TRANTO. Sudden?

MRS. CULVER. I met Lady Blackfriars at tea late this afternoon and it
struck me how well she was looking.

TRANTO. Yes, she always looks particularly well just before she's going
to be ill. She's very brave, very brave.

MRS. CULVER. D'you mean in having twins? It was more than brave of her;
it was beautiful--both boys, too.

HILDEGARDE (_innocently_). Budgeting for a long war.

MRS. CULVER (_affectionately_). My dear girl! Come here, darling, you
haven't changed. Excuse me, Mr. Tranto.

HILDEGARDE (_approaching_). I've been so busy. And I thought nobody was
coming.

MRS. CULVER. Is your father nobody? (_stroking and patting_ Hildegarde's
_dress into order_). What have you been so busy on?

HILDEGARDE. Article for _The Echo_. (Tranto, _who has been holding the
MS., indicates it_.)

MRS. CULVER. I do wish you would let me see those cookery articles of
yours before they're printed.

TRANTO (_putting MS. in his pocket_). I'm afraid that's quite against