. (Smiling pleasantly, shakes hands with Mrs. R.) Good-morning, Mrs. Rollitt. You are looking so well and jolly. How are you, my dear? (To Deb. Between these two the greeting is really strained and awkward, although outwardly pleasant enough. Clara kisses Deb., but Deb. seems to shrink—she turns away. Clara notices this, and follows Deb. as she turns away up c., with a meaning look. While it has been going on the greeting between Mrs. R. and Luke has taken place—Mrs. R. down l.)
ALLEN. (Finishing his introduction of Mrs. R. and Baron.) The Baron von Schnorr—Mrs. Rollitt, my mother.
BARON. Your mudder—Oh, impossible. (Goes l. c.)
MRS. R. (Huffy.) I beg your pardon, Mr. Snort.
BARON. Ach, ja, you are laughing at me—not your mudder.
(Clara walks round at back, drops down r. near Luke.)
MRS. R. (Very indignant.) Yes—his mother. Don’t you cast any of your nasty foreign insinuations upon me. I’m his lawful married mother, and his father was his father, and a better man never lived, as anyone in Exmoor—