Cecile, mischievously persuaded that Hamil desired to have Shiela to himself for half an hour, stifled her yawns and bedward inclinations and remained primly near them until Gray returned.
Then the four played innocuous Bridge whist until Cecile's yawns could no longer be disguised; and finally Gray rose in disgust when she ignored the heart-convention and led him an unlovely spade.
"How many kinds of a chump can you be in one day ?" asked her wrathful brother.
"Pons longa, vita brevis," observed Hamil, intensely amused.

"Don't sit on her, Gray." "O dear! O dear!" said Cecile calmly, "I'd rather be stepped on again than sat on like that!" "You're a sweet little thing anyway," said Hamil, "even if you do fall down in Bridge as well as otherwise--" "Shiela! You told Garret!" "Cunning child," said Hamil; "make her dance the baby-dance, Shiela!" And he and her sister and brother seized her unwilling hands and compelled her to turn round and round, while they chanted in unison: "Cissy's Bridge is falling down, Falling down, Falling down, Cissy's gown is falling down, My Fair Lady!" "Garry, stop it!...

It's only an excuse to hold Shiela's hand--" But Shiela recited very gravely: "Father's in Manhattan town, Hunting up our money; Philip's in the music-room, Calling Cis his honey; Cissy's sprinting through the hall, Trying to be funny--" "I _won't_ dance!" cried Cecile.

But they sang insultingly: "Rock-a-by Cissy! Philip _will_ slop! Cissy is angry, For Philip won't stop." "If dresses are stepped upon, Something will fall, Down will come petticoat, Cissy, and all!" "O Garry, how _can_ you!" "Because you've been too gay lately; you're marked for discipline, young lady!" "Who told you?
Shiela ?--and it _was_ my newest, dearest, duck of a gown!...

The situation was perfectly horrid, too.