BETTY.  Better?

WALTER.  Yes, better, better—­any way you choose to put it!  I’m a—­but never mind that!—­Look here—­you’d like me to stop?

BETTY.  He wants to play bridge.

WALTER.  Don’t you think that I—­

BETTY.[Hearing HECTOR coming.] Sh.

[HECTOR comes in—­she is idly tossing the cards about. HECTOR has put on a smoking-jacket—­he comes in, very jolly, fussing around, rubbing his hands, so glad to be home.  He sits, to the right of BETTY.

HECTOR.  Now for a game!

     [He seizes a pack, and spreads out the cards.

BETTY. [Leaning back.] Not sure that I want to play.

HECTOR.  Don’t be disagreeable, Betty!  Why?

BETTY. [Listlessly, as she rises and moves across the room.] No fun, being three.

HECTOR.  Good practice for you.  Come on.

BETTY. [Leaning against the other table, and turning and facing them.]
Besides, he has something to tell you.

HECTOR.  Walter?

BETTY.  Yes.

HECTOR. [Looking inquiringly at WALTER.] To tell me? What is it?

BETTY.  That he’s engaged.

HECTOR. [Shouting, as he leans across the table.] Never!  Walter! 
Engaged?  You?

WALTER. [Nervously.] Yes.

HECTOR. [Noisily and affectionately.] You old scoundrel!  You rascal and villain!  Engaged—­and you don’t come and tell me first!  Well I—­am—­damned!

WALTER. [Trying to take it gaily.] I knew you’d chaff me about it.

HECTOR.  Chaff you!  Silly old coon! why I’m glad!  Of course we shall miss you—­but marriage—­it’s the only thing, my boy—­the only thing!  Who is she?  Do I know her?

WALTER. [Mumbling, as he fingers the cards.] A friend of Betty’s—­I fancy you’ve met her—­

HECTOR.  Who?

BETTY.  Mary Gillingham.  We’re the first to know—­he only proposed to-day.

HECTOR.  Gillingham, Gillingham....  Oh yes, I’ve seen her, just seen her, but I don’t remember....  I say, not the daughter of the sealing-wax man?

WALTER.  Yes.

HECTOR.  Then there’s lots of tin!  Fine!  Oh you artful old dodger!  Is she pretty?

WALTER.  So-So.

BETTY. [Still leaning against the table, and looking at them both.]
She’s excessively pretty.  She has yellow hair and blue eyes.

HECTOR. [Chuckling.] And she has caught old Wallie.  The cynical old
Wallie who sniffed at women!  Though perhaps it’s the money—­

BETTY.  No.  He’s in love with her.

HECTOR.  That’s good.  I’m glad.  And I congratulate you—­heartily, my boy. [He seizes WALTER’S hand, and wrings it.] We must drink to it! [He gets up, goes to the side-table, and pours some whiskey into a tumbler.] Charge your glass, Walter! [WALTER rises and goes to the side-table.] Ladies and gentlemen.  I give you the bride and bridegroom! [He fills the glass from the syphon and passes it to WALTER, then proceeds to fill his own.] Betty, you must join us.