Mr. Monty Levine. LILY. Bless him! He's a dear little man, though he does bite his nails. [_GLADYS appears with VINCENT BLAND, who saunters in after her. Seeing LILY, GLADYS advances to her._] Hallo, Vincent! BLAND. [_A thin, delicate looking man of eight-and-thirty, not over smartly dressed, wearing an eye-glass-- nodding to LILY casually._] You needn't have cut me, almost on your door-step. [_To JIMMIE and JEYES._] H'lo, Jimmie! H'lo, Nicko! GLADYS. [_Viewing LILY with an elevation of the brows._] Oh, are you home? LILY. [_Returning GLADYS'S stare._] Apparently. GLADYS. I'll whistle up to Maud. LILY. Don't, if it's too severe a strain on you. MRS. UPJOHN. [_To GLADYS, as the girl moves to the door._] Gladys, we'll 'ave tea. GLADYS. [_At the door._] You can't till it's ready. LILY. [_Calmly._] Cheek! [_GLADYS retires._ BLAND. [_Who has strolled across to LILY, indolently._] Why do you retain the services of that tousled-headed hussy? LILY. [_With conviction._] Oh, she's a little under the weather, but she's a perfect servant. BLAND. [_To MRS. UPJOHN._] Ma, you look blooming. MRS. UPJOHN. Wish I could return the compliment, Mr. Bland. BLAND. [_To ROPER, who is wearing a waistcoat of rather a pronounced pattern._] Congratulations on your waistcoat, Lal. ROPER. [_Joining JIMMIE, annoyed._] Now, no personalities. LILY. [_Giving BLAND her hand._] Vincent, yours is one of the loveliest presents I've had to-day. _Remerciement!_ How's that for a French accent? BLAND. [_Dropping his eyeglass._] You cat! LILY. Why----? BLAND. You know I've given you nothing, not even a penny nosegay. JIMMIE. Ha, ha, ha! LILY. [_Raising herself on her elbow._] On my honour--! Vincent dear, I swear I thought----! BLAND. The funds are too low. [_Replacing his eyeglass._] I did go so far as to price a bangle at Sellby's, but that was before a certain event yesterday. JIMMIE. What horses did you back, Vincent? I won a fiver, through Jerry Grimwood. ROPER. [_To BLAND._] You _are_ a patent ass. Why don't you leave betting alone? BLAND. [_To ROPER, flaring up._] Why don't you leave your City muck alone? LILY. [_Putting her feet to the floor, imperiously._] That'll do. Be quiet, you two! I won't have any wrangling in my house. Run away and play, all of you. I want to speak to Vincent for a minute privately. [_With a gesture._] Uncle Lal-- Jimmie-- Nicko-- [_To MRS. UPJOHN._] Scoot, mother! MRS. UPJOHN. Oh, dear, wot a child! [_ROPER, JIMMIE, JEYES, and MRS. UPJOHN move away and LILY beckons to BLAND._ LILY. Vin. BLAND. [_Close to her, with a wry face._] Mercy! LILY. [_In a low voice._] You've broken your word to me, then? [_Through her teeth._] Those damned horses! BLAND. Cooling had a tip from the stable---- LILY. Cooling! Morrie Cooling has no children; only a fat wife. You've a darling little wife and three kiddies. How much did you drop yesterday? BLAND. Shan't say. LILY.