BAXTER. I will defend you from him.
BELINDA. No, no. He is a big man. He will--he will overpower you.
BAXTER. But you--?
BELINDA. I can defend myself. I will send him away. But he must not
find you here. You must hide before he overpowers you.
BAXTER (with dignity). I will withdraw if you wish it.
BELINDA. No, not withdraw, hide. He might see you withdrawing.
(Leading the way to a door on the right) Quick, in here.
BAXTER (embarrassed at the thought that this sort of thing really
only happens in a bedroom farce). I don't think I quite--
BELINDA (reassuring him). It's perfectly respectable; it's where
we keep the umbrellas. (She takes him by the hand.)
BAXTER (still resisting). I'm not at all sure that I--
BELINDA (earnestly). Oh, but don't you see what _trust_ I'm
putting in you? Some people are so nervous about their umbrellas.
BAXTER. Well, of course, if you--but I don't see why I shouldn't
just slip out of the door before he comes.
BELINDA (reproachfully). Of course, if you grudge me every little
pleasure--Quick! Here he is.
(She bundles him through the door, and with a sigh of happiness
comes back and looks at herself in the mirror. She goes to the
front-door, moves her hand to somebody in the distance, and comes
into the hall again. Seeing MR. BAXTER'S bowler hat on the sofa,
she carries across to his door, knocks, hands it to him, saying,
"Your hat.
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