[LADY FILSON _rises and almost runs to the writing-table, where she sits and snatches at a sheet of paper._ SIR RANDLE _follows her and stands beside her._ BERTRAM. [_Reclining upon the settee on the left._] Lady Blanche Finnis---- LADY FILSON. [_Seizing her pen._] Wait; don't be so quick! [_Writing._] "Hon. Sybil Maundrell----" [_The glazed door is opened softly and_ OTTOLINE _enters. She pauses, looking at the group at the writing-table._ SIR RANDLE. [To LADY FILSON, as she writes.] Lady Eva Sherringham---- BERTRAM. Ladies Lilian and Constance Foxe---- LADY FILSON. [_Writing._] "Lady Eva Sherringham--Ladies Lilian and Constance Foxe----" BERTRAM. Lady Irene Pallant---- SIR RANDLE. I _pray_ there may be no captious opposition from Ottoline. LADY FILSON. Surely she doesn't want to be married like a middle-class widow from Putney! [_Writing._] "Lady Blanche Finnis----" BERTRAM. If pages are permissible--to carry my sister's train, I mean t'say---- SIR RANDLE. Pages--yes, yes---- BERTRAM. There are the two Galbraith boys--little Lord Wensleydale and his brother Herbert. LADY FILSON. [_Writing._] Such picturesque children! SIR RANDLE. I doubt whether the bare civilities which have passed between ourselves and Lord and Lady Galbraith---- LADY FILSON. They are country neighbours. BERTRAM. No harm in approaching them, my dear father. I mean to _say_----! [OTTOLINE _shuts the door with a click._ SIR RANDLE _and_ LADY FILSON _turn, startled, and_ LADY FILSON _slips the list into a drawer._ SIR RANDLE. [_Benignly._] Otto? OTTOLINE. [_In a steady voice._] Sorry to disturb you all over your elaborate preparations, Dad. I see Sir Timothy has saved me the trouble of breaking the news. SIR RANDLE. Y-you----? OTTOLINE. [_Nodding._] You were too absorbed. I couldn't help listening. SIR RANDLE. Ahem! Sir Timothy didn't _volunteer_ the information, Ottoline---- OTTOLINE. _Peu m'importe!_ [_Advancing, smiling on one side of her mouth._] What a grand wedding you are planning for me! _Quel projets mirifiques!_ SIR RANDLE. [_Embarrassed._] Your dear mother was--er--merely jotting down---- OTTOLINE.