[_To Peggy._] Get rid of them soon, or I shall become a gibbering idiot! MALLORY. [_Slapping Queckett on the back._] Now, then, Queckett. [_Queckett goes to the piano. To Peggy._] Will you make me happy, dear Miss Peggy? PEGGY. Thank you, Mr. Mallory, I never dance. [_Taking his arm._] But I don't mind this once. Uncle! QUECKETT. [_To himself._] I wash my hands of the entire party! [_He plays the first figure of a quadrille, while they dance--Rankling and Dinah, Saunders and Gwendoline, Mallory and Peggy, Ermyntrude and Reginald. They dance with brightness and animation, but whenever Reginald encounters Dinah there is a violent altercation. As the figure ends Jane enters again, and runs to Queckett at the piano. _] QUECKETT. What is it? JANE. Oh, sir, do come down-stairs--as far down as you can get. QUECKETT. What do you mean? JANE. That boy, Tyler, sir! QUECKETT. Tyler--well? JANE. He went off bang in the kitchen, sir, about ten minutes ago. Them fireworks! QUECKETT. Fireworks! Where is he? JANE. Gone for the engines, sir. QUECKETT. [_Rising._] The engines! ERMYNTRUDE. Uncle! GWENDOLINE. Uncle Vere! PEGGY. Now then, Uncle! QUECKETT. Excuse me--let somebody take my place at the piano. I--I'll be back in a moment! [_Jane hurries out, he following her._] PEGGY. [_Running to the piano and commencing a waltz.'_] A waltz! Change partners! [_Rankling dances with Ermyntrude, Saunders with Gwendoline. Reginald is left out, but is wildly following Dinah, who is dancing with Mallory._] RANKLING. [_Puffing._] Not so fast, Miss Griffin--not so fast. REGINALD. [_Dinah's ear._] I shall require some explanation, Madam. DINAH. Oh, Reginald! [_There is the sound of a prolonged knocking at the street door, followed by a bell ringing violently._] PEGGY. [_Playing._] Somebody wants to come in, evidently. [_Suddenly the music and the dancing stop and everybody listens; then they all run to the windows and look out._] RANKLING. What's that? MALLORY. What's wrong? SAUNDERS. Oh, look there! PEGGY. Oh, there's such a crowd at our house! [_Queckett re-enters with Jane, who sinks into a chair. Queckett looks very pale and frightened._] QUECKETT. Listen to me, please. ALL. What's the matter? QUECKETT. Don't be alarmed. Look at me. Imitate my self-possession. ALL. What is the matter? QUECKETT. The matter? The weather is so unfavourable that the boy Tyler has been compelled to display fireworks on the premises. THE GIRLS. THE MEN. Oh! What has happened? QUECKETT. Pray don't be disturbed. There is not the slightest occasion for alarm. We have now the choice of one alternative. RANKLING AND MALLORY. What's that? QUECKETT. To get out without unnecessary delay. THE GIRLS. [_Clustering together._] Oh! RANKLING. [_Assuming the tone of a commander._] Mr. Mallory! Mr. Saunders! MALLORY. Yes, sir. SAUNDERS. Yes, sir. [_Mallory and Saunders place themselves beside Rankling._] RANKLING.