e to the
beautiful Madame de Chaumie--" [_The bell rings. He listens to it, and
then goes on reading._] "--the beautiful Madame de Chaumie, daughter of
the widely and deservedly popular--the widely and deservedly popular
Sir Randle and Lady Filson----"

[_After reading it to the end silently, he restores the
paper to_ SIR RANDLE _with a smile and a slight bow._

SIR RANDLE.

[_Collecting himself._] Er--Lady Filson and I thought it might be
prudent, Philip, to--er--to give a lead to the inevitable comments of
the press. [_Replacing the paper in his pocket-book._] If you object,
my dear boy----

PHILIP.

[_With a motion of the head towards the vestibule door._] That must
_be_ Lady Filson and Ottoline.

[_He goes to the door and opens it._ LADY FILSON _and_
OTTOLINE _are in the vestibule and_ JOHN _is taking_
LADY FILSON's _wrap from her._

LADY FILSON.

[_Brimming over with good humour._] Ah, Philip! Don't say we're
late!

PHILIP.

[_Lightly._] I won't.

LADY FILSON.

[_Entering and shaking hands with him._] Your staircase is so dark, it
takes an age to climb it. [_To_ ROOPE, _who comes forward, shaking
hands with him._] How nice! Ottoline told me, coming along, that we
were to meet you.

ROOPE.

[_Bending over her hand._] Dear lady!

LADY FILSON.

[_Coming to_ SIR RANDLE.] There you are, Randle! [_Nodding to_ BERTRAM,
_who is sitting aloof in the chair on the extreme left._] Bertie
darling! [SIR RANDLE _rises._] Aren't these rooms quaint and cosy,
Randle?

SIR RANDLE.

[_Still somewhat disconcerted._] For a solitary man, ideal. [_Solemnly._]
If ever I had the misfortune to be left alone in the world----

LADY FILSON.

[_Sitting on the settee on the right._] Ho, my _dear_!

[PHILIP _has joined_ OTTOLINE _in the vestibule. He now
follows her into the room, shutting the vestibule door.
She is elegantly dressed in white and, though she has
recovered her usual stateliness and composure, is a
picture of radiant happiness._

OTTOLINE.

[_Giving her hand t