BILLY. ‘He came up several times and had a look at my fly. Didn’t flick it, or do anything as complimentary as that. Just yawned and went down.’ COLONEL. ‘Yawned, did he? Used to wink in my time. Did you and Billy fish at Heidelberg, Karl?’ KARL. ‘We were more worthily employed, sir, but we did unbend at times. Billy, do you remember----’ He begins a gay dance. BILLY. ‘Not I.’ Then he joins in. BARBARA. ‘Young gentlemen, how disgraceful!’ She joins in. COLONEL. ‘Harum-scarums!’ KARL. ‘Does he know about you two?’ BILLY. ‘He often forgets. I’ll tell him again. Grandfather, Barbara and I have something to say to you. It’s this.’ He puts his arm round Barbara. COLONEL, smiling, ‘I know--I know. There’s nothing like it. I’m very glad, Barbara.’ BARBARA. ‘You see, dear, I’ve loved Billy boy since the days when he tried to catch the bull-trout with a string and a bent pin, and I held on to his pinafore to prevent his tumbling in. We used to play at school at marrying and giving in marriage, and the girl who was my bridegroom had always to take the name of Billy. “Do you, woman, take this man Billy----” the clergyman in skirts began, and before I could answer diffidently, some other girl was sure to shout, “I should rather think she does.”’ COLONEL, in high good humour, ‘Don’t forget the ring, Billy. You know, when I was married I think I couldn’t find the ring!’ KARL. ‘Were you married here, sir?’ COLONEL. ‘Yes, at the village church.’ BILLY. ‘So were my father and mother.’ COLONEL, as his eyes wander to the garden, ‘I remember walking back with my wife and bringing her in here through the window. She kissed some of the furniture.’ BILLY. ‘I suppose you would like a grander affair, Barbara?’ BARBARA. ‘No, just the same.’ BILLY. ‘I hoped you would say that.’ BARBARA. ‘But, Billy, I’m to have such a dream of a wedding gown. Granny is going with me to London to choose it’--laying her head on the Colonel’s shoulder--‘if you can do without her for a day, dear.’ COLONEL, gallantly, ‘I shall go with you. I couldn’t trust you and granny to choose the gown.’ KARL. ‘You must often be pretty lonely, sir, when we are all out and about enjoying ourselves.’ COLONEL. ‘They all say that. But that is the time when I’m not lonely, Karl. It’s then I see things most clearly--the past, I suppose. It all comes crowding back to me--India, the Crimea, India again--and it’s so real, especially the people. They come and talk to me. I seem to see them; I don’t know they haven’t been here, Billy, till your granny tells me afterwards.’ BILLY. ‘Yes, I know. I wonder where granny is.’ BARBARA. ‘It isn’t often she leaves you for so long, dear.’ COLONEL. ‘She told me she had to go out, but I forget where. Oh, yes, she has gone down to the village to a wedding.’ BILLY. ‘A wedding?’ BARBARA. ‘It’s curious how he harps on that.’ COLONEL. ‘She said to me to listen and I would hear the wedding bells.’ BARBARA. ‘Not to-day, dear.’