The Cabinet Minister Part 24

Never!

DOWAGER.

This is most distressing. [Calling at the open door.] Angele! Angele!

LADY TWOMBLEY.

[Heard outside.] Why, Dora!

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

Katherine.

[LADY TWOMBLEY enters with IMOGEN and LADY EUPHEMIA in walking costumes.]

LADY TWOMBLEY.

How good of you to come early! [Kissing EGIDIA.] Egidia, dearest! [To DRUMDURRIS.] Good-morning, Keith. Ah! you've brought Fergus to see me!

The angel!

[With cries of delight LADY TWOMBLEY, IMOGEN, and LADY EUPHEMIA gather round SIR JULIAN and the baby.]

LADY TWOMBLEY.

The pet!

IMOGEN.

The mite!

LADY EUPHEMIA VIBART.

He is _too_ sweet!

THE THREE.

Oh--h--h!

[BROOKE enters.]

BROOKE TWOMBLEY.

[Shaking hands with DRUMDURRIS.] Hallo, what's the matter?

EARL OF DRUMDURRIS.

[With dignity.] They are looking at my son.

[ANGeLE has entered. She takes the infant from SIR JULIAN.]

LADY TWOMBLEY.

We've enjoyed a splendid hour in Bond Street--in and out of twenty shops, eh, girls?

LADY EUPHEMIA VIBART.

Yes, Aunt Kate.

IMOGEN.

Yes, mamma.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Bought all we could think of and ordered the rest.

SIR JULIAN TWOMBLEY.

My dear!

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Then why don't they abolish Bond Street? It's the crucible of London--set your foot in it and everything about you that's metal dissolves.

LADY EUPHEMIA VIBART.

Aunt has been _too_ extravagant this morning.

LADY TWOMBLEY.

Extravagant! I! Oh, no--only I dearly wish there was no such plague as money. If the little words "thank you" were the one universal current coin, what anxieties, what cravings, what follies some poor women would be spared! Why can't we buy choice stuffs at three-and-a-half thank-yous a yard?

LADY EUPHEMIA VIBART.

Oh, Aunt Kate!

IMOGEN.

Mamma!

LADY TWOMBLEY.

It's nothing to laugh at. Ah, girls, if "thank you" paid for everything, being out of breath would be our only bankruptcy! Oh, my poor brain!

IMOGEN.

[To SIR JULIAN.] Mamma has a bad headache to-day, papa.

LADY TWOMBLEY.