mall rent in her skirt to ENID, gaily._] Pom,
pa-ra, rom, pom, pom!

[_HENEAGE and GRIMWOOD go to the counter, secure a waiter, and return
with him to ENID and NITA. The waiter receives his orders and
presently fetches the ladies glasses of lemonade._

MRS. STIDULPH.

[_Whispering to VON RETTENMAYER._] Well! Did you ever! Just fancy!

VON RETTENMAYER.

[_Absently, looking at ENID._] I beg your bardon?

MRS. STIDULPH.

Fancy those two girls walking into a room before _us_! [_Discovering
the fan upon the floor._] Oh, I do believe that's my fan!

[_VON RETTENMAYER restores the fan to MRS. STIDULPH as ROPER and
GABRIELLE enter at the door on the left._

GABRIELLE.

[_To ROPER, in a low, complaining voice._] It's a shame of you; that's
what it is. You went and put Lily Parradell into rubber and enabled
_her_ to make a bit. She told us so.

ROPER.

Yes; but how long ago?

GABRIELLE.

That's not the point. The point is, it's always Lily Parradell with
you; you never do anything for us other girls.

[_She sits upon the nearer settee in the centre and she and ROPER, he
standing by her, continue their conversation._

MRS. STIDULPH.

[_To VON RETTENMAYER._] No, thanks; I'm on a diet. Didn't you notice
me at supper? [_Moving to the settee on the right._] Let's sit. [_To
STIDULPH._] Oh, get up. [_STIDULPH rises quickly._] Why aren't you
dancing? If you don't dance, go home and put yourself to bed. You
might, for all the good you're doing here.

STIDULPH.

[_With a forced, painful laugh._] Ha, ha! Ha, ha, ha!

VON RETTENMAYER.

[_As MRS. STIDULPH seats herself._] Blenty of room for you too,
Golonel.

STIDULPH.

No, no; I won't inconvenience you.

[_He moves away and VON RETTENMAYER sits beside MRS. STIDULPH. The
waiter who has previously gone out now returns at the door on the left
with a tray of ices in paper cases. He goes to the counter for a
supply of ice-spoons as FARNCOMBE enters with LILY at the right-hand
door at the back. Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes sparkling._

ROPER.

[_All his attention suddenly directed to LILY and FARNCOMBE._] Here's
Lil!

LILY.

[_Excitedly, seizing STIDULPH'S hand._] You're not dancing, Colonel
Stidulph. [_Showing him her programme._] Dance with me. I'll make one
of the others give up a dance for you.

STIDULPH.

[_Going to the counter._] No, no; I'm too old.

LILY.

Too old for dancing! I shall never be too old for dancing.