[_Taking her cup of tea from FARNCOMBE._] Thanks.
DE CASTRO.
[_Helping LILY to milk._] Milk-ho!
BLAND.
Sugar?
LILY.
Br-r-r-rh! I"m putting on weight as it is.
ROPER.
[_Offering the bread-and-b.u.t.ter, etc.-- facetiously._] Ices, sweets _or_ chocolates, full piano-score!
LILY.
Nothing to eat, Uncle; I dine at six.
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_Calling to JEYES from the tea-table._] Captain, ain"t you goin" to "ave any tea?
JEYES.
[_Moodily examining the presents on the writing-table._] No, thank you, Mrs. Upjohn.
BLAND.
[_To JIMMIE, after she has been helped to milk._] Sugar?
JIMMIE.
Two lumps.
ROPER.
[_Pushing BLAND and DE CASTRO aside, imitating a female voice._] Ices, sweets _or_ chocolates, full piano-score!
JIMMIE.
[_Cutting a slice of cake._] Lal, the world "ud be a much happier place to live in if Lloyd George taxed your jokes.
VON RETTENMAYER, BLAND, and DE CASTRO. [_Returning to the tea-table._]
Ha, ha, ha, ha!
LILY.
[_To FARNCOMBE, who remains standing near her._] Seen our show at the Pandora?
FARNCOMBE.
[_Gazing at her._] Twenty-three times.
LILY.
Not really?
FARNCOMBE.
This week and last, every night.
LILY.
[_Running her eye over him._] You in the Guards, by any chance?
FARNCOMBE.
[_Nodding._] Yes.
LILY.
[_Smiling._] Ah, you"ll never do a braver deed than seeing our show twenty-three times.
JIMMIE.
[_As ROPER leaves her to go to the table, her mouth full of cake._]
Boys! [_Choking._] Heugh, heugh, heugh! Wait a minute; I"ve swallowed some of the Baron"s German. [_Gulping._] B-oys, seriously-- no rot-- [_raising her tea-cup_] jolly good health to Lily! [_There is a cry of approbation from BLAND, VON RETTENMAYER, DE CASTRO and ROPER.
FARNCOMBE fetches himself a cup of tea from the tea-table._] She"s a white woman, Lily is-- the staunchest, truest pal, where she takes a liking----
BLAND, VON RETTENMAYER, DE CASTRO, AND ROPER.
Hear, hear!
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_Pressing forward through the men and going to LILY._] And the best daughter breathing. [_Embracing LILY and then turning to the others._]
D"ye notice the new dress I"m wearin" this afternoon?
LILY.
Don"t, mother; don"t.
MRS. UPJOHN.
Fifteen guineas it"s cost her. [_Sitting in the chair on the extreme left, proudly._] Madame G.o.dolphin made it, and a "at to go with it _ong sweet_.