Cosmo does so, and prepares for the worst. The Colonel takes both his hands. 'Let's have a look at you. So this is you.' He waggles his head, well-pleased, while Cosmo backs in a gentlemanly manner. COSMO, implying that this first meeting is now an affair of the past, 'Has Mother gone to lie down?' COLONEL. 'Lie down? She's in there.' Cosmo steals to the nursery door and softly closes it. 'Why do you do that?' COSMO. 'I don't know. I thought it would be--best.' In a burst of candour, 'This is not the way I planned it, you see.' COLONEL. 'Our meeting? So you've been planning it. My dear fellow, I was planning it too, and my plan--' He is certainly coming closer. COSMO, hurriedly, 'Yes, I know. Now that's over--our first meeting, I mean; now we settle down.' COLONEL. 'Not yet. Come here, my boy.' He draws him to a chair; he evidently thinks that a father and his boy of thirteen can sit in the same chair. Cosmo is burning to be nice to him, but of course there are limits. COSMO. 'Look here, father. Of course, you see--ways change. I daresay they did it, when you were a boy, but it isn't done now.' COLONEL. 'What isn't done, you dear fellow?' COSMO. 'Oh--well!--and then taking both hands and saying 'Dear fellow'--'It's gone out, you know.' The Colonel chuckles and forbears. 'I'm uncommon glad you told me, Cosmo. Not having been a father for so long, you see, I'm rather raw at it.' COSMO, relieved, 'That's all right. You'll soon get the hang of it.' COLONEL. 'If you could give me any other tips?' COSMO, becoming confidential, 'Well, there's my beastly name. Of course you didn't mean any harm when you christened me Cosmo, but--I always sign myself "C. Grey"--to make the fellows think I'm Charles.'