Come along, Gwendoline. [_Gwendoline puts herself upon the sofa, and Peggy covers her with the bearskin._] There--as soon as you drop off to sleep it will be Ermyntrude's turn. [_Looking through the conservatory doors._] Oh, how the snow is coming down! [_Joining Ermyntrude, who is warming her hands by the fire. She sits in an arm-chair._] ERMYNTRUDE. Peggy--do you know what has become of poor Dinah? PEGGY. Yes, she's locked up up-stairs till the morning. Admiral Rankling locked her up. GWENDOLINE. [_From the sofa._] It's a shame! PEGGY. Go to sleep! Oh, what a scene there was! Admiral Rankling foamed at the mouth. It was lucky they got Mr. Queckett away from him in time. GWENDOLINE. [_Sleepily._] Where is Mr. Queckett? PEGGY. Go to sleep. ERMYNTRUDE. [_Leaning against Peggy's knees._] Mr. Queckett is locked up too, isn't he? PEGGY. Of course he is--till the morning. Miss Dyott locked him up--very properly I think. ERMYNTRUDE. And where's Miss Dyott? PEGGY. Up-stairs, in the room next to mine, in hysterics. Hush! I do believe Gwendoline has gone off. Are you pretty comfortable? ERMYNTRUDE. [_Her head on Peggy's lap--sleepily._] Yes, thank you. PEGGY. [_ Wearily._] Oh! [_The door quietly opens, and Saunders appears. Peggy and Ermyntrude are hidden from him by the armchair._] SAUNDERS. [_Sleepily._] I can't sleep in my room. Where have they put Uncle Jack, I wonder? [_Seeing Gwendoline, who is sleeping, with the light from the conservatory windows upon her._] Oh--what's that? [_Going softly up to Gwendoline, and looking at her._] Why, here's my Gwen. I wonder if she'd mind my sitting near her. [_Turning up his coat collar and sitting gently on the footstool, he leans against the head of the sofa drowsily._] Now if any robbers wanted to hurt Gwen, I could kill them. [_Closing his eyes wearily._] Oh! [_Soon there is a sound of heavy regular breathing from the four sleeping figures. The door opens, and Mallory enters._] MALLORY. [_Shivering._] Can't get a blessed wink of sleep. Where have I wandered to? Why, this is the room where the awful row was. [_Seeing Gwendoline._] Hallo, here's one of those schoolgirls--[_discovering Saunders_] and--well, this nephew of mine is a devil of a fellow! That isn't a glimmer of fire, surely. [_ Walking towards the fireplace he nearly stumbles over Ermyntrude._] More girls! [_He accidentally knocks over the scuttle. They all wake with a start._] PEGGY AND ERMYNTRUDE. What's that? GWENDOLINE AND SAUNDERS. Who is it? MALLORY. Hush, don't be frightened! It's only I. PEGGY. Mr. Mallory. MALLORY. I've been wandering about--can't sleep. PEGGY. No--we can't sleep either. MALLORY. Well, I don't know about that. [_Ermyntrude lights the candle on mantelpiece._] PEGGY. Why haven't you and Mr. Saunders gone home? You're not burnt out. MALLORY.