[_Coming to
the nearer settee in the centre, picking up her bouquet, and sitting
beside GABRIELLE._] Ah-h-h-h!

ROPER.

[_To FARNCOMBE, who follows LILY._] Hul-lo! [_Beaming._] Jolly party,
hey, Farncombe?

FARNCOMBE.

[_Boyishly._] Lovely! [_To LILY._] May I bring you some lemonade-- an
ice----?

LILY.

[_Looking up at him._] You may keep on bringing me ices till the music
starts again. [_FARNCOMBE leaves her._] Gabby, wasn't that waltz
delicious!

[_PALK and SYBIL enter at the door on the left. SYBIL seats herself
beside NITA on the fender-stool and PALK fetches her some
refreshment._

GABRIELLE.

[_To LILY, drearily._] I say, Lil.

LILY.

What?

GABRIELLE.

How much did you make out of rubber last year through Lal?

LILY.

Rubber, rubber, rubber? Br-r-r-rh! I don't know. [_To ROPER._] How
much?

ROPER.

Four-fifty.

GABRIELLE.

There!

LILY.

I did my house up with it-- gave the job to young Charlie Ramsden
who's gone in for decorating----

ROPER.

Yes, and blued the whole lot at one go!

LILY.

[_Laughing._] Blued it completely. Ha, ha, ha! [_Singing._] "What does
the blue sea Whisper to me-ee--!" [_FARNCOMBE appears at her side with
the waiter carrying the ices._] Ices!

ROPER.

[_Leaving GABRIELLE and, with his hands in his pockets, walking about
exultingly._] Ices, sweets or chocolates, full piano-score! Hul-lo,
here! Ha, ha, ha!

[_GLYNN and OLGA and DE CASTRO and EVANGELINE have entered at the
right-hand door at the back. OLGA and EVANGELINE seat themselves upon
the further settee in the centre and GLYNN and DE CASTRO summon a
waiter to attend upon them. SHIRLEY and FLO now enter at the door on
the left and go to the counter. At the same moment SMYTHE, COOLING,
and TAVISH enter at the right-hand door at the back, SMYTHE smoking a
huge cigar. They also stand at the counter and are served with drinks
by LUIGI. LILY and GABRIELLE having each taken an ice, the waiter with
the ices moves away and offers his ices to the other ladies. Another
waiter carries round a tray on which are a box of cigarettes and the
spirit-lamp, and the bearded waiter moves about with the dish of
sandwiches. Some of the ladies light cigarettes, a few of the men take
sandwiches._

COOLING.

[_As he enters with SMYTHE and TAVISH._] Haw, haw, haw! You're
wonderful, Chief. [_To TAVISH._] The Chief's in great form, Willy.
[_To STIDULPH._] Colonel, listen to the Ch