At a formal birthday reception, guests greet the celebrant and Mr. Sutton while anxiously waiting for Wynne and her son Henry, who insisted on walking and may be late. Small talk turns into harsh gossip: attendees claim Wynne put on weight after Henry's birth and doubt she'll show. The hostess orders Wynne and Henry to be fetched; someone says it's unnecessary because Wynne will come herself. The chatter dies when Wynne suddenly appears in the doorway, silencing the room — a guest stammers, "You are... Wynne?"