NED. [Faintly.] Billy? ALICE HEMINGWAY. [Nodding.] Of course she has told you about him? NED. [Gasping.] She has had lovers . . . already? ALICE HEMINGWAY. And why not? She is nineteen. NED. [Haltingly.] This . . . er . . . this Billy . . . ? ALICE HEMINGWAY. [Laughing and putting her hand reassuringly on his arm.] Now don't be alarmed, poor, tired philosopher. She doesn't love Billy at all. [LORETTA enters from right.] ALICE HEMINGWAY. [To LORETTA, nodding toward table.] Three letters for you. LORETTA. [Delightedly.] Oh! Thank you. [LORETTA trips swiftly across to table, looks at letters, sits down, opens letters, and begins to read.] NED. [Suspiciously.] But Billy? ALICE HEMINGWAY. I am afraid he loves her very hard. That is why she is here. They had to send her away. Billy was making life miserable for her. They were little children together--playmates. And Billy has been, well, importunate. And Loretta, poor child, does not know anything about marriage. That is all. NED. [Reassured.] Oh, I see. [ALICE HEMINGWAY starts slowly toward right exit, continuing conversation and accompanied by NED.] ALICE HEMINGWAY. [Calling to LORETTA.] Are you going fishing, Loretta? [LORETTA looks up from letter and shakes head.] ALICE HEMINGWAY. [To NED.] Then you're not, I suppose? NED. No, it's too warm. ALICE HEMINGWAY. Then I know the place for you. NED. Where? ALICE HEMINGWAY. Right here. [Looks significantly in direction of LORETTA.] Now is your opportunity to say what you ought to say. [ALICE HEMINGWAY laughs teasingly and goes out to right.] [NED hesitates, starts to follow her, looks at LORETTA, and stops. He twists his moustache and continues to look at her meditatively.] [LORETTA is unaware of his presence and goes on reading. Finishes letter, folds it, replaces in envelope, looks up, and discovers NED.] LORETTA. [Startled.] Oh! I thought you were gone. NED. [Walking across to her.] I thought I'd stay and finish our conversation. LORETTA. [Willingly, settling herself to listen.] Yes, you were going to . . . [Drops eyes and ceases talking.] NED. [Taking her hand, tenderly.] I little dreamed when I came down here visiting that I was to meet my destiny in--[Abruptly releases LORETTA's hand.] [MAID enters from left with tray.] [LORETTA glances into tray and discovers that it is empty. She looks inquiringly at MAID.] MAID. A gentleman to see you. He hasn't any card. He said for me to tell you that it was Billy. LORETTA. [Starting, looking with dismay and appeal to NED.] Oh! . . . Ned! NED [Gracefully and courteously, rising to his feet and preparing to go.] If you'll excuse me now, I'll wait till afterward to tell you what I wanted. LORETTA. [In dismay.] What shall I do? NED. [Pausing.] Don't you want to see him? [LORETTA shakes her head.] Then don't.