[_The_ FOOTMAN _reënters with plates, followed by_ MOLES, _with silver dish of croquettes._ PHILIP. Here it comes; what is it? MOLES. Chicken croquettes, sir. PHILIP. Left overs! Had chicken yesterday! Bring 'em here first! MOLES. No, ladies first, sir. [_Serves_ ELAINE. LIZZIE. And besides, Miss Elaine is company. [MOLES _serves_ CHRISTOPHER. PHILIP. That's all right. S'long it's Elaine, everything goes! ELAINE. Phil! [_Sliding down from her chair, she runs to him and kisses him._ PHILIP. [_Hopelessly embarrassed._] Don't! not in front of everybody! ELAINE. But I do love you, Phil, and you're my beau, and I'm so glad it's your birthday. [_Goes back to her place unashamed and contented._ [MOLES _serves_ PHILIP. LIZZIE. You oughtn't to talk about beaux at your age, Miss--ought Miss Elaine? [_To_ MOLES _with a knowing glance._ MOLES. I ain't discussing the sex with you, Lizzie, but I will say all the girls I've known, began talking about beaux early and ended late. CHRISTOPHER. I heard Lizzie and Moles talking about Aunt Georgiana's beau! LIZZIE. Sh! [FOOTMAN _goes out with the croquette dish._ ELAINE. Mr. Dick Coleman's Miss Carley's beau! PHILIP. No, he isn't! Mr. Dick's known Aunt Georgiana always, they're just little boy and girl friends. Lizzie says she's Cousin Sammy Coast's sweetheart. LIZZIE. [_Indignant, though convulsed._] I never did! PHILIP. Yes, you did! To Maggie when you thought I wasn't paying attention. [LIZZIE _and_ MOLES _exchange amused glances._ ELAINE. But Mr. Coast's your auntie's cousin; and your cousin can't be your beau. PHILIP. He ain't any relation to Auntie Georgiana. Mamma said so. Mr. Coast's mamma's cousin, and grandma's nephew, but grandma isn't any real relation to auntie. CHRISTOPHER. How? PHILIP. I don't know how, only Aunt Georgiana had a different mamma, she didn't have grandma. ELAINE. And the same papa! PHILIP. Not all the time, mamma had another papa first. CHRISTOPHER. It's sort of mixy, isn't it? PHILIP. Yes, I guess mamma and Aunt Georgy are sort of divorced sisters! ELAINE. Oh! [_As if that explained it._ TOOTS. [_Beating the table._] Lemmlelade! lemmlelade! [MOLES _crosses to pitcher and serves_ TOOTS _first, then the others._ PHILIP. Toots, you're getting tipsy! [_The children laugh._ CHRISTOPHER. Cousin Sammy comes to see Aunt Georgiana nearly every day. PHILIP. Yes--he's begun to bring toys just like some of the others did. CHRISTOPHER. [_With his mouth full._] Hobby horse! Hobby horse! [_Pointing to the hobby horse._ LIZZIE. Don't talk with your mouth full, Mr. Christopher. PHILIP. [_Shouting._] He'll choke! He'll choke! [_All laugh, tremendously amused._ MOLES. Mr. Coast is a very fine gentleman. PHILIP. Oh, I know! I saw him give you a dollar the other day, when he came to see auntie, and you advised his waiting and said auntie'd be in by five. LIZZIE. Isn't he a case! MOLES. He certainly is. [_Returns pitcher to table on the Left._