Margaret What’s a chatelaine, Christopher?

Christopher She’s welcome to that job. A chatelaine? Mistress of a large house, I suppose.

Margaret Is that what I am?

Christopher Bloomers! That’s her name! Edith Bloomers! (Laughs.) Miss Bloomers won’t regret shedding that name. Not that a doctor called Gore is much better, is it?

Sally enters right, brandishing her bucket.

Sally Found it! Look! In the middle of the blackcurrant bushes.

Christopher Sorry?

Sally The bucket!

Christopher Yes?

Sally That’s where you hid it, Mr Gore, isn’t it?

Christopher Did I?

Sally Yes! In the bushes!

Christopher Why would I hide your bucket in the blackcurrant bushes?

Sally Just the kind of trick you would play, isn’t it?

Christopher (to Margaret) The cheek of that child! How dare you, missy!

Sally You’ll have to think up a better hiding place. (She goes into the house.)

Christopher What a saucy little imp she is. (He catches Margaret by the shoulders.) That’s what I love about her.

Again she eludes him.

Christopher Something the matter?

Margaret She’s an insolent madam.

Christopher So were you when you came here first.

Margaret At fourteen years of age?

Christopher Alright – ambitious.

Margaret I was terrified, Christopher!

Christopher Joking – joking. Actually, I do remember your first day here in The Lodge.

Margaret You do not.

Christopher Vividly. Your father presented you very formally to Lucy, rest in peace. ‘Margaret, my first-born and my prime chorister. Be mindful of her.’

Margaret Typical father – ‘Be mindful’! Was he sober?

Christopher He was so proud. Why wouldn’t he be?

He catches her hand and raises it to his lips. As he does, David comes round the side of the house. He is about thirty, a hesitant, uncertain young man. All three are embarrassed.

David I’ve mixed the lime and water, Father.

Christopher (feigned puzzlement) Well done. What are you talking about?

David The whitewash you wanted.

Christopher Why did I want whitewash?

David To put a mark on the trees you are going to cut down.

Christopher I know I’m being terribly tiresome. What trees, David?

David You said you wanted to thin out the trees at the side there (left).

Margaret You discussed it at length yesterday morning, Christopher.

Christopher The doomed trees! Of course! We must do that.

David So … Whenever you’re ready …

Christopher You mean we mark them now, David? You mean at this very moment? Could our little task wait until this evening?

David Yes – yes – that’s –

Christopher Perhaps after our guests have gone?

David Of course. Yes.

Christopher But only if that’s agreeable to you?

Margaret (quickly, sharply) Have you both had something to eat?

Christopher Penny foddered us handsomely, thank you kindly. The doomed trees later. Must get out of these rags.

As he goes into the house:

David I was wondering, Father –

Christopher Yes?

David I just wondered, is this perhaps the right moment for Richard to carry out his … whatever it is Richard intends doing?