The Cabinet Minister Part 11

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?