The 'Mind the Paint' Girl - LightNovelsOnl.com
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Schoensten Dank. [_Going to the men on the left._] Aha, Mr. Gooling!
My dear Steward-- my dear Jerry----!
[_As SMYTHE is again making for the door on the left, MRS. STIDULPH enters from the landing with COLONEL STIDULPH._
SMYTHE.
[_To MRS. STIDULPH._] Ha, Dolly! [_Kissing her._] How are you, my dear?
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_A mature but still beautiful woman, gorgeously dressed and wearing showy jewels-- with a lofty air._] How are you, Carlton?
SMYTHE.
[_To STIDULPH._] How d'ye do, Arthur? Delighted to see yer.
MRS. STIDULPH.
Lucky I'm able to come to you to-night. It's so difficult to catch me in the season.
SMYTHE.
Been in front?
MRS. STIDULPH.
M'yes; [_in a tone of boredom_] oh, yes.
SMYTHE.
What, don't you like it?
MRS. STIDULPH.
Oh, I don't say I _dis_like it; [_shrugging her shoulders_] but one can't forget what one _used_ to do here in the old days.
STIDULPH.
[_An elderly, distinguished-looking man with a meek voice and a courteous but rather nervous manner._] I've had a most enjoyable evening, Carlton. So bright; so very bright!
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_To STIDULPH, sneeringly._] Oh, anything pleases _you_; _you'd_ laugh at Punch and Judy.
SMYTHE.
I'm just running away to wash my hands. [_Looking towards the men on the left._] You know Von Rettenmayer?
MRS. STIDULPH.
Know him! Why, he was about in my time! [_Crossing to VON RETTENMAYER, followed by STIDULPH._] Karl!
VON RETTENMAYER.
My dear lady! [_Kissing her hand perfunctorily._] What bliss!
[_Shaking hands with STIDULPH._] Golonel!
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_Shaking hands with DE CASTRO._] How are you, Sam?
DE CASTRO.
Ah, Dolly! [_To STIDULPH._] Hullo, Arthur!
COOLING.
[_Presenting HENEAGE and GRIMWOOD to the STIDULPHS._] Mr. Stewart Heneage-- Mr. Gerald Grimwood----
[_As the STIDULPHS leave SMYTHE, HERBERT FULKERSON enters from the landing with FARNCOMBE. In dumb-show, SMYTHE and FULKERSON greet each other and then FULKERSON introduces FARNCOMBE._
SMYTHE.
[_Shaking hands with FARNCOMBE._] Glad to make your acquaintance.
FARNCOMBE.
Glad to make _yours_, Mr. Smythe-- and in such circ.u.mstances!
FULKERSON.
[_A white-faced young man with red eyes and of dissipated appearance-- espying MRS. STIDULPH._] By Jove, if it isn't Dolly Ensor! [_Hurrying to MRS. STIDULPH._] What cheer, Dolly!
MRS. STIDULPH.
[_Coldly._] How do you do, Mr. Fulkerson?
FULKERSON.
[_Slightly abashed._] Oh, I-- I'm pretty middlin', thanks; hope you're the same. [_Nodding to STIDULPH._] Evenin', Arthur.
[_VINCENT BLAND has sauntered in at the door on the left and now joins the group surrounding the STIDULPHS._
BLAND.
[_Nodding to HENEAGE and GRIMWOOD._] H'lo, Stewart! H'lo, Jerry!
[_Coming to the STIDULPHS._] Dolly----Colonel----
