[_The refrain is repeated as before, MRS. UPJOHN rising and taking a share in it. Then LILY drops on to the settee before the writing-table, laughing and holding up her hands in protest._
LILY.
No more, boys! [_ROPER, VON RETTENMAYER, and DE CASTRO gather round her, applauding her and urging her to continue._] No, no; no more!
I"ve had such a stiff day----
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_With sudden energy, to everybody._] Out you go, all of you; out you go!
JIMMIE.
[_To the men._] Come on; let"s mizzle. [_Shaking hands with FARNCOMBE._] Cruel of us to tire her so.
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_Tapping VON RETTENMAYER on the shoulder._] Now, then, Baron!
VON RETTENMAYER.
[_Shaking hands with LILY._] I"m goming.
JIMMIE.
[_Taking VON RETTENMAYER to the door._] Well, _gome_!
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_Pulling ROPER away from LILY._] Now, Uncle!
ROPER.
[_Adjusting his coat._] Mind the paint, Ma.
JIMMIE.
[_Calling out._] Good-bye, Lil!
LILY.
[_As she shakes hands with DE CASTRO, calling to JIMMIE._] Good-bye!
[_JIMMIE and VON RETTENMAYER disappear._
MRS. UPJOHN.
Now, Mr. de Castro! [_Moving with ROPER towards the door._] "Owever d"ye think she"s goin" to get through her work to-night!
DE CASTRO.
[_Pausing to comb his moustache._] Quite right, Ma---- [_thoughtlessly_]
and a thupper and a danthe afterwardth.
ROPER.
[_Turning upon him quickly._] Sssh! [_In a low voice._] Dam fool!
DE CASTRO.
[_Clapping his hand to his mouth._] Oh----!
[_They glance at JEYES who, hearing de Castro"s remark, has left the window and come forward a step or two._
ROPER.
[_Uneasily._] Er-- good-bye, Nicko.
DE CASTRO.
[_To JEYES, in the same way._] G-good-bye.
JEYES.
[_To both, dryly._] Good-bye.
BLAND.
[_Talking to LILY, neither of them having heard de Castro"s slip._]
That jingle-- an echo of old times, eh?
LILY.
[_Looking up at him._] Yes, but not better times than these times, Vin?
BLAND.
[_Sadly, holding her hand._] Ah, Lil, there are so many tunes in life left for _you_, my dear!
ROPER.
[_At the door, with MRS. UPJOHN and DE CASTRO-- to BLAND._] Come along, Vincent.
[_BLAND joins the group at the door as FARNCOMBE approaches LILY._
FARNCOMBE.
[_Shaking hands with her._] Thank you. [_With fervour._] Glorious!
LILY.