Penelope.

What a charming nature you have.

Mrs. Fergusson.

[To Dickie.] My husband’s in a man-of-war. He’s stationed at Malta, you know. It’s so dreadful that my health forces me to remain in England.

Penelope.

I wonder if you’d do me a great kindness.

Mrs. Fergusson.

My dear, I’ll always do anything for an old friend.

Penelope.

The fact is, I’ve had a perfectly fiendish headache the whole afternoon.