LESLIE. [_seriously._] Quite two, I should think. But I promise you it shan't happen again. _Goes out._ _CHARLEY and LILY enter._ LILY. [_wiping her eyes._] So he's gone. Poor man, I do hope he'll get on all right. CHARLEY. [_easily and in a brighter tone._] He'll be all right. He can stand a little roughing. LILY. It was such a pity you couldn't get the time to go and see him off, dear. CHARLEY. Oh, that's nothing. LILY. I'll have breakfast ready for you soon. _Goes out._ CHARLEY. There's no hurry. _MAGGIE is looking at the map._ MAGGIE. It's a big place. CHARLEY. Um. A chance to get some fresh air there. MAGGIE. [_turning._] So you're not going after all? CHARLEY. Oh--er--how can I, Mag? MAGGIE. It means such a lot, of course. CHARLEY. Courage or cheek--I don't know which. Of course, it's quite a mad idea--any fool can see that. MAGGIE. You're not a fool. It's the others who're fools. If only you could hold out a little longer. Lil would be all right. She might fret a little at first--but she's the clinging sort-- CHARLEY. But think what everybody would say! MAGGIE. You're getting over it already! CHARLEY. What else can I do? I--I--shall settle down. MAGGIE. Settle down! Charley--why should you? _I've_ refused to settle down. Why can't you? CHARLEY. What do you mean? What's it got to do with you? MAGGIE. [_triumphantly._] I've refused to marry Walter. CHARLEY. [_surprised, but not particularly interested._] What on earth for? MAGGIE. It was all through Mr. Tennant-- CHARLEY. Tennant? You're-- MAGGIE. [_impatiently._] Oh, dear, NO. I'm not pining for him. But I found out, when there was all this talk about Mr. Tennant, that I was marrying Walter, because I wanted to be safe and was afraid of risk. Then I made up my mind I wouldn't do that. I tell you because--if a girl can risk things--surely a man-- CHARLEY. There wasn't any risk for you with Walter. I can't see it. MAGGIE. A woman isn't tested in the same way as a man. It's the only way I have-- CHARLEY. Well, you know best, and if you don't like him--but everybody thought you did. I must say you've been rather hard on Foster. You led him on. I should have thought it was rather a good thing for you. Still. . . . MAGGIE. [_sighing._] So it's no good, then, saying anything? CHARLEY. [_uneasily._] No--er-- [_Turning to her._] Mag! What would you really think of me if I did? MAGGIE. What? [_Looks at him for a second._] Charley--will you--after all? CHARLEY. Supposing I don't give in--supposing I did go-- MAGGIE. Do you mean it? CHARLEY. Are you sure about Lil--I'm ready to throw up everything-- MAGGIE. I would look after her--she would be all right in a week--I would do anything-- CHARLEY. But if I go it must be at once--at once, you understand. MAGGIE. Yes, yes. . . . CHARLEY. And if Lil thinks me a brute beast for leaving her like this--in this way--you'll explain--you'll stick up for me-- MAGGIE. This way? I don't--