may take me, if she will,
on her own terms--a poor devil who has proved a duffer at his job, and
who is content henceforth to be nothing but her humble slave and
dependant.

ROOPE.

[_Energetically._] My dear Phil, for heaven's sake, don't entertain
such a notion! Abandon your career just when you're making a noise in
the world----!

PHILIP.

[_Throwing up his hands._] Noise in the world!

ROOPE.

When you're getting the finest advertisement an author could possibly
desire!

PHILIP.

[_Choking._] Advertisement----!

ROOPE.

I can sympathize with your feeling mortified at not scoring entirely
off your own bat; but, deuce take it, your book _is_ in its thirteenth
edition!

PHILIP.

[_Laughing wildly._] Ho, ho, ho! [_Moving to the fireplace._] Ha, ha,
ha, ha----!

ROOPE.

[_Testily._] Oh, I'm glad I amuse you----!

PHILIP.

[_Coming to the settee on the right._] You're marvellous,
Robbie--incomparable----!

ROOPE.

[_Again preparing to depart._] Indeed?

PHILIP.

Ha, ha, ha----!

[_A moment earlier,_ SIR TIMOTHY BARRADELL _has appeared
in the vestibule, trying, in the dim light there, to
decipher the name on the outer door. Hearing the sound
of voices, he turns and reveals himself._

SIR TIMOTHY.

[_Looking into the room and encountering_ ROOPE.] Roope!

ROOPE.

[_As they shake hands--astonished._] Dear excellent _friend_, what a
surprise!

SIR TIMOTHY.

Ah, don't flatter yourself you're the only early riser in London!
[_Seeing_ PHILIP.] Mr. Mackworth--[_advancing_] I found your door open
and I took the liberty----

PHILIP.

[_Meeting him in the middle of the room._] Sir Timothy Barradell, isn't
it?

SIR TIMOTHY.

It is. [_They shake hands, cordially on_ SIR TIMOTHY's _part, with more
formality on_ PHILIP's.] It's an unceremonious hour for a call, but if
you'd spare me five minutes----

PHILIP.

[_Civilly._] Pray sit down. [_Joining_ ROOPE _at th