d.i.c.k. And good-by.

[_Shakes hands._

GEORGIANA. [_Rises._] Not now, for good.

d.i.c.k. [_Laughing._] Oh, no, we aren't off for ten days yet. But I wanted to tell my old pal first.

GEORGIANA. That was good of you. And you'll come in often before you go, won't you, d.i.c.k?

d.i.c.k. You bet! Every chance I get.

[_Both go up to the window. He has meant to go, but she manoeuvres him to the big seat instead._

GEORGIANA. And anything I can do for you?

[_She sits._

d.i.c.k. [_Sitting beside her._] Oh, I don't think there can be anything.

GEORGIANA. Oh, yes, there is always something women can do for men who go away to fight. They make things! Let me make something for you.

d.i.c.k. Can't think of anything. Got everything I want.

GEORGIANA. You're a lucky man to have everything you want--and going off to the Philippines with a jolly crowd of friends and glad you're going!

I take back all my sympathy, and I wouldn't make you anything now if you asked me to.

d.i.c.k. And, by George, just when I'd thought of something.

GEORGIANA. What?

d.i.c.k. [_Laughing._] A court-plaster case!

GEORGIANA. You can buy one in a drug store.

d.i.c.k. I ought to have some present to carry in my breast pocket; don't you know bullets are always warded off that way?

GEORGIANA. Oh, that was in the old romantic days of the nineteenth century, and then it was a prayer book or a bunch of love letters.

To-day it's much more apt to be a cigarette case!

[_The children run in, led by_ PHILIP.

PHILIP. They've gone! Hurrah! They've gone!

[GEORGIANA _and_ d.i.c.k _rise._

CHRISTOPHER. They've gone! They've gone!

[TOOTS _hangs on to_ d.i.c.k.

PHILIP. [_Taking hold of_ GEORGIANA.] Come on, now, our game, or we'll never have it!

CHRISTOPHER. Blindman's buff!

TOOTS. Yes, blindman's buff!

GEORGIANA. [_To_ d.i.c.k.] Are you game?

d.i.c.k. Just one round, and then I must be off. I'll be blindfolded.

[_Takes out his handkerchief._

TOOTS. I want to be blindfolded!

PHILIP. No! Let Mr. d.i.c.k!

d.i.c.k. [_Giving his handkerchief to_ GEORGIANA.] Will you blindfold me?

GEORGIANA. [_Binds his eyes._] To my faults?

d.i.c.k. That would be Love's Labour Lost.

GEORGIANA. How do you mean Love's Labour Lost?

PHILIP. Don't let him peek!

d.i.c.k. And whoever I catch, I kiss!

PHILIP. No, tell the name first!

d.i.c.k. No, I must play my own game, and that is to kiss her first, and tell the name afterwards!

GEORGIANA. Now, turn him around three times, Christopher. [CHRISTOPHER _does so, holding_ d.i.c.k _by the knees._] And keep away, everybody!

CHRISTOPHER. Ready!

[_All watch eagerly._ d.i.c.k _moves down stage, reaching his arms out as a blindfolded person does, but always with his arms too high to catch one of the children._

PHILIP. Put your arms lower!

CHRISTOPHER. Yes, you can only catch Aunt Georgiana that way!

[GEORGIANA, _happy, pinches_ CHRISTOPHER'S _arm playfully._ d.i.c.k _lowers his arms for a moment, but purposely catches no one. Then he lifts his arms a little towards_ GEORGIANA, _who cries out and moves, lifting_ TOOTS _on the table._ d.i.c.k _follows the sound of her voice and catches hold of_ TOOTS'S _head._

PHILIP. [_Excited._] Musn't move your hands!

d.i.c.k. Make her kiss me, then.

[GEORGIANA _leans over, holding_ TOOTS _to one side, and kisses_ d.i.c.k _herself._