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!

[_With their hands on each other's shoulders, the couples, swaying
from side to side, half sing, half murmur, the refrain of the song._

If you would only, only love me;
If you would merely, merely say,
Wait but a little, little for me,
I will be yours, be your