_Alth_. If he was brilliant and fond of excitement _we_ shouldn't have known him; for we're deadly dull ourselves, CISSIE. I never knew _how_ dull till--till I came to stay with you! _Mrs. M_. You're not dull, you're a darling; and if you think I'm going to let you throw yourself away on some humdrum plodder who will expect you to find your sole amusement in hearing him prose, you're mistaken; because I shan't. THEA, whatever you do, don't be talked into marrying a Dryasdust; you'll only be miserable if you do! _Alth_. But Mr. CURPHEW isn't as bad as that, CISSIE. And--and he hasn't asked me yet, and when he finds out how frivolous I've become, very likely he never will; so we needn't talk about it any more, need we? _Mrs. M_. Now I feel snubbed; but I don't care, it's all for your good, my dear, and I've said all I wanted to, so we'll change the subject for something more amusing. (Colonel MERRIDEW _comes in_.) Well, FRANK, have you actually condescended to come in for some tea? (_To_ ALTHEA.) Generally he says tea is all very well for women; and then goes off to his club and has at least two cups, and I daresay muffins. _Col. M_. Why not say ham-sandwiches at once, CECILIA, my dear? pity to curb your imagination! (_Sitting down_.) If that tea's drinkable, I don't know that I won't have a cup; though it's not what I came for. I wanted to know if you'd settled to do anything this evening, because, if not, I've got a suggestion--struck me in the Row just after you'd passed, and I thought I'd come back and see how _you_ felt about it. (_He takes his tea_.) For me?--thanks. _Mrs. M_. We feel curious about it at present. FRANK. _Col. M_. Well, I thought that, as this is Miss TOOVEY'S last evening with us, it was a pity to waste it at home. Why shouldn't we have a little dinner at the Savoy, eh?--about eight--and drop in somewhere afterwards, if we feel inclined? _Mrs. M_. Do you know that's quite a delightful idea of yours, FRANK. That is, unless THEA has had enough of gaiety, and would rather we had a quiet evening. Would you, dear? _To_ ALTHEA. _Alth_. (_eagerly_). Oh, no, indeed, CISSIE, I'm not a bit tired! _Mrs. M_. You're quite sure? But where could we go on afterwards, FRANK; shouldn't we be too late for any theatre? _Col. M_. I rather thought we might look in at the Eldorado; you said you were very keen to hear WALTER WILDFIRE. (_He perceives that his wife is telegraphing displeasure_.) Eh? why, you _did_ want me to take you. _Alth_. (_to herself_). WALTER WILDFIRE? why, it was WALTER WILDFIRE that CHARLES advised Mr. CURPHEW to go and hear. Mr. CURPHEW said it was the very last thing he was likely to do. But he's so prejudiced! _Mrs. M_. (_trying to make her husband understand_). Some time--but I think, not to-night, FRANK. _Col. M_. If it's not to-night you mayn't get another chance; they say he's going to give up singing very soon.