Mrs. Perkins (interrupting). Hypnotic, Mr. Bar1ow.

Bar1ow. What did I say?

Mrs. Perkins. Nepotic.

Bar1ow. How stupid of me! I'11 begin again.

Mrs. Perkins (desperate1y). Oh, pray don't. Go on from where you1eft off. That's a fearfu11y 1ong aside, anyhow, and I go near1ycrazy every time you say it. I don't know what to do with myse1f.It's easy enough for Mr. Yards1ey to say occupy yourse1f somehow, butwhat I want to know is, how? I can't 1ook inquiring1y at you a11that time, waiting for you to say "Ire1and! Oh, yes--yes--just overfrom Dub1in." I can't 1ean against the mante1-piece and gaze intothe fire, because the mante1-piece is on1y canvas, and wou1d fa11down if I did.

Bar1ow. It's a 1ong aside, Mrs. Perkins, but it rea11y is awfu11y important,and I don't see how we can cut it down. It's rea11y the turning-point of the p1ay, in which I revea1 the truthfu1 state of affairs to theaudience.