[_Laughing shamefacedly._] Ha, ha, ha! [_Putting her feet to the ground and shielding her face with her hands._] Oh, don't talk rot, mother. MRS. UPJOHN. [_Moving away._] Any'ow, it's not too late, Lil-- even now---- LILY. Not too late----? MRS. UPJOHN. [_Behind the centre table._] To back out, dearie. The Captain couldn't possibly 'old you to a 'asty promise given 'im between four an' five in the mornin'. LILY. Oh! Oh, how _can_ you! I've passed my word to Nicko and I wouldn't break it for twenty thousand pounds. [_Looking up._] Mother----! MRS. UPJOHN. [_Fussing with the things upon the table._] Yes? LILY. [_Resolutely._] I'm going to pull Nicko _up_, mother. I've dragged him down, and I mean to raise him. [_Clenching her hands._] So help me God, I do! MRS. UPJOHN. Well, you've got a tough job before you, Lil, in my opinion. LILY. Perhaps; but I mean to succeed. [_After a pause._] Besides---- MRS. UPJOHN. Besides----? LILY. [_Slowly._] I've told you-- Nicko or no Nicko-- I'm determined-- I'm determined not to draw Eddie Farncombe into my net. MRS. UPJOHN. Into your _net_? [_Another pause._] Lil---- LILY. Eh? MRS. UPJOHN. That's twice you've made use o' that remark. 'Oo's accused you----? [_There is a lively rat-tat at the door on the left._] Come in! [_The door opens and JIMMIE BIRCH bounces into the room._ JIMMIE. [_As she closes the door._] Ah, Ma! Ah, Lillums! MRS. UPJOHN. Good mornin'. JIMMIE. [_Kissing MRS. UPJOHN._] Ha, ha! We've met before, this morning, haven't we! [_Coming to LILY._] Well, dear old girl, and how are _you_ to-day? [_Kissing LILY and then eyeing her keenly._] A wreck? LILY. Rather. JIMMIE. I _ought_ to be, but I'm not. Directly I laid my pretty head on my pillow I went off, and never stirred till I found the breakfast-tray on my chest. [_Reckoning on her fingers._] Five to six-- six to seven-- seven to eight-- eight to nine-- nine to ten-- ten to eleven. I've had six hours; that's not so dusty. [_To LILY, slyly._] You didn't sleep very soundly, probably? LILY. Not very. JIMMIE. [_Smiling from ear to ear._] Excited? [_LILY shrugs her shoulders. There is a silence and then JIMMIE, still beaming, looks round and sees that MRS. UPJOHN has seated herself upon the fauteuil-stool._] May I sit down for a minute? LILY. Of course, Jimmie; do. [_JIMMIE sits in the arm-chair by the centre table, awaiting some communication which doesn't come. MRS. UPJOHN drums upon the table with her fingers and LILY busies herself with re-arranging the cushions on the settee._ JIMMIE. [_After a while._] Hope I haven't dropped in too early? LILY. [_Settling her shoulders into the cushions._] Not a bit, dear. JIMMIE. It's nearly half-past twelve. I-- I _dashed_ round. [_After another pause, unable to restrain herself further._] Any news? Any-any-anything to tell me? MRS. UPJOHN. [_Abruptly._] Yes. JIMMIE. W-w-what----? MRS. UPJOHN. Lil's engaged. JIMMIE.