MRS. CALLIFER: Oh, no, Fred, don’t worry. That would be too good. (A pause.) Next week we would have had our golden wedding. (She goes over to a table where Baston has laid down his papers. Before he can interfere she has picked one up. He waits with a look of embarrassed shame.) It reads very well, Fred. “Cooling stellar systems.”

BASTON: Those are his words.

MRS. CALLIFER: We had a royalty statement last week. They only send them once a year now. They’d sold three copies of The Cosmic Fallacy for export.

BASTON: Anyway it’s in print still.

MRS. CALLIFER: Oh, yes. At that rate it will be in print longer than we shall be. Christianity is the fashion now.

BASTON: A passing fashion.

MRS. CALLIFER: Of course. But how he hated those sentimental myths, virgin births, crucified Gods. (She is thinking of something else and talks to distract herself.) Just now, from Henry’s room, I thought I heard a dog barking. Did you?

BASTON: No. Perhaps a stray—

MRS. CALLIFER: I must remember to look at the wire netting on the gate. We had a lot of trouble once with dogs, messing up the flower beds.

SARA (with a smile): I have one now, but I never bring it.

MRS. CALLIFER: You think I’m very fussy, but you know it’s not old age. I’ve always detested dogs, haven’t I, Fred?

BASTON: Always.

MRS. CALLIFER: Parodies of men and women. I hate parodies. We both always hated parodies. Where’s John?

BASTON: I thought he was with you.

SARA: He went to the post office.

MRS. CALLIFER: I hope he won’t be long. (She tries to talk very detachedly and sensibly, but she can’t prevent her restless movements and the quick changes of subject that show her mind is elsewhere.) It was good of you to do the flowers, Sara. Very nicely, too. Perhaps a little modern. I’m surprised The Times hasn’t rung up.

SARA (comfortingly): The Rationalist Review was on the telephone an hour ago. A Mr. Minster. He was very concerned.

MRS. CALLIFER (dismissing the comfort): We never thought very highly of Mr. Minster. Where is Anne?

SARA: In the garden.

MRS. CALLIFER: If he becomes conscious it will be the last time. I do want him to see all the faces he loved. You, Fred, especially. (But this statement is too near the emotion she is trying to suppress. She veers away, picking up Baston’s papers.) It was good of you to come at once, take all this trouble. You know I tried to persuade him to alter his will—about the ceremony. The River Wandle is not how he remembers it. Too much pollution from the dye factory, and the housing development has ruined the fields.

BASTON: John and I found a spot where you can only just see the chimneys—