MRS. CULLINGHAM. I'm sorry to say--I don't think she is--good-by. [_To MR. TILLMAN, who says good-by_--_general good-bys._ MRS. TILLMAN. [_To JINNY._] You want me to tell your father? JINNY. Yes, it's better; it does make him jealous if he thinks I tell you things and keep secrets from him. TILLMAN. Good-by, Peter. MRS. TILLMAN. Good-by, Peter. PETER. By-by. [_MR. and MRS. TILLMAN quickly go out Right, JINNY going to the door with them._ JINNY. [_Coming back from doorway._] Now do tell me what it means. I thought you were abroad indefinitely, or for the summer at least. MRS. CULLINGHAM. So did I! I'm just as surprised to be here as you _seem to be_! [_They sit down near each other._] Didn't you really know we were coming? JINNY. No! How should I? MRS. CULLINGHAM. I don't know--I thought-- [_She hesitates, embarrassed._ [_After a pause._ JINNY. What did you think? MRS. CULLINGHAM. Nothing, except that you must know we were coming home. JINNY. Why--that _I_ must? MRS. CULLINGHAM. You mustn't put me into a corner like that! JINNY. How do you mean "corner"? How did you happen to come home like this? MRS. CULLINGHAM. Ruth suddenly got a cable--she didn't tell me from whom--but she said she must go home at once. JINNY. But her mother's never been better! MRS. CULLINGHAM. [_Carelessly._] The cable wasn't from her mother. JINNY. Oh, then, you know who it was from? [_No answer._] Oh, I see now why you thought I ought to know about it; the cable was from _Jack_, _wasn't it_? MRS. CULLINGHAM. [_Relieved._] Yes. JINNY. Oh, it was! MRS. CULLINGHAM. I looked at it when she was out of the room; of course, it was sort of by accident-- [_Very much embarrassed._] --that is, I just happened to see--O dear, there! You know what I mean; it was dreadful of me, but I couldn't help it. JINNY. [_In a strained voice._] Jack and Ruth are very good friends and he looks after some of her affairs. You know having no man in the family complicates things. PETER. Oh! I say! [_Standing up, suddenly._ MRS. CULLINGHAM. What _is it_, dear? PETER. I believe I haven't got my before-dinner tabs. MRS. CULLINGHAM. Oh, look carefully! PETER. [_He looks in his right-hand pocket, takes out a bottle._] Soda mints! [_From his left-hand pocket a box._] Alkali powders! [_From third pocket a bottle._] Charcoal tablets! [_From fourth pocket another bottle._] Dr. Man's Positive Cure! [_From fifth pocket a box._] Bicarbonate soda! MRS. CULLINGHAM. There's your other side pocket! PETER. That's my saccharine [_Showing bottle._] and my lithia tabs. [_Showing another bottle._] We'll have to go, mother; I've left them home! MRS. CULLINGHAM. We must go, anyway, my dear. [_Rising._ [_JINNY also rises._ PETER. [_Suddenly claps his hand behind him and speaks joyfully._] No, we needn't go after all; I forgot my hip pocket. Here they are! [_Bringing them out._