TOOTS.  No good, grandma!

[A knock outside the door Left.

GEORGIANA. [Outside.] Hello!  Hello!

PHILIP. [Delighted.] Aunt Georgiana!

ALL THE CHILDREN.  Aunt Georgiana!

GEORGIANA. [Outside.] Is this a private room at Sherry’s, or may an old maid aunt come in?

ALL.  No!  Yes!  Come in—­come on in!

[They clatter on the table with their spoons, and shout “Hurrah!  Aunt Georgiana!” as GEORGIANA enters.  She is a beautiful creature, about thirty, and in the very height of health and spirits—­an American Beauty rose the moment before it opens.  She is flushed after her quick walk in the bracing, sunshiny winter’s day.  No wonder the children—­and others—­adore her!

GEORGIANA.  What a good time!

CHRISTOPHER.  Oh, we’re having the beautifulest time, Auntie!

PHILIP.  Great!

ELAINE.  Perfectly lovely!

TOOTS.  Um!  Ice cream!  Lots!

GEORGIANA.  That’s good!  Stuff all you can, Toots!  Are you ready to cut the cake?

ALL THE CHILDREN.  Yes!  Yes!

PHILIP.  We waited for you.

CHRISTOPHER.  We wouldn’t let grandma.

[GEORGIANA drops her furs on the sofa and then comes to the table.

GEORGIANA.  There’s a ring in it.  Whoever gets it will be married in a year.

[Starts to cut the cake.

TOOTS.  I want the ring!

PHILIP.  Hush up, you’re only a baby!

[A loud knock on the door Left.

GEORGIANA.  Oh, yes, I forgot.  Cousin Sam wants to wish you many happy returns, Philip.  May he come in?

PHILIP.  Pshaw!  Another man!

CHRISTOPHER. [In a “stagewhisper” to ELAINE.] He’s the one—­auntie’s sweetheart!

GEORGIANA. [Amused.] Nonsense, Christopher, that’s silly talk.  Stop that for good! [Loud knocks repeated.  To PHILIP.] May Cousin Sam come in? [PHILIP nods.] All right, he’s got some presents!  Come in, Mr. Coast.

[COAST comes in and goes straight to PHILIP.  SAM COAST is a tall, slender, but strong-looking man, rather “raw-boned.”  He is dressed most fashionably and most expensively,—­over-dressed, in fact, and yet not too vulgarly.  A man of muscle and nerve, who makes his own code and keeps his own counsel.

COAST. Shake, Phil.

[Shakes his hand.

PHILIP. [His hand hurt.] Golly!  He can squeeze, can’t he, Aunt
Georgiana?

GEORGIANA.  Well, really!  Miss Elaine Jackson—­Mr. Coast.

ELAINE. [Embarrassed, rises, and curtseys.] How do you do?

COAST. Pleased to make your acquaintance.  Hello, rest of you.

CHRISTOPHER and TOOTS.  Hello!

CHRISTOPHER.  Are you Auntie Georgiana’s beau?

COAST. Yes!

GEORGIANA.  Chris!