THE CAPTAIN. You shall have some of my tea. Do not touch that
fly-blown cake: nobody eats it here except the dogs. [He
disappears into the pantry].
NURSE GUINNESS. There's a man for you! They say he sold himself
to the devil in Zanzibar before he was a captain; and the older
he grows the more I believe them.
A WOMAN'S VOICE [in the hall]. Is anyone at home? Hesione! Nurse!
Papa! Do come, somebody; and take in my luggage.
Thumping heard, as of an umbrella, on the wainscot.
NURSE GUINNESS. My gracious! It's Miss Addy, Lady Utterword, Mrs
Hushabye's sister: the one I told the captain about. [Calling].
Coming, Miss, coming.
She carries the table back to its place by the door and is
harrying out when she is intercepted by Lady Utterword, who
bursts in much flustered. Lady Utterword, a blonde, is very
handsome, very well dressed, and so precipitate in speech and
action that the first impression (erroneous) is one of comic
silliness.
LADY UTTERWORD. Oh, is that you, Nurse? How are you? You don't
look a day older. Is nobody at home? Where is Hesione? Doesn't
she expect me? Where are the servants? Whose luggage is that on
the steps? Where's papa? Is everybody asleep? [Seeing Ellie]. Oh!
I beg your pardon. I suppose you are one of my nieces.
[Approaching her with outstretched arms].
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