GILBEY. We all know what French jokes are. JUGGINS. Believe me: you do not, sir. The noise this afternoon has all been because the Frenchman said that the cat had whooping cough. MRS GILBEY. [laughing heartily] Well, I never! GILBEY. Dont be a fool, Maria. Look here, Knox: we cant let this go on. People cant be allowed to behave like this. KNOX. Just what I say. _A concertina adds its music to the revelry._ MRS GILBEY. [excited] Thats the squiffer. Hes bought it for her. GILBEY. Well, of all the scandalous-- [Redoubled laughter from below]. KNOX. I'll put a stop to this. [He goes out to the landing and shouts] Margaret! [Sudden dead silence]. Margaret, I say! MARGARET'S VOICE. Yes, father. Shall we all come up? We're dying to. KNOX. Come up and be ashamed of yourselves, behaving like wild Indians. DORA'S VOICE [screaming] Oh! oh! oh! Dont Bobby. Now--oh! [In headlong flight she dashes into and right across the room, breathless, and slightly abashed by the company]. I beg your pardon, Mrs Gilbey, for coming in like that; but whenever I go upstairs in front of Bobby, he pretends it's a cat biting my ankles; and I just must scream. _Bobby and Margaret enter rather more shyly, but evidently in high spirits. Bobby places himself near his father, on the hearthrug, and presently slips down into the arm-chair._ MARGARET. How do you do, Mrs. Gilbey? [She posts herself behind her mother]. _Duvallet comes in behaving himself perfectly. Knox follows._ MARGARET. Oh--let me introduce. My friend Lieutenant Duvallet. Mrs Gilbey. Mr Gilbey. [Duvallet bows and sits down on Mr Knox's left, Juggins placing a chair for him]. DORA. Now, Bobby: introduce me: theres a dear. BOBBY. [a little nervous about it; but trying to keep up his spirits] Miss Delaney: Mr and Mrs Knox. [Knox, as he resumes his seat, acknowledges the introduction suspiciously. Mrs Knox bows gravely, looking keenly at Dora and taking her measure without prejudice]. DORA. Pleased to meet you. [Juggins places the baby rocking-chair for her on Mrs Gilbey's right, opposite Mrs Knox]. Thank you. [She sits and turns to Mrs Gilbey] Bobby's given me the squiffer. [To the company generally] Do you know what theyve been doing downstairs? [She goes off into ecstasies of mirth]. Youd never guess. Theyve been trying to teach me table manners. The Lieutenant and Rudolph say I'm a regular pig. I'm sure I never knew there was anything wrong with me. But live and learn [to Gilbey] eh, old dear? JUGGINS. Old dear is not correct, Miss Delaney. [He retires to the end of the sideboard nearest the door]. DORA. Oh get out! I must call a man something. He doesnt mind: do you, Charlie? MRS GILBEY. His name isnt Charlie. DORA. Excuse me. I call everybody Charlie. JUGGINS. You mustnt. DORA. Oh, if I were to mind you, I should have to hold my tongue altogether; and then how sorry youd be! Lord, how I do run on! Dont mind me, Mrs Gilbey.