Haw! I might have done that, certainly. [_Tapping his brow._] Fact is--height of the Season--perfectly distracted---- MRS. ANSLOW. [_With the air of a martyr._] It doesn't matter. I sha'n't trouble you again. I've never been a favourite of yours---- GREEN. [_Appealingly._] Haw! Don't----! MRS. ANSLOW. It's true. I was one of the few stall-holders at the Army and Navy Bazaar whose gowns you didn't describe--[_Seeing_ PHILIP _and nodding to him hazily._] How d'ye do? ROOPE. [_Prompting her._] Mr. Mackworth---- [MRS. ANSLOW _goes to_ PHILIP _and proffers him a limp hand._ GREEN _retreats to the fireplace and_ MRS. QUEBEC _rises and pursues him._ MRS. ANSLOW. [_To_ PHILIP.] I think we met once at my cousins', the Fairfields'. PHILIP. [_Bowing._] Yes. MRS. ANSLOW. You write, don't you? PHILIP. [_Evasively._] Oh----! ROOPE. [_Joining them._] My dear Mrs. Anslow, Mr. Mackworth is one of the most gifted authors of the present day. PHILIP. [_Glaring at_ ROOPE.] Tsssh! ROOPE. [_To_ MRS. ANSLOW.] Get his books from your library instantly. I envy you the treat in store for you---- [NOYES _again appears._ NOYES. Madame de Chaumie. [OTTOLINE DE CHAUMIE _enters--a beautiful, pale, elegant young woman of three-and-thirty, with a slightly foreign air and perfect refinement of manner._ NOYES _retires. Everybody is manifestly pleased to see_ OTTOLINE, _except_ PHILIP _who picks up a little figure from the writing-table and examines it critically._ ROOPE. [_Hurrying to her and taking her hand._] Ah----! OTTOLINE. Robbie dear! MRS. QUEBEC. [_Going to_ OTTOLINE.] Oh! [_They embrace._] This is lovely! OTTOLINE. [_To_ MRS. ANSLOW, _who comes to her._] Millicent----! [_To_ GREEN, _who bustles forward and kisses her hand._] How do you do? MRS. QUEBEC. [_To_ OTTOLINE.] You didn't stay long at the Railtons' last night, Ottoline. OTTOLINE. I had a headache--mother was so vexed with me---- MRS. ANSLOW. Headache or not, you looked divine. MRS. QUEBEC. A vision! GREEN. [_To_ OTTOLINE.] Haw! I hope you saw the remarks about you in this morning's papah, deah lady. OTTOLINE.