Part 11 (1/2)

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!