(She sweeps him into her arms and carries him away shouting.)
Mercia (disappearing): Io. Io. Dionysos!
Captain Dan (in a high falsetto): Let the skies rain joy!
Eustace (passionately): How can you, Mercia, how can you? (He is seized by uncontrollable weeping.) Im crying, O’Sullivan——
Michael John: Im wantin a cry meself. (He bursts into tears.)
Mercia’s voice (a long way off): But you must let me come back and look after Harmodius’s clothes——
Many years elapse. They are still talking.
Mercia (temporizing): After all, if I leave Harmodius for Eustace, or Eustace for Danny——
The Colonel (who is deaf by now): Whats that?
Mrs. Lazyboy (who is nearly as deaf and very feeble): Shes talking about the childrens holidays.