[_As he opens the door for MRS. FUTVOYE._] I've tried to remember your tastes, Professor. PROFESSOR FUTVOYE. I hope you have succeeded. Good-bye, Pringle. Very glad to have run across you again. Let us see more of you in future. PRINGLE. [_Going to the door with him._] You shall, Professor, you shall. [_Following PROFESSOR and MRS. FUTVOYE out to landing._] By the way, are you likely to be in next----? [_HORACE closes door, leaving SYLVIA still looking at the bottle._ SYLVIA. [_Turning as he comes down to her._] I'm certain there must be _something_ inside that jar. And if it's anything really interesting, father will be so frightfully pleased that he won't be disagreeable all the evening! HORACE. [_Ruefully._] Ah, I'm afraid that's too much to look forward to. SYLVIA. [_Touching his arm with a little gesture of sympathy._] You poor dear! You're not beginning to be nervous about your dinner, are you? HORACE. N--no. Not _nervous_ exactly. Something _might_ go wrong. Still, I hope there won't be _much_ your father can find fault with. SYLVIA. I'm sure there won't! And if he does, why, _we_ won't mind, will we? We shall be together, you know! HORACE. [_Putting his arm round her._] That's what I've been thinking of all day! [_He kisses her as PRINGLE returns, unseen by them. His jaw drops as he sees them together._ PRINGLE. [_Coming forward._] Er----[_HORACE and SYLVIA separate._] Miss Sylvia--the Professor asked me to tell you---- SYLVIA. I was just coming. [_Taking her parasol and moving to door, which PRINGLE has left open._] Good-bye, Mr. Pringle. [_Stopping HORACE and PRINGLE as they are about to see her down the stairs._] No, you mustn't come down, either of you. [_To HORACE, with an affectation of distance._] Good-bye--Mr. Ventimore. [_She goes out._ PRINGLE. [_By the table._] I should like to ask you, Ventimore, have you known Miss Futvoye _long_? HORACE. [_Still at door, looking after SYLVIA._] A little over six weeks. PRINGLE. And I have known her for as many years! HORACE. [_Closing door, and coming towards him._] Have you, though? I noticed the Professor was uncommonly cordial to you. Look here, are you doing anything this evening? PRINGLE. Er--no. That is, nothing particular. Why? HORACE. Because it would be friendly of you if you'd come and dine here. _They're_ coming, you know. PRINGLE. I know. [_After a moment's hesitation._] Thanks, I don't mind if I do. HORACE. Capital! I'm sure if any one can keep the old man in a good humour, _you_ can. PRINGLE. [_Sourly._] I see. You want me to engage him in conversation and leave you free to carry on your flirtation with Miss Futvoye unobserved? HORACE. Not quite that. There's nothing _underhand_ about it. We're engaged, you know. PRINGLE.