Act II. The Plage. The afternoon of the same day.

The second act curtain rises at the beach, in bathing gowns and sand and skin that feels quick. Boys and girls flicker in and out of the water like silver fish. Nobody know who they are or why. Out of doors, out of clothes. The number ends with the boys in a line down center, kneeling on their left knee. Meanwhile, Lord Brockhurst and Lady Brockhurst have just arrived for holiday. Lord Brockhurst has his eye on the girls. His wife is gaunt and severe. They are in mourning for their son who is probably Tony the messenger boy and who has disappeared from Oxford in the middle of Hilary term. She should have returned this year to Bognor, she says. Nice is much too French. Nonsense! Replies Lord Brockhurst. He’s already feeling 20 years younger. There’s so much to feast one’s eyes upon.