[_GLADYS withdraws. LILY waits for the door to close and then walks about distractedly._ LILY. Oh, why can't they leave me alone! What do they want with me now, both of them! MRS. UPJOHN. [_Moving towards LILY._] 'Oo----? LILY. Nicko's downstairs-- with Lord Farncombe. MRS. UPJOHN. Lord Farncombe----! ROPER. And Jeyes! LILY. [_Reading the card again._] Nicko asks me to see him and the boy together. [_ROPER and MRS. UPJOHN go to LILY, one on each side of her, and try to read the card. She pushes them from her and sits in the arm-chair by the centre table._] I won't; I won't. JIMMIE. [_Joining MRS. UPJOHN and ROPER._] Yes, yes, Lil; do. MRS. UPJOHN. [_Bewildered._] Wot----? JIMMIE. Perhaps they've arrived at a friendly understanding----! ROPER. Understanding? JIMMIE. [_Excitedly._] And have come to propose that Lil should choose between them! ROPER. Great Scot----! LILY. I _have_ chosen; I _have_ chosen. It's settled. ROPER. _Undoubtedly_ she ought to see them. LILY. It's a shame to persecute me so-- a shame! JIMMIE, MRS. UPJOHN, AND ROPER. [_Behind LILY'S chair._] Lil! Lily----! MRS. UPJOHN. Give 'em a minute, dear. ROPER. Hear what they've got to _say_. JIMMIE. It _would_ be uncivil _not_ to. LILY. Oh--! Oh----! JIMMIE. } Buck up, Lil! } ROPER. } [_To LILY, urgently._] My pet! } MRS. UPJOHN. } 'Ark to reason, dearie. } JIMMIE, MRS. UPJOHN, AND ROPER. Lil! Lily----! LILY. [_Yielding helplessly._] Oh, very well---- JIMMIE, MRS. UPJOHN, AND ROPER. Ah----! LILY. Tell Gladys-- when I ring---- JIMMIE. [_Flying to the door on the left._] I'll tell her. ROPER. [_To MRS. UPJOHN, importantly._] Lucky I was on the spot; lucky I was on the spot. JIMMIE. [_On the landing, to GLADYS._] Bring the gentlemen up when Miss Lily rings. LILY. [_Rising and pacing the room on the right._] Give me some stockings! MRS. UPJOHN. [_Hurrying into the bedroom._] Yes, dearie. [_As she disappears._] Maud----! JIMMIE. [_Returning and closing the door and then whispering to ROPER._] Bet my boots that's it! ROPER. [_To JIMMIE, in a whisper._] Choose between 'em! JIMMIE. What else can it be? ROPER. _I_ can't---- JIMMIE. [_Throwing herself into ROPER'S arms._] Oh, if it _is_! ROPER. [_Hugging her._] Oh----! JIMMIE. [_Suddenly, releasing herself._] Oh----! [_Haughtily._] Thought you were Lily. [_MRS. UPJOHN returns, carrying a pair of stockings. LILY seats herself upon the fauteuil-stool where, concealed by the centre table, she draws on the stockings with MRS. UPJOHN'S assistance._ LILY. [_Whimpering._] Oh--! Oh----! MRS. UPJOHN. Don't, dearie; don't. Mother's _'ere_. ROPER. [_Impatiently._] I-- ah-- I think I'll run downstairs and shake hands with Jeyes and Farncombe while Lily's tidying herself. JIMMIE. [_Who has moved over to the right-- to ROPER._] Be careful. I should advise you not to risk it. ROPER.