MRS. P. Fanny! MAJOR. What can have brought her back? FANNY (_heard speaking off at C._). Gently, my good man, with that box! My best hat's in it! such a beauty too! (_runs in at C.; she is in a light summer travelling costume_). Here I am! How astonished you all look! Ha! ha! ha! (_Running to MRS. MAJOR P._) Dear Georgina! so glad to see you once again (_kissing her--Nodding to MAJOR_). How do, brother Jeremiah? and you, dear mamma? (_about to kiss MRS. PELICAN_). MRS. P. (_stiffly_). I was not aware, miss, that it was usual for a well-educated young lady to address her sister-in-law before her mother! FANNY. Did I? So sorry, dear mamma. I really didn't see you at first. MAJOR (_aside_). I'm sure she's big enough! FANNY (_holding up her face to MRS. P._). Well, mamma, won't you kiss me? (_Slyly._) You know you're punishing yourself as well as me. MRS. P. Who can resist the dear child? (_kissing FANNY_). But we thought your visit to your Cheltenham friends was intended to last another week? FANNY. So it was, but they were obliged to return to town, so they brought me with them, put my luggage into a cab at the station, me on the top--I mean my luggage on the top--and here I am! _Enter JOSEPH at L. H._ JOSEPH. Luncheon is on the table, sir. MRS. P. Very well, Joseph. (_Aside to MAJOR._) Don't forget what I said about the dinner. MAJOR (_aside to her_). All right; six o'clock, sharp! MRS. MAJOR (_aside to MAJOR_). Remember what I decided about the dinner-hour! MAJOR (_aside to her_). All right; five o'clock, sharp! (_Aside._) Between the two the chances are I sha'n't get any dinner at all! [_Exeunt MRS. PELICAN and MAJOR at R. H._ FANNY. I'm so glad we're alone at last, Georgina; we can have a nice long chat together all alone; and I've such a lot to tell you! MRS. MAJOR. Well, I'm all attention! But first, how did you enjoy your trip to Cheltenham? FANNY. Not much. I found it rather slow. Nothing but a collection of bilious-looking fogies being wheeled about in Bath-chairs. But never mind that; I've something else to talk about! MRS. MAJOR (_smiling_). Something very serious, no doubt. FANNY. Awfully serious! Listen! At the very first ball I went to at the Assembly-rooms-- MRS. MAJOR. A very brilliant affair, of course! FANNY. Really, Georgina, if you keep on interrupting me in this sort of way-- MRS. MAJOR. I beg your pardon! Well? FANNY. Well, at my very first ball I danced with a gentleman once or twice--perhaps three or four times. MRS. MAJOR. Young, of course (_smiling_). FANNY. Rather! MRS. MAJOR. Handsome? FANNY (_very quickly_). Very! Well, judge of my surprise when, the very next morning, as I was sitting in the drawing-room, the door opened and the servant announced "Captain Boodle!" MRS. MAJOR. The "young gentleman?" (_smiling_). FANNY. Yes. MRS. MAJOR. Perhaps you had given him your address?