The 'Mind the Paint' Girl - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
[_The refrain is repeated as before, MRS. UPJOHN rising and taking a share in it. Then LILY drops on to the settee before the writing-table, laughing and holding up her hands in protest._
LILY.
No more, boys! [_ROPER, VON RETTENMAYER, and DE CASTRO gather round her, applauding her and urging her to continue._] No, no; no more!
I've had such a stiff day----
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_With sudden energy, to everybody._] Out you go, all of you; out you go!
JIMMIE.
[_To the men._] Come on; let's mizzle. [_Shaking hands with FARNCOMBE._] Cruel of us to tire her so.
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_Tapping VON RETTENMAYER on the shoulder._] Now, then, Baron!
VON RETTENMAYER.
[_Shaking hands with LILY._] I'm goming.
JIMMIE.
[_Taking VON RETTENMAYER to the door._] Well, _gome_!
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_Pulling ROPER away from LILY._] Now, Uncle!
ROPER.
[_Adjusting his coat._] Mind the paint, Ma.
JIMMIE.
[_Calling out._] Good-bye, Lil!
LILY.
[_As she shakes hands with DE CASTRO, calling to JIMMIE._] Good-bye!
[_JIMMIE and VON RETTENMAYER disappear._
MRS. UPJOHN.
Now, Mr. de Castro! [_Moving with ROPER towards the door._] 'Owever d'ye think she's goin' to get through her work to-night!
DE CASTRO.
[_Pausing to comb his moustache._] Quite right, Ma---- [_thoughtlessly_]
and a thupper and a danthe afterwardth.
ROPER.
[_Turning upon him quickly._] Sss.h.!.+ [_In a low voice._] Dam fool!
DE CASTRO.
[_Clapping his hand to his mouth._] Oh----!
[_They glance at JEYES who, hearing de Castro's remark, has left the window and come forward a step or two._
ROPER.
[_Uneasily._] Er-- good-bye, Nicko.
DE CASTRO.
[_To JEYES, in the same way._] G-good-bye.
JEYES.
[_To both, dryly._] Good-bye.
BLAND.
[_Talking to LILY, neither of them having heard de Castro's slip._]
That jingle-- an echo of old times, eh?
LILY.
[_Looking up at him._] Yes, but not better times than these times, Vin?
BLAND.
[_Sadly, holding her hand._] Ah, Lil, there are so many tunes in life left for _you_, my dear!
ROPER.
[_At the door, with MRS. UPJOHN and DE CASTRO-- to BLAND._] Come along, Vincent.
[_BLAND joins the group at the door as FARNCOMBE approaches LILY._
FARNCOMBE.
[_Shaking hands with her._] Thank you. [_With fervour._] Glorious!
LILY.
