NED. [Almost threateningly.] Shall I? LORETTA. [Challenging.] Yes. [He looks around apprehensively as though fearing interruption, clears his throat, takes resolution, also takes LORETTA's hand.] [LORETTA is startled, timid, yet willing to hear, naively unable to conceal her love for him.] NED. [Speaking softly.] Loretta . . . I, . . . ever since I met you I have-- [JACK HEMINGWAY appears in the doorway to the left, just entering.] [NED suddenly drops LORETTA's hand. He shows exasperation.] [LORETTA shows disappointment at interruption.] NED. Confound it LORETTA. [Shocked.] Ned! Why will you swear so? NED. [Testily.] That isn't swearing. LORETTA. What is it, pray? NED. Displeasuring. JACK HEMINGWAY. [Who is crossing over to right.] Squabbling again? LORETTA. [Indignantly and with dignity.] No, we're not. NED. [Gruffly.] What do you want now? JACK HEMINGWAY. [Enthusiastically.] Come on fishing. NED. [Snappily.] No. It's too warm. JACK HEMINGWAY. [Resignedly, going out right.] You needn't take a fellow's head off. LORETTA. I thought you wanted to go fishing. NED. Not with Jack. LORETTA. [Accusingly, fanning herself vigorously.] And you told me it wasn't warm at all. NED. [Speaking softly.] That isn't what I wanted to tell you, Loretta. [He takes her hand.] Dear Loretta-- [Enter abruptly ALICE HEMINGWAY from right.] [LORETTA sharply jerks her hand away, and looks put out.] [NED tries not to look awkward.] ALICE HEMINGWAY. Goodness! I thought you'd both gone fishing! LORETTA. [Sweetly.] Is there anything you want, Alice? NED. [Trying to be courteous.] Anything I can do? ALICE HEMINGWAY. [Speaking quickly, and trying to withdraw.] No, no. I only came to see if the mail had arrived. LORETTA AND NED [Speaking together.] No, it hasn't arrived. LORETTA. [Suddenly moving toward door to right.] I am going to see. [NED looks at her reproachfully.] [LORETTA looks back tantalisingly from doorway and disappears.] [NED flings himself disgustedly into Morris chair.] ALICE HEMINGWAY. [Moving over and standing in front of him. Speaks accusingly.] What have you been saying to her? NED. [Disgruntled.] Nothing. ALICE HEMINGWAY. [Threateningly.] Now listen to me, Ned. NED. [Earnestly.] On my word, Alice, I've been saying nothing to her. ALICE HEMINGWAY. [With sudden change of front.] Then you ought to have been saying something to her. NED. [Irritably. Getting chair for her, seating her, and seating himself again.] Look here, Alice, I know your game. You invited me down here to make a fool of me. ALICE HEMINGWAY. Nothing of the sort, sir. I asked you down to meet a sweet and unsullied girl--the sweetest, most innocent and ingenuous girl in the world. NED. [Dryly.] That's what you said in your letter. ALICE HEMINGWAY. And that's why you came. Jack had been trying for a year to get you to come. He did not know what kind of a letter to write.