[_Faintly._] All right, Lal. ROPER. [_Patting her face again._] Ha, ha, ha, ha! [_With a hop._] Wurrr-roo! Stand away from the lift; no more passengers this journey! [_He waves to FARNCOMBE gaily and departs, closing the door. There is a short silence and then FARNCOMBE places his hat and overcoat upon the chair by the piano and turns to LILY._ FARNCOMBE. [_In a low voice._] It's awfully kind and gracious of you to have granted my request, and frightfully selfish of me to have made it. I deserve to be kicked. LILY. [_Slowly advancing to the table in the centre-- avoiding his gaze._] Is-- is Jimmie aware of precisely what's in your note? FARNCOMBE. Y-y-yes. [_Drawing nearer to her._] I hope you won't be angry with me for confiding in her. You see, I-- I---- LILY. [_At the further side of the table, fingering one of the objects upon it._] And _she'll_ confide in Uncle Lal. [_Shrugging her shoulders._] Oh, but dear old Lal appears to have summed up the situation pretty accurately as it is. [_With an artificial little laugh._] Ha, ha, ha! Well, I'm afraid they'll be horribly disappointed, poor wretches. FARNCOMBE. [_Blankly._] Disap-pointed? LILY. [_Raising her eyes to his and shaking her head at him._] You-- you silly boy! FARNCOMBE. [_Coming to her quickly._] Ah, please-- please don't take that tone with me. I'm no boy. And I'm simply mad about you. If you don't marry me, I-- I-- I'm done for. LILY. H'sh! Nonsense; not you! FARNCOMBE. It's true. Life'll be over for me from that moment, if you refuse to marry me. LILY. [_Mockingly._] Over! FARNCOMBE. Oh, love is all on my side at present, naturally; but, as God hears me, it'll be no fault of mine if you don't grow to love me in time. LILY. Listen----! FARNCOMBE. I'll worship you-- worship you. I _do_ worship you! LILY. H'sh! Lord Farncombe---- FARNCOMBE. _Eddie!_ Won't you? LILY. Certainly not. FARNCOMBE. Do! Eddie! Eddie! LILY. Eddie, then---- FARNCOMBE. Ah----! LILY. Sit down a minute. [_She goes to the settee and sits there, somewhat ruffled, and he moves to the arm-chair by the centre table and also sits, his elbows on his knees, bending towards her. She pushes her hair back from her brow impatiently, as if vexed with herself._] Lord Farncombe-- Eddie-- for how long have you known me? FARNCOMBE. What does it matter? I-- I admit---- LILY. Reckoning our acquaintance from last week-- from the afternoon Bertie brought you here, when we scarcely spoke to one another-- you haven't known me for as many days as you can count on your fingers. FARNCOMBE. I've watched you-- watched you in the theatre---- LILY.