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AGATHA POSKET.
The man who was courting me was seeking relaxation from the discharge of multifarious responsibilities. How could I tax an already wearied attention with the recital of the events of thirty-six years?
LUKYN.
What did you do?
AGATHA POSKET.
Out of consideration for the man I loved, I sacrificed five years of happy girlhood--told him I was but one-and-thirty--that I had been married only fifteen years previously--that my boy was but fourteen!
LUKYN.
By George, madam, and am I to subscribe to all this?
AGATHA POSKET.
I only ask you to avoid the question of dates.
LUKYN.
But, at a man's dinner-table----
AGATHA POSKET.
You need not spoil a man's dinner. Not only a man's--but a woman's!
Lukyn, Lukyn! Promise!
LUKYN.
Give me a second to think.
[_LUKYN, turning away, discovers CHARLOTTE in the act of lifting the covers from the dishes and inspecting the contents._
LUKYN.
Ah, devilled oysters!
CHARLOTTE.
Oh!
[_Drops dish-cover with a crash, and runs over to the table and speaks to AGATHA POSKET._
LUKYN.
Don't go--pray look at 'em again--wish I could persuade you to taste them. What am I to do? Shall I promise? Poor Posket! If I don't promise she'll cry and won't go home. The oysters are nearly cold--cold! What must _he_ be! [_Drawing aside the curtain, and not seeing VALE, he staggers back._] Gone--and without a cry--brave fellow, brave fellow!
AGATHA POSKET.
Colonel Lukyn.
LUKYN.
Decay of stamina in the army--pah! The young 'uns are worthy of our best days.
AGATHA POSKET.
Colonel Lukyn, will you promise?
LUKYN.
Promise? Anything, my dear madam, anything.
AGATHA POSKET.
Ah, thank you! May I ask you to see us to our cab?
LUKYN.
Certainly! Thank heaven, they're going!
AGATHA POSKET.
[_To CHARLOTTE._] It's all right; come along!
CHARLOTTE.
[_To AGATHA POSKET._] Oh, those oysters look so nice.
LUKYN.
[_To himself._] Stop! In my trouble, I am forgetting even the commonest courtesies to these ladies. [_To AGATHA POSKET._] You have a long journey before you. I am sure your husband would not forgive me for letting you face such weather unprepared. Let me recommend an oyster or two and a thimbleful of champagne.
AGATHA POSKET.
No, thank you, Colonel Lukyn.
CHARLOTTE.
[_To AGATHA POSKET._] Say yes. I'm starving.
LUKYN.
As you please. [_To himself._] I knew they'd refuse. I've done my duty.
CHARLOTTE.
[_To AGATHA POSKET._] I was in the train till seven o'clock. Wait till you're a _bona-fide_ traveller--accept.
