No, no; _è tempo_! [_Shutting the door_.] _Va, bruto_! Good-morning, mamma. [_Kisses her_.] I'm a late sleeper, eh? Ah, good-morning, Aunt Frankie. In a good humor? So am I. MRS. SCHWARTZE. What did the strange gentleman want, Magda? MAGDA. Stupid beast! He wanted to know when I was going away, the idiot! How can I tell? [_Patting her_.] Eh, _mamma mia_? Oh, children, I slept like the dead. My ear on the pillow, and off! And the douche was so nice and cold. I feel so strong. _Allons, cousine_! Hop! [_Seizes_ Franziska _by the waist and jumps her into the air_.] FRANZISKA. [_Furiously_.] What do you-- MAGDA. [_Haughtily_.] Eh? FRANZISKA. [_Cringingly_]. You are so facetious. MAGDA. Am I? [_Clapping her hands_.] Breakfast! _Enter_ Marie, _with a tray of coffee things_. MARIE. Good-morning. FRANZISKA. Good-morning, my child. MAGDA. I'm dying of hunger. Ah! [_Pats her stomach_. Marie _kisses_ Franziska's _hand_.] MAGDA. [_Taking off the cover, with unction_.] Delicious! One would know Giulietta was in the house. FRANZISKA. She has made noise enough, at least. MAGDA. Oh, she couldn't live without a good row. And when she gets too excited, she quietly throws a plate at your head. I'm accustomed to it. What is papa doing? MRS. SCHWARTZE. He's making his excuses to the members of the Committee. MAGDA. Is your life still half made up of excuses? What sort of a committee is it? MRS. SCHWARTZE. It's the Christian Aid Society. They should have had a meeting here this morning in our house. Now we thought it would not do. It would look as if we wanted to introduce you. FRANZISKA. But, Augusta, now it will look as if your daughter were more important to you-- MAGDA. Well, I hope she is! MRS. SCHWARTZE. Of course! But--oh dear, you don't know what sort of people they are. They are deserving of great respect. For instance, there's Mrs. General von Klebs. [_Proudly_.] We are friends of hers. MAGDA. [_With sham respect_.] Really? MRS. SCHWARTZE. Now, they'll probably come to-morrow. Then you'll meet, besides, some other pious and aristocratic ladies whose patronage gains us a great deal of influence. I'm curious to see how they'll like you. MAGDA. How I shall like them, you should say. MRS. SCHWARTZE.