The 'Mind the Paint' Girl Part 8

T-t-the matter?

JEYES.

[_Taking his hands from his pockets and sitting upright._] Any game on?

MRS. UPJOHN.

Game?

JEYES.

At my expense?

MRS. UPJOHN.

I dun'no wot you're drivin' at, Captain.

JEYES.

[_Harshly._] How long's Lily sitting this afternoon?

MRS. UPJOHN.

Till five.

JEYES.

[_Looking at his watch._] What's Morgan's number in Fitzroy Street?

MRS. UPJOHN.

Sixty.

JEYES.

[_Rising._] I'll fetch her.

[_As he makes a movement towards the door, it is thrown open and LILY PARRADELL enters with a rush-- an entrancing vision of youth, grace, and beauty. She is followed by JIMMIE BIRCH, a _pet.i.te_, bright-eyed girl in an extremely _chic_ costume._

LILY.

[_Tearing off her gloves as she enters._] Wh-e-e-w! I'm dead! [_Giving her hand to JEYES carelessly._] Ah, Nicko! [_To MRS. UPJOHN._]

I couldn't stand the heat in the studio any longer, mother. [_Finding ROPER beside her, she offers her cheek to him and he kisses it._] _Mon Oncle!_

JIMMIE.

[_Closing the door._] That young man Morgan ought to paint the infernal regions.

LILY.

[_Taking her scarf from her shoulder._] He might finish with the angels first, though. [_To JEYES, softly, as ROPER turns to shake hands with JIMMIE._] You in a better temper to-day?

JEYES.

[_In her ear._] You drove me wild last night.

LILY.

[_Making a face at him._] Served you right. [_Pa.s.sing him._] For G.o.d's sake, let me lie down. [_She throws herself upon the settee in front of the writing-table, and JEYES moves away as MRS. UPJOHN and ROPER go to her._] Don't come near me. Give me my fan. Jimmie, where's my fan?

JIMMIE.

Oh, I've left it in Fitzroy Street!

LILY.

Beast!

MRS. UPJOHN.

[_Hurrying to the writing-table._] There's one 'ere, among your presents.

LILY.

[_Unpinning her hat._] Uncle Lal, what an adorable ring that is you've sent me!

ROPER.

[_Taking the fan from MRS. UPJOHN._] Ring! A brooch!

LILY.

_Somebody's_ sent me a ring.

MRS. UPJOHN.

[_Sitting in the chair at the end of the settee by the writing-table._]

There's three rings.

LILY.

Of course! One of them's from Nicko! [_To JEYES._] Did you get my sweet telegram, Nicko?

JEYES.

[_Who has greeted JIMMIE and is now seated in the chair on the extreme left-- sulkily._] I had your telegram, but it's a _pendant_ I sent you.

JIMMIE.