GRICE. Hush! Now everybody try to be quite calm and natural and act as though nothing whatever had happened. Oh!!! The Times! (_All rush for the Times_. GRICE _seizes outer sheet of Times and looks wildly about for some place to hide it. In desperation, he thrusts it up his coat at the back_. PHYLLIS _seizes a sheet, runs up and hides it under piano cover_. MADGE _also seizes a sheet and hides it behind curtain of card room_. GRICE _sits_ R. _of_ L. _table. Everyone assumes strained positions with set grins on their faces. Enter_ CELIA, L.I _entrance. She brings with her two small packages wrapped in tissue paper. She is dressed elaborately in outdoor costume and carries a light muff_.) CELIA. (_Brightly_) Good afternoon, everybody. (_All give a short, nervous giggle, pause and then say together, "Good afternoon, Celia"_ CELIA _crosses to chair_ L. _of table_.) FARADAY. (_Coming down_ L. _of_ CELIA, _offering to take her muff_) Allow me, dear. CELIA. (_Giving it to him_) Oh! Thank you, Father. (FARADAY _holds both his hands in muff_. PHYLLIS _solicitously takes_ CELIA'S _gloves_.) MADGE. (_In a bereaved tone, offering her a cup of tea_) Celia, dear, have some tea? (FARADAY _goes up and around to back_, R.C.) CELIA. No, thanks, Madge. I've been having tea with the Duchess. Oh, how do you do, Admiral. (_Shaking hands across table with_ GRICE) You don't know how I'm looking forward to your dinner party to-night. (_Sits_ L. _of table_ L., _unwrapping two small parcels and placing tissue paper on book slide_.) GRICE. (_Very gloomily_) It was a good dinner. I suppose that now---- (FARADAY _coughs and all in a strained whisper say, "Admiral!"_) TARVER. (_Rising and coming_ C.) Did you manage to catch Wilson? (TARVER'S _question shocks all_.) PHYLLIS. (_Trying to hush him_) Bobby! EVELYN. (_In a hoarse whisper_) Just at this time, too. CELIA. No, Bobby, he was out; but see what I brought you--some throat lozenges and a box to keep them in. TARVER. (_Comes to her at foot of table and takes boxes from her. Lugubriously_) It's awfully good of you to think of me, Celia. (_Crosses back to_ L.C.) Just at this time, too. (EVELYN _pulls_ TARVER _violently around_ R. _He staggers across stage and falls in chair extreme_ R.) OMNES. Hush!!! (GRICE _glares at_ TARVER, PHYLLIS _and_ MADGE _offer_ CELIA _tea_, FARADAY _the muffin-stand, and_ GRICE _offers her the plate of cake. All this is done quickly and simultaneously_.) PHYLLIS. You had better have some tea, Celia. GRICE. (_Smiling at her_) Cake, with plums in it. CELIA. (_Laughing_) You are all very kind to me this afternoon. (_They all turn away hurriedly, quickly putting down the things they have been offering_ CELIA _and laughing nervously_.) OMNES. Not at all, dear. Not unusually so. Not a bit. (_Etc., etc_.) GRICE. Cake, with plums in it.