CULVER.  You ought to marry Mr. Sampson Straight. (Hildegarde starts and is silent.)

JOHN.  Fancy me having to go back to school the son of a rotten baronet, and with the frightful doom of being a rotten baronet myself.  What price the anti-hereditary-principle candidate!  Dad, I hope you won’t die just yet—­it would ruin my political career.  Stay me with flagons!

CULVER.  Me too!

CURTAIN.

ACT III

ACT III

The next day, before lunch.  Hildegarde and John are together.

JOHN (nervously impatient).  I wish she’d come.

HILDEGARDE.  She’ll be here in a moment.  She’s fussing round dad.

JOHN.  Is he really ill?

HILDEGARDE.  Well of course.  It came on in the night, after he’d had time to think things over.  Why?

JOHN.  I read in some paper about the Prime Minister having only a political chill.  So I thought perhaps the pater—­under the circs—­

HILDEGARDE (shaking her head).  You can’t have political dyspepsia.  Can’t fake the symptoms.  Who is to begin this affair, you or me?

JOHN.  Depends.  What line are you going on with her?

HILDEGARDE.  I’m going to treat her exactly as she treats me.  I’ve just thought of it.  Only I shan’t lose my temper.

JOHN.  Sugarsticks?

HILDEGARDE.  Yes.

JOHN.  You’ll never be able to keep it up.

HILDEGARDE.  O yes I shall.  Somehow I feel much more mature than I did yesterday.

JOHN.  More mature?  Stay me with flagons!  I was always mature.  If you knew what rot I think school is...!  Well, anyway, you can begin.

HILDEGARDE.  You’re very polite to-day, Johnnie.

JOHN.  Don’t mention it.  My argument ’ll be the best, and I want to keep it for the end, that’s all.

HILDEGARDE.  Thanks.  But I bet you we shall both fail.

JOHN.  Well, if we do, I’ve still got something else waiting for her ladyship.  A regular startler, my child.

HILDEGARDE.  What is it?

Enter Mrs. Culver, back.

JOHN (to Hildegarde, as Mrs. Culver enters).  Wait and see.

MRS. CULVER (cheerful and affectionate, to John).  So you’ve come in. (To Hildegarde.) You are back early to-day!  Well, my darlings, what do you want me for?

HILDEGARDE (imitating her mothers manner).  Well, mamma darling, we hate bothering you.  We know you’ve got quite enough worries, without having any more.  But it’s about this baronetcy business. (Mrs. Culver starts.) Do be an angel and listen to us.

MRS. CULVER (with admirable self-control).  Of course, my pet.  But you know the matter is quite, quite settled.  Your father and I settled it together last night, and the letter of acceptance is in the hands of the Government by this time.