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Egidia received a telegram from Scotland this morning; her son has cut his first tooth, during her absence, painfully.
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Oh, dear!
EGIDIA.
You also are a mother, Lady Twombley. You can sympathize with such cares as those I am now endeavouring to sustain.
[LADY EUPHEMIA and IMOGEN stroll in.]
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Your boy is five months old, isn't he?
EGIDIA.
Fergus is precisely five months.
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Well, there are two-and-twenty more teeth to come yet, you know.
EGIDIA.
Yes, I am schooling myself into that conviction. I am naturally, I hope, a woman of more than ordinary courage.
[PROBYN appears at the entrance.]
Probyn.
Lord Drumdurris.
[The EARL OF DRUMDURRIS, a boyish-looking officer of the Guards, in uniform, with much dignity and reserve, enters.]
EARL OF DRUMDURRIS.
How do you do, Lady Twombley? Egidia.
DOWAGER.
Keith, you have further news from Scotland?
EARL OF DRUMDURRIS.
Another telegram.
EGIDIA.
Ah!
[She puts her hand calmly in that of the DOWAGER.]
DOWAGER.
Tell us, my son.
EARL OF DRUMDURRIS.
Another tooth. [EGIDIA closes her eyes. The DOWAGER kisses her upon the brow.] I offered Lady Macphail and Sir Colin the use of my brougham, but they preferred coming on here in their chariot.
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Lady Macphail and Sir Colin! Coming here!
DOWAGER.
[To LADY TWOMBLEY.] I haven't told you what I've done. Keith!
EARL OF DRUMDURRIS.
[Bowing.] Certainly.
[He joins the others, who are talking together.]
DOWAGER.
[To LADY TWOMBLEY.] I have a motive. My whole life has been one vast comprehensive motive. Lady Macphail is the little woman to whom I introduced you on the stairs at the Palace.
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Well, but----
DOWAGER.
I encountered her again, and delivered a message from you begging her to come on here with Sir Colin to drink tea.
LADY TWOMBLEY.
I never----
DOWAGER.
I know you didn't. My motive is this. She has just brought her boy to London.
LADY TWOMBLEY.
Is he the great man in the kilt I saw holding on to her lappets?
