It _ith_ rather a nithe ring. [_Lowering his voice._] But I thay. LILY. What? DE CASTRO. Mind you don't go and tell Gabth, on any account. LILY. [_With a great assumption of ignorance, raising her eyebrows._] Gabs? DE CASTRO. Gabrielle-- Mith Kato. LILY. Why shouldn't I? DE CASTRO. Nonsenth; _you_ know very well. [_Urgently._] You won't, will you? LILY. [_Shrugging her shoulders._] I won't if I remember not to. DE CASTRO. [_Alarmed._] Ah, now, don't be thtupid! Whath the good o' making mithchief! [_LILY shows him the tip of her tongue._] Oh, Lil! [_GLADYS goes out._] Lil----! VON RETTENMAYER. [_Leaving the group at the back and putting an arm round DE CASTRO'S shoulder._] My dear friend Zam! DE CASTRO. How are you, Baron? [_Going to MRS. UPJOHN._] Afthernoon, Ma! [_Nodding to JIMMIE and ROPER._] Afthernoon, everybody! [_Shaking hands with JEYES, who has risen and now joins the group._] How are you, Nicko? LILY. [_Giving her hand to VON RETTENMAYER._] Excuse me for cutting you short when you came in. Thanks for your splendid present. I did send you a wire, didn't I? VON RETTENMAYER. [_Kissing her hand and bowing over it._] I shall breserve it, with a few oder souvenirs, till the end of my life. LILY. [_Withdrawing her hand and blowing the compliment away._] Phew! Lal, lal, lal, la! VON RETTENMAYER. [_In an altered tone, after a cautious look round._] Goddess. LILY. Eh? VON RETTENMAYER. [_Anxiously._] My drifling liddle offering-- I endreat you not to mention it to Enid. LILY. [_Laughing heartily._] Ha, ha, ha, ha! Another of you! VON RETTENMAYER. The gharming Miss Mongreiff. LILY. [_Seriously._] Baron, I wish you boys wouldn't make me presents and then ask me to keep them a secret from the other girls. VON RETTENMAYER. And I-- I wish it were not nezezzary. But, goddess, you are alzo a young lady of the world-- you know what women are. LILY. H'm! I know what you men are. [_MAUD, a buxom young woman with a good-tempered face, dressed as a lady's-maid, enters quickly, tying her apron, and runs to LILY. JEYES comes to the further side of the writing-table and VON RETTENMAYER now joins him there. JIMMIE BIRCH also comes forward, accompanied by DE CASTRO._ MAUD. [_To LILY._] Here, give me your things. [_LILY tosses her hat, scarf, and gloves to MAUD._] I was in my room, having a lie down. Is my hair untidy? LILY. I've never seen it anything else. MAUD. [_Merrily._] Ha, ha, ha! [_To JIMMIE and DE CASTRO._] Afternoon, Miss Jimmie. Afternoon, Mr. de Castro. [_To LILY._] Now, don't let them all tire you to death, there's a pet. LILY. Oh, clear out. [_As MAUD is departing._] Hi! [_Rising and kicking off her shoes and sending them in MAUD'S direction._] Fetch me a pair of slippers. MAUD. [_Picking up the shoes and chuckling._] He, he, he! [_When MAUD reaches the door, which she has left open, GLADYS appears with the tea-tray and with FARNCOMBE at her heels._ GLADYS.