MAGGIE. Mrs. Cullingham and her son, madam.

JINNY. They're in Europe.

MRS. TILLMAN. Are you sure you're not mistaken, Maggie?

MAGGIE. Oh, yes'm. Even if you _could_ mistake Mrs. Cullingham, you couldn't mistake Mr. Peter!

JINNY. Ask them to please come up, Maggie.

MAGGIE. Yes'm.

[_She goes out Right._

TILLMAN. Why, they only just sailed the other day, didn't they?

MRS. TILLMAN. Yes, and they were supposed to be gone all summer at least, for Ruth Chester's health! What in the world can they have come back for?

JINNY. [_With curious determination._] _That_ is what _I_ intend to find out.

TILLMAN. [_Rising._] We must be going, Susan; we've lost our train as it is.

MRS. TILLMAN. [_Rising._] We can take the seven-two.

[_MAGGIE shows in MRS. CULLINGHAM and PETER. PETER shakes hands with MRS. TILLMAN, then with JINNY, and then with MR. TILLMAN._

[_MRS. CULLINGHAM kisses MRS. TILLMAN and shakes hands with MR.

TILLMAN._

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Jinny, you angel, aren't you surprised!

[_Kissing her._

JINNY. Well, rather!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Well, you aren't a bit more surprised than I am. [_A clock strikes six-thirty._] There goes the half hour, Peter; you must take your powder.

PETER. I beg your pardon, mother; it's the tablet now.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Excuse me, dear, I'm so dead tired.

[_Sits on the sofa._

JINNY. [_To Peter._] Will you have some water?

PETER. No, thank you, I've learned now to take them _au naturel_, and without much, if any, inconvenience!

[_Takes his tablet with still a certain amount of difficulty, and sits Right._

MRS. TILLMAN. [_To MRS. CULLINGHAM._] Did you have a bad voyage?

MRS. CULLINGHAM. No, perfectly beautiful!

PETER. [_Reproachfully, and with a final swallow._] Oh, mother!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Except, of course, for poor Peter; he gets worse every trip! He can eat _absolutely nothing_--that is _for long_! But it's the Custom House that's worn me out; I was there from twelve till four.

MRS. TILLMAN. But you wouldn't have had time to buy anything!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Of course not! But I took plenty of new dresses for the entire summer; most of them hadn't been worn, and they were determined to make me pay duty.

JINNY. We had to pay awfully for things! I wanted to try and smuggle, but Jack wouldn't let me!

MR. TILLMAN. I'm afraid _we_ must go!

[_ALL rise._

MRS. CULLINGHAM. What do you think the Inspector had the impudence to ask me finally,--if I wanted to bring the dresses in as theatrical properties!

[_They laugh._

MRS. TILLMAN. You must have some _gorgeous_ frocks!

MRS. CULLINGHAM. Oh, there are some _paillettes_! But who do you suppose he took me for--Sarah Bernhardt!

TILLMAN. [_Looking at his watch._] I don't wish to interrupt this vital political conversation, but, Susan, if you don't want to miss the seven-two train, too--!

MRS. TILLMAN. [_Rising._] Oh, no, we mustn't do that. Good-by. [_To MRS.

CULLINGHAM, shaking hands._] It's nice to see you again, anyway. Is Ruth better?

MRS. CULLINGHAM. I'm sorry to say--I don't think she is--good-by.

[_To MR. TILLMAN, who says good-by_--_general good-bys._

MRS. TILLMAN. [_To JINNY._] You want me to tell your father?

JINNY. Yes, it's better; it does make him jealous if he thinks I tell you things and keep secrets from him.

TILLMAN. Good-by, Peter.

MRS. TILLMAN. Good-by, Peter.

PETER. By-by.

[_MR. and MRS. TILLMAN quickly go out Right, JINNY going to the door with them._

JINNY. [_Coming back from doorway._] Now do tell me what it means. I thought you were abroad indefinitely, or for the summer at least.

MRS. CULLINGHAM. So did I! I'm just as surprised to be here as you _seem to be_! [_They sit down near each other._] Didn't you really know we were coming?