you’d watched him at dinner, you’d think he did not neglect his inside business.

Carrie and Beatrice laugh.

Hel. (sternly) I can see nothing humorous in that ribald remark.

Car. (L.) A man of Peter’s excitable temperament has enough worry abroad, he deserves to enjoy himself at home.

Carrie goes up L. to fireplace, puts cup on mantelpiece, as if looking for something.

Hel. But he brings his worries home with him. I’m sure we didn’t want that troublesome Statue in the house, though Mr. Tompkins does think it the greatest treasure on earth. He calls it Niobe Lachrymans,—whatever that means.

Bea. Why did Mr. Dunn bring it home? (knock and bell.)

Mary crosses at back from R. to L.

Hel. For safety he says; it is insured in the Universal, of which Mr. Dunn is Manager, for quite a large sum, and as Mr. Dunn granted the policy on his own responsibility, he is anxious to guard the Statue from injury.

Bea. (curiously) I should like to look at it.

Beatrice rises, going up towards screen.

Hel. (interrupts her) Not while Hattie is in the room.

Hat. (on couch R.) Oh! I’ve seen it, and why not! It’s decent enough. She only shows a bit of her shoulder; it’s nothing to the display at Society balls.

Hel. Hattie! The child is incorrigible. (goes up R. C.)

Car. (at fireplace up L.) Where are the Opera glasses?

Hat. Better ask Corney. He was at the Alhambra last evening.

Beatrice at piano, looking at music.

Hel. (turns) Oh, you dreadful girl! (door slams off L. U. E.)

Mary. (L. C.) They’re in the drawing room, Sir!

Sillocks enters L. C.; Mary crosses L. to R., always in front of stairs.

Sill. (C.) Good evening! Here we are! 7:30 to the tick! How’s Dunn?

Car. (at fireplace L.) My husband is very well, thank you!

Sill. How are you? (to Helen, coming down C.) Hello, Bea. (to Beatrice) Ah! Hattie! (Hattie crosses to Sillocks, C., who takes off overcoat.) and the babies, my little cherubs, Bertie and Maud.

Hel. (crossing at back to fireplace) They are in the nursery; we don’t allow them in the drawing-room.

Car. (down L. of L. C. table) They ought to be in bed; it is past their hour.

Beatrice crosses at back to fireplace.

Sill. Very early, isn’t it? even for infants?

Hel. Judging from results, no! Look what a healthy child Hattie is. Few girls have so fresh a complexion.

Hat. Unless they get it at the Chemist’s. (Sillocks laughs.)

Beatrice goes up L. to fireplace; Hattie puts on Sillocks’ hat, goes up stage C. at back; places coat and hat on rack in hallway; Sillocks sits R. of table.

Dunn. (without R.) No! No! Everything is comparative; smoking is bad, but chewing is a precious sight worse; and have you reached the limit of comparative noxiousness then? No, sir; no! (Dunn enters with Corney R. D. Corney crosses to Beatrice L.) Hallo, Sillocks! Did you notice how Nitrates were at closing?

Sill. (coming down front in centre to Dunn) 92½, a point and a quarter rise. You’re not interested in that Electric Light Consolidation scheme, are you?

Dunn. (R. C.) No! There’s no money in it.—Well! That’s my opinion.

Sill. Aren’t you coming with us to the Theatre?

Dunn. I? Oh no!

Sill. Why not?

Dunn. Not asked. Never intrude where I’m not wanted.

Sill. But your wife——

Dunn. Well, my wife——They did ask me to go once or twice; but owing to some business, I couldn’t accept; now, I never get the chance of refusing.

Sillocks goes and sits R. of table, opens album; Dunn up C., looking at his paper.

Hel. (back of table) Peter, if you wish to see the children while we are away, go up to them in the nursery. Carrie does not approve of their coming into the drawing-room.

Corn. (advancing slightly down L.) Quite right! Children up to a certain age should be kept in a room as devoid of furniture as possible; the only way to keep them out of mischief, is to chain them up to a ring in the wall——

Bea. What horrible notions you have Corney!

Leaving Corney, she goes up and crosses at back to R.

Sill. (looking at album) Hallo, legs! (Helen turns quickly, comes down to back of table) You’ve got some choice specimens of the Ballet here, I see!

Hat. (starting for table from R. corner) Where? Let’s have a look at them.

Hel. (commandingly) Stand back, Hattie! I must know before we proceed any further, how this indelicate picture happens to be placed by the side of mine, in the album?

Hattie goes to Beatrice up R., laughing.

Corn. (down L., aside) Hang it! I shall be ruined with Beatrice if Sillocks suspects me.