CHRISTOPHER.  I’ve swallowed it!

ALL.  What?

CHRISTOPHER.  I’ve swallowed the ring!

ELAINE.  That isn’t fair!

PHILIP.  Just like Chris, ’fraid some one else’d get it.

GEORGIANA.  No, Chris, dear! [To COAST.] What will we do?

COAST. Chris has made a mistake, here is the ring! [Finding it in his own piece of cake.] There weren’t two, were there?

GEORGIANA.  No, that’s the one!

CHRISTOPHER. [Smiling and greatly relieved.] Oh!  I guess I ’magined it, then.

GEORGIANA. [Affectionately pretending to shake him.] Well, young man, you can imagine yourself spanked for giving us all a fright.  Now, come along, the mottoes. [To COAST.] Of course the ring wasn’t meant for you.  What are you going to do with it?

COAST. Keep it.

GEORGIANA.  No, you mustn’t; it’s the children’s!

COAST. Philip, may I keep the ring?

PHILIP. [On the hobby horse.] Yes, sir.

COAST. And I’ll give each one of you a ring in place of it.  What kind will you have, Elaine?

[He makes movement towards each child as he asks the question.

ELAINE.  One big pearl with two great big rubies.

GEORGIANA.  Mercy!  Small order!

COAST. Very well.  And you, Phil?

PHILIP.  I don’t want any ring.  I want a watch and chain.

COAST. Good!  And you, Chris, do you want a ring?

CHRISTOPHER.  I want a gun!

COAST. All right. [Writing.] And Toots?

TOOTS.  Nanny goat!

[They all laugh. MOLES and FOOTMAN enter, answering the bell which GEORGIANA has rung.

GEORGIANA.  The table, Moles.

MOLES.  Yes, ma’am.

[Takes away small plates, etc.; he then goes out Right, followed by FOOTMAN, who takes everything else from the table, leaving only the cover and a false nose left from the mottoes.

PHILIP. [Crosses to GEORGIANA at table.] Grandma’s been up and said we were all to go and see mamma.

GEORGIANA.  Go in your mottoes; that will be great fun!

ALL THE CHILDREN.  Oh, yes!  Hurrah!

[Running off Left.

GEORGIANA.  Ssh!  Don’t shout so; remember poor mamma’s headache!

[All repeat, “Remember poor mamma’s headache” and take hands as they tip-toe out, PHILIP first, ELAINE second, CHRIS third, TOOTS fourth, repeating “Poor mamma’s headache” in a whisper till they are all out.

COAST. I can’t get this damned thing on.  Too bad Cousin Loo’s ill.

GEORGIANA.  Oh, she isn’t really.  Louise is never perfectly well and happy unless she has something the matter with her, especially if she has nothing else to do; she’s bored to-day, so she’s got a headache!  To-night, when there’s a big ball to which she is not invited, she’ll be frightfully alarmed about herself for fear of appendicitis, but to-morrow, when we have smart company at luncheon, she’ll recover like a shot!  It’s all right for Louise, but it’s hard on my brother, who really adores her.