[_On the landing, to LILY, indignantly._] Lirry-- Misspa'dell---- JIMMIE. [_To FARNCOMBE._] Here she is! ROPER. [_To FULKERSON._] Now, then; have it out with Lily! LILY. What's wrong? [_FARNCOMBE rises and slips his note into JIMMIE'S hand._ FULKERSON. [_To LILY._] Mosht unjusht'fiable treatmen' 'n th' part 'f these gen'lemen! VON RETTENMAYER. [_Listening, with the others at the centre table, to what is going on upon the landing._] Ha, ha, ha, ha! JIMMIE. [_To FARNCOMBE, over her shoulder._] Good luck! BLAND. [_To LILY._] The youth is irate with us for cutting off supplies. [_LILY enters with FULKERSON; ROPER and BLAND following. BLAND strolls over to the piano, laughing._ FULKERSON. [_To LILY._] M' argumen' is this. When a gen'leman'sh invited b' th' lady 'f th' house t' partake 'f refreshmen'---- LILY. [_To FULKERSON._] Be quiet, Bertie, or I'll box your ears. [_Joining the group at the centre table._] Ho, ho! I've had such a wigging for asking you up. Mother says we girls'll look as ugly as sin on the stage to-night. ENID. So we shall-- hags. LILY. [_Sitting in the arm-chair by the centre table._] I feel as fresh as paint. [_To GABRIELLE._] Give me a sip. [_DE CASTRO hands GABRIELLE'S glass to LILY._ FULKERSON. [_Gazing at DAPHNE stupidly and singing to himself._] "Oh, the gals! Oh, the gals! I am awfully fond of the gals!----" VON RETTENMAYER, ROPER, DE CASTRO, ENID AND GABRIELLE. [_Chiming in with FULKERSON lightly._] "Be they ebon or blond, Of the gals I am fond;----"! Ha, ha, ha, ha! BLAND. H'sh, h'sh! Ma's quite right. [_Seating himself at the piano._] One more turn and then let's clear out. LILY. [_Jumping up._] Hurrah! [_To ROPER, as BLAND runs his hands over the key-board._] Shut the door, Uncle Lal. VON RETTENMAYER. Aha! One more durn! [_To ENID._] Enid----! FULKERSON. [_Singing._] "I am dreadfully fond of the gals!" ROPER. [_Closing the door._] Choose your partners, gents! [_Very softly BLAND plays the melody of a languorous song and instantly VON RETTENMAYER and ENID and DE CASTRO and GABRIELLE dance to it-- VON RETTENMAYER and ENID at the back, DE CASTRO and GABRIELLE near the piano._] Jimmie----! [_JIMMIE passes LILY to go to ROPER. As she does so, she presses FARNCOMBE'S note into LILY'S palm._ JIMMIE. [_To LILY, in a whisper._] Rat-tat, says the postman! [_Catching hold of ROPER and swinging him round._] La, ra, ral, la----! LILY. [_To FARNCOMBE, who is standing by the writing-table._] Lord Farncombe----? [_FARNCOMBE goes to her and they dance together._ FULKERSON. [_To DAPHNE, tapping her on the shoulder._] Missdure, may I have th' grea' pleasure----? [_Shaking her._] Missdure-- Missdure---- DAPHNE. [_Starting up._] Oh! [_Looking round wildly._] Oh----! FULKERSON. [_Dancing with her._] Pray 'xcuse th' absence 'f gloves. DAPHNE. [_Faintly._] Oh! Oh, I-- I thought I'd gone to bed!