Mrs. Perkins (interrupting). Hypnotic, Mr. Barlow.

Barlow. What did I say?

Mrs. Perkins. Nepotic.

Barlow. How stupid of me! I'll begin again.

Mrs. Perkins (desperately). 0h, pray don't. Go on from where youleft off. That's a fearfully long aside, anyhow, and I go nearlycrazy every time you say it. I don't know what to do with myself.It's easy enough for Mr. Yardsley to say occupy yourself somehow, butwhat I want to know is, how? I can't look inquiringly at you allthat time, waiting for you to say "Ireland! 0h, yes--yes--just overfrom Dublin." I can't lean against the mantel-piece and gaze intothe fire, because the mantel-piece is only canvas, and would falldown if I did.

Barlow. It's a long aside, Mrs. Perkins, but it really is awfully important,and I don't see how we can cut it down. It's really the turning-point of the play, in which I reveal the truthful state of affairs to theaudience.