The Big Drum Part 52

LADY FILSON.

[_Sitting on the settee on the left._] Naturally.

SIR RANDLE.

And excusably. I myself, in similar circ.u.mstances----

PHILIP.

[_Rubbing his head._] Why the deuce couldn't he have kept his twopenny thunderbolt in his pocket for a few hours, instead of launching it to-night and spoiling our _sole a la Morny_ and our _ris de veau_----!

OTTOLINE.

[_Gradually composing herself and regaining her dignity_].

P-P-Philip----

PHILIP.

[_Coming to the smoking-table._] Eh?

OTTOLINE.

[_Pa.s.sing her handkerchief over her lips._] Need you--need you see this man to-night? Can't you stop him coming--or send him away?

PHILIP.

Not see him----?

OTTOLINE.

Why--why should you stoop to see him at all? Why shouldn't the matter be allowed to drop--to drop?

PHILIP.

Drop!

OTTOLINE.

It--it's too monstrous; too absurd. [_To_ BERTRAM, _with a laugh._] Ha, ha, ha! Bertie--Bertie dear----

BERTRAM.

[_Sullenly._] Yes?

OTTOLINE.

Ha, ha! I almost scared you out of your wits, didn't I?

BERTRAM.

You've behaved excessively rudely----

LADY FILSON.

Bertram--Bertram----

BERTRAM.

I mean to _say_, mother! What becomes of family loyalty----?

OTTOLINE.

[_To_ BERTRAM, _coaxingly._] Forgive me, Bertram. I'm ashamed of my violent outburst. Forgive me----

ROOPE.

[_Who has been effacing himself behind the table on the left, appearing at the nearer end of the table._] Er--dear excellent friends--[SIR RANDLE _and_ LADY FILSON _look at_ ROOPE _as if he had fallen from the skies, and_ BERTRAM _stares at him resentfully._] dear excellent friends, if I may be permitted to make an observation----

PHILIP.

[_To_ ROOPE.] Go ahead, old man.

ROOPE.

In my opinion, it would be a thousand pities not to see Mr. Dunning to-night, and have done with him. [_Cheerfully._] The fish is ruined--we must resign ourselves to that; [_sitting in the chair on the extreme left_] but the other dishes, if the cook is fairly competent----

SIR RANDLE.

[_Advancing._] Mr. Roope's opinion is my opinion also. [_Ponderously._]

As to whether Lady Filson and my daughter should withdraw into an adjoining room----

LADY FILSON.

_I_ feel with Philip; we couldn't sit down to dinner with this cloud hanging over us----

SIR RANDLE.

[_Sitting in the chair by the smoking-table._] Impossible! I must be frank. Impossible!

ROOPE.

Dear Madame de Chaumie will pardon me for differing with her, but you can't very well ignore even a fellow of this stamp--[_glancing at_ BERTRAM] especially, if I understand aright, my excellent friend over there still persists----

BERTRAM.

[_Morosely._] Yes, you do understand aright, Roope. I've every confidence in Dunning, I mean t'say----

PHILIP.