long!

LADY MOGTON [Hammers.] Order, please!

[The three subside.]

This is serious business. The next step is, of course -

[The door opens; GEOFFREY enters. He is a youngish-looking man of
three or four and thirty. LADY MOGTON, at the sound of the door,
turns. ST. HERBERT rises. There is a pause.]

LADY MOGTON We've been talking about you. We must apologise for
turning your drawing-room -

GEOFFREY My dear mother-in-law, it is Providence. [He kisses
her.] There is no one I was more longing to see.

ANNYS [She has risen.] Hake told me you would be dining at the
House.

GEOFFREY [He comes to her, kisses her, he is in a state of
suppressed excitement.] I shall be. I came back to bring you some
news.

PHOEBE We've got some news for you. Have you heard -

GEOFFREY [He stays her.] May I claim man's privilege for the
first word? It is news, I am sure, you will all be delighted to
hear. A friend of yours has been appointed to an office where--it