The 'Mind the Paint' Girl Part 48

[_Facing him and speaking quietly but firmly._] Recollect, however shrewd and apt I may be, and however straight I've managed to keep myself, still-- I'm only a Pandora girl, and should always be remembered as one by your chums and belongings. Only a Pandora girl.

Nothing can alter that, dear boy; and you mustn't-- you mustn't handicap yourself by hanging _me_ round your neck.

FARNCOMBE.

[_Heavily._] I-- I shouldn't be the first of my sort to marry a "Pandora girl," not by half a dozen or more.

LILY.

No, but-- without wis.h.i.+ng to flatter you-- I don't quite put you on a level with Robbie Kinterton, and Glenroy, and Georgie Fawcus, and-- that crew. [_Cheerfully._] And so I mean to take care of you-- to take care of you for your own sake and for your mammy's and daddy's. [_She turns from him and fetches his hat and coat and gives them to him. He receives them from her with a dazed look._] Time's up. [_After a silence during which neither stirs._] Never mind. You'll survive it.

[_Another pause._] Come along.

[_She pa.s.ses him, to go to the door on the left. As she does so he flings his hat and coat on to the settee, and clasps her in his arms._

FARNCOMBE.

Lily-- Lily----!

LILY.

Ah, that's not fair!

FARNCOMBE.

Don't-- don't send me away like this!

LILY.

[_Her hand against his breast._] It isn't fair of you!

FARNCOMBE.

Say you'll take time to consider.

LILY.

I hate you for it!

FARNCOMBE.

Ask Roper's advice-- your mother's----!

LILY.

I've trusted you!

FARNCOMBE.

Ask Miss Birch----!

LILY.

Eddie! Lord Farncombe----! [_He releases her and they confront one another, she panting, he hanging his head guiltily._] W-w-well, I-- I _have_ been mistaken in you.

FARNCOMBE.

[_In despair._] I-- I---- [_Turning from her and hitting his temples with his fists._] Forgive me. Forgive me.

LILY.

Ha! I-- I thought you were such a quiet, bashful fellow.

FARNCOMBE.

Forgive me. Forgive me.

[_She wavers and then slowly approaches him._

LILY.

[_Gently._] Don't-- don't fret about it. _I_ forgive you. [_Touching his arm with her finger-tips._] I'm to blame. [_Drawing a deep breath._] All those dances----!

[_He seizes her hand and kisses it pa.s.sionately._

FARNCOMBE.

I may see you again? I may see you again? Lily-- Lily--! Lily----!

LILY.

[_In a whisper, averting her head._] N-no-- we'd better not---- [_There is a low but distinct knocking at the door on the left. She withdraws her hand and they look at each other, he inquiringly, she with a calm face. The knocking is repeated._] Mother. [_She goes to the door and speaks with her mouth close to it._] That you, mother?

[_She listens for a reply and again the knocking is heard._] Who is it? [_She opens the door. JEYES is outside._] Nicko! [_JEYES comes into the room. He has rid himself of his wig and beard and is wearing an overcoat b.u.t.toned up to his chin and a cap drawn down to his brows.

His face is white and his jaws are set determinedly._] How-- how have you got in? [_He produces a bunch of keys and grimly displays a latch-key._] Oh-- oh----! [_Pulling off his cap, JEYES advances to the table in the centre, glaring at FARNCOMBE. LILY closes the door sharply and also advances, speaking volubly to FARNCOMBE as she comes forward._] Captain Jeyes is in the habit of bringing me home from the theatre after my work; and a long while ago I gave him a latch-key to carry on his key-ring, so that he could let me into my house whenever I'd forgotten my own key. He hasn't the slightest right to use it at any other time; n.o.body knows that better than he does. It's a confounded liberty! [_To JEYES, hotly._] What are you doing here at all at this hour of the morning?

JEYES.

[_After an expressive glance at FARNCOMBE._] An odd question, in the circ.u.mstances.

LILY.

Answer me!

JEYES.

Keeping an eye on _you_.

LILY.

Spying on me!