can't forget what one _used_ to do here in the old days.
STIDULPH.
[_An elderly, distinguished-looking man with a meek voice and a
courteous but rather nervous manner._] I've had a most enjoyable
evening, Carlton. So bright; so very bright!
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_To STIDULPH, sneeringly._] Oh, anything pleases _you_; _you'd_ laugh
at Punch and Judy.
SMYTHE.
I'm just running away to wash my hands. [_Looking towards the men on
the left._] You know Von Rettenmayer?
MRS. STIDULPH.
Know him! Why, he was about in my time! [_Crossing to VON RETTENMAYER,
followed by STIDULPH._] Karl!
VON RETTENMAYER.
My dear lady! [_Kissing her hand perfunctorily._] What bliss!
[_Shaking hands with STIDULPH._] Golonel!
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_Shaking hands with DE CASTRO._] How are you, Sam?
DE CASTRO.
Ah, Dolly! [_To STIDULPH._] Hullo, Arthur!
COOLING.
[_Presenting HENEAGE and GRIMWOOD to the STIDULPHS._] Mr. Stewart
Heneage-- Mr. Gerald Grimwood----
[_As the STIDULPHS leave SMYTHE, HERBERT FULKERSON enters from the
landing with FARNCOMBE. In dumb-show, SMYTHE and FULKERSON greet each
other and then FULKERSON introduces FARNCOMBE._
SMYTHE.
[_Shaking hands with FARNCOMBE._] Glad to make your acquaintance.
FARNCOMBE.
Glad to make _yours_, Mr. Smythe-- and in such circumstances!
FULKERSON.
[_A white-faced young man with red eyes and of dissipated appearance--
espying MRS. STIDULPH._] By Jove, if it isn't Dolly Ensor! [_Hurrying
to MRS. STIDULPH._] What cheer, Dolly!
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_Coldly._] How do you do, Mr. Fulkerson?
FULKERSON.
[_Slightly abashed._] Oh, I-- I'm pretty middlin', thanks; hope you're
the same. [_Nodding to STIDULPH._] Evenin', Arthur.
[_VINCENT BLAND has sauntered in at the door on the left and now joins
the group surrounding the STIDULPHS._
BLAND.
[_Nodding to HENEAGE and GRIMWOOD._] H'lo, Stewart! H'lo, Jerry!
[_Coming to the STIDULPHS._] Dolly----Colonel----
SMYTHE.
[_To FARNCOMBE._] I'll be back in a minute or two; I'm just going to
wash my hands.
FULKERSON.
[_Calling to FARNCOMBE._] Hi! Eddie!
[_FARNCOMBE crosses to FULKERSON and is presented by him to the
STIDULPHS. GABRIELLE KATO enters at the right-hand door at the back,
meeting SMYTHE as he is going out. The waiters have finished setting
the plates of melon upon the tables and now withdraw, carrying the
plated dishes and preceded by LUIGI, at the door on the left._
SMYTHE.
[_To GABRIELLE._] Ha, Gabby, my dear! Quite well, eh?
GABRIELLE.
[_A pretty young woman with a fretful little face expressive of
extreme dissatisfaction with the world-- looking at SMYTHE
spiritlessly._] This _is_ a treat. Why, you haven't been to see us for
ages.
SMYTHE.
[_Cunningly._] I see you all far oftener than you suspect.
GABRIELLE.
Do you? That _is_ sly of you.
SMYTHE.
[_Leaving her._] I'm just going to have a wash and brush up.
GABRIELLE.
Really? Oh, you _are_ full of news.
[_He departs as DE CASTRO approaches GABRIELLE._
DE CASTRO.
[_In a low voice._] Hullo, Gabth! How are you to-night?
GABRIELLE.
Oh, I'm all right, I s'pose. Isn't it hot?
DE CASTRO.
[_Not at his ease with her._] It _ith_ inclined that way.
[_DAPHNE DURE, NITA TREVENNA, DOUGLAS GLYNN, and ALBERT PALK enter at
the door on the left. NITA is a tall, handsome girl, DAPHNE a plump,
little, fair, baby-faced thing. They are charmingly dressed, as are
all the ladies of the Pandora Theatre. GLYNN and PALK-- the latter a
short, thick-set man who might reasonably be a low comedian-- are two
professional-looking gentlemen of the best class. The arrivals are
warmly hailed by FULKERSON, VON RETTENMAYER, HENEAGE, and GRIMWOOD
and, with more reserve, by MRS. STIDULPH. STIDULPH has seated himself
wearily in the armchair on the nearer side of the fireplace and,
beyond listening to BLAND who is talking to him, has withdrawn himself
from the proceedings._
FULKERSON.
[_To FARNCOMBE._] Here's Daphne Dure-- and Nita Trevenna. [_Going to
the new comers._] Hullo, Daphne! Hullo, Nita! How'r'yer, Douglas!
Hullo, Albert!
DAPHNE and NITA.
How d'ye do, Bertie? [_To VON RETTENMAYER._] How d'ye do, Von?
VON RETTENMAYER.
[_Kissing their hands._] Dear ladies! [_To GLYNN and PALK._] Aha, Mr.
Glynn-- Mr. Balk--!
DAPHNE and NITA.
[_To HENEAGE and GRIMWOOD._] How d'ye do, Stewie? How d'ye do, Jerry?
[_To MRS. STIDULPH._] Oh, Dolly! That you, Dolly?
MRS. STIDULPH.
Well, girls!
FULKERSON.
Here! I want to introdooce Lord Farncombe. Miss Dure-- Miss Trevenna--
Lord Farncombe. Douglas-- Albert-- Lord Farncombe.
NITA.
[_Pouncing upon Cooling._] I say, Morris!
COOLING.
What is it, my dear?
NITA.
Is it true that little Kennedy's met with an accident?
COOLING.
Yes; can't join us.
FULKERSON.
The Dwarf! What's happened?
COOLING.
Ran his car into a 'bus, just outside the theatre.
NITA.
Oh!
COOLING.
Pitched himself forward on to his head.
NITA.
His head!
DAPHNE.
[_With a simper._] Don't be anxious, Nita; there's nothing to hurt
_there_.
VON RETTENMAYER.
Poor Dwarf!
[_GABRIELLE and DE CASTRO now move over to the others._
FULKERSON.
Hullo, Gabs! Hullo, Sam!
GABRIELLE.
Ah, Bertie!
VON RETTENMAYER.
[_Kissing GABRIELLE'S hand._] Gabrielle!
GABRIELLE.
Ah, Von! [_To HENEAGE and GRIMWOOD._] Ah, boys! [_To MRS. STIDULPH._]
How'r' _you_?
DE CASTRO.
[_Shaking hands._] Daphne-- Nita-- Douglath-- Albert--!
FULKERSON.
I want to introdooce Lord Farncombe. Miss Kato-- Lord Farncombe----
[_A band of musicians have mustered upon the landing and there is the
sound of the tuning of instruments._
COOLING.
[_Hurrying across to the double-door._] No, no; no music yet. Wait for
Miss Parradell! [_As he reaches the double-door, ROPER enters quickly
at the right-hand door at the back and seizes his arm._] Eh?
ROPER.
[_To COOLING._] It's all right; she'll be round in a minute.
COOLING.
Amiable?
ROPER.
Angelic. She's wearing a new dress, and that's taken her mind off it.
COOLING.
Her bark's always worse than her bite. I knew it 'ud blow over.
ROPER.
[_Formidably._] Oh, but I have given her such a talking to! [_COOLING
passes through the double-door, and instructs the leader of the band,
while ROPER bustles over to the throng on the left._] Hul-lo!
[_Imitating a street news-vendor._] Speshul edishun, cricket, py-per!
[_Shaking hands all round._] Dolly-- Nita-- Gabs-- Daphne! Douglas--
Albert! Ah, here you are, Farncombe! [_Discovering STIDULPH._] Hul-lo,
Colonel! Results, py-per, extry speshul!
[_ENID MONCREIFF, WILFRID TAVISH, and SIGISMUND SHIRLEY enter at the
right-hand door at the back. ENID is a long, spare-figured girl with
the lissom walk of a dancer; TAVISH and SHIRLEY are tall, clean-shaven
men of gentlemanlike appearance. VON RETTENMAYER makes for ENID
eagerly and is followed, at a more moderate pace, by HENEAGE,
GRIMWOOD, and DE CASTRO, and by FULKERSON bringing FARNCOMBE._
VON RETTENMAYER.
Miss Mongreiff! [_Kissing ENID'S hand with fervour._] Your dancing was
more zurprizing to-night than ever. [_To TAVISH and SHIRLEY._] Aha, my
friends!
ENID.
[_Shaking hands with HENEAGE, GRIMWOOD, and DE CASTRO._] Well, Stew!
How are you, Jerry! Sam!
FULKERSON.
I want to introdooce Lord Farncombe. Miss Moncreiff-- Lord Farncombe.
ROPER.
[_Hurrying across._] Hul-lo, here's Enid!
DE CASTRO.
[_Shaking hands with TAVISH and SHIRLEY._] Piethe went thplendidly
thith evenin', didn't it?
FULKERSON.
[_Shaking hands with TAVISH and SHIRLEY._] I want to introdooce Lord
Farncombe. Mr. Tavish-- Mr. Shirley-- Lord Farncombe.
ENID.
[_Coming forward to greet MRS. STIDULPH who advances to her._] Dolly
dear!
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_Embracing ENID._] Enid darling! Good gracious, you're becoming an
absolute skeleton!
ENID.
Indeed? Well, no one can say that of _you_.
MRS. STIDULPH.
It _is_ a pleasure, meeting all you girls to-night. Of course, one
can't help seeing _changes_.
ENID.
[_Icily._] Ah, it must be a pleasure, _that_.
MRS. STIDULPH.
I'm going to scold dear old Carlton by-and-by. He never gave _me_ a
birthday-party when I was with him.
ENID.
No; and you had so many birthdays here, hadn't you?
[_COOLING returns, entering from the landing, and, after looking at
the assembly, goes out at the right-hand door at the back. At the same
moment, FLO CONNIFY, SYBIL DERMOTT, OLGA COOK, and EVANGELINE
VENTRIS-- four statuesque beauties with impassive faces-- enter at the
door on the left. OLGA is in a dark gown and EVANGELINE is wearing a
rather elaborate head-dress. Instantly there is a movement in the
direction of the new arrivals on the part of ROPER, HENEAGE, and
GRIMWOOD. DE CASTRO and FULKERSON follow, FULKERSON still leading
FARNCOMBE about with him. MRS. STIDULPH turns from ENID disdainfully
and joins NITA and DAPHNE at the fireplace. TAVISH and SHIRLEY also
move to the left, where they come upon STIDULPH and shake hands with
him, while VON RETTENMAYER and ENID, the latter flushed with victory,
seat themselves upon the settee on the right._
ROPER.
[_Hastening to the beauties._] Hul-lo! Show your tickets, please! Room
inside for four! [_Shaking hands._] How are you, Flo! How are you,
Sybil! How are you, Olga! I _say_, look at 'Vangy!
THE FOUR BEAUTIES.
[_As the men shake hands with them, mechanically._] How d'ye do? How
d'ye do? How d'ye do? How d'ye do?
FULKERSON.
Here! I want to introdooce Lord Farncombe. Miss Connify-- Lord
Farncombe. Miss Dermott-- Miss Cook-- Miss 'Vangy Ventris-- Lord
Farncombe.
THE FOUR BEAUTIES.
[_As before._] How d'ye do? How d'ye do? How d'ye do? How d'ye do?
[_COOLING hurries back._
COOLING.
[_To everybody._] Miss Parradell! [_Opening the double-door and
signalling to the leader of the band._] Now!
[_The band strikes up the air of "Mind the Paint" as LILY enters at
the right-hand door at the back with JIMMIE BIRCH. LILY is dressed in
white, and altogether fulfils exteriorly ROPER'S description of
"angelic." She carries a large bouquet of lilies and pale roses with a
broad ribbon flowing from it. All the men but FARNCOMBE, who holds
aloof, press round her, STIDULPH rising and joining them. The ladies
follow._
THE MEN.
[_Struggling for her hand._] Many happy returns of day! Many happy
returns of the day! Many happy returns of the day!
JIMMIE.
[_Battling with the men._] Keep away from her! Bertie, you're on her
frock! Mind her frock!
ROPER.
Mind the paint!
SOME OF THE MEN.
Ha, ha, ha!
LILY.
[_Holding her bouquet above her head._] My roses! Be careful of me,
boys! One at a time!
THE MEN.
Many happy returns of the day!
LILY.
I want to kiss the girls. Girls----!
[_The men make way for the ladies who come to LILY._
THE LADIES.
Many happy returns of the day!
LILY.
[_Embracing them._] Sybil-- Nita--! Oh, Mrs. Stidulph!-- Enid--
Daphne-- Gabs-- Flo dear-- Olga-- 'Vangy----!
PALK.
[_Suddenly._] Here's the guv'nor!
[_SMYTHE enters at the door on the left. LUIGI and the waiters are
behind him, the waiters carrying trays on which are sugar-casters and
dishes of powdered ginger. At once there is a movement towards SMYTHE
of everybody except those who have already greeted him, and LILY who
is detained by ROPER and others._
TAVISH.
How are you, guv'nor?
SOME OF THE LADIES.
How d'ye do, Mr. Smythe?
OTHER LADIES.
[_Hustling him._] How are you, Carlton?
SMYTHE.
[_In the midst of them all._] Girls, girls! I'll shake hands with you
all in turn, girls.
ENID.
Thought you were dead.
DAPHNE.
Yes; look at Olga-- she's in deep mourning.
SOME OF THE LADIES.
Ha, ha, ha!
SMYTHE.
[_Shaking hands._] Don't, girls, don't; you're smothering me.
LILY.
[_During a momentary lull, finding FARNCOMBE standing before her and
raising her eyebrows._] You! [_Giving him her hand carelessly._] Oh,
it isn't long before we meet again, is it?
SMYTHE.
[_Puffing and blowing._] That's the lot of yer. Phew! Where's Lily?
Lily here? [_The crowd divides, to allow him to advance. Seeing LILY,
he opens his arms and she goes to him and lays her head upon his
breast._] Lil-- [_patting her shoulders_] my dear!
LILY.
[_Half gaily, half tearfully._] Ha, ha, ha! Carlton!
SMYTHE.
Go'blessyer! [_In another tone._] Well, what about something to eat!
LUIGI.
Ready, Mr. Smythe. [_Loudly._] Ladies and gentlemen, supper is ready!
SMYTHE.
Ha!
COOLING.
[_At the principal table._] Here you are, Chief! Miss Parradell!
SMYTHE.
[_To LILY._] Come along!
[_There is a general hunt for places and much hubbub and confusion._
COOLING.
[_Calling to ROPER._] Lal, that's your table.
ROPER.
[_Imitating a shop-walker._] Mr. Roper, forward!
COOLING.
Mrs. Stidulph! Lord Farncombe! [_Pointing to another table._] Glynn,
you're there.
BLAND.
Here you are, Daphne!
ROPER.
[_At his table._] Miss Kato, wanted!
DE CASTRO.
[_Calling to GABRIELLE._] Gabth!
NITA.
[_Calling to HENEAGE._] Stewie!
COOLING.
Baron-- Enid----
VON RETTENMAYER.
Aha!
COOLING.
[_To STIDULPH._] Over there, Colonel.
FULKERSON.
[_Wandering about._] Where am _I_? Where am _I_?
NITA.
[_Pushing him aside._] Oh, be off!
LILY.
[_Calling._] Jimmie!
COOLING.
[_At his place at a table._] Olga, you're here. Mr. Grimwood!
FULKERSON.
Where am _I_?
JIMMIE.
[_To FULKERSON._] Next to me, worse luck. [_Screwing up her face at
him._] Ugh!
ROPER.
Ladies' mantles on the second-floor!
COOLING.
Where's Sybil?
DAPHNE.
[_Calling._] Syb! Syb!
[_The curtain falls, but the music of "Mind the Paint" continues for a
while. Then it ceases and, after a short silence, the curtain rises
again. The supper-tables have disappeared and the saloon is empty of
people. The musicians and their music-stands and stools have also
gone, and faintly from the distance comes the sound of a waltz. Two
settees, matching the rest of the furniture, now stand in the centre
of the saloon back-to-back, one of them facing the counter, the other
facing the spectator. LILY'S bouquet lies on the nearer of the two
settees, and upon the floor there is a fan, a red rose that has fallen
from a lady's corsage, and a pocket-handkerchief with a powder-puff
peeping from it. On the counter there are carafes of lemonade,
decanters of spirits and syphons of soda-water, a bowl of
strawberries-and-cream, various dishes of cakes, boxes of cigars and
cigarettes, a lighted spirit-lamp, and other adjuncts of a buffet.
COLONEL STIDULPH wanders in through the double-door as the waltz comes
to an end. Feebly and dejectedly he goes to the counter, takes a
cigarette, and is lighting it when LUIGI and the waiters enter the
door on the left. Two of the waiters are carrying bottles of champagne
in wine-coolers, another brings a tray on which are champagne-glasses
and tumblers, and the bearded waiter follows with a large dish of
sandwiches._
LUIGI.
[_Behind the counter-- to STIDULPH, familiarly._] Ain't you dancing,
Colonel?
STIDULPH.
Dancing-- I? [_Shaking his head._] No.
LUIGI.
[_Who speaks Cockney English with a slight foreign ascent-- cutting
the wire of a champagne bottle._] Why, you used to be a regular
slap-up dancing man when I first knew you.
STIDULPH.
[_Nodding._] Ah, ah; [_moving away_] my dancing days are done.
LUIGI.
Done! Oh, I like that! I bet you ain't sixty, come now, eh?
STIDULPH.
What's the time, Luigi? I haven't a watch on.
LUIGI.
Time, Colonel? [_Looking at his watch._] Twenty to three.
STIDULPH.
No later? [_Sitting on the settee on the right, with a sigh._] Oh,
dear!
[_One of the waiters goes out, in obedience to a direction from LUIGI,
at the door on the left as HENEAGE enters with ENID, GRIMWOOD with
NITA, and VON RETTENMAYER with MRS. STIDULPH at the right-hand door at
the back. A wisp of hair has fallen over HENEAGE'S forehead, GRIMWOOD
looks somewhat downcast, and VON RETTENMAYER is obviously bored by
MRS. STIDULPH._
ENID.
[_To HENEAGE, walking across to the left._] Never been to Ostend!
You've never been born, then. I'm counting the hours to my holiday.
[_Sitting in the chair on the nearer side of the fireplace._] Hôtel de
la Plage. Why don't you run over while I'm there?
NITA.
[_To GRIMWOOD, following ENID._] My dear boy, I give you my solemn
word it wasn't you. It was that fool Bertie. Anyhow, it's a rotten old
frock. [_Showing a small rent in her skirt to ENID, gaily._] Pom,
pa-ra, rom, pom, pom!
[_HENEAGE and GRIMWOOD go to the counter, secure a waiter, and return
with him to ENID and NITA. The waiter receives his orders and
presently fetches the ladies glasses of lemonade._
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_Whispering to VON RETTENMAYER._] Well! Did you ever! Just fancy!
VON RETTENMAYER.
[_Absently, looking at ENID._] I beg your bardon?
MRS. STIDULPH.
Fancy those two girls walking into a room before _us_! [_Discovering
the fan upon the floor._] Oh, I do believe that's my fan!
[_VON RETTENMAYER restores the fan to MRS. STIDULPH as ROPER and
GABRIELLE enter at the door on the left._
GABRIELLE.
[_To ROPER, in a low, complaining voice._] It's a shame of you; that's
what it is. You went and put Lily Parradell into rubber and enabled
_her_ to make a bit. She told us so.
ROPER.
Yes; but how long ago?
GABRIELLE.
That's not the point. The point is, it's always Lily Parradell with
you; you never do anything for us other girls.
[_She sits upon the nearer settee in the centre and she and ROPER, he
standing by her, continue their conversation._
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_To VON RETTENMAYER._] No, thanks; I'm on a diet. Didn't you notice
me at supper? [_Moving to the settee on the right._] Let's sit. [_To
STIDULPH._] Oh, get up. [_STIDULPH rises quickly._] Why aren't you
dancing? If you don't dance, go home and put yourself to bed. You
might, for all the good you're doing here.
STIDULPH.
[_With a forced, painful laugh._] Ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha!
VON RETTENMAYER.
[_As MRS. STIDULPH seats herself._] Blenty of room for you too,
Golonel.
STIDULPH.
No, no; I won't inconvenience you.
[_He moves away and VON RETTENMAYER sits beside MRS. STIDULPH. The
waiter who has previously gone out now returns at the door on the left
with a tray of ices in paper cases. He goes to the counter for a
supply of ice-spoons as FARNCOMBE enters with LILY at the right-hand
door at the back. Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes sparkling._
ROPER.
[_All his attention suddenly directed to LILY and FARNCOMBE._] Here's
Lil!
LILY.
[_Excitedly, seizing STIDULPH'S hand._] You're not dancing, Colonel
Stidulph. [_Showing him her programme._] Dance with me. I'll make one
of the others give up a dance for you.
STIDULPH.
[_Going to the counter._] No, no; I'm too old.
LILY.
Too old for dancing! I shall never be too old for dancing. [_Coming to
the nearer settee in the centre, picking up her bouquet, and sitting
beside GABRIELLE._] Ah-h-h-h!
ROPER.
[_To FARNCOMBE, who follows LILY._] Hul-lo! [_Beaming._] Jolly party,
hey, Farncombe?
FARNCOMBE.
[_Boyishly._] Lovely! [_To LILY._] May I bring you some lemonade-- an
ice----?
LILY.
[_Looking up at him._] You may keep on bringing me ices till the music
starts again. [_FARNCOMBE leaves her._] Gabby, wasn't that waltz
delicious!
[_PALK and SYBIL enter at the door on the left. SYBIL seats herself
beside NITA on the fender-stool and PALK fetches her some
refreshment._
GABRIELLE.
[_To LILY, drearily._] I say, Lil.
LILY.
What?
GABRIELLE.
How much did you make out of rubber last year through Lal?
LILY.
Rubber, rubber, rubber? Br-r-r-rh! I don't know. [_To ROPER._] How
much?
ROPER.
Four-fifty.
GABRIELLE.
There!
LILY.
I did my house up with it-- gave the job to young Charlie Ramsden
who's gone in for decorating----
ROPER.
Yes, and blued the whole lot at one go!
LILY.
[_Laughing._] Blued it completely. Ha, ha, ha! [_Singing._] "What does
the blue sea Whisper to me-ee--!" [_FARNCOMBE appears at her side with
the waiter carrying the ices._] Ices!
ROPER.
[_Leaving GABRIELLE and, with his hands in his pockets, walking about
exultingly._] Ices, sweets or chocolates, full piano-score! Hul-lo,
here! Ha, ha, ha!
[_GLYNN and OLGA and DE CASTRO and EVANGELINE have entered at the
right-hand door at the back. OLGA and EVANGELINE seat themselves upon
the further settee in the centre and GLYNN and DE CASTRO summon a
waiter to attend upon them. SHIRLEY and FLO now enter at the door on
the left and go to the counter. At the same moment SMYTHE, COOLING,
and TAVISH enter at the right-hand door at the back, SMYTHE smoking a
huge cigar. They also stand at the counter and are served with drinks
by LUIGI. LILY and GABRIELLE having each taken an ice, the waiter with
the ices moves away and offers his ices to the other ladies. Another
waiter carries round a tray on which are a box of cigarettes and the
spirit-lamp, and the bearded waiter moves about with the dish of
sandwiches. Some of the ladies light cigarettes, a few of the men take
sandwiches._
COOLING.
[_As he enters with SMYTHE and TAVISH._] Haw, haw, haw! You're
wonderful, Chief. [_To TAVISH._] The Chief's in great form, Willy.
[_To STIDULPH._] Colonel, listen to the Chief.
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_To VON RETTENMAYER, confidentially._] Of course, this is strictly
between ourselves-- though I almost hinted as much to Smythe-- but the
fact is the Pandora isn't in the least what it _was_, Karl.
VON RETTENMAYER.
Noding is what it was, my dear Dolly, and nobody.
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_Fanning herself._] I suppose he can't find the artists; _that's_ it.
If you don't have the artists--! [_Shutting up her fan._] You
recollect my "Polly Taggart" in _The Merry Milliner_?
VON RETTENMAYER.
[_Stifling a yawn._] Gharming; gharming.
[_FARNCOMBE is bending over LILY while she is eating her ice and they
are talking lightly but intently. GABRIELLE, finding that she is "out
of it," rises with a pout and, carrying her plate, joins the ladies
and men who are at the fireplace. BLAND enters with JIMMIE at the door
on the left._
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_To VON RETTENMAYER._] I hate blowing my own trumpet, but I was
looking through my press-cuttings only yesterday. _I've_ never seen
such notices as I had for "Polly Taggart."
VON RETTENMAYER.
[_Closing his eyes._] Vavourable?
MRS. STIDULPH.
Favourable! They make me blush to read them. Stupid of me; but they
make me blush, positively.
[_JIMMIE comes to LILY, BLAND following her. On her way she sees the
handkerchief and powder-puff lying upon the floor._
JIMMIE.
Why, _there_ it is! [_Picking up the handkerchief and puff, and
rubbing the puff, which is an extremely ragged one, over her nose--
singing sentimentally._] "There are no friends like the old friends,
The constant, tried, and true;--" [_Sitting beside LILY._] Room for a
little 'un?
[_LILY, without interrupting her talk with FARNCOMBE, lays her hand on
JIMMIE'S for a moment._
BLAND.
[_To JIMMIE._] Bring you anything?
JIMMIE.
[_Wrapping the puff in the handkerchief tenderly and slipping it into
her bosom._] A liqueur of petrol and a lucifer-match.
BLAND.
[_Leaving her._] Oh, go on!
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_To VON RETTENMAYER._] And then to give it all up, as I was idiot
enough to do when I married, and for a life as dull as ditch-water! If
ever a woman sacrificed herself in this world----!
[_FULKERSON and DAPHNE enter at the door on the left and hurry to the
counter._
FULKERSON.
[_Boisterously._] Time! Time! [_To those standing at the counter._]
'Low me. 'Low me. [_To LUIGI._] Glass o' lemonade and a
whiskey-and-soda. Quick with the whiskey-and-soda.
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_To VON RETTENMAYER._] But I don't intend to stick to _that_
arrangement. If I can't get back into the theatres, there are the
halls! I was telling the Colonel this morning----
ROPER.
[_Appearing before MRS. STIDULPH, his programme in his hand._] Ours,
Dolly.
VON RETTENMAYER.
[_Rising with alacrity._] Aha! [_Bowing to MRS. STIDULPH._] I yield
with relugtance.
[_ROPER sits beside MRS. STIDULPH and VON RETTENMAYER hastens to
ENID._
ROPER.
[_To MRS. STIDULPH._] Another waltz.
DAPHNE.
[_To HENEAGE, who is claiming her._] Wait till I've finished my drink,
Stewie.
BLAND.
[_To NITA._] Nita.
NITA.
No; this is with Douglas.
BLAND.
Nothing o' the sort.
NITA.
[_Referring to her programme._] You're correct; my mistake.
DE CASTRO.
[_Coming to GABRIELLE who is talking to SYBIL._] Gabth.
GABRIELLE.
[_Dolefully._] Oh, you again!
DE CASTRO.
[_Mortified._] Afraid tho.