Twiller. [To Hossefrosse, casually] Huxley.
Hossefrosse. [Shifting from the piano-stool to the arm-chair, which Mrs. Pampinelli has just vacated, and proceeding to study his part, which he has taken from his pocket] Hello, Ralph.
Mrs. Fell. Hello, Ralph.
Twiller. Nelly!
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Still in the middle of the room] You’re the ten o’clock scholar again tonight, Mr. Twiller. [Jenny crosses from the right hallway to the left, and goes out.]
Twiller. I’m awfully sorry, Mrs. P., really; but the fates seem to be against me. [Teddy gives a little whistle at him. He turns and sees him, standing with Florence, up back of the piano.] Hello, Teddy! [He goes towards him, and Teddy shoots at him with his thumb and forefinger, by way of reply. Florence smiles and extends her left arm and hand towards him.]
Mrs. Pampinelli and Twiller, together.
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Moving over from the middle of the room to the left of Mrs. Fell, who is still at the table below the piano] What was that you were saying, Nelly, about Clara Sheppard?
Twiller. Flossie, dear, I didn’t see you two up here! [He takes Florence’s hand and kisses it. Then he crosses to the left and shakes hands with Ritter; then over to Spindler, and then starts back towards Florence, at the piano. As he passes Ritter, Ritter taps him on the right shoulder; he turns, and Ritter asks him something. He replies, and they stand chatting for a moment; then Ritter indicates the partition-seat behind them and they sit down, to talk it over.]
Mrs. Fell. Why, I simply told her—I said, “Don’t be spectacular, dear; it’ll only make it more difficult for you when you want to marry again. And,” I said, “you probably will marry again,”—[Spindler sits on the chair below the door at the left.]
Mrs. Pampinelli. Of course she will.