PHILIP. [_Finding_ TOOTS, _touches him._] You're it! TOOTS. [_Very pleased._] I'm it! I'm it! [_Jumps up and down._ CHRISTOPHER. [_Disappointed._] Somebody find me. PHILIP. Oh, come on out from behind the curtain--you're--easy. [CHRISTOPHER _comes out. Meanwhile_ COLEMAN _is heard calling, "Hello, Phil, Phil," outside as he comes up the stairs._ PHILIP. [_By the hobby horse._] It's Mr. Dick! THE CHILDREN. It's Mr. Dick! GEORGIANA. Oh! [_Starts to get out from under the table, but_ COLEMAN _enters, so she crawls back._ [LIEUTENANT RICHARD COLEMAN _is a handsome, finely built man of about thirty-two. He is a West Pointer, is a good oarsman, a crack shot, and a good fellow all around. No finicking about him, no nerves. Just a sane, healthy, fine fellow._ DICK. Hello! Many happy returns, Phil. [_Shakes hands._] Where's your Aunt Georgiana! [_Silence._] Is she out? PHIL. No, she's under the table! CHRISTOPHER AND TOOTS. [_Delighted._] She's under the table! She's under the table! DICK. [_Laughing._] What! PHILIP. Hide and seek. [DICK _looks under the table; he and_ GEORGIANA _laugh._ DICK. Good morning, are you at home? GEORGIANA. [_Very embarrassed._] Oh, mercy! Do go away so I can get out! DICK. [_Tremendously amused._] Come on out! GEORGIANA. No! I can't with you there. [_Laughing_.] Please leave the room for just one minute! DICK. Not if I know it! Come on out! GEORGIANA. Not for worlds! Go away, please! [DICK _shakes his head "No."_] Then I shall never come out. DICK. Ah, but that's hardly fair, because I want to talk to you comfortably. GEORGIANA. Well, then, come on under! DICK. Is there room? GEORGIANA. A cable car conductor who knew his business could seat four more people in here. DICK. Still--I think I'm more comfortable up here. GEORGIANA. Selfish! Go on away! [DICK _shakes his head._] Children, if you love your auntie, go for Mr. Dick with all your might and main and push him into the hall. [_The children shout and rush toward_ DICK; _they catch hold of him._ THE CHILDREN. Go away! DICK. [_With mock ferocity._] The first child I get hold of I'll _spank_! [_The children laugh and shout and run away from him to behind the table._ THE CHILDREN. Spank! GEORGIANA. Ogre! Very well! After all, I'm not vain! It would take Barnum's human snake to get out of this gracefully, anyway! [_Coming out, arranging her dress and hair._ DICK. Have some help? GEORGIANA. No, thank you. But still, what a horrid person you are, aren't you? [_They both laugh._ DICK. _You_ aren't! GEORGIANA. O dear me! Making up now with a compliment! Well, what do you think of my birthday antics? Playing hide and seek--or, perhaps, trained elephants--doesn't interest you! CHRISTOPHER. Lelephants! Oh, Auntie! Is the _circus_ coming? [_The children give themselves up to transports._ PHIL _hugs_ TOOTS _and repeats "Circus."_ GEORGIANA. No, darling, but this circus is going--your old-maid aunt--to put herself to rights!