No; all _you've_ a fancy for, seemingly, is for living on your unfortunate people. [_Throwing him his handkerchief and leaving him._] How a man of your age can rest satisfied with being a burden to others passes my dull comprehension! JEYES. I-- I _have_ been a bit slack, I own-- I _have_ been a bit leisurely; but---- LILY. [_Inspecting some of the flowers about the room._] Nicko, that pendant, or whatever it is, you've given me-- I don't want to hurt you, but I won't accept it. You take it away with you; do you hear? JEYES. [_Not heeding her, weakly._] Lil---- LILY. I'm in earnest; you remove it from off my premises. JEYES. Lil-- [_she returns to him_] my eldest brother-- Robert-- [_looking up at her_] Bob-- [_She nods inquiringly._] Bob's at me to go out to Rhodesia, to manage a group of stock farms he's interested in near Bulawayo. LILY. Oh, why don't you go? JEYES. [_Forlornly._] Rhodesia! Bulawayo! [_Looking up at her again with a dismal smile._] Come with me? LILY. Don't be absurd. JEYES. [_Rising and putting his hands upon her shoulders._] No, you wouldn't care a straw-- not a brass farthing-- if I _did_ go, would yer! LILY. [_Softening again._] Stuff! I should miss you horribly. [_Toying with a button of his waistcoat._] Who'd bring me home from the theatre at night then, and from rehearsals; who----? JEYES. Ah, _who_! [_His grip tightening on her._] _Who!_ LILY. [_Wincing._] Ssss! You'll bruise my skin if you're not careful. JEYES. [_Taking her hand and crumpling it in his._] Well, it might be that you'd miss me for a while-- the old dog that you're accustomed to find lying on your door-mat; [_pressing her hand to his lips_] but you don't _love_ me, Lil-- not even as much as you did a year ago. You don't _love_ me! LILY. [_With a faint shrug of her shoulders._] Perhaps I don't, in the way you mean; [_wistfully_] perhaps it's not in me really to love anybody in a marrying way. [_Meeting his eyes._] Still, as you say---- JEYES. As I say----? LILY. [_Pursing her mouth at him winningly._] I'm _accustomed_ to you, Nicko. [_He draws her to him; but, with a laugh, she checks him by offering him her head to kiss._] There-- [_putting the point of her finger playfully on the crown of her head_] you may _there_. [_As he kisses her._] Now I must run upstairs, or mother'll whack me. JEYES. [_Detaining her._] Won't you allow me to fetch you after the dance? LILY. Three or four in the morning! No; I'll give you a rest. Uncle Lal or Sam'll take on your job. [_Going to the door._] And don't try to see me to-morrow. JEYES. [_Sharply._] Why not? LILY. Not till you turn up at night as usual. I shall be a shocking rag all day. JEYES. [_Breaking out._] Yes, I expect you'll manage to enjoy yourself thoroughly, and dance yourself off your feet, whoever your partners may be! LILY. [_Wilfully._] Expect I shall. [_Tossing her head up._] Ha, ha! I'll do my best.