I've never heard of your brother Tankerville!

QUECKETT.

No—he's Deputy Inspector of Prisons in British Guiana. Quiet, retiring chap.

PEGGY.

I'll go and fetch them. [She runs out.]

QUECKETT.

[To Rankling.] To make a clean breast of it, the girls have been preparing a little festival to-night in honor of Mr. and Mrs.—Mr. and Mrs.—the name Peggy mentioned. My niece was married, very quietly, some weeks ago to a charming young fellow—a charming young fellow—and these foolish children insist on cutting a wedding-cake and all that sort of nonsense. I didn't want to disturb you with their chatter—

RANKLING.

You forget, Queckett, you are speaking to a father.

QUECKETT.