You are not married yourself, Mr. Mallory?
GERVASE. No. Oh no.
MRS. KNOWLE (smiling to herself). Ah!
MELISANDE. Jane, Mother's tea. (JANE takes it.)
GERVASE (coming forward). Oh, I beg your pardon. Let me----
JANE. It's all right.
(GERVASE takes up a cake-stand.)
MR. KNOWLE. Where's Bobby? Bobby is the real expert at this.
MELISANDE. I expect Mr. Mallory is an expert, too, Father. You enjoy
tea-parties, I expect, Mr. Mallory?
GERVASE. I enjoy most things, Miss Knowle. (To MRS. KNOWLE) What will
you have?
MRS. KNOWLE. Thank you. I have to be careful. Dr. Anderson insists on
my being careful, Mr. Mallory. (Confidentially) Nothing organic, you
understand. Both my husband and I--Melisande has an absolutely sound
constitution.
MELISANDE (indicating cup). Jane . . . Sugar and milk, Mr. Mallory?
GERVASE. Please. (To MR. KNOWLE) Won't _you_ have this, sir?
MR. KNOWLE. No thank you. I have a special cup.
(He takes a large cup from MELISANDE). A family tradition, Mr.
Mallory. But whether it is that I am supposed to require more
nourishment than the others, or that I can't be trusted with anything
breakable, History does not relate.
GERVASE (laughing). Well, I think you're lucky.
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