_Pilcher._ Good afternoon, Telfer.

_Harry._ Good afternoon.

_Pilcher._ Good-bye, Mrs. Sturgess.

_Renie._ Good-bye. So many thanks for your eloquent sermon.

[_Shaking hands._

_Pitcher._ Now, was I eloquent? I suppose I was, since I've produced such an invigorating New Year atmosphere.

[RENIE _moves her French novel._

_Matt._ And brought Lucas over from Aldershot in the snow!

_Lucas._ Rather! I shall come again next year.

[_Shaking hands._

_Pilcher._ Do. And then we shall be able to estimate the effect of my eloquence.

_Matt._ [_Tapping the money-box._] We shall!

_Pilcher._ Good-bye, Mrs. Telfer.

_Dolly._ Good-bye. [_Rings bell._

_Pilcher._ Good-bye, Mr. Barron.

_Matt._ Good-bye.

_Pilcher._ You might be inclined to risk a sovereign on yourself for the Blanket Club?

_Matt._ I daren't. I can't trust my gray matter--I should make a dreadful fiasco.

[CRIDDLE _appears at door._

_Pilcher._ Mrs. Telfer, I leave him in your hands.

[_Exit_ PILCHER. CRIDDLE _closes the door after him._

_Matt._ Dolly, I don't mind having that new Parisian hat on with you.

_Dolly._ Done! I don't mind how much I punish you.

_Prof._ [_Taking out his watch._] Half past three, my dear.

_Renie._ I don't think I'll go out this afternoon.

_Prof._ Oh, you'd better take your little const.i.tutional. You missed it yesterday. I'm sure your restlessness is due to your not taking regular exercise.

_Renie._ Which way are you going? [_Yawning._

_Prof._ My usual round, up to the White House and back by the fish-pond.

_Renie._ Perhaps I'll join you at the fish-pond.

_Prof._ [_To_ MATT.] Nothing like living by rule and measure.

_Matt._ I shouldn't wonder. I've never tried it.

_Prof._ I ascribe my constant good health and contentment to my unvarying routine of work and diet and exercise. [_Exit._

_Matt._ Then where do my constant good health and contentment come from?

_Lucas._ Dolly, I left my evening kit here. Could you put me up for the night?

_Dolly._ Delighted! You'll make up our rubber.

_Lucas._ Right!

_Matt._ Not going to ride back to Aldershot again to-night?

_Lucas._ Not to-night, thank you.

_Matt._ Just a shade too bracing, eh?

_Lucas._ Just a shade! Dolly, I haven't seen your new fish-pond. Is anybody going to meet the Professor?

[_Glancing at_ RENIE.

_Matt._ I am. [_Linking his arm in_ LUCAS'S.] We'll get into an unvarying routine of exercise for the next hour. Come along!

[_Takes_ LUCAS _off as he is exchanging a look with_ RENIE. RENIE _makes to follow them, stops at door, turns back a little, stops, takes out_ LUCAS'S _letter from her French novel, goes to fire and reads it. Meanwhile the following scene takes place between_ DOLLY _and_ HARRY.

_Harry._ [_To_ DOLLY.] Now, Dolly, we can go through your bills.

[_Going to her writing-desk._

_Dolly._ Yes. Hadn't I better sort them out first?

_Harry._ [_Taking up bills._] Oh, I'll help you sort them out----

_Dolly._ Take care! You'll muddle all my papers. [_Taking bills out of his hands, and closing down the writing-desk._] I want to have a little talk with Renie--you'd better join them at the fish-pond.

_Harry._ Well, so long as you do get them sorted, and squared up. What about after tea?

_Dolly._ All right. After tea.