Mrs. Crashaw, appearing: "If you mean me, Dr. Lawton – "
Lawton: "I do, my dear friend. What company is complete without you?"
Mrs. Somers, reaching forward to take her hand, while with her disengaged hand she begins to pour her a cup of tea: "None in my house."
Mrs. Crashaw: "Very pretty." Taking her tea. "I hope it isn't complete, either, without the English painter you promised us."
Mrs. Somers: "No, indeed! And a great many other people besides. But haven't you met him yet? I supposed Mrs. Roberts – "
Mrs. Crashaw: "Oh, I don't go to all of Agnes's fandangoes. I was to have seen him at Mrs. Wheeler's – he is being asked everywhere, of course – but he didn't come. He sent his father and mother instead. They were very nice old people, but they hadn't painted his pictures."
Lawton: "They might say his pictures would never have been painted without them."
Bemis: "It was like Heine's going to visit Rachel by appointment. She wasn't in, but her father and mother were; and when he met her afterwards he told her that he had just come from a show where he had seen a curious monster advertised for exhibition – the offspring of a hare and a salmon. The monster was not to be seen at the moment, but the showman said here was monsieur the hare and madame the salmon."
Mrs. Roberts: "What in the world did Rachel say?"
Lawton: "Ah, that's what these brilliant anecdotes never tell. And I think it would be very interesting to know what the victim of a witticism has to say."
Mrs. Curwen: "I should think you would know very often, Doctor."
Lawton: "Ah, now I should like to know what the victim of a compliment says!"
Mrs. Curwen: "He bows his thanks." Dr. Lawton makes a profound obeisance, to which Mrs. Curwen responds in burlesque.
Miller: "We all envy you, Doctor."
Mrs. Miller: "Oh yes. Mrs. Curwen never makes a compliment without meaning it."
Mrs. Curwen: "I can't say that quite, my dear. I should be very sorry to mean all the civil things I say. But I never flatter gentlemen of a certain age."
Mrs. Miller, tittering ineffectively: "I shall know what to say to Mr. Miller after this."
Mrs. Crashaw: "Well, if you haven't got the man, Mrs. Somers, you have got his picture, haven't you?"
Mrs. Somers: "Yes; it's on my writing-desk in the library. Let me – "
Lawton: "No, no; don't disturb yourself! We wish to tear it to pieces without your embarrassing presence. Will you take my arm, Mrs. Crashaw?"
Mrs. Bemis: "Oh, let us all go and see it!"
Roberts: "Aren't you coming, Willis?"
Campbell, without looking round: "Thank you, I've seen it."
Mrs. Somers, whom the withdrawal of her other guests has left alone with him: "How could you tell such a fib?"
Campbell: "I could tell much worse fibs than that in such a cause."
Mrs. Somers: "What cause?"
Campbell: "A lost one, I'm afraid. Will you answer my question, Amy?"
Mrs. Somers: "Did you ask me any?"
Campbell: "You know I did – before those people came in."
Mrs. Somers: "Oh, that! Yes. I should like to ask you a question first."
Campbell: "Twenty, if you like."
Mrs. Somers: "Why do you feel authorized to call me by my first name?"
Campbell: "Because I love you. Now will you answer me?"
Mrs. Somers, dreamily: "I didn't say I would, did I?"
Campbell, rising, sadly: "No."
Mrs. Somers, mechanically taking the hand he offers her: "Oh! What – "
Campbell: "I'm going; that's all."
Mrs. Somers: "So soon?"
Campbell: "Yes; but I'll try to make amends by not coming back soon – or at all."
Mrs. Somers: "You mustn't!"
Campbell: "Mustn't what?"
Mrs. Somers: "You mustn't keep my hand. Here come some more people. Ah, Mrs. Canfield! Miss Bayly! So very nice of you, Mrs. Wharton! Will you have some tea?"
Mrs. Wharton: "No, thank you. The only objection to afternoon tea is the tea."
Mrs. Somers: "I'm so glad you don't mind the weather." With her hand on the teapot, glancing up at Miss Bayly: "And do you refuse too?"
Miss Bayly: "I can answer for Mrs. Canfield that she doesn't, and I never do. We object to the weather."
Mrs. Somers, pouring a cup of tea: "That makes it a little more difficult. I can keep from offering Mrs. Wharton some tea, but I can't stop its snowing."
Miss Bayly, taking her cup: "But you're so amiable; we know you would if you could, and that's quite enough. We're not the first and only, are we?"
Mrs. Somers: "Dear, no! There are multitudes of flattering spirits in the library, stopping the mouth of my portrait with pretty speeches."
Miss Bayly, vividly: "Not your Bramford portrait?"
Mrs. Somers: "My Bramford portrait."
Miss Bayly, to the other ladies: "Oh, let us go and see it too!" They flutter out of the drawing-room, where Mrs. Somers and Campbell remain alone together as before. He continues silent, while she waits for him to speak.