Oh no. MONTY Yes, I did. I ought to have married you. I ought to marry you still. On account of the boy. JANET _(quite matter of fact)_ Oh well, you can’t do that now in any case, can you --as you’re engaged to Bertha Aldenham. MONTY You’ve heard about that? Who told you? JANET A worthy lady called Miss Deanes. MONTY I know. A regular sickener. JANET My dear Monty! MONTY Sorry. JANET She brought the good news. The very day I arrived as it happened. We’ve hardly talked of anything else at the Manor House since--except father’s illness, of course. MONTY Why? JANET What else is there to talk about--in Brendon? MONTY That’s true. Isn’t it... _(stops himself, looks at watch. Whistles.)_ Whew! [_Rises._ JANET What is it, Monty? MONTY I say, Janet, I wonder if you’d mind going now? Why? JANET [_She rises too._ MONTY _(awkwardly)_ Well, the fact is I’m expecting some one here directly. I... JANET Bertha? MONTY Yes. I was to meet her here at the stile at six. JANET _Our_ stile, Monty. MONTY Yes,... You don’t mind, do you--about my asking you to go, I mean? JANET _(sitting again)_ Not in the least. MONTY But you’re not going? JANET Why should I go? MONTY Oh, well, I thought----- JANET That it wouldn’t be quite suitable for us to meet? MONTY I didn’t mean that, of course. But I thought you mightn’t like--I mean it might be painful... [_Sits again._ JANET For me to see her? On the contrary, I’m dying to see her. MONTY Janet, sometimes I think you’re not quite human. JANET My dear boy, I’m extremely human--and therefore curious _(pause)_. What’s she like, Monty? Now, I mean. She promised to be pretty. MONTY She is pretty, I suppose _(pause)_. I wonder if Bertha and I will ever have a son like Johnny! JANET Let’s hope so, Monty. For Bertha’s sake. MONTY Isn’t that some one coming? _(pause, listens)_, I expect it’s she _(rising hastily and advancing towards stile)_. Is that you, Bertha? BERTHA _(at stile)_ Oh! There you are. Yes. Isn’t it hot? _(entering by gate which he opens for her)_. Am I punctual? _(with a cry)_ Janet! When did you come home? [_Goes to her eagerly._ JANET _(shaking hands)_ Only three days ago. [_Bertha kisses her._ BERTHA _Only_ three days! And you’ve never been up to see us. JANET I know. But with father ill BERTHA Of course. I understand. I was only joking. How is Mr. De Mullin? JANET Much better. Not well yet, of course. But he gets stronger every day. BERTHA I’m so glad. I say, Janet, do you remember when you used to teach us French? JANET Yes. BERTHA I was awfully troublesome, I remember. MONTY I expect you were an awful duffer at it too, Bertha. BERTHA What cheek! MONTY Wasn’t she, Ja--_(pulls himself up)_ Miss De Mullin? [_Janet smiles nervously._ Oh, yes. BERTHA I didn’t know you’d met Janet, Monty? Why didn’t you tell us?