Miss T. Oh, I expect you’ve had a beautiful time. We have.

Miss P. (coming up).  ROBERT, I thought you wanted to see the Alps?  You should come over to the other side, and—­

Miss T. I’ll undertake that he sees the Alps, darling, presently—­when we’re through our talk.

Miss P. As you please, dear.  But (pointedly) did I not see Mr. CULCHARD below?

Miss T. You don’t mean to say you’re wearied of Mr. VAN BOODELER already!  Well, Mr. CULCHARD will be along soon, and I’ll loan him to you.  I’ll tell him you’re vurry anxious to converse with him some more.  He’s just coming along now, with Mr. PODBURY and Poppa.

Miss P. (under her breath).  MAUD! if you dare—!

Miss T. Don’t you dare me, then—­or you’ll see.  But I don’t want to be mean unless I’m obliged to.

[Mr. TROTTER, followed by CULCHARD and PODBURY, arrives at the upper platform.  CULCHARD and PODBURY efface themselves as much as possible.  Mr. TROTTER greets Miss PRENDERGAST heartily.

Mr. T. Well now, I call this sociable, meeting all together again like this.  I don’t see why in the land we didn’t keep together.  I’ve been saying so to my darter here, ever since Bellagio—­ain’t that so, MAUD?  And she didn’t know just how it came about either.

Miss P. (hurriedly).  We—­we had to be getting on.  And I am afraid we must say good-bye now, Mr. TROTTER.  I want BOB and Mr. PODBURY to see the Da Vinci fresco, you know, before the light goes. (Bob mutters a highly disrespectful wish concerning that work of Art.) We may see you again, before we leave for Verona.

Mr. T. Verona?  Well, I don’t care if I see Verona myself.  Seems a pity to separate now we have met, don’t it?  See here, now, we’ll all go along to Verona together—­how’s that, MAUD?  Start whenever you feel like it, Miss PRENDERGAST. How does that proposal strike you?  I’ll be real hurt if you cann’t take to my idea.

Miss T. The fact is, Poppa, HYPATIA isn’t just sure that Mr. PRENDERGAST wouldn’t object.

Bob P. I—­object?  Not much!  Just what I should like, seeing Verona with—­all together, you know!

Miss T. Then I guess that’s fixed. (Aside, to Miss P., who is speechless).  Come, you haven’t the heart to go and disappoint my poor Cousin CHARLEY by saying you won’t go!  He’ll be perfectly enchanted to be under vow—­unless you’ve filled up all the vacancies already! (Aloud, to VAN B., as he approaches.) We’ve persuaded Miss PRENDERGAST to join our party.  I hope you feel equal to entertaining her?

Van B. I shall be proud to be permitted to try. (To Miss P.) Then I may take it that you agree with me that the function of the future American fictionist will be—­ [They move away, conversing.