FANNY. But this dread of ridicule is so frightfully out of date. The
Cambridge Fabian Society--

TROTTER. I forbid you to mention the Fabian Society to me.

FANNY. Its motto is "You cannot learn to skate without making
yourself ridiculous."

TROTTER. Skate! What has that to do with it?

FANNY. Thats not all. It goes on, "The ice of life is slippery."

TROTTER. Ice of life indeed! You should be eating penny ices and
enjoying yourself. I wont hear another word.

_The Count returns._

THE COUNT. We're all waiting in the drawing-room, my dear. Have you
been detaining Mr Trotter all this time?

TROTTER. I'm so sorry. I must have just a little brush up: I [He
hurries out].

THE COUNT. My dear, you should be in the drawing-room. You should
not have kept him here.

FANNY. I know. Dont scold me: I had something important to say to
him.