low
man, and if you would sleep as peacefully at sixty as you now sleep at
six months, _not_ politics.

EGIDIA.

Sir Julian!

EARL OF DRUMDURRIS.

The Army!

EGIDIA.

Never!

DOWAGER.

This is most distressing. [Calling at the open door.] Angele! Angele!

LADY TWOMBLEY.

[Heard outside.] Why, Dora!

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

Katherine.

[LADY TWOMBLEY enters with IMOGEN and LADY EUPHEMIA in walking
costumes.]

LADY TWOMBLEY.

How good of you to come early! [Kissing EGIDIA.] Egidia, dearest! [To
DRUMDURRIS.] Good-morning, Keith. Ah! you've brought Fergus to see me!
The angel!

[With cries of delight LADY TWOMBLEY, IMOGEN, and LADY EUPHEMIA gather
round SIR JULIAN and the baby.]

LADY TWOMBLEY.

The pet!

IMOGEN.

The mite!

LADY EUPHEMIA VIBART.

He is _too_ sweet!

THE THREE.

Oh--h--h!

[BROOKE enters.]

BROOKE TWOMBLEY.

[Shaking hands with DRUMDURRIS.] Hallo, what's the matter?

EARL OF DRUMDURRIS.

[With dignity.] They are looking at my son.

[ANGELE has entered. She takes the infant from SIR JULIAN.]

LADY TWOMBLEY.

We've enjoyed a splendid hour in Bond Street--in and out of twenty
shops, eh, girls?

LADY EUPHEMIA VIBART.

Yes, Aunt Kate.

IMOGEN.

Yes, mamma.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Bought all we could think of and ordered the rest.

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

My dear!

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Then why don't they abolish Bond Street? It's the crucible of
London--set your foot in it and everything about you that's metal
dissolves.

LADY EUPHEMIA VIBART.

Aunt has been _too_ extravagant this morning.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Extravagant! I! Oh, no--only I dearly wish there was no such plague as
money. If the little words "thank you" were the one universal current
coin, what anxieties, what cravings, what follies some poor women would
be spared! Why can't we buy choice stuffs at three-and-a-half thank-yous
a yard?

LADY EUPHEMIA VIBART.

Oh, Aunt Kate!

IMOGEN.

Mamma!

LADY TWOMBLEY.

It's nothing to laugh at. Ah, girls, if "thank you" paid for everything,
being out of breath would be our only bankruptcy! Oh, my poor brain!

IMOGEN.

[To SIR JULIAN.] Mamma has a bad headache to-day, papa.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

A headache! never! Girls, what is it we bought and brought home with us?
I forget.

IMOGEN.

We didn't buy him, mamma--we met him. You mean Cousin Valentine.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

[Looking round.] Of course--Valentine. Where is he? [Calling.]
Valentine!