(Enter, left, GIOCONDA carrying a pipe and a walking-stick.)
GIOCONDA. Well, and how are you? In the pink, old sport?
HILDA. I'm glad to see you, Harry. Do sit down.
GIOCONDA. 'Some' heat to-day, what? Even here. In town
Perfectly awful. Got a match?
(She tries in vain to light the pipe from a match struck by HILDA.)
I say,
Old thing—you really look top-hole to-day.
HILDA. Well, naturally: I knew that you were coming.
(GIOCONDA pulls at her pipe in silence, pokes the floor with her stick, and shifts it from hand to hand.)
You're very quiet.
GIOCONDA (with a start).Oh! what's that you're thumbing?