Without us your party must fail, for we command the servants. Let it be a compact--your soirée shall be our soirée, and our soirée your soirée. QUECKETT. And if I indignantly decline? PEGGY. [_Solemnly._] Consider, Mr. Queckett--your Christmas holidays are to be passed with us. Think in which direction your comfort and freedom lie--in friendship or in enmity? Even now, Ermyntrude Johnson is trimming the holly with one of your razors. QUECKETT. But what explanation could I give Mr. Mallory of your presence here? PEGGY. Every detail has been considered. You are our bachelor uncle. QUECKETT. Uncle! PEGGY. We are your four nieces. [_Queckett looks up--is tickled by the idea, and bursts out laughing. Peggy joins._] I don't see why that shouldn't be rather jolly. PEGGY. [_Roguishly._] D'ye consent? QUECKETT. Can't help myself--can I? PEGGY. [Delighted] That you can't. QUECKETT. Let's be friends, then--shall we? Have you girls got any money? PEGGY. No. Have you? QUECKETT. No! that is, all mine's invested. MISS DYOTT. [_Outside._] Tyler, fetch a cab. [_Queckett makes a bolt from the room, and Peggy vigorously re-arranges the furniture as Miss Dyott enters, dressed as if for a journey, and carrying her umbrella and hand-bag again. _] Where is my husband? PEGGY. [_Looking about her._] Your hand-bag, Miss Dyott? [_Queckett re-enters._] MISS DYOTT. Still in your overcoat, dear? QUECKETT. Of course, Carrie. I'll drive with you to Paddington. MISS DYOTT. No, no--I insist on going alone. QUECKETT. [_Taking off his coat with alacrity._] Oh, Carrie, I am disappointed! [_Dinah, Gwendoline, and Ermyntrude come through the hall, into the room, and form a group. Jane enters the hall. Tyler joins her there._] MISS DYOTT. Miss Hesslerigge--young ladies. I regret to say I am compelled to--to quit Volumnia House for a time. The length of my absence depends upon how long it runs--[_correcting herself in confusion_]--upon how long it runs to it, to employ a colloquialism of the vulgar. But I depart with a light heart, because I leave my husband in authority. He will find a trusty lieutenant in Miss Hesslerigge. Ladies, to abandon for the moment our mother tongue, _Je vous embrasse de tout mon cour--soyez sages!_ GIRLS. [_Together._] Au revoir, Mademoiselle Dyott! Bon voyage, Mademoiselle Dyott! [_Peggy joins the Girls and they talk earnestly. A Cabman is seen carrying out the boxes from the hall, assisted by Tyler. Miss Dyott produces some paper packets of money from her hand-bag._] MISS DYOTT. [_As she gives the packets to Queckett._] Vere, the house-agent will apply for the rent--there it is. Our fire insurance expired yesterday--post the premium to the Eagle Office at once. Jane's wages are due next week--deduct for the broken water bottle. When you need exercise, dear one, tidy up the back yard--the recreation ground. A charwoman assists Jane on Fridays--three quarters of a day, and leaves before her tea. Good-bye, Vere.