VON RETTENMAYER.

[_Listening, with the others at the centre table, to what is going on upon the landing._] Ha, ha, ha, ha!

JIMMIE.

[_To FARNCOMBE, over her shoulder._] Good luck!

BLAND.

[_To LILY._] The youth is irate with us for cutting off supplies.

[_LILY enters with FULKERSON; ROPER and BLAND following. BLAND strolls over to the piano, laughing._

FULKERSON.

[_To LILY._] M' argumen' is this. When a gen'leman'sh invited b' th'

lady 'f th' house t' partake 'f refreshmen'----

LILY.

[_To FULKERSON._] Be quiet, Bertie, or I'll box your ears. [_Joining the group at the centre table._] Ho, ho! I've had such a wigging for asking you up. Mother says we girls'll look as ugly as sin on the stage to-night.

ENID.

So we shall-- hags.

LILY.

[_Sitting in the arm-chair by the centre table._] I feel as fresh as paint. [_To GABRIELLE._] Give me a sip.

[_DE CASTRO hands GABRIELLE'S gla.s.s to LILY._

FULKERSON.

[_Gazing at DAPHNE stupidly and singing to himself._] "Oh, the gals!

Oh, the gals! I am awfully fond of the gals!----"

VON RETTENMAYER, ROPER, DE CASTRO, ENID AND GABRIELLE.

[_Chiming in with FULKERSON lightly._] "Be they ebon or blond, Of the gals I am fond;----"! Ha, ha, ha, ha!

BLAND.

H'sh, h'sh! Ma's quite right. [_Seating himself at the piano._] One more turn and then let's clear out.

LILY.

[_Jumping up._] Hurrah! [_To ROPER, as BLAND runs his hands over the key-board._] Shut the door, Uncle Lal.

VON RETTENMAYER.

Aha! One more durn! [_To ENID._] Enid----!

FULKERSON.

[_Singing._] "I am dreadfully fond of the gals!"

ROPER.

[_Closing the door._] Choose your partners, gents! [_Very softly BLAND plays the melody of a languorous song and instantly VON RETTENMAYER and ENID and DE CASTRO and GABRIELLE dance to it-- VON RETTENMAYER and ENID at the back, DE CASTRO and GABRIELLE near the piano._]

Jimmie----!

[_JIMMIE pa.s.ses LILY to go to ROPER. As she does so, she presses FARNCOMBE'S note into LILY'S palm._

JIMMIE.

[_To LILY, in a whisper._] Rat-tat, says the postman! [_Catching hold of ROPER and swinging him round._] La, ra, ral, la----!

LILY.

[_To FARNCOMBE, who is standing by the writing-table._] Lord Farncombe----?

[_FARNCOMBE goes to her and they dance together._

FULKERSON.

[_To DAPHNE, tapping her on the shoulder._] Missdure, may I have th'

grea' pleasure----? [_Shaking her._] Missdure-- Missdure----

DAPHNE.

[_Starting up._] Oh! [_Looking round wildly._] Oh----!

FULKERSON.

[_Dancing with her._] Pray 'xcuse th' absence 'f gloves.

DAPHNE.

[_Faintly._] Oh! Oh, I-- I thought I'd gone to bed!

[_With their hands on each other's shoulders, the couples, swaying from side to side, half sing, half murmur, the refrain of the song._

If you would only, only love me; If you would merely, merely say, Wait but a little, little for me, I will be yours, be yours some day!

[_The refrain is repeated, the dancers droning to it with a, buzzing sound, and then BLAND returns to the melody._

LILY.