_CHARLOTTE, a fine handsome girl, enters, followed by POPHAM with hand luggage._
AGATHA POSKET.
[_Kissing her._] My dear Charley.
[_WYKE goes out._
CHARLOTTE.
Aggy darling, aren"t I late! There"s a fog on the line--you could cut it with a knife. [_Seeing CIS._] Is that your boy?
AGATHA POSKET.
Yes.
CHARLOTTE.
Good gracious! What is he doing in an Eton jacket at his age?
AGATHA POSKET.
[_Softly to CHARLOTTE._] Hush! don"t say a word about my boy"s age yet awhile.
CHARLOTTE.
Oh!
AGATHA POSKET.
[_About to introduce MR. POSKET._] There is my husband.
CHARLOTTE.
[_Mistaking MR. BULLAMY for him._] Oh! how could she! [_To MR.
BULLAMY, turning her cheek to him._] I congratulate you--I suppose you ought to kiss me.
AGATHA POSKET.
No, no!
MR. POSKET.
Welcome to my house, Miss Verrinder.
CHARLOTTE.
Oh, I beg your pardon. How do you do?
MR. BULLAMY.
[_To himself._] Mrs. Posket"s an interfering woman.
MR. POSKET.
[_Pointing to MR. BULLAMY._] Mr. Bullamy.
[_MR. BULLAMY, aggrieved, bows stiffly._
AGATHA POSKET.
[_To CHARLOTTE._] Come upstairs, dear; will you have some tea?
CHARLOTTE.
No thank you, pet, but I should like a gla.s.s of soda water.
AGATHA POSKET.
Soda water!
CHARLOTTE.
Well dear, you can put what you like at the bottom of it.
[_AGATHA POSKET and CHARLOTTE go out, POPHAM following._
POPHAM.
[_To CIS._] Give me back my "Bow Bells," when you have read it, you imp.
[_Goes out._
CIS.
By Jove, Guv, isn"t Aunt Charlotte a stunner?
MR. POSKET.
Seems a charming woman.
MR. BULLAMY.
Posket"s got the wrong one! That comes of marrying without first seeing the lady"s relations.
CIS.
Come along, Guv--let"s have a gamble--Mr. Bullamy will join us.
[_Opens the card-table, arranges chairs and candles._