CAPT. G. (_Aside._) How the dickens should I know what she prefers? She told me that she doted on horses. (_Aloud._) I think it is. MISS T. (_Coming out into front veranda._) Oh! Bad Buldoo! I must speak to him for this. He has taken up the curb two links, and Vermillion hates that. (_Passes out and to horse's head._) CAPT. G. Let me do it. MISS T. No, Vermillion understands me. Don't you, old man? (_Looses curb-chain skilfully, and pats horse on nose and throttle._) Poor Vermillion! _Did_ they want to cut his chin off? There! CAPTAIN GADSBY _watches the interlude with undisguised admiration._ POOR DEAR MAMMA. (_Tartly to_ MISS T.) You've forgotten your guest, I think, dear. MISS T. Good gracious! So I have! Good-bye. (_Retreats indoors hastily_) POOR DEAR MAMMA. (_Bunching reins in fingers hampered by too tight gauntlets_) Captain Gadsby! CAPTAIN GADSBY _stoops and makes the foot-rest._ POOR DEAR MAMMA _blunders, halts too long, and breaks through it._ CAPT. G. (_Aside_.) Can't hold up eleven stone for ever. It's all your rheumatism. (_Aloud_.) Can't imagine why I was so clumsy. (_Aside_.) Now Little Featherweight would have gone up like a bird. _They ride out of the garden. The Captain falls back._ CAPT. G. (_Aside_.) How that habit catches her under the arms! Ugh! POOR DEAR MAMMA. (_With the worn smile of sixteen seasons, the worse for exchange_.) You're dull this afternoon, Captain Gadsby. CAPT. G. (_Spurring up wearily_.) Why did you keep me waiting so long? _Et caetera, et caetera, et caetera._ (AN INTERVAL OF THREE WEEKS.) GILDED YOUTH. (_Sitting on railings opposite Town Hall_.) Hullo, Gaddy! 'Been trotting out the Gorgonzola! We all thought it was the Gorgon you're mashing. CAPT. G. (_With withering emphasis_.) You young cub! What the ---- does it matter to you? _Proceeds to read GILDED YOUTH a lecture on discretion and deportment, which crumbles latter like a Chinese Lantern. Departs fuming._ (FURTHER INTERVAL OF FIVE WEEKS.) SCENE.--_Exterior of New Simla Library on a foggy evening_. MISS THREEGAN _and_ MISS DEERCOURT _meet among the 'rickshaws_. MISS T. _is carrying a bundle of books under her left arm_. MISS D. (_Level intonation_.) Well? MISS T. (_Ascending intonation_.) Well? MISS D. (_Capturing her friend's left arm, taking away all the books, placing books in 'rickshaw, returning to arm, securing hand by the third finger and investigating_.) Well! You _bad_ girl! And you _never_ told me. MISS T. (_Demurely_.) He--he--he only spoke yesterday afternoon. MISS D. Bless you, dear! And I'm to be bridesmaid, aren't I? You _know_ you promised _ever_ so long ago. MISS T. Of course. I'll tell you all about it to-morrow. (_Gets into'rickshaw_.) O Emma! MISS D. (_With intense interest_.) Yes, dear? MISS T. (_Piano_.) It's quite true--about--the--egg. MISS D. What egg? MISS T. (_Pianissimo prestissimo_.) The egg without the salt. (_Forte_.) _Chalo ghar ko jaldi, jhampani!_ (Go home, _jhampani_.)