[Aghast.] Good evening, ma’am.

John.

[To Quaife.] Tell Mrs. Quaife to delay dinner for—for——

Olive.

[Rising and turning away—in an altered tone.] Oh, five minutes—ten at the outside.

John.

For a quarter of an hour. [Sharply.] The lamps.

[Quaife withdraws, as if in a dream.

Olive.

[Bitterly.] I much regret keeping you and your friends from your dinner. It’s an exceptionably elaborate entertainment to-night, I suppose?