CHAR. All right. Don't make it too early, though. [_Looking out of the French windows into the garden._] I've got to get in my peas. TENNANT. Green peas? CHAR. Green peas in that patch? My dear chap, don't I wish I could! LILY. [_to TENNANT._] Have some more? TENNANT. No, thanks. CHAR. For one thing, there's the soil! It's rotten. Then there're the sparrows. . . . LILY. Some of them are so tame, dear, and they don't seem to care a bit for the cat next door. CHAR. [_bitterly._] They don't care for anything. I wish they'd take a fancy to a few snails. LILY. They don't eat snails. CHAR. You spoil 'em. She gives 'em soaked bread all through the winter, and then expects me to grow things. Lord! _LILY collects plates. TENNANT goes out. CHARLEY lights pipe. CHARLEY goes to window, where he stands leaning against the post and smoking._ LILY. The baby across the road is such a darling, Charley. CHAR. Is it? LILY. The girl was out with it this morning, and I called her over. CHAR. What is it? LILY. It's a boy. _CHARLEY'S replies are without interest and he continues to gaze out into garden._ They're going to call him Theodore Clement Freeman. It's rather a lot, isn't it? CHAR. What's he got it all for? LILY. After her father and his father and Freeman is a family name. CHAR. What did they want to give 'em all to _him_ for? They should keep some for the next. LILY. Charley! CHAR. It's silly. Still, it's their business. LILY. It might be a girl. CHAR. Well--there's the others. LILY. Charley! CHAR. My dear girl, why not? LILY. I don't like you to speak like that. CHAR. I-- [_Stops suddenly, looks at her, and comes over. He takes her face between his hands._] You silly! [_Kisses her._] _LILY goes out with a tray of things singing. CHARLEY rolls up his sleeves and goes into the garden._ _TENNANT comes in and looks round. CHARLEY comes to the window with a spade._ TENNANT. You--er--busy? CHAR. [_lighting his pipe._] Um! Want a job? There's a nice little lot of squirming devils under that flower-pot that want killing. Take your time over it. TENNANT. Thanks. My fancy doesn't lie in gardening. CHAR. Filthy soil, this. TENNANT. Mrs. Wilson would like to keep chickens. CHAR. Not if I know it! I'd rather go into a flat. [_Leaning against the door and smoking thoughtfully._] I could chuck the lot sometimes. These two-penny-halfpenny back yards make me sick. _Pause._ I'd give something for a piece of good land. Something to pay you for your labour. [_Rousing._] Well--going out? TENNANT. [_uneasily._] Yes--presently. CHAR. [_turning to look at him._] What's up? TENNANT. I've--er--got some news for you. CHAR. Anything wrong? TENNANT. No--no! The fact is--I'm going to hook it. CHAR. [_astonished._] Hook it? Where to? TENNANT. I'm sick of the whole show. I can't stand it any longer. CHAR. [_trying to realise the situation._] Do you mean you've left Molesey's?