The Big Drum Part 53

[_Turning away, angrily._] Oh----!

LADY FILSON.

[_Severely._] Bertie----!

SIR RANDLE.

Bertram, my _boy_----!

[_The bell rings. There is a short silence, and then_ BERTRAM _rises and pulls down his waistcoat portentously._

BERTRAM.

Here he is.

OTTOLINE.

[_To_ LADY FILSON, _in a low voice._] Mother----?

LADY FILSON.

[_To_ PHILIP.] Do _you_ wish us to withdraw, Philip?

PHILIP.

[_Sitting at the writing-table._] Not at all, Lady Filson. [_Switching on the light of the library-lamp, sternly._] On the contrary, I should like you both to remain.

LADY FILSON.

[_To_ OTTOLINE.] Otto dear----?

OTTOLINE.

[_Adjusting a comb in her hair._] Oh, certainly, mother, I'll stay.

LADY FILSON.

[_Arranging her skirt and settling herself majestically._] Of this we may be perfectly sure; when my son finds that he has been misled, purposely or unintentionally, he will be only too ready--_too_ ready----

SIR RANDLE.

[_Leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes._] That goes without saying, Winifred. A gentleman--an English gentleman----

BERTRAM.

[_Who is watching the vestibule door--over his shoulder, snappishly._]

Oh, of course, father, if it turns out that I've been sold, I'll eat humble-pie abjectly.

ROOPE.

[_Shaking a finger at_ BERTRAM.] Ha, ha! I hope you've brought a voracious appet.i.te with you, dear excellent friend.

BERTRAM.

[_To_ ROOPE, _exasperated._] Look heah, Mr. Roope----!

[_The vestibule door opens and_ JOHN _announces_ DUNNING.

JOHN.

Mr. Dunning.

[DUNNING _enters and_ JOHN _retires._ MR. ALFRED DUNNING _is a spruce, middle-aged, shrewd-faced man with an affable but rather curt manner. He is in his hat and overcoat._

DUNNING.

[_To_ BERTRAM.] Haven't kept you long, have I? I just had a cup o'

cocoa--[_He checks himself on seeing so large an a.s.sembly, removes his hat, and includes everybody in a summary bow._] Evening.

BERTRAM.

[_To_ DUNNING.] Larger gathering than you expected. [_Indicating the various personages by a glance._] Sir Randle and Lady Filson--my father and mother----

DUNNING.

[_To_ SIR RANDLE _and_ LADY FILSON.] Evening.

BERTRAM.

My sister, Madame de Chaumie----

DUNNING.

[_To_ OTTOLINE.] Evening.

BERTRAM.

Mr. Roope--Mr. Mackworth----

DUNNING.

[_To them._] Evening.

[SIR RANDLE, LADY FILSON, _and_ ROOPE, _looking at_ DUNNING _out of the corners of their eyes, acknowledge the introduction by a slight movement._ PHILIP _nods unpleasantly._ OTTOLINE, _with a stony countenance, also eyes_ DUNNING _askance, and gives the barest possible inclination of her head on being named._

BERTRAM.

[_Bringing forward the chair on which he has been sitting and planting it nearer to_ SIR RANDLE _and_ LADY FILSON--_to_ DUNNING.] I suppose you may----