She’s coming!
RUPERT
This is awful! (His despairing eye falls upon the huge Philippine chair in the left rear corner of the room; he rushes to it, turns it round, with its back toward the front, and sits in it, concealed from view. He speaks in a hoarse whisper.) Darling—
JESSIE
Hush! (She has checked an impulse to rise and fly; and now, affecting carelessness, she brushes her left sleeve with her right hand, crosses her knees, swings her foot, whistles an operatic air and looks at the ceiling. Mrs. Briggs enters at the left, frowning. Jessie addresses her cheerfully.) Back again, Mamma? Where’s Lancelot?
MRS. BRIGGS (in an annoyed tone)
I don’t know. I thought you were going straight to your room.
JESSIE
Oh, I am.
MRS. BRIGGS