[CAPTAIN CROPPER _endeavours to extract encouragement from this Delphic response_.] The Impromptu Charade-Party. SCENE--_The Library of a Country-House; the tables and chairs are heaped with brocades, draperies, and properties of all kinds, which the Ladies of the company are trying on, while the men rack their brains for a suitable Word._ _In a secluded corner_, MR. NIGHTINGALE _and_ MISS ROSE _are conversing in whispers_. MR. WHIPSTER (_Stage-Manager and Organizer--self-appointed_). No--but I say, _really_, you know, we _must_ try and decide on something--we've been out half-an-hour, and the people will be getting impatient! (_To the Ladies._) Do come and help; it's really no use dressing up till we've settled what we're going _to do_. Can't _anybody_ think of a good Word? MISS LARKSPUR. We ought to make a continuous story of it, with the same plot and characters all through. We did that once at the Grange, and it was awfully good--just like a regular Comedy! MR. WHIPSTER. Ah, but we've got to hit on _a Word_ first. Come--nobody got an idea? Nightingale, you're not much use over _there_, you know. I hope you and Miss Rose have been putting your heads together? MR. NIGHTINGALE (_confused_). Eh? No, nothing of the sort! Oh, ah--yes, we've thought of a _lot_ of Words. MISS ROSE. Only you've driven them all out of our heads again! [_They resume their conversation._ MR. WH. Well, do make a suggestion, somebody! Professor, won't _you_ give us a Word? CHORUS OF LADIES. Oh, _do_, Professor--you're sure to think of something clever! PROFESSOR POLLEN (_modestly_). Well, really, I've so little experience in these matters that--A Word _has_ just occurred to me, however; I don't know, of course, whether it will meet with approval--(_he beams at them with modest pride through his spectacles_)--it's "Monocotyledonous." CHORUS OF LADIES. Charming! Monocottle--Oh, can't we _do_ that? MR. WH. (_dubiously_). We might--but--er--what's it _mean_? PROF. POLLEN. It's a simple botanical term, signifying a plant which has only one cup-shaped leaf, or seed-lobe. Plants with _two_ are termed-- MR. WH. I don't see how we're going to act a plant with only one seed-lobe myself--and then the syllables--"mon"--"oh"--"cot"--"till"--we shouldn't get done before _midnight_, you know! PROF. POLLEN (_with mild pique_). Well, I merely threw it out as a suggestion. I thought it could have been made amusing. No doubt I was wrong; no doubt. MR. SETTEE (_nervously_). I've thought of a word. How would--er--"_Familiar_" do? MR. WH. (_severely_). Now, _really_, Settee, _do_ try not to footle like this! [MR. SETTEE _subsides amidst general disapproval_. MR. FLINDERS (_with a flash of genius_). I've got it--_Gamboge_! MR. WH. Gamboge, eh? Let's see how that would work:--"Gam"-"booge." How do you see it yourself? [MR. FLINDERS _discovers on reflection, that he doesn't see it, and the suggestion is allowed to drop_.