MARY. If you like. LEONARD. [_Looking intently at her._] I wonder if it's possible. MARY. You needn't unless you like. LEONARD. Do you want it? Is it for me you'd do it? MARY. It'd make me unhappy for you to go away like that. LEONARD. Mary, I think I like you enough to marry you. But you mustn't unless you want to marry me. MARY. I want to marry somebody. LEONARD. Oh! thank you. You're beautifully frank. MARY. It's only that I don't quite understand you. You were going away. You were packing your-- LEONARD. I have the honour to ask you to be my wife. MARY. Yes, I will. TIMBRELL. [_Writing._] Mary Broom. B-R-O-O-M? MARY. E, sir. B-R-O-O-M-E. My father told us we must always stick to the E. It's more genteel. TIMBRELL. Yes. By-the-bye, what is your father, Mary? What's his occupation? MARY. He's a cabman, sir. TIMBRELL. Quite so. Quite so. MARY. [_After a short pause._] It's rather late ma'am. Shall I bring in tea? MRS. TIMBRELL. You are very good, Mary. If you will, please. [_Curtain._] ACT II. [_The same place. Nearly a year later. Christmas Eve. The room is decorated with evergreens, &c. TIMBRELL and EDGAR discovered. They are in jackets and black ties, &c._] TIMBRELL. [_Surveying EDGAR._] Yes, that's right--black tie--You told Sheila to put on some half and half affair? Not full evening dress, you know. Of course I didn't like to say anything to Leonard, but his wife's a sensible girl--in some ways. She'll manage to be--er--neat, you know. Bit of an ordeal for her, but I'm sure you and Sheila will do all you can to make it--er--pass off pleasantly. EDGAR. Certainly, certainly. [_MRS. TIMBRELL enters. She wears the kind of afternoon gown that some ladies of the middle class wear in the evenings when they have not company. TIMBRELL scrutinises each lady as she enters with more or less approval._] TIMBRELL. [_Surveying his wife._] Yes, yes. By-the-bye, Edgar, you will take Mrs. Leonard in. I must take in Mrs. Pendleton of course. Pendleton, your Mother. Let's see? MRS. TIMBRELL. Oughtn't you to take in Mary? TIMBRELL. What's that? [_ADA and SHEILA enter. They are not in evening dress but in a kind of compromise with which they are not content._] ADA. [_To her father._] I hope this will satisfy you. TIMBRELL. [_Surveying them._] Quite right. Very good. [_To his wife._] What were you saying? MRS. TIMBRELL. I thought that perhaps you ought to take Mary in. TIMBRELL. Mary? Why? MRS. TIMBRELL. Well, she's the bride, I suppose. Of course, Sheila had her turn long ago. TIMBRELL. The bride! [_He is staggered but doesn't know what to say._] MRS. TIMBRELL. This little party is really in her honour. TIMBRELL. In her honour. [_He repeats it helplessly._] ADA. Really, Mother, I think this is rather unnecessary. SHEILA. Mrs. Pendleton would hardly expect to go after Mary. [_Enter maidservant._] SERVANT. Mr. and Mrs. Pendleton.