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SIR RANDLE.
[_Rolling his head from side to side._] Oh! Oh, dear; oh, dear!
LADY FILSON.
[_Wearily._] Oh, dear!
SIR RANDLE.
_How_ we are pestered, Lady Filson and I!
LADY FILSON.
Terrible!
SIR RANDLE.
No peace! No peace!
LADY FILSON.
Or privacy.
WESTRIP.
[_Producing a note-book from his pocket._] They will attend here any morning convenient to you and Lady Filson, Sir Randle. It won't take ten minutes.
SIR RANDLE.
[_To_ LADY FILSON, _resignedly._] Winnie----?
LADY FILSON.
[_Entering the appointment on a tablet._] Tuesday at eleven.
SIR RANDLE.
[_To_ WESTRIP.] Remind me.
WESTRIP.
[_Writing in his note-book._] Yes, Sir Randle.
SIR RANDLE.
And advise Madame de Chaumie and Mr. Bertram, with my love, of the appointment. Her ladys.h.i.+p and I will be photographed with our children grouped round us.
WESTRIP.
[_To_ SIR RANDLE.] Then there's the telegram from the _Daily Monitor_, Sir Randle----
SIR RANDLE.
[_Puffing himself out._] Ah, yes! The editor solicits my views upon--what is the subject of the discussion which is being carried on in his admirable journal, Mr. Westrip?----
WESTRIP.
"Should Women Marry under Thirty?"
SIR RANDLE.
H'm! [_Musingly._] Should Women Marry under Thirty? [_To_ WESTRIP.]
Reply paid?
WESTRIP.
Forty-eight words.
SIR RANDLE.
[_Rising and strolling across to_ LADY FILSON, _as if seeking for inspiration._] Should Women Marry under Thirty? [_Humming._] H'm, h'm, h'm--! [_To_ LADY FILSON.] Winnie----?
LADY FILSON.
[_Looking up at him._] I was considerably under thirty when _we_ married, Randle.
SIR RANDLE.
[_Triumphantly._] Ha! [_Chuckling._] Ho, ho, ho! Capital! Ho, ho, ho!
[_Patting_ LADY FILSON_'s shoulder._] Clever! Clever! [_To_ WESTRIP, _grandly._] There we have my response to the inquiry, Mr. Westrip.
[_Closing his eyes again._] Sir Randle Filson's views are best expressed by the statement that Lady Filson was considerably under thirty when she did him the honour of--er--becoming his wife.
WESTRIP.
Excellent, sir.
SIR RANDLE.
[_Opening his eyes._] Pray amplify that in graceful language, Mr.
Westrip--restricting yourself to forty-eight words--[_He breaks off, interrupted by the appearance of_ OTTOLINE _at the glazed door._] Ah, my darling!
OTTOLINE.
Good morning, Dad. [_To_ WESTRIP.] Good morning.
WESTRIP.
[_Shyly._] Good morning.
