late.

CHRISTOPHER. I heard Lizzie and Moles talking about Aunt Georgiana's
beau!

LIZZIE. Sh!

[FOOTMAN _goes out with the croquette dish._

ELAINE. Mr. Dick Coleman's Miss Carley's beau!

PHILIP. No, he isn't! Mr. Dick's known Aunt Georgiana always, they're
just little boy and girl friends. Lizzie says she's Cousin Sammy Coast's
sweetheart.

LIZZIE. [_Indignant, though convulsed._] I never did!

PHILIP. Yes, you did! To Maggie when you thought I wasn't paying
attention.

[LIZZIE _and_ MOLES _exchange amused glances._

ELAINE. But Mr. Coast's your auntie's cousin; and your cousin can't be
your beau.

PHILIP. He ain't any relation to Auntie Georgiana. Mamma said so. Mr.
Coast's mamma's cousin, and grandma's nephew, but grandma isn't any real
relation to auntie.

CHRISTOPHER. How?

PHILIP. I don't know how, only Aunt Georgiana had a different mamma, she
didn't have grandma.

ELAINE. And the same papa!

PHILIP. Not all the time, mamma had another papa first.

CHRISTOPHER. It's sort of mixy, isn't it?

PHILIP. Yes, I guess mamma and Aunt Georgy are sort of divorced sisters!

ELAINE. Oh!

[_As if that explained it._

TOOTS. [_Beating the table._] Lemmlelade! lemmlelade!

[MOLES _crosses to pitcher and serves_ TOOTS _first, then the others._

PHILIP. Toots, you're getting tipsy!

[_The children laugh._

CHRISTOPHER. Cousin Sammy comes to see Aunt Georgiana nearly every day.

PHILIP. Yes--he's begun to bring toys just like some of the others did.

CHRISTOPHER. [_With his mouth full._] Hobby horse! Hobby horse!

[_Pointing to the hobby horse._

LIZZIE. Don't talk with your mouth full, Mr. Christopher.

PHILIP. [_Shouting._] He'll choke! He'll choke!

[_All laugh, tremendously amused._

MOLES. Mr. Coast is a very fine gentleman.

PHILIP. Oh, I know! I saw him give you a dollar the other day, when he
came to see auntie, and you advised his waiting and said auntie'd be in
by five.

LIZZIE. Isn't he a case!

MOLES. He certainly is.

[_Returns pitcher to table on the Left._

CHRISTOPHER. I like Mr. Dick best. He's always taking us places and
things.

TOOTS. [_Who has finished his croquette and is now ready for
conversation._] Um! Circus!

PHILIP. And not just 'cause he's stuck on auntie.

MOLES. You oughtn't to use that expression, Mr. Philip.

PHILIP. Why not! you do. I heard you tell Lizzie you were stuck on her
last Sunday.

LIZZIE. [_Blushing._] Oh, my!

CHRISTOPHER. Mr.