TENNANT. Heaps, thanks. [_Earnestly._] Really, I shan't know what to do with them. LILY. I'll put you an apple or two in. TENNANT. No, don't-- LILY. Oh, but they won't take up much room. TENNANT. [_resignedly._] Thanks very much. _CHARLEY enters._ LILY. Oh, there you are. You'll have breakfast now, dear, won't you? CHARLEY. I'll have it later. You here, Mag? MAGGIE. Of course. Do you think this great event could go off without me? _LILY and MAGGIE go out._ TENNANT. [_smilingly._] Miss Massey seems to think it's a sort of picnic. CHARLEY. [_absently._] Does she? TENNANT. She'd marry well out there, I daresay. CHARLEY. Would she? TENNANT. She looks strong and healthy. Her sort get snapped up in no time. CHARLEY. You're catching the 10.15, aren't you? TENNANT. [_surprised._] Yes. Why? Coming to the station? CHARLEY. There's another just after twelve-- _TENNANT, who has been swinging his chair backwards, comes to a pause as CHARLEY comes up to him._ TENNANT. Is there? I don't know. But what-- CHARLEY. [_lowering his voice._] Look here, old chap, suppose I come too? TENNANT. What! CHARLEY. [_who keeps his voice rather low the whole time, though visibly excited._] Don't shout! I haven't told anybody--but I mean it. I want you to look out for me at Plymouth. TENNANT. But, Wilson--I say--you-- CHARLEY. Don't! It's all settled. There's no use arguing. I've made up my mind. I'm going to leave here as usual and coming on by the second train and pick you up at Plymouth. Don't stare like that--I've thought it all out-- TENNANT. But your wife--your people here--you can't do it. When I've gone, you'll get over it. CHARLEY. Get over it? I'm not going to get over anything. I've been a coward, see?--and now I'm going to cut and run. It's no good telling _Lil_--she wouldn't understand--but when I'm out there and get something and making a tidy little place for her, she'll be all right. She's nervous--the women are like that, you know--they can't help it--and her people, too--well, they're old, and when you're old, you're afraid. TENNANT. [_interrupting._] You mean to go! to-day? CHARLEY. Why not? Why not? If I put it off, I'll never go. It wants a bit of doing, and if you don't do these things at the time, well, you give in. I've packed a bag with some things--I did it this morning. TENNANT. That's why you were up so early-- CHARLEY. I have written a note to Lil. [_Argumentatively._] It's the only thing to do--there's no other way--I say, Freddy, you'll stand by me? It's easy for chaps like you-- _LESLIE MORTON crosses behind sitting-room window._ TENNANT. [_uneasily._] Well--you know best-- CHARLEY. Of course--it's the only thing-- _The door opens and voices can be heard outside, laughing._ Who's this coming? It's that ass. . . . _He rises as MAGGIE, LILY and MORTON LESLIE enter._