Dorothy.  I didn’t mention tea.  I want you to get my portfolio from up-stairs.  It is on the table in the corner of my room.

[Looks at Jennie in surprise.

Jennie.  Oh, excuse me, mum.  I didn’t hear straight.

[She casts a languishing glance at Yardsley and disappears.

Yardsley (noting the glance, presumably aside).  Confound that
Jennie!

Barlow (overhearing Yardsley).  What’s that?  Confound that Jennie?  Why say confound that Jennie?  Why do you wish Jennie to be confounded?

Yardsley (nervously).  I didn’t say that.  I—­ah—­I merely said that—­ that Jennie appeared to be—­ah—­confounded.

Dorothy.  She certainly is confused.  I cannot understand it at all.  Ordinarily I have rather envied Jennie her composure.

Yardsley.  Oh, I suppose—­it’s—­it’s—­it’s natural for a young girl—­ a servant—­sometimes to lose her—­equipoise, as it were, on occasions.  If we lose ours at times, why not Jennie?  Eh?  Huh?

Barlow.  Certainly.

Yardsley.  Of course—­ha—­trained servants are hard to get these days, anyhow.  Educated people—­ah—­go into other professions, such as law, and—­ah—­the ministry—­and—­

Dorothy.  Well, never mind.  Let’s talk of something more interesting than Jennie.  Going to the Chrysanthemum Show, Mr. Barlow?

Barlow.  I am; wouldn’t miss it for the world.  Do you know, really now, the chrysanthemum, in my opinion, is the most human-looking flower we have.  The rose is too beautiful, too perfect, for me.  The chrysanthemum, on the other hand—­

Yardsley (interrupting).  Looks so like a football-player’s head it appeals to your sympathies?  Well, perhaps you are right.  I never thought of it in that light before, but—­

Dorothy (smiling).  Nor I; but now that you mention it, it does look that way, doesn’t it?

Barlow (not wishing to disagree with Dorothy).  Very much.  Droll idea, though.  Just like Bob, eh?  Very, very droll.  Bob’s always dro—­

Yardsley (interrupting).  When I see a man walking down the Avenue with a chrysanthemum in his button-hole, I always think of a wild Indian wearing a scalp for decorative purposes.

[Barlow and Dorothy laugh at this, and during their mirth Jennie enters with the portfolio.  She hands it to Dorothy.  Dorothy rests it on the arm of her chair, and Barlow looking over one shoulder, she goes through it.  Jennie in passing out throws another kiss to Yardsley.

Yardsley (under his breath, stamping his foot).  Awgh!

Barlow.  What say?

[Dorothy looks up, surprised.

Yardsley.  I—­I didn’t say anything.  My—­ah—­my shoe had a piece of—­ ah—­

Barlow.  Oh, say lint, and be done with it.

Yardsley (relieved, and thankful for the suggestion).  Why, how did you know?  It did, you know.  Had a piece of lint on it, and I tried to get it off by stamping, that’s all.