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_You_ can deal with these.
MISS TRACER.
Thank you, Lady Filson.
LADY FILSON.
[_Reading a letter._] Lady Skewes and Mrs. Walter Quebec ... arranging a concert in aid of ... [_sighing_] tickets, of course!... what tiring women!... [_turning the sheet_] oh!... may they include me in their list of patronesses?... Princess Cagliari-Tamponi, the Countess of Harrogate, the Viscountess Chepmell, Lady Kathleen Tring ... [_laying the letter aside_] delighted. [_Heaping together the cards and the rest of the letters._] I must answer those myself. [_To_ MISS TRACER.]
That's all. [MISS TRACER _rises._] Get on with the invitations for July the eighth as quickly as you can.
MISS TRACER.
[_Going to the glazed door._] Yes, Lady Filson.
LADY FILSON.
[_Turning._] Miss Tracer----
MISS TRACER.
[_Halting._] Yes, Lady Filson?
LADY FILSON.
I think Madame de Chaumie wants you to do some little commissions for her. Kindly see her before you go to your room.
BERTRAM.
[_To_ MISS TRACER, _looking up._] No, no; don't.
LADY FILSON.
[_To_ BERTRAM.] Not?
BERTRAM.
My sister is engaged, mother.
LADY FILSON.
Engaged?
BERTRAM.
With Sir Timothy Barradell.
LADY FILSON.
Oh--? [_To_ MISS TRACER.] By-and-by, then.
MISS TRACER.
Yes, Lady Filson.
[MISS TRACER _departs, closing the door._
LADY FILSON.
[_To_ BERTRAM, _eagerly._] Sir Timothy----!
BERTRAM.
He called half-an-hour ago, mother, Underwood tells me, with a note for Ottoline.
LADY FILSON.
From himself?
BERTRAM.
Presumably; and Dilworth came down and took him up to her boudoir.
LADY FILSON.
[_Rising._] An unusual time of day for a call! [_Approaching_ BERTRAM _and speaking under her breath._] Are matters coming to a head between them, my dear boy?
BERTRAM.
Don't ask _me_, mother. [_Rising._] You are as capable of forming an opinion as I am, I mean t'say.
LADY FILSON.
I've a feeling that _something_ is in the air. He positively shadowed her last night at the Gorhams'!
BERTRAM.
[_Knitting his brows._] I admit I should prefer, if my sister contemplates marrying again, that her choice fell on one of the others.
LADY FILSON.
Mr. Trefusis--or George Delacour----?
BERTRAM.
Even Trevor Wilson. [_Wincing._] The idea of a merchant brother-in-law doesn't appeal to me very strongly, I mean t'say.
LADY FILSON.
Still, a baronet----!
