[With a slight courtesy to MACPHAIL, IMOGEN gives him her arm as VALENTINE enters, trimmed, shaven, and in immaculate evening dress.] BROOKE TWOMBLEY. Why, Val! LADY EUPHEMIA VIBART. Mr. White! VALENTINE WHITE. Imogen! IMOGEN. [Leaving MACPHAIL.] Valentine! LADY TWOMBLEY. Valentine White! VALENTINE WHITE. Imogen, am I too late? IMOGEN. Too late? VALENTINE WHITE. For the honor of dancing with you to-night? IMOGEN. You--you are in time, Valentine. VALENTINE WHITE. For which dance? IMOGEN. This dance. MACPHAIL. Mother! DOWAGER. The child's mad! LADY MACPHAIL. Stop the Strathspey! Stop the Strathspey! [She hurries out, followed by MACPHAIL.] SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. Mr. White, really you shouldn't, you know. [The music ceases.] VALENTINE WHITE. Sir Julian, Lady Twombley, with your permission I shall go no further to avoid the shams of life. I have found one cool resting-place in this world where there is reality and sincerity. [With IMOGEN'S hands in his.] And I have found it in an advanced state of civilization. [The DOWAGER pulls IMOGEN away.] SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. I positively must beg---- DOWAGER. [To IMOGEN.] Child, at this moment I feel grateful that I am your aunt, with all an aunt's privileges. [She shakes her.] IMOGEN. Mamma! LADY TWOMBLEY. [Seizing IMOGEN.] My chick, your mother has privileges also. Bless you and Valentine. [Kissing her.] There! Dora, if you shake my girl again I--I'll slap you! DOWAGER. Ah! Julian! [DRUMDURRIS appears with a telegram.] EARL OF DRUMDURRIS. Aunt! LADY TWOMBLEY. What's that? EARL OF DRUMDURRIS. From Reeves & Shuckleback! [She snatches the telegram from him.] EVERYBODY. What's the matter? LADY TWOMBLEY. Julian, look at your wife! Brooke, Imogen, come to your mother! No more worries by day and bad dreams at night! No poverty--no cottage--no--no vegetables! I--I am a rich woman! [She falls back fainting into SIR JULIAN'S arms as they all surround her. At the same moment LEBANON rushes in with MRS. GAYLUSTRE. He has a telegram in his hand; his aspect is wild, his face white.] MR. JOSEPH LEBANON. Lady Twombley! Where is she? Lady Twombley! [As LADY TWOMBLEY is assisted to a chair LEBANON falls into another.] IMOGEN. Mamma! MRS. GAYLUSTRE. Joseph! IMOGEN. Ah! MRS. GAYLUSTRE. Ah! SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. Be quiet! Lady Twombley is ill! MRS. GAYLUSTRE. Ill! Look at Joseph! My only brother! SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY. Keith, explain this telegram or my brain will give way. DOWAGER. No, no--tell me. My brain is stronger than Sir Julian's. EARL OF DRUMDURRIS. [To SIR JULIAN and the DOWAGER apart.] Mother--Sir Julian---- MR. JOSEPH LEBANON. I want a word or two with my friend, Lady T. [MRS. GAYLUSTRE arranges his chair so that he faces LADY TWOMBLEY. She and LEBANON stare at each other.] MR. JOSEPH LEBANON. Oh! LADY TWOMBLEY. Ah! MR. JOSEPH LEBANON. Lady T. LADY TWOMBLEY. Hullo? MR. JOSEPH LEBANON. I've 'ad a wire. LADY TWOMBLEY. So have I.