, in fact.

LILY.

[_At the nearer side of the table again._] Not a hitch.

FULKERSON.

[_Remembering his grievance._] I beg yo' par'n-- no' a 'itch! [_In
difficulties with his overcoat._] When a gen'leman'sh invited b' th'
lady 'f th' house t' partake 'f some refreshmen'----

SOME OF THE OTHERS.

Ha, ha, ha, ha!

GABRIELLE.

[_Coming to LILY and kissing her._] So long, dear.

[_ENID, DAPHNE, and JIMMIE also come to LILY, who embraces them
demonstratively, and the men follow._

LILY.

[_To the girls._] Ta-ta; ta-ta; ta-ta! I won't come down.

ENID.

No, no; we'll let ourselves out. [_Leaving LILY._] Till to-night!

LILY.

Till to-night! [_Shaking hands with the men._] Ta-ta; ta-ta; ta-ta!

THE MEN.

Ta-ta! Ta-ta! Ta-ta!

VON RETTENMAYER.

[_Kissing her hand slyly._] Goddess!

LILY.

[_To BLAND, in a whisper._] Take care of Bertie. [_Everybody moves to
the door, except LILY who remains standing in the middle of the room.
Some are on the landing, some in the doorway, when she calls to ROPER
and JIMMIE._] Uncle Lal! Jimmie! I want to speak to you two for a
second. [_ROPER and JIMMIE detach themselves from the rest and
return._] Oh-- and Lord Farncombe! [_FARNCOMBE also returns and LILY,
passing him, goes on to the landing and mixes with the others._] Be
off; Lord Farncombe and Lal will look after Jimmie. Vincent, _you_
close the front-door. No noise! Au revoir, mes enfants! [_She watches
them descend the stairs and, her manner softening, comes back into the
room._] Lord Farncombe wants to have a quiet talk with me, Uncle Lal--
about-- about something, and he's asked me to let him remain behind
with Jimmie for a few minutes. [_To JIMMIE._] But there's no necessity
for you to wait, dear.

JIMMIE.

Don't consider me.

LILY.

But I do. Go upstairs and tell mother that Lord Farncombe's with me.
Say I promise he shan't stay long. [_To ROPER._] You'll take Jimmie
home, won't you, Lal?

ROPER.

[_His eyes bolting._] W-w-with pleasure.

LILY.

[_To JIMMIE._] I shall see you again later in the day, perhaps?

JIMMIE.

Rather! [_Throwing her arms round LILY'S neck and pressing her cheek
to LILY'S._] Rather! [_To ROPER, significantly._] Sit in the hall till
I'm ready.

[_She runs out on to the landing, pausing at the door to bestow a
parting nod and a smile upon FARNCOMBE, and ascends the stairs._

ROPER.

[_In a state of great excitement and exhilaration-- to LILY._] Yes,
ye