SUDLEY. My dear madam, I take myself seriously--and madam, I--I retract what I have brought with me [_Feeling in his waistcoat pocket._] as a graceful gift,--an Egyptian scarab--a--a--sacred beetle, which once ornamented the person of a--eh--mummy. CYNTHIA. [_Scoring in return._] It should never be absent from your pocket, Mr. Sudley! [SUDLEY _walks away in a rage._ MISS HENEAGE. [_Rising, to_ SUDLEY.] I've a vast mind to withdraw my-- [CYNTHIA _moves._ CYNTHIA. [_Interrupts; maliciously._] Your wedding present? The little bronze cat! MISS HENEAGE. [_Moves, angrily._] Oh! [_Even_ MRS. PHILLIMORE _comes momentarily to life, and expresses silent indignation._ SUDLEY. [_Loftily._] Sarah, I'm going. GRACE, _who has met_ PHILIP, _takes occasion to accompany him into the room._ PHILIP _looks dusty and grim. As they come in_, GRACE _speaks to him, and_ PHILIP _shakes his head. They pause near the door._ CYNTHIA. [_Emotionally._] I shall go to my room! However, all I ask is that you repeat to Philip-- [_As she moves toward the door, she comes suddenly upon_ PHILIP, _and speaks to him in a low voice._ SUDLEY. [_To_ MISS HENEAGE, _determined to win._] As I go out, I shall do myself the pleasure of calling a hansom for Mrs. Karslake-- [PHILIP _moves slightly from the door._ PHILIP. As you go out, Sudley, have a hansom called, and when it comes, get into it. SUDLEY. [_Furious._] Eh,--eh,--my dear sir, I leave you to your fate. [PHILIP _angrily points him the door and_ SUDLEY _leaves in great haste._ MISS HENEAGE. [_With weight._] Philip, you've not heard-- PHILIP. [_Interrupting._] Everything--from Grace! My sister has repeated your words to me--and her own! I've told her what I think of _her_. [PHILIP _looks witheringly at_ GRACE. GRACE. I shan't wait to hear any more. [_She flounces out of the room._ PHILIP. Don't make it necessary for me to tell you what I think of you. [PHILIP _moves to the right, toward his mother, to whom he gives his arm._ MISS HENEAGE _immediately seeks the opposite side._] Mother, with your permission, I desire to be alone. I expect both you and Grace, Sarah, to be dressed and ready for the ceremony a half hour from now. [_As_ PHILIP _and_ MRS. PHILLIMORE _are about to go out_, MISS HENEAGE _speaks._ MISS HENEAGE. I shall come or not as I see fit. And let me add, my dear brother, that a fool at forty is a fool indeed. [MISS HENEAGE, _high and mighty, goes out, much pleased with her quotation._ MRS. PHILLIMORE. [_Stupid and weary as usual, to_ PHILIP, _as he leads her to the door._] My dear son--I won't venture to express-- [CYNTHIA, _in irritation, moves to the table._