Cecil. Sentimentalizing over Arthur’s socks?
Miss P. (starting and jumping up). I deplore these abrupt entrances—a—(agitatedly.) Is Arthur, is his lordship there?
Cecil. His lordship is tearing along in a rickshaw, but her ladyship (curtsies), finding the heat oppressive, has returned to the hotel and the society of her beloved G.
Miss P. (sinking back). Really, Cecil——
Cecil (coming behind chair). My language was sufficiently correct to please even you. What are you doing in this untidy boy’s room? I suppose, like me, he has nowhere to keep his things, only a chair and a table obligingly supplied by the Police Station. (Coming R. of table.) Now, what is he doing with a dead chrysanthemum? Look at the stalk of it. Did you give it to him, G., dear? (Miss P. examines through glasses.) If you are engaged in a general tidying-up, I think this might be thrown away. (Drops flower in front of table. Miss P. picks it up.)
Miss P. I was merely doing some—Why, dear me, I have no silk in my needle! (Holds up sock.)
Cecil (coming in front of table and laughingly snatching sock). Just as I said, sentimentalizing over Arthur’s socks, the dear boy! (Miss P. recovers sock, continues working.) You see, he did not receive us with vials of wrath. I like the Princess Kiku, don’t you?
Miss P. She has pretty, caressing manners, but their incessant bows and elaborate politeness try me.
Cecil. I should have thought you would have revelled in it. However, here we are, but Arthur is no nearer finding the shipwrecked baby. Why can’t the foolish boy enjoy the money? He now intends to lay the whole thing before the Emperor, and he’ll send a—what do you call it—an edict or something through the land, and all the lost infants will assemble here. Won’t it be fun? Why, though, G. dear, how stupid of me! She won’t be a baby now. She will be as old as I am, twenty-three.
Miss P. (precisely). An exact definition of age is unnecessary in a woman; it is sufficient for you to assert that you are of age, or that you have reached years of discretion—a little more reserve is advisable.