Miss Heneage, Mrs. Phillimore and Grace come in. Cynthia sighs without letting her sigh be heard. She tries to compose herself. She glances at the paper and then, hearing Miss Heneage, starts slightly. Miss Heneage and Mrs. Phillimore stop at the table.
Miss Heneage. [Carrying a sheet of paper.] There, my dear Mary, is the announcement as I have now reworded it. I took William's suggestion. [Mrs. Phillimore takes and casually reads it.] I also put the case to him, and he was of the opinion that the announcement should be sent only to those people who are really in society. [She sits near the table. Cynthia braces herself to bear the Phillimore conversation.
Grace. I wish you'd make an exception of the Dudleys.
[Cynthia rises and moves to the chair by the table.
Miss Heneage. And, of course, that excludes the Oppenheims—the Vance-Browns.
Mrs. Phillimore. It's just as well to be exclusive.
Grace. I do wish you'd make an exception of Lena Dudley.
Miss Heneage. We might, of course, include those new Girardos, and possibly—possibly the Paddingtons.
Grace. I do wish you would take in Lena Dudley.
[They are now sitting.