Roberts: "Oh no; he'll be sure to come. He may be late. But he's the most amiable of Englishmen, and I know he won't disappoint Mrs. Somers." Bemis: "The most unamiable of Englishmen couldn't do that." Roberts: "Ah, I don't know. Did you meet Mr. Pogis?" Bemis: "No; what did he do?" Roberts: "Why, he came--to the Hibbens's dinner--in a sack coat." Mrs. Roberts: "I thought it was a Cardigan jacket." Bemis: "_I_ heard a Norfolk jacket and knickerbockers." Mrs. Somers: "Ah, there is Mrs. Curwen!" To Campbell, aside: "And without her husband!" Campbell: "Or any one else's husband." Mrs. Somers: "For shame!" Campbell: "You began it." Mrs. Somers, to Mrs. Curwen; who approaches her sofa: "You are kindness itself, Mrs. Curwen, to come on such a day." The ladies press each other's hands. IV _MRS. CURWEN and the OTHERS_ Mrs. Curwen: "You are goodness in person, Mrs. Somers, to say so." Campbell: "And I am magnanimity embodied. Let me introduce myself, Mrs. Curwen!" He bows, and Mrs. Curwen deeply courtesies. Mrs. Curwen: "I should never have known you." Campbell, melodramatically, to Mrs. Somers: "Tea, ho! for Mrs. Curwen--impenetrably disguised as kindness." Mrs. Curwen: "What shall I say to him?" Mrs. Somers, pouring the tea: "Anything you like, Mrs. Curwen. Aren't we to see Mr. Curwen to-day?" Mrs. Curwen, taking her tea: "No, I'm his insufficient apology. He's detained at his office--business." Campbell: "Then you see they don't _all_ come, Mrs. Somers." Mrs. Curwen: "All what?" Campbell: "Oh, all the--heroes." Mrs. Curwen: "Is that what he was going to say, Mrs. Somers?" Mrs. Somers: "You never can tell what he's going to say." Mrs. Curwen: "I should think you would be afraid of him." Mrs. Somers, with a little shrug: "Oh no; he's quite harmless. It's just a little way he has." To Mr. and Mrs. Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Bemis, and Dr. Lawton, who all appear together: "Ah, how do you do? So glad to see you! So very kind of you! I didn't suppose _you_ would venture out. And you too, Doctor?" She begins to pour out tea for them, one after another, with great zeal. V _DR. LAWTON, MR. and MRS. MILLER, YOUNG MR. and MRS. BEMIS, and the OTHERS_ Dr. Lawton: "Yes, I too. It sounded very much as if I were Brutus also." He stirs his tea and stares round at the company. "It seems to me that I have met these conspirators before. That's what makes Boston insupportable. You're always meeting the same people!" Campbell: "We all feel it as keenly as you do, Doctor." Lawton, looking sharply at him: "Oh! _you_ here? I might have expected it. Where is your aunt?" VI _MRS. CRASHAW and the OTHERS_ Mrs. Crashaw, appearing: "If you mean me, Dr. Lawton--" Lawton: "I do, my dear friend. What company is complete without you?" Mrs. Somers, reaching forward to take her hand, while with her disengaged hand she begins to pour her a cup of tea: "None in _my_ house."