[_About to rise._] Nicko----! JEYES. [_Restraining her by a gesture._] H'sh! No, no, no. [_She sinks back._] Ah, Lil-- Lil-- I know you're full of generous, honest impulses, though I _did_ tear you to rags in Farncombe's hearing a few hours ago. But I'm not going to allow you to sacrifice yourself to them; I-- I-- I've come to my senses, and I'm not going to permit it. [_Bending forward._] Oh, my dear, why should I make you pay for the weaknesses of my character? Because that's what it 'ud amount to. I've bullied you for having played skittles with my life, my career. So you _have_! Damn it, so you have! But you've done it out of blind thoughtlessness; and if I'd been a fairly strong man, with some ballast in me, you _couldn't_ have landed me where I am-- not you nor fifty Pandora girls! [_Sitting erect._] And that-- that's the moral of the tale; and-- and-- [_abruptly, to FARNCOMBE_] There's nothing more, is there, Farncombe? FARNCOMBE. [_Brokenly._] Except that-- that I'd like to repeat-- what I've already said to Jeyes-- that I-- [_his elbows on the table, his head bowed_] oh, you make me feel terribly small, Jeyes. [_Again there is a pause, and then LILY struggles to her feet and holds out her hand to JEYES uncertainly, and at once he rises and takes her in his arms. FARNCOMBE also rises and, standing behind the settee, turns his back to JEYES and LILY._ LILY. [_To JEYES, choking._] Ah, Nicko-- I can't-- I can't---- JEYES. [_Patting her shoulder._] Ah----! LILY. Why, what-- what would become of my resolutions----? JEYES. Resolutions? LILY. To-- to raise you _up_, Nicko. JEYES. You _are_ raising me up-- setting me on my legs again. LILY. [_In a fright._] And-- and drawing Eddie into my net! JEYES. Oh, we've talked of that too, he and I. He's given me an account of what passed between you here. My dear girl, your conscience may be quite clear on that point. Nobody can ever reproach _you_ with trying to draw him into your net. LILY. They _would_-- they _would_---- JEYES. At all events, the task you have to face now is to prove to the world-- _his_ world-- that Miss Parradell is equal to playing "lead" on a bigger stage than the stage of the Pandora. [_Holding her at arms' length and shaking her fondly._] And you'll _do_ it! Ho, ho, ho, ho! _You'll_ do it! Ha, ha, ha--! [_His voice dies away miserably and he releases her. Then, pulling himself together, he looks at his watch._] Well, I've got to lunch with Bob at half-past one at the Junior Carlton---- LILY. [_Agitatedly._] Ah, it's not nearly that, Nicko; it's not nearly that! Nicko--! [_She passes him, moving towards the door on the left as if to intercept him, and then turns to him. A strip of ribbon lies upon the spot where she has been standing. After gazing at it for a moment, he stoops and picks it up._] Oh--! [_He folds the ribbon carefully and puts it into his pocket._] Oh--! [_Hitching up her stocking through her robe, piteously._] Ha, ha! JEYES.