[By this time she has kissed or shaken hands with the whole dozen.]
I can"t introduce you all singly; it would take too long. [She makes a wholesale affair of it.] My aunts, the Misses Wetherell--Dr.
Freemantle.
The Misses Wetherell, suggesting two mice being introduced to a party of friendly kittens, standing, clinging to one another, murmur something inaudible.
DR. FREEMANTLE [who is with them to comfort them--he has got rid of the time-table, discreetly--smiles]. Delighted.
ENGLAND. Charmed. [The others join in, turning it into a chorus.
To f.a.n.n.y] Glad we didn"t strike one of your busy days. I say, you"re not as dressy as you used to be. "Ow are they doing you?--all right?
f.a.n.n.y. Yes. Oh, yes.
CANADA ["Gerty," a big, handsome girl, with a loud, commanding voice]. George gave me your message.
f.a.n.n.y [puzzled at first]. My message? [Remembering--laughs.] Oh.
That I was Lady Bantock of Bantock Hall. Yes. I thought you"d be pleased.
CANADA. Was delighted, dear.
f.a.n.n.y. So glad.
CANADA. I"d always had the idea that you were going to make a mess of your marriage.
f.a.n.n.y. What a funny idea! [But the laugh that accompanies it is not a merry one.]
CANADA. Wasn"t it? So glad I was wrong.
WALES. We"re all of us looking out for lords in disguise, now.
Can"t you give us a tip, dear, how to tell "em?
SCOTLAND. Sukey has broken it off with her boy. Found he was mixed up in trade.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS [as before, unseen at back of crowd]. No. I didn"t. "Twas his moral character.
Then enter Honoria with gla.s.ses on a tray; Ernest with champagne; Jane with eatables; Bennet with a napkin. It is a grim procession.
The girls are scattered, laughing, talking: Africa to the Misses Wetherell; a couple to Dr. Freemantle. England, Scotland, Wales, and Canada are with f.a.n.n.y. The hubbub, with the advent of the refreshments, increases. There is a general movement towards the refreshments.
f.a.n.n.y. Thanks, Bennet. You can clear away a corner of the desk.
ENGLAND [aside to her]. Go easy with it, dear. [f.a.n.n.y, smiling, nods. She directs operations in a low tone to the Bennets, who take her orders in grim silence and with lips tight shut.] Don"t forget, girls, that we"ve got to get back to-night. [Aside to the Doctor, who has come forward to help.] Some of "em, you know, ain"t used to it.
DR. FREEMANTLE [nods]. Gla.s.ses not TOO full. [He whispers to f.a.n.n.y.]
IRELAND [a decided young woman]. How much time have we got?
ENGLAND. Don"t ask me. It"s Judy"s show.
WALES [mimicking Newte]. The return train, ladies, leaves Oakham station. [Stops--she is facing the clock. She begins to laugh.]
ENGLAND. What"s the matter?
WALES [still laughing]. We"ve got just quarter of an hour to catch it.
There is a wild rush for the refreshments. Jane is swept off her feet. Bennet"s tray is upset.
ENGLAND. Quarter--! Oh, my Gawd! Here, tuck up your skirts, girls.
We"ll have to -
DR. FREEMANTLE. It"s all right. You"ve got plenty of time, ladies.
There"s a train from Norton on the branch line at 5.33. Gets you into London at a quarter to nine.
ENGLAND. You"re SURE?
DR. FREEMANTLE [he has his watch in his hand]. Quite sure. The station is only half a mile away.
ENGLAND. Don"t let"s miss it. Keep your watch in your "and, there"s a dear.
f.a.n.n.y [her business is--and has been--to move quietly through the throng, making the girls welcome, talking, laughing with them, directing the servants--all in a lady"s way. On the whole she does it remarkably well. She is offering a plate of fruit to Judy].
You"re a nice acting manager, you are. [Judy laughs. f.a.n.n.y finds herself in front of Ireland. She turns to England.] Won"t you introduce us?
ENGLAND. I beg your pardon, dear. Of course, you don"t know each other. Miss Tetsworth, our new Ireland, Lady Bantock. It is "Bantock," isn"t it, dear?
f.a.n.n.y. Quite right. It"s a good little part, isn"t it?
IRELAND. Well, depends upon what you"ve been used to.
ENGLAND. She"s got talent, as I tell "er. But she ain"t you, dear.
It"s no good saying she is.
f.a.n.n.y [hastening to smooth it over]. People always speak so well of us after we"re gone. [Laughs.] You"ll take another gla.s.s of champagne.
IRELAND. Thank you--you made a great success, they tell me, in the part.
f.a.n.n.y. Oh, there"s a deal of fluke about these things. You see, I had the advantage -
DR. FREEMANTLE [with watch still in his hand]. I THINK, ladies -
ENGLAND. Come on, girls.
A general movement.
f.a.n.n.y. You must all come again--spend a whole day--some Sunday.
CANADA. Remember me to Vernon.
f.a.n.n.y. He"ll be so sorry to have -
ENGLAND [cutting in]. "Ope we "aven"t upset you, dear. [She is bustling them all up.]