class="spkr">Egidia.

How do you do, Lady Twombley?

Lady Twombley.

Why, poor Egidia! Aren’t you well, dear?

Dowager.

Egidia received a telegram from Scotland this morning; her son has cut his first tooth, during her absence, painfully.

Lady Twombley.

Oh, dear!

Egidia.

You also are a mother, Lady Twombley. You can sympathize with such cares as those I am now endeavouring to sustain.

[Lady Euphemia and Imogen stroll in.]

Lady Twombley.

Your boy is five months old, isn’t he?

Egidia.

Fergus is precisely five months.

Lady Twombley.

Well, there are two-and-twenty more teeth to come yet, you know.

Egidia.

Yes, I am schooling myself into that conviction. I am naturally, I hope, a woman of more than ordinary courage.

[Probyn appears at the entrance.]

Probyn.

Lord Drumdurris.

[The Earl of Drumdurris, a boyish-looking officer of the Guards, in uniform, with much dignity and reserve, enters.]

Earl of Drumdurris.

How do you do, Lady Twombley? Egidia.

Dowager.

Keith, you have further news from Scotland?

Earl of Drumdurris.

Another telegram.

Egidia.

Ah!

[She puts her hand calmly in that of the Dowager.]

Dowager.

Tell us, my son.

Earl of Drumdurris.

Another tooth.  [Egidia closes her eyes. The Dowager kisses her upon the brow.]  I offered Lady Macphail and Sir Colin the use of my brougham, but they preferred coming on here in their chariot.

Lady Twombley.

Lady Macphail and Sir Colin! Coming here!

Dowager.

[To Lady Twombley.]  I haven’t told you what I’ve done. Keith!

Earl of Drumdurris.

[Bowing.]  Certainly.

[He joins the others, who are talking together.]

Dowager.

[To Lady Twombley.]  I have a motive. My whole life has been one vast comprehensive motive. Lady Macphail is the little woman to whom I introduced you on the stairs at the Palace.

Lady Twombley.

Well, but——

Dowager.

I encountered her again, and delivered a message from you begging her to come on here with Sir Colin to drink tea.

Lady Twombley.

I never——

Dowager.

I know you didn’t. My motive is this. She has just brought her boy to London.

Lady Twombley.

Is he the great man in the kilt I saw holding on to her lappets?

Dowager.

Yes.

Lady Twombley.

He’s thirty, if he’s an hour.

Dowager.

He’s more. But he is a fine example of the grand simplicity that exists in many Scottish families. Proprietor of eighty thousand acres, head of a great clan, Colin Macphail of Ballocheevin remains a child attached to his mother.

Lady Twombley.

Oh, I shall be very happy to——

Dowager.

Ah, you grasp my motive!

Lady Twombley.

No, I don’t.

Dowager.

[In Lady Twombley’s ear.]  Imogen.

Lady Twombley.

Imogen?

Dowager.

Imogen must make a match this season and marry before the year is out.

Lady Twombley.

Why?

Dowager.

Don’t deceive yourself, Kate Twombley. You are aware that Julian’s position in the Ministry is precarious?

Lady Twombley.

You think so?

Dowager.

Everybody thinks so. It’s my opinion they’ll make a Jonah of him and cast him from them before many months are over. You know what that means?

Lady Twombley.

Horrible! Julian giving up public life and settling down in some dismal swamp as a country gentleman. He has threatened it.

Dowager.

Very well then; you must assure your children’s future before the blow falls. What could you do for Imogen in the country?

Lady Twombley.

A vicar or a small squire.

Dowager.

More likely a curate or a farmer. Will you resign yourself to that?

Lady Twombley.

Never, Dora! I never will! I’ve had to swallow the husks of London and my chicks shall have the barley. Julian shall hold on till they have made brilliant marriages!

Dowager.

Ah!

Lady Twombley.

He shall! Afterwards I’ll go back to darning stockings with a light heart.

Dowager.

Well spoken, Kate Twombley!

[Probyn appears at the entrance.]

Probyn.

Sir Colin and Lady Macphail.

Dowager.

[To Lady Twombley.]  You see my motive?

Lady Twombley.

Yes, Dora.

[Lady Macphail and Sir Colin enter—she a simple little old woman in Court dress, ecstatically sentimental; he a formidable-looking bearded man about six feet high, in full Highland costume, bashful and awkward in manner, and keeping close to his mother.]