JOYCE (_truculently_). I couldn't help it.
MRS. DERMOTT (_brightly_). Fancy--Fanny Harris is engaged.
MRS. DERMOTT. It may not be fun to you, but it will be most amusing to Mrs. Harris. I do wish Daniel would come in. Where can he be?
MRS. DERMOTT. How can you be so horrid, Bobbie--I did think you'd have recovered from your silly temper before this. Fancy not being able to take a joke.
MRS. DERMOTT. You really are utterly absurd. Pass me the toast. I wouldn't have believed you could all have been so silly. I expect Uncle Daniel is just laughing at you.
OLIVER. Yes, that's just what he _is_ doing.
MRS. DERMOTT. I really think, Oliver, that you, as the eldest, ought to set a little better example. And the marmalade--thank you. After all, considering how good he's been to us, we might allow him to have a little joke without becoming disagreeable--even if it doesn't amuse us very much. Why, I----
JOYCE. But, mother, I tell you it isn't a joke--it's the gospel truth.
MRS. DERMOTT. I've never known such a set of maddening children. Pass me the paper, will you, Sylvia? I wish to read it.
(SYLVIA _hands her newspaper from window seat and she opens it out and reads it, ignoring the family altogether. Telegraph--with extra pages inserted._)
OLIVER (_breaking the silence_). Has any one seen my tennis racquet?
JOYCE. Yes, you did, you and Faith--I saw you.
SYLVIA (_ruminatively_). I did see a racquet behind the summer house this morning. Would that be it?
OLIVER (_furiously_). Look here, Bobbie, if you go leaving my racquet out all night again I'll punch your head....
BOBBIE (_rising, flaring up_). I tell you I never touched your damned racquet--I've got one of my own. (_Knocks his chair over._)
BOBBIE. Shut up, Joyce, and mind your own business.
EVANGELINE. Don't speak to Joyce like that, Bobbie. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
OLIVER (_rising_). Not while I'm here, you won't.
BOBBIE (_jeeringly_). Come on, oh strong and silent elder brother, let's be manly and knock one another about.
OLIVER. A little more of that would do you a lot of good.
(OLIVER _knocks a plate on to the floor, breaking it._)
There, that's what happens when you let elephants loose in the house. (_Picks up his chair._)