AGATHA POSKET. Æneas! [_He kisses her, then CIS kisses BEATIE, loudly; MR. POSKET and MR. BULLAMY both listen puzzled._ MR. POSKET. Echo? MR. BULLAMY. Suppose so! [_He kisses the back of his hand experimentally; BEATIE kisses CIS._ MR. BULLAMY. Yes. MR. POSKET. Curious. [_To MR. BULLAMY._] Romantic story, isn't it? BEATIE. Good-night, Mrs. Posket! I shall be here early to-morrow morning. AGATHA POSKET. I am afraid you are neglecting your other pupils. BEATIE. Oh, they're not so interesting as Cis--[_correcting herself_] Master Farringdon. Good-night. AGATHA POSKET. Good-night, dear. [_BEATIE goes out quietly; AGATHA POSKET joins CIS._ MR. POSKET. [_To MR. BULLAMY._] We were married abroad without consulting friends or relations on either side. That's how it is I have never seen my sister-in-law, Miss Verrinder, who is coming from Shropshire to stay with us--she ought to---- _WYKE enters._ WYKE. Miss Verrinder has come, ma'am. MR. POSKET. Here she is. AGATHA POSKET. Charlotte? _CHARLOTTE, a fine handsome girl, enters, followed by POPHAM with hand luggage._ AGATHA POSKET. [_Kissing her._] My dear Charley. [_WYKE goes out._ CHARLOTTE. Aggy darling, aren't I late! There's a fog on the line--you could cut it with a knife. [_Seeing CIS._] Is that your boy? AGATHA POSKET. Yes. CHARLOTTE. Good gracious! What is he doing in an Eton jacket at his age? AGATHA POSKET. [_Softly to CHARLOTTE._] Hush! don't say a word about my boy's age yet awhile. CHARLOTTE. Oh! AGATHA POSKET. [_About to introduce MR. POSKET._] There is my husband. CHARLOTTE. [_Mistaking MR. BULLAMY for him._] Oh! how could she! [_To MR. BULLAMY, turning her cheek to him._] I congratulate you--I suppose you ought to kiss me. AGATHA POSKET. No, no! MR. POSKET. Welcome to my house, Miss Verrinder. CHARLOTTE. Oh, I beg your pardon. How do you do? MR. BULLAMY. [_To himself._] Mrs. Posket's an interfering woman. MR. POSKET. [_Pointing to MR. BULLAMY._] Mr. Bullamy. [_MR. BULLAMY, aggrieved, bows stiffly._ AGATHA POSKET. [_To CHARLOTTE._] Come upstairs, dear; will you have some tea? CHARLOTTE. No thank you, pet, but I should like a glass of soda water. AGATHA POSKET. Soda water! CHARLOTTE. Well dear, you can put what you like at the bottom of it. [_AGATHA POSKET and CHARLOTTE go out, POPHAM following._ POPHAM. [_To CIS._] Give me back my "Bow Bells," when you have read it, you imp. [_Goes out._ CIS. By Jove, Guv, isn't Aunt Charlotte a stunner? MR. POSKET. Seems a charming woman. MR. BULLAMY. Posket's got the wrong one! That comes of marrying without first seeing the lady's relations. CIS. Come along, Guv--let's have a gamble--Mr. Bullamy will join us. [_Opens the card-table, arranges chairs and candles._ MR. BULLAMY. A gamble? MR. POSKET. Yes--the boy has taught me a new game called "Fireworks;" his mother isn't aware that we play for money, of course, but we do. MR. BULLAMY. Ha, ha, ha! Who wins? MR. POSKET.