The 'Mind the Paint' Girl - BestLightNovel.com
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The funds are too low. [_Replacing his eyegla.s.s._] I did go so far as to price a bangle at Sellby's, but that was before a certain event yesterday.
JIMMIE.
What horses did you back, Vincent? I won a fiver, through Jerry Grimwood.
ROPER.
[_To BLAND._] You _are_ a patent a.s.s. Why don't you leave betting alone?
BLAND.
[_To ROPER, flaring up._] Why don't you leave your City muck alone?
LILY.
[_Putting her feet to the floor, imperiously._] That'll do. Be quiet, you two! I won't have any wrangling in my house. Run away and play, all of you. I want to speak to Vincent for a minute privately. [_With a gesture._] Uncle Lal-- Jimmie-- Nicko-- [_To MRS. UPJOHN._] Scoot, mother!
MRS. UPJOHN.
Oh, dear, wot a child!
[_ROPER, JIMMIE, JEYES, and MRS. UPJOHN move away and LILY beckons to BLAND._
LILY.
Vin.
BLAND.
[_Close to her, with a wry face._] Mercy!
LILY.
[_In a low voice._] You've broken your word to me, then? [_Through her teeth._] Those d.a.m.ned horses!
BLAND.
Cooling had a tip from the stable----
LILY.
Cooling! Morrie Cooling has no children; only a fat wife. You've a darling little wife and three kiddies. How much did you drop yesterday?
BLAND.
Shan't say.
LILY.
[_Rising and touching his arm._] Oh, Vincent!
[_She looks round, to a.s.sure herself that she is un.o.bserved. MRS.
UPJOHN and ROPER are seated at the tea-table with their heads together, talking; JIMMIE is at the piano, fingering out a piece of music; JEYES is half hidden in the arm-chair facing the settee at the back. LILY tiptoes to the writing-table and seats herself there as GLADYS reappears showing in the BARON VON RETTENMAYER._
VON RETTENMAYER.
[_A tall, fair young man of three-and-thirty, speaking in thick, guttural tones-- advancing to LILY._] Aha, G.o.ddess! [_Gladys withdraws._] Many habby returns of the day!
LILY.
H's.h.!.+ I'm busy for a moment, Baron.
VON RETTENMAYER.
[_To LILY-- shaking hands with BLAND._] A thousand bardons.
LILY.
Talk to mother and Jimmie.
VON RETTENMAYER.
With bleasure. [_Going to MRS. UPJOHN and ROPER and shaking hands with them._] How are you, my dear Ma? How are you, Jimmie? [_Waving a hand to ROPER and JEYES._] My dear Rober! My dear Neegolas!
JIMMIE.
[_To VON RETTENMAYER, mimicking him._] Rober! Neegolas! Why don't they provide you with throat lozenges at the Emba.s.sy, Baron?
[_VON RETTENMAYER laughs. LILY has quickly opened a drawer in the writing-table and produced a cheque-book. After another glance over her shoulder, she sweeps the presents aside and writes. Then she replaces the cheque-book, rises, and returns to BLAND. Again there is a loud guffaw from VON RETTENMAYER in response to some sally of JIMMIE'S._
LILY.
[_To BLAND, folding a cheque and slipping it into his hand._]
Promise-- promise you won't make another bet.
BLAND.
[_Unfolding the cheque._] Your cheque?
LILY.
[_Hastily._] Put it in your pocket.
BLAND.
A blank one.
LILY.
