The Mind the Paint Girl | Page 6

enters with a rush-- an entrancing vision of youth, grace, and beauty. She is followed by JIMMIE BIRCH, a petite, 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. [Passing him.] For God'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.
[Sitting upon the settee by the piano and pulling off her gloves.] Ha, ha, ha!
LILY.
You shut up, Jimmie. [Snatching the fan from ROPER.] How on earth am I to remember! [Fanning herself.] Who's given me this pretty thing?
MRS. UPJOHN.
Mr. Monty Levine.
LILY.
Bless him! He's a dear little man, though he does bite his nails. [GLADYS appears with VINCENT BLAND, who saunters in after her. Seeing LILY, GLADYS advances to her.] Hallo, Vincent!
BLAND.
[A thin, delicate looking man of eight-and-thirty, not over smartly dressed, wearing an eye-glass-- nodding to LILY casually.] You needn't have cut me, almost on your door-step. [To JIMMIE and JEYES.] H'lo, Jimmie! H'lo, Nicko!
GLADYS.
[Viewing LILY with an elevation of the brows.] Oh, are you home?
LILY.
[Returning GLADYS'S stare.] Apparently.
GLADYS.
I'll whistle up to Maud.
LILY.
Don't, if it's too severe a strain on you.
MRS. UPJOHN.
[To GLADYS, as the girl moves to the door.] Gladys, we'll 'ave tea.
GLADYS.
[At the door.] You can't till it's ready.
LILY.
[Calmly.] Cheek!
[GLADYS retires.
BLAND.
[Who has strolled across to LILY, indolently.] Why do you retain the services of that tousled-headed hussy?
LILY.
[With conviction.] Oh, she's a little under the weather, but she's a perfect servant.
BLAND.
[To MRS. UPJOHN.] Ma, you look blooming.
MRS. UPJOHN.
Wish I could return the compliment, Mr. Bland.
BLAND.
[To ROPER, who is wearing a waistcoat of rather a pronounced pattern.] Congratulations on your waistcoat, Lal.
ROPER.
[Joining JIMMIE, annoyed.] Now, no personalities.
LILY.
[Giving BLAND her hand.] Vincent, yours is one of the loveliest presents I've had to-day. Remerciement! How's that for a French accent?
BLAND.
[Dropping his eyeglass.] You cat!
LILY.
Why----?
BLAND.
You know I've given you nothing, not even a penny nosegay.
JIMMIE.
Ha, ha, ha!
LILY.
[Raising herself on her elbow.] On my honour--! Vincent dear, I swear I thought----!
BLAND.
The funds are too low. [Replacing his eyeglass.] I did go so far as to price a bangle at Sellby's, but that was before a certain event yesterday.
JIMMIE.
What horses did you back, Vincent? I won a fiver, through Jerry Grimwood.
ROPER.
[To BLAND.] You are a patent ass. Why don't you leave betting alone?
BLAND.
[To ROPER, flaring up.] Why don't you leave your City muck alone?
LILY.
[Putting her feet to the floor, imperiously.] That'll do. Be quiet, you two! I won't have any wrangling in my house. Run away and play, all of you. I want to speak to Vincent for a minute privately. [With a gesture.] Uncle Lal-- Jimmie-- Nicko-- [To MRS. UPJOHN.] Scoot, mother!
MRS. UPJOHN.
Oh, dear, wot a child!
[ROPER, JIMMIE, JEYES, and MRS. UPJOHN move away and LILY beckons to BLAND.
LILY.
Vin.
BLAND.
[Close to her, with a wry face.] Mercy!
LILY.
[In a low voice.] You've broken your word to me, then? [Through her teeth.] Those damned horses!
BLAND.
Cooling had a tip from the stable----
LILY.
Cooling! Morrie Cooling has no children; only a fat wife. You've a darling little wife and three kiddies. How much did you drop yesterday?
BLAND.
Shan't say.
LILY.
[Rising and touching his arm.] Oh, Vincent!
[She looks round, to assure herself that she is unobserved. MRS. UPJOHN and ROPER are seated at the tea-table with their heads together, talking; JIMMIE is at the piano, fingering out a piece of music; JEYES is half hidden in the arm-chair facing the settee at the back. LILY tiptoes to the writing-table and seats herself there as GLADYS reappears showing in the BARON VON RETTENMAYER.
VON RETTENMAYER.
[A tall, fair young man of three-and-thirty, speaking in