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Why, Jane! (He crosses to her and holds out his hand. She takes it) Many happy returns!

(thoughtfully)

Many—happy returns—that ’s a lot to ask for.

You ’re about twenty-two, or twenty-three, are n’t you?

Twenty-three.

Time enough ahead of you. (His eye falls on the bow, imperfectly hidden under the sofa; out of it a bit of the blue dress is sticking) Hello! What ’s all that?

My birthday present.

Who gave it to you?

I did.

Good! It’s about time you started to blossom out.

I ordered a lot of things from Boston; they ’ll be here to-morrow.

I suppose that one ’s a dress?

Yes.

(bends over to look)

Light blue, is n’t it?