Mrs. Wolton. Really, he made such a point of it! Oh, very well then, you needn't go, Howes. [With a nod of dismissal. Servant exits into ball-room and off.
Mrs. Wolton. [Lowers her voice so that Howes sha'n't hear her, as he goes.] Mr. Wolton is rather hard on the servants if they fail to obey his orders to the letter. I'll go myself and see if he won't see you. [Enter Marion from ball-room, as her mother starts.
Marion. Mother, where are you going with the favours?
Mrs. Wolton. To your father for a moment.
Marion. But you can't; we need them. [Crosses. Music stops.] I'll go for you. [Mrs. Wolton exits centre as Marion exits right. Fanshaw appears from ball-room, enters.
Fanshaw. Come on, Rhodes, we need your help. [Seizing Douglas.
Douglas. How long will it take?
Fanshaw. Oh, only a couple of minutes. [Rhodes and Fanshaw exeunt, followed by Mrs. Wolton.
Trimmins. [Off stage.] Mrs. Lorrimer! Mrs. Lorrimer! [Enters.] Oh, Mrs. Lorrimer, won't you dance through with me? [Trimmins does this.
Mrs. Lorrimer. Do excuse me. [Adds a little sotto voce and coaxingly.] And as a favour to me, go and take out poor Susie Woodruff. You know it's only "snap the whip" figure, so it won't make much difference to you if she is a bit heavy. [Trimmins makes a bored grimace, and goes up stage. Mrs. Lorrimer catches him.] Yes, to please me! It isn't as if it were a waltz and you had to get her around all by yourself!