_Lord F._ Oh, certainly! You’re sure you’re not bored? _Omnes._ By no means. Do go on. _Lord F._ “A most charming and lovely girl from New York. She thinks Miss —— characterised the cities rightly, except her own. Asked me if I thought she was only a dressmaking advertisement? As scarcely any of her dress was to be seen, I replied that as I couldn’t look below the table, I was sure it was the last thing one would accuse her of being. She blushed so violently that I had to tell her that I had seen much worse dresses in London; but that didn’t please her any better, and she talked to the man next her for the rest of the evening. (_All have difficulty in suppressing their laughter._) I met a Boston girl afterwards who—” [_Bell rings._ _Mrs. W._ Lord Ferrol, there is our summons to the upper regions. We will not make a formal guest of you, but will all guide you to your room. [_All rise._ _Lord F._ Er, thanks. _Mrs. W. (taking Lord F.’s arm)._ Your trunks not having arrived (_exit r. d. with Lord F._) we will none of us— [_Exit_ AMY _and_ HELEN _r. d., evidently laughing_. ROSE _exits l. d. Men all go off into paroxysms of laughter._ _Steven (suddenly)._ Well, I must go and coach him. _Dennis._ My dear fellow! you can’t paint the lily. _Enter_ ROSE, _quietly, l. d. Men all check their laughter_. _Rose._ I came back for my skates. Why, what are you laughing about! And pray what lily are you going to paint? _George._ My dear cousin, when a person enters a room already occupied, without due warning, she must not ask questions relative to the subject under discussion. _Rose (talking down stage to conceal her laughter)._ I know very well what you were talking about. You were making fun of Lord Ferrol. _Steven._ Give you my solemn word we were not making fun of _Lord Ferrol_. _Men._ No! How suspicious you girls are! [_All laugh._ HELEN _tries to suppress her laughter, and then rushes out r. d., followed by_ STEVEN. _Dennis._ That journal was a mighty clever dodge of Parker’s. It staved off all dangerous questions till Steve could coach him. _George._ There were some capital notions in it, too. If he will only give us a few more risqué anecdotes, none of the girls will dare talk to him. _Dennis._ Did you see Mrs. Wycherly’s horrified expression when he alluded to the wild life of the American men? I am sure she thought he was going to give us some “exposures in high life.” _Enter_ STEVEN _hurriedly, r. d._ _Steven._ Look here, fellows, you’ve got to help me. The girls have planted themselves on the divan upstairs, and I can’t go to Ferrol’s room without their seeing me. Come up and occupy them, while I slip in. _Dennis._ Decoy ducks, eh? _Stuart._ That’s it. Come along, George. [_All exit r. d.,—slight pause._