MAGGIE. How extraordinary! _Much kissing between SYBIL, LILY and MAGGIE. SYBIL and PERCY go out._ LILY. She's so sweet, isn't she? And Percy's so awfully gone. MAGGIE. [_as they start clearing away the dishes._] Very. So he was over Daisy Mallock and Ruby Denis--and who's the other girl with the hair? LILY. The hair? What do you mean? MAGGIE. The one with the hair all over her eyes--nice hair, too. LILY. Gladys Vancouver? Poor Percy--I'm afraid he is a little bit of a flirt. MAGGIE. He's got nothing else to do with his evenings. LILY. And then people like Mr. Tennant think it's a dull life. MAGGIE. Well, good night all. No, don't come out, Mr. Tennant--I'm quite a capable person. TENNANT. Oh, but I shall--if you'll allow me. MAGGIE. I'd rather you didn't--still, if you will. [_They go out with LILY._] _CHARLEY looks round and sighs with relief--he walks round, looks out of the window, then at the garden--he takes up the paper, but after trying in vain to settle to it, throws it on the floor--he re-fills his pipe and lights it. Re-enter TENNANT._ TENNANT. Well. [_He pauses, but CHARLEY does not stir._] I say, Wilson, I never thought you'd take it like this. _CHARLEY does not answer, but only shifts restlessly._ I thought you'd think I was a fool too. In fact I was half ashamed to say anything about it. It wouldn't do for most people, you know. I'm in an exceptional position, and even in spite of that they call me an ass. I've got a little cash, too. CHARLEY. [_quickly._] So have I. TENNANT. Yes, but the cases are different. I can rough it. CHARLEY. Let me have the chance to rough it. TENNANT. You're married. _CHARLEY does not reply._ You're settled. Your friends are here. I've got nothing and nobody to worry about. _They both smoke in silence._ I say, don't sit up and think. Go to bed. CHARLEY. I'm going soon. Don't stay up, old chap. TENNANT. You'll get over it. _He goes out._ _Enter LILY--she pulls down blind and fastens catch of window._ LILY. I'm going up now. Don't be long. You look so tired. CHARLEY. [_irritably._] Oh, don't fret about me. I'm a little worried, that's all. LILY. [_timidly._] Did Mr. Fenwick bring bad news? He looked miserable enough. CHARLEY. [_looking at her steadily._] Yes, I'm not going to have that rise. LILY. Oh, dear--what a shame! Why? CHARLEY. Lots of reasons--but that's all. LILY. Of course, you're worried. Still--it might have been worse. You might have been sent away. CHARLEY. Yes. LILY. It's very disheartening--after all we'd planned to do with it. You won't be able to have the greenhouse, now, will you, dear? CHARLEY. [_with a short laugh._] What's the good of a greenhouse in that yard. It isn't that. LILY. [_a little timidly._] But we can manage very well, dear. We--you remember what I said this morning--about the other lodger.