CHRISTOPHER.  Lizzie says so!

LIZZIE.  I never!

TOOTS, CHRISTOPHER, and PHILIP.  Yes, you did!  You did too!  You did too!

LIZZIE. [To GEORGIANA.] I never did, miss!

PHILIP.  Yes you did, you did too!

GEORGIANA.  I hope you didn’t, Lizzie.  You may leave the children with me now.

LIZZIE.  Yes, ma’am.

[LIZZIE, MOLES, and FOOTMAN go out at Right, each taking some plates, etc.

GEORGIANA. [To COAST.] I hope you don’t mind.

COAST. Of course I don’t.  It’s true as far as I’m concerned.

GEORGIANA. [Laughing.] It’s not!

COAST. Listen, will you bet?

GEORGIANA. [Laughing.] Not before the children!

PHILIP.  Come on, let’s cut the cake!

GEORGIANA.  Blow out the candles!

[All the children blow out the candles and then get down from the table.

COAST. And here’s my contribution to the party.

[Brings out six big German mottoes from his pocket, and goes to table with them.

GEORGIANA. [In pretended excitement.] What?  Mottoes!

ALL THE CHILDREN. [In delighted chorus.] Oh, mottoes!

PHILIP.  Are those the silver mines?

COAST. No!  Why?

[Laughing and handing the mottoes around, while GEORGIANA cuts the cake.

PHILIP.  I heard grandma say the other day, you had pockets full of silver mines.

GEORGIANA.  The cake’s ready!

[All take a piece of cake.  The children line up and down Centre from Right to Left: ELAINE, TOOTS, PHILIP, CHRISTOPHER.

COAST. Your motto!

[Handing one to GEORGIANA.

GEORGIANA.  One for me too!  Oh, thank you!

COAST. Certainly, because I want a bit of cake.  I’m after that ring.

[Goes up back of table for cake.

GEORGIANA.  Don’t anybody swallow the ring.

[All eat the cake and now speak with their mouths full.

CHRISTOPHER.  I haven’t got it yet, Auntie.

ELAINE.  Nor I.

GEORGIANA.  Don’t talk.  Everybody eat till some one gets it!

TOOTS. [Crying.] I can’t eat my cake!  I can’t eat my cake!

GEORGIANA.  Why not, dear?

TOOTS.  ’Cause I haven’t got no place!  I haven’t got no place to put it!

[Crying.

PHILIP.  He’s full up!

GEORGIANA.  Never mind, Toots, dear, you shall have a piece for supper.

TOOTS.  Will I have room then?

CHRISTOPHER. [A sudden loud and frightened cry.] Oh!  Oh!

ALL.  What’s the matter?

[All gather around CHRISTOPHER.

GEORGIANA. [Frightened.] What is it, Chris?

CHRISTOPHER. [Screaming.] Oh!

GEORGIANA.  What is it, dear?