COLONEL. 'I can't understand it.' STEVE. 'But by all the little gods of India, you know, everyone has always adored Alice.' ALICE, plaintively, 'That's why I take it so ill, Steve.' STEVE. 'Can I do anything? See here, if the house is upside down and you would like to get rid of the Colonel for an hour or two, suppose he dines with me to-night? I'm dying to hear all the news of the Punjab since I left.' COLONEL, with an eye on the nursery door, 'No, Steve, I--the fact is--I have an engagement.' ALICE, vindictively, 'He means he can't leave the baby.' STEVE. 'It has taken to _him_?' COLONEL, swaggering, 'Enormously.' ALICE, whimpering, 'They all have. He has stolen them from me. He has taken up his permanent residence in the nursery.' COLONEL. 'Pooh, fiddlededee. I shall probably come round to-night to see you after dinner, Steve, and bring memsahib with me. In the meantime--' ALICE, whose mind is still misgiving her about Amy, 'In the meantime I want to have a word with Steve alone, Robert.' COLONEL. 'Very good.' Stealing towards the nursery, 'Then I shall pop in here again. How is the tea business prospering in London, Steve? Glad you left India?' STEVE. 'I don't have half the salary I had in India, but my health is better. How are rupees?' COLONEL. 'Stop it.' He is making a doll of his handkerchief for the further subjugation of Molly. He sees his happy face in a looking-glass and is ashamed of it. 'Alice, I wish it was you they loved.' ALICE, with withering scorn, 'Oh, go back to your baby.' As soon as the Colonel has gone she turns anxiously to Steve. 'Steve, tell me candidly what you think of my girl.' STEVE. 'But I have never set eyes on her.' ALICE. 'Oh, I was hoping you knew her well. She goes sometimes to the