CHARLEY. Oh, don't, for heaven's sake. It isn't losing the cash I mind; it's having to give in like this. I want to go to them and tell them to do their worst and get somebody else. LILY. But dear, you might lose your place. CHARLEY. I should. LILY. But that--we couldn't afford that, could we? Why, we can manage quite well as we are. I can be very careful still-- CHARLEY. I'm tired of going on as we've been going. LILY. What do you want to do? CHARLEY. I--I want to go away. [_Pause._] LILY. And leave me? CHARLEY. [_suddenly remembering._] Oh--er-- LILY. It's just that horrid Mr. Tennant-- CHARLEY. It's nothing to do with him--at least. . . . LILY. I said it was. He wants you to go with him--and you want to go--you're tired of me-- CHARLEY. [_going up to her and trying to speak gently but being very irritated--his voice is sharp._] Oh, don't cry . . . you don't understand. Look, Lil, supposing I went and you came out afterwards. LILY. You want to go without me. CHARLEY. I couldn't take you, dear, but I would soon send for you; it wouldn't be long. LILY. You want to go without me. You're tired of me. CHARLEY. Oh, don't cry, Lil. I didn't say I was going. Of course I don't want to leave you, dear. You mustn't take any notice. [_Attempting to take her in his arms._] LILY. [_turning away from him, sobs._] But you do. . . . CHARLEY. I don't want to go because I want to leave you. . . . LILY. But you said. . . . CHARLEY. Never mind what I said. [_He kisses her and pets her like a child._] Come, go to bed. It's the news--and the excitement about Tennant--and all that. Come, go back to bed and I'll be up in a few minutes. _CHARLEY leads her to the door and coaxes her outside and stands at the door a few seconds, then he comes back into the room, stands still, looking round. He goes to the front parlour and hunts over the chairs and the piano as if in search of something. Finally he picks up a paper off the floor and brings to table--it is the map of Australia. He opens it on the table and leans over it, his pipe unnoticed burning out in his left hand._ CURTAIN ACT III _SCENE: The sitting-room at "Sunnybank," Hammersmith. There is no centre table, but there are various small ones against the wall and in the window. There is a piano, a tall palm in the window, and one or two wicker chairs that creak. The rest of the furniture is upholstered in saddlebags with antimacassars over the sofa head and armchairs. Gramophone in the corner. Big mirror over mantelpiece. Gilt clock in glass case and lustres._ _MRS. MASSEY is sleeping in one armchair. MR. MASSEY is asleep on sofa, pulled across centre. MAGGIE sits reading at small table. MAGGIE softly rises and goes to fire. She pokes it and a piece of coal falls out. MRS. M. turns her head._ MAGGIE. I'm so sorry, Mother, I tried to poke it gently. MRS. M. I was hardly asleep, my dear. MAGGIE. Mother!--you've been sleeping for half an hour!