_Fanny._ You can't understand a girl not jumping at you when she gets the chance, can you?... How is it that you aren't going to marry Beatrice Farrar? Weren't you fond of her? _Alan._ Very.... I gave her up because my father made me. _Fanny._ Made you? Good Lord, a chap of your age! _Alan._ My father's a man who will have his own way.... He can keep me short of brass. _Fanny._ Earn some brass. _Alan._ I can earn some brass, but it will mean hard work and it'll take time. And, after all, I shan't earn anything like what I get now. _Fanny._ Then all you want to wed me for is what you'll get with me? I'm to be given away with a pound of tea, as it were? _Alan._ I know why you won't marry me.... You're doing it for my sake. _Fanny._ Don't you kid yourself, my lad! It isn't because I'm afraid of spoiling your life that I'm refusing you, but because I'm afraid of spoiling mine! That didn't occur to you? _Alan._ Look here, Fanny, I promise you I'll treat you fair all the time. You don't need to fear that folk'll look down on you. We shall have too much money for that. _Fanny._ I can manage all right on twenty-five bob a week. _Alan._ I'm going to fall between two stools. It's all up with Beatrice, of course. And if you won't have me I shall have parted from her to no purpose; besides getting kicked out of the house by my father, more than likely! You said you were fond of me once, but it hasn't taken you long to alter. _Fanny._ All women aren't built alike. Beatrice is religious. She'll be sorry for you. I was fond of you in a way. _Alan._ But you didn't ever really love me? _Fanny._ Love you? Good heavens, of course not! Why on earth should I love you? You were just someone to have a bit of fun with. You were an amusement--a lark. How much more did you care for me? _Alan._ But it's not the same. I'm a man. _Fanny._ You're a man, and I was your little fancy. Well, I'm a woman, and you were my little fancy. You wouldn't prevent a woman enjoying herself as well as a man, if she takes it into her head? _Alan._ But do you mean to say that you didn't care any more for me than a fellow cares for any girl he happens to pick up? _Fanny._ Yes. Are you shocked? _Alan._ It's a bit thick; it is really! _Fanny._ You're a beauty to talk! _Alan._ It sounds so jolly immoral. I never thought of a girl looking on a chap just like that! I made sure you wanted to marry me if you got the chance.