PHILIP. Oh, yes! Hurrah!

[_Runs to_ d.i.c.k, _when_ MRS. CARLEY _comes in from the Left._

MRS. CARLEY. Well! What's going on?

PHILIP. Birthdays!

MRS. CARLEY. Not for me!

GEORGIANA. Don't you want to play hide and go seek, mother?

MRS. CARLEY. I'm playing it all the time with old age! That's enough!

GEORGIANA. Well, excuse me, please, while I repair damages.

[_She goes out Right._

d.i.c.k. [_Calls._] Come back.

CHILDREN. [_Calling._] Come back!

MRS. CARLEY. I want the children for a few minutes.

THE CHILDREN. [_Disappointed._] Oh, Grannie!

[_She goes to children and drives them off Left ahead of her._

THE CHILDREN. Oh, Grandma!

MRS. CARLEY. Mrs. Vale is downstairs with the twins, to wish Phil many happy returns.

[_The children go out Left unwillingly._ MRS. CARLEY _comes back._

d.i.c.k. Going to spoil our game, Grandma?

MRS. CARLEY. Don't you grandma me! You're old enough for me to marry you.

d.i.c.k. Help!

MRS. CARLEY. Don't worry! Having lost two good husbands, I'm not going to risk losing a third.

d.i.c.k. I breathe freely once more.

MRS. CARLEY. I thought Sammy Coast was here.

d.i.c.k. Not since I came. He seems a clever chap!

MRS. CARLEY. We think so, and we hope so. He adores Georgiana.

d.i.c.k. Oh!

MRS. CARLEY. Huh! huh! [d.i.c.k _walks away._] What do you say to that match?

d.i.c.k. You don't mean?--

[_Turns to_ MRS. CARLEY.

MRS. CARLEY. Looks like it! It would be a fine thing for both of them.

Sam could give her a fortune, and Georgiana give him a big position.

d.i.c.k. But--

MRS. CARLEY. He's crazy about her! Comes here every day--follows her like a dog.

d.i.c.k. But it isn't--

MRS. CARLEY. [_Interrupting._] Not yet, but we don't dare breathe! And we're on tiptoe for the final word.

d.i.c.k. What does Steven say?

MRS. CARLEY. Delighted, of course. [_Walks away a little._] I hope you haven't brought Steve any tips to-day.

d.i.c.k. [_Laughing._] No!

MRS. CARLEY. Thank goodness! He doesn't seem to have had any this week and the house has been fairly quiet! [GEORGIANA _comes back._] I must go to Mrs. Vale. [_Goes out._]

GEORGIANA. Mother looks pleased.

d.i.c.k. She's never very depressed, is she?

GEORGIANA. Yes, sometimes,--in the day-time! It's largely a matter of frocks and bonnets, and depends sometimes on the exact color of her hair.

d.i.c.k. I often wonder that you keep on living with Mrs. Carley and Louise. They can't help being beastly uncongenial to you.

GEORGIANA. But Mrs. Carley brought me up. She did her worst with the best intentions, and you mustn't forget Steve! [_She sits beside the table and_ d.i.c.k _leans against it to talk to her._] He's my own brother, you know, and I'm so afraid Louise will finally disillusion him and spoil his happiness. I'm standing on guard.

d.i.c.k. You think a lot of Steve.

GEORGIANA. I love him better than any one else in the world. [_She adds in a very low voice._] Almost!

[_A short pause._

d.i.c.k. Steve comes second!

[_Pause._

GEORGIANA. [_Low voice and looking away._] Perhaps.

d.i.c.k. I hope you don't mind my asking you these questions.