_Jen._ I must interrupt you for a moment, Wilcox; I quite forgot that I promised to send some flowers to Captain Dampier this afternoon. Will you cut them for me? _Wil._ Yes, miss, (_knowingly_). Out of the conservatory, I suppose, miss? (_WILCOX going, SPREADBROW again delighted._) _Jen._ No, these will do. (_Pointing to open-air flower beds--SPREADBROW again disappointed._) Stop, on second thoughts perhaps you _had_ better take them out of the conservatory, and cut them carefully--there’s no hurry. _Wil._ (_aside._) _I_ understand! Well, poor young chap, let him be, let him be; he’s going to be turned off to-night, and his last meal may as well be a hearty one. [_Exit WILCOX._ _Spread._ (_rises in great delight_). How good of you--how very kind of you! _Jen._ To send Captain Dampier some flowers? _Spread._ (_much disappointed_). Do you really want to send that fellow some flowers? _Jen._ To be sure I do. Why should I have asked Wilcox to cut them? _Spread._ I thought--I was a great fool to think so--but I thought it might have been because we could talk more pleasantly alone. _Jen._ I really wanted some flowers; but, as you say, we certainly can talk more pleasantly alone. (_She busies herself with preparing the sycamore._) _Spread._ I’ve often thought that nothing is such a check on--pleasant conversation--as the presence of--of--a gardener--who is not interested in the subject of conversation. _Jen._ (_gets the tree, and cuts off the matting with which it is bound with garden scissors which she has brought with her from the table_). Oh, but Wilcox is very interested in everything that concerns you. Do let me call him back. _Spread._ No, no; not on my account! _Jen._ He and I were having quite a discussion about you when you arrived. (_Digging a hole for tree._) _Spread._ About me? _Jen._ Yes; indeed we almost quarrelled about you. _Spread._ What, was he abusing me then? _Jen._ Oh, no; he was speaking of you in the highest terms. _Spread._ (_much taken aback_). Then--_you_ were abusing me! _Jen._ N--no, not exactly _that_; I--I didn’t agree with all he said--(_he is much depressed, she notices this_) at least, not openly. _Spread._ (_hopefully_). Then you did secretly? _Jen._ I shan’t tell you. _Spread._ Why? _Jen._ Because it will make you dreadfully vain. There! _Spread._ (_delighted_). Very--very dreadfully vain? (_he takes her hand_). _Jen._ Very dreadfully vain indeed. Don’t! (_Withdraws her hand. During this she is digging the hole, kneeling on the edge of the flower bed; he advances to her and kneels on edge of bed near her._) _Spread._ Do you know it’s most delightful to hear you say that? It’s without exception the most astonishingly pleasant thing I’ve ever heard in the whole course of my life! (_Sees the sycamore._) Is that the tree I brought you? (_Rises from his knees._)