THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER
Kitty : Would you like tea? It must be almost time.
Chris : No . . . no, thanks. Not yet. I just want . . . to get my bearings. It’s good to be here, though. You keep the place beautifully. Beautifully. Do they still have trouble with foxes at Steppy End?
Kitty : I don’t know.
Chris : Griffiths will know. (A pause.) It’s stupid of me, I know . . . but . . . is Griffiths still here?
Kitty : No. He died . . . seven years ago.
Chris (shuddering) : I’m sorry. He was a good man.
Jenny : There are new people here, Chris, but they love you as the old ones did.
Chris (patting her hand) : I know, Jenny. It’s only that I can’t get used . . .
[Then he turns to Frank.
You never told me you were coming down here to-day.
Frank : My dear Chris, I . . . I thought it best to come alone, in advance, as it were . . . to prepare Kitty.
Chris: Yes. I must have followed you . . . almost at once.
Kitty : Had you been out there long, in the garden?
Chris : No, I . . . I came through Wealdstone.
Kitty (stiffening) : Wealdstone?
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