Well, I've no time now, I must change my dress for Daniel. Turn on the lights, Bobbie; make everything look as cosy and festive as you can. (On stairs.) Run into the kitchen, Joyce dear, and tell cook to make an extra supply of hot cakes for tea. I'm sure Daniel will love them after being so long abroad and living on venison and bully beef and things. (Ascending, then turns.) You will all wash before tea, won't you, darlings? It's always so important to make a good first impression, and he hasn't seen any of you since you've been grown up. (Glances in mirror.) Oh! look at my face, I look quite happy now.

(Exit Mrs. Dermott upstairs.)

Sylvia. I think mother is rather mixing up North and South America; they don't have such awful hardships where Uncle Daniel comes from.

(Enter Oliver from hall; he is a thick-set, determined-looking man
of twenty-five.)

Oliver. Hallo! (Crossing to table, L.C.)

Joyce (going to him, excitedly). Something wonderful has happened, Oliver.

Oliver. What is it?

Joyce. We're ruined. I've just got to go and order extra teacakes. Isn't it all thrilling?

(Exit Joyce into hall.)

Oliver. What on earth's she talking about?

Sylvia. It's perfectly true. We haven't any money, but Uncle Daniel's coming to-day, and we're sure he'll help us.

Oliver (dazed). Haven't any money, but——

Evangeline (at fire). Mother's been rather vague as usual, but we gather that we're practically penniless, and that we shall have to give up the house after two years unless something happens.

Sylvia. Luckily Uncle Daniel is happening—this afternoon. Mother's just had a wire from him—he's certain to be rich, mother says.

(Bobbie leaning against stairs.)

Oliver. Why?

Sylvia. Because he's a bachelor, and has been living in South America for five years.

Bobbie. Six years.

Sylvia. Five years.

Bobbie. Six years—mother said so.

Sylvia. No, she didn't——

Oliver. Well, it doesn't matter. How does mother know we're penniless?

Bobbie (coming C.). She heard from Tibbets this morning, he's coming down to-night.

Oliver (sinking into chair). By Jove, what a muddle!

(Joyce re-enters, crosses to chair L.C., takes coat and exits up stairs.)

Sylvia. It's all quite clear when you think it out.

Bobbie (C.). We've all got to wash and make ourselves look clean and sweet for Uncle Daniel. Your collar's filthy; you'd better go and change it quickly. He may be here at any minute.

Sylvia. Turn on the lights, Bobbie—and do let's hurry.

(Bobbie turns up the lights and goes upstairs followed by Oliver.
Evangeline goes up slowly after them.)

Oliver. What a muddle! What a muddle! (As he crosses to stairs.)

Evangeline (following him). What a muddle! What a muddle! (Turns on stairs.) Shall I put on my emerald green tea gown? (To Sylvia.)

Sylvia. No, dear; it's ever so much too old for you.

Evangeline (piqued). I don't think it's at all too old for me. I shall certainly put it on.

(She disappears upstairs. Sylvia is left alone. Suddenly there comes a loud peal at the front door bell. Sylvia sees some half-made crêpe-de-chine underclothes on form, takes them, hides them under cushions on window seat L. Draws curtains to window L., then L.C. as enter Griggs, followed by Uncle Daniel in an opulent-looking fur coat—he is a tall, stoutish man of about forty-five. Sylvia shrinks back by stairs.)

Griggs (assisting him off with his coat). If you will wait, sir, I'll tell Mrs. Dermott you are here.

Daniel. Thank you. (Goes round to fireplace, warms hands, turns.)

(Griggs has meanwhile taken his coat into the lobby. Sylvia creeps cautiously from behind and goes towards stairs. Daniel looks round and sees her. He watches her in silence for a moment, as she goes up a few stairs.)

Excuse me—have you been stealing anything?

Sylvia (jumping). Oh, Uncle Daniel—I didn't want you to see me.

Daniel. Why not?

Sylvia. I wanted to change my frock and do my hair.

Daniel. It looks quite charming as it is—I suppose you are Evangeline?

Sylvia. No I'm not, I'm Sylvia. (Coming to him.)

Daniel (below Chesterfield). Sylvia! I didn't know there was a Sylvia.

Sylvia (R.C., laughing). I was having concussion last time you were here, having cut my head open on a door scraper at school. Naturally you wouldn't remember me.

Daniel. Oh, but I do now, you were the sole topic of conversation at lunch. How foolish of me to have let you slip my memory. Where are all the others?

Sylvia. They're upstairs improving on the Almighty's conception of them as much as possible in your honour; I was just going to do the same when you caught me.

Daniel. You looked extraordinarily furtive.

Sylvia. And untidy. We've just been having a sort of family conference. It was very heating.

Daniel. I think you might have waited for me—I'm a most important factor. What were you discussing?

Sylvia. Oh—er—ways and means.

Daniel. I see, it's as bad as that!

Sylvia. But you wait until mother comes. She'll explain everything. I'll go and hurry her up. (She goes up stairs.)

Daniel. Don't leave me all alone. I'm a timid creature.

Sylvia (turns). After all that Broncho busting! I don't think!

(Exit Sylvia upstairs.)

Daniel. Broncho busting! What on earth does she mean? (He walks slowly to fireplace and stands with his back to it.)

(Enter Mrs. Dermott down stairs. They meet C.)