Yes, and as good as she"s beautiful; you take it from me. [_With a wave of the hand._] Well, if you see Jeyes, you won"t----?
FARNCOMBE.
Not a word.
ROPER.
[_Rising and walking away to the left._] I"ve warned the others.
[_Returning to FARNCOMBE who has also risen._] By-the-bye, if Lily should mention the supper in the course of conversation, remember, _she"s_ not in the conspiracy.
FARNCOMBE.
Conspiracy?
ROPER.
To shunt Nicko. We"re letting her think there are to be no outsiders.
FARNCOMBE.
[_Becoming slightly puzzled by ROPER"S manner._] Why, would she very much like Captain Jeyes to be asked?
ROPER.
[_Rather impatiently._] Haven"t I told you, once you"re a friend of Lil"s----! [_Looking towards the door._] Is this Ma? [_MRS. UPJOHN enters._] Hul-lo, Ma!
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_A podgy little, gaily dressed woman of five-and-fifty with a stupid, good-humoured face._] "Ullo, Uncle!
ROPER.
Lord Farncombe----
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_Advancing and shaking hands with FARNCOMBE._] Glad to see you "ere again. You _"ave_ been before, "aven"t you?
FARNCOMBE.
Last week.
MRS. UPJOHN.
Of course; you came with Mr. Bertie Fulkerson. But somebody or other"s always poppin" in. [_Pleasantly._] Lil sees too many, _I_ say. It"s tirin" for "er. Won"t you set?
ROPER.
Lord Farncombe"s brought Lily some flowers, Ma. [_To FARNCOMBE._]
Where are they?
FARNCOMBE.
[_Who, after waiting for MRS. UPJOHN to settle herself upon the settee in front of the writing-table, sits in the chair at the end of the settee-- pointing to a large basket of flowers._] On the piano.
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_Barely glancing at the flowers._] "Ow kind of "im! Sech a waste o"
money too! They do go off so quick.
ROPER.
[_Reading the cards attached to the various floral gifts._] Where _is_ Lil?
MRS. UPJOHN.
She"s settin" to a risin" young artist in Fitzroy Street-- Claude Morgan. She won"t be "ome till past five. So tirin" for "er.
ROPER.
Never heard of Morgan.
MRS. UPJOHN.
No, nor anybody else. That"s what I tell "er. Why waste your time givin" settin"s to a risin" young artist when the big men "ud go down on their "ands and knees to do you? But that"s Lil all over. She"s the best-natured girl in the world, and so she gets imposed on all round.
FARNCOMBE.
[_Gallantly._] I prophesy that Mr. Morgan"s picture of Miss Parradell won"t have dried before he"s quite famous.
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_Turning a pair of dull eyes full upon him._] "Ow do you mean?
FARNCOMBE.
[_Disconcerted._] Er-- I mean--
MRS. UPJOHN.
_Why_ won"t it "ave dried?
FARNCOMBE.
I mean he will have become celebrated _before_ it has dried.
MRS. UPJOHN.