The 'Mind the Paint' Girl - LightNovelsOnl.com
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T-t-the matter?
JEYES.
[_Taking his hands from his pockets and sitting upright._] Any game on?
MRS. UPJOHN.
Game?
JEYES.
At my expense?
MRS. UPJOHN.
I dun'no wot you're drivin' at, Captain.
JEYES.
[_Harshly._] How long's Lily sitting this afternoon?
MRS. UPJOHN.
Till five.
JEYES.
[_Looking at his watch._] What's Morgan's number in Fitzroy Street?
MRS. UPJOHN.
Sixty.
JEYES.
[_Rising._] I'll fetch her.
[_As he makes a movement towards the door, it is thrown open and LILY PARRADELL enters with a rush-- an entrancing vision of youth, grace, and beauty. She is followed by JIMMIE BIRCH, a _pet.i.te_, bright-eyed girl in an extremely _chic_ costume._
LILY.
[_Tearing off her gloves as she enters._] Wh-e-e-w! I'm dead! [_Giving her hand to JEYES carelessly._] Ah, Nicko! [_To MRS. UPJOHN._]
I couldn't stand the heat in the studio any longer, mother. [_Finding ROPER beside her, she offers her cheek to him and he kisses it._] _Mon Oncle!_
JIMMIE.
[_Closing the door._] That young man Morgan ought to paint the infernal regions.
LILY.
[_Taking her scarf from her shoulder._] He might finish with the angels first, though. [_To JEYES, softly, as ROPER turns to shake hands with JIMMIE._] You in a better temper to-day?
JEYES.
[_In her ear._] You drove me wild last night.
LILY.
[_Making a face at him._] Served you right. [_Pa.s.sing him._] For G.o.d's sake, let me lie down. [_She throws herself upon the settee in front of the writing-table, and JEYES moves away as MRS. UPJOHN and ROPER go to her._] Don't come near me. Give me my fan. Jimmie, where's my fan?
JIMMIE.
Oh, I've left it in Fitzroy Street!
LILY.
Beast!
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_Hurrying to the writing-table._] There's one 'ere, among your presents.
LILY.
[_Unpinning her hat._] Uncle Lal, what an adorable ring that is you've sent me!
ROPER.
[_Taking the fan from MRS. UPJOHN._] Ring! A brooch!
LILY.
_Somebody's_ sent me a ring.
MRS. UPJOHN.
[_Sitting in the chair at the end of the settee by the writing-table._]
There's three rings.
LILY.
Of course! One of them's from Nicko! [_To JEYES._] Did you get my sweet telegram, Nicko?
JEYES.
[_Who has greeted JIMMIE and is now seated in the chair on the extreme left-- sulkily._] I had your telegram, but it's a _pendant_ I sent you.
JIMMIE.
