The 'Mind the Paint' Girl Part 52

Pluck?

JEYES.

The pluck to snap my fingers at the world and propose marriage to a Pandora girl. Besides, my mother was alive then, and-- [_abruptly, with a wild look_] would you like to know what _she_ used to call these Pandora women, Farncombe? [_Bending forward, his hands tightly clenched._] She used to call them _a menace to society_. With their beauty, and their flagrant opportunities for displaying it, they are a living curse, she used to say-- a source of constant dread to mothers whose hope it is to see their sons safely mated to modest, maidenly girls of the typical English pattern. She told us once-- my brothers and me-- frightened as to where _we_ were drifting, that she was one of many mothers who prayed on their knees daily that their boys might be spared from being drawn into the net woven by their own weaknesses and pa.s.sions-- drawn into it by these-- these----! [_He breaks off, stares about him for a moment, and then rises._] Oh, but I oughtn't to have repeated this to _you_. Pardon. [_Walking away unsteadily._] Ho, d.a.m.ned bad taste! [_Behind the table, supporting himself by leaning upon it._] Where was I? Back from the Curragh! [_Confused._] Yes-- yes-- and so things went on for a couple o' years-- I trailing after Lily closer than ever-- and at last-- at last I _did_ ask her to be my wife.

LILY.

[_Who has been listening to JEYES with parted lips and wide-open eyes-- appealingly._] Don't! Don't, Nicko; don't!

JEYES.

[_Oblivious of her interruption._] But I'd left it too late. The novelty of me had worn off; she'd scores of friends by that time; she'd made her big hit, and followed it with another, and was the talk o' the town. And she'd money; she wasn't dependent on _me_ any longer for her gloves and her trips and outings!

LILY.

[_Her head drooping._] Oh! Oh! [_Wringing her hands._] Oh, that's _beastly_ of you; _beastly_!

JEYES.

She was kind to me too, in a way-- kind and cruel. She didn't want to marry me; she didn't want to marry anybody; she was in love with herself, and her success, and what it was bringing her. But she wouldn't give me the kick. No, she wouldn't do that; I _had_ been something to her. And there's where the kindness came in-- and the merciless cruelty. [_Sitting upon the fauteuil-stool rigidly._] G.o.d, if only she'd broken with me then, firmly and finally-- if only she'd broken with me then-- she-- she might have saved me!

LILY.

[_Struggling with her tears._] Oh, Nicko, Nicko!

JEYES.

Twelve months ago she did throw me a bone. The regiment was under orders for India, and of course I sent in my papers; and out of pity, I suppose-- and because I was always pestering her-- she promised to become engaged to me if I'd get other work to do. Work! I wonder whether really she was grinning to herself when she made the stipulation!

LILY.

Oh-- oh----!

JEYES.

Work! All the s.p.u.n.k, all the energy, had been sapped out of me long before, and even her promise couldn't revive it. My search for a berth wasn't much more than a sham. At the back of my head I knew very well what I'd come to. The only work _I_ was capable of was dancing attendance on _her_, and filling in what remained of the day and night at a rotten restaurant, a Bohemian club, and the bar of the theatre.

And that's _been_ my sole employment for the past year-- nothing but that. Pretty, for a man who started life as swimmingly as I did! [_His voice dying away._] Pretty-- pretty-- pretty-- pretty----!

LILY.

[_After a profound stillness._] I-- I don't think you've ever-- put the case to me-- quite so plainly as this, Nicko.

JEYES.

I-- I don't think I've ever put it quite so plainly-- to myself.

LILY.

[_Her lip trembling._] You-- you won't believe me----

JEYES.

What?

LILY.

I-- I've never fully realised it till now-- the harm I've done you.

I declare to G.o.d I've never realised it till now. [_Faintly._]

Nicko----!

JEYES.

[_After a further pause._] Ah, well--! [_With a deep sigh._] Ah, well!

[_To FARNCOMBE, resignedly._] Farncombe, I-- I'm afraid I'm a shocking brute. I-- I got carried away. Forget-- forget the things I've said of this girl. Forget 'em, will yer? [_Starting to his feet._] And look here! A man who isn't a sportsman deserves to be shot. You've won her; I've lost her. Congratulate yer, old chap; congratulate yer! [_Pulling on his cap._] Take care of her, that's all; m-m-mind you take care of her!

[_He turns towards the door and she jumps up and runs to him and seizes his arm. FARNCOMBE also rises._

LILY.

No, no, Nicko! Nicko--! [_Giving FARNCOMBE a half frightened, half imploring look._] Nicko, I can't undo the mischief I've done; I can't do that. But I can try to make it up to you-- some of it-- and I will, if you'll let me. [_Putting her arms round his shoulders._] Nicko----!

JEYES.

[_Roughly._] Make it-- up to me?

LILY.

[_Her face close to his._] You know what I mean! As soon as possible-- next month, if you like-- next week-- quietly--! [_He grips her arms and stares at her blankly._] Ha, ha! Yes, you've been in too great a hurry to settle matters, _you_ have. Lord Farncombe and I-- we-- _we're_ not going to be married. I've refused him. [_Wildly._] I-- I've ruined _you_, Nicko; but I-- I've told him-- I'm not going to draw _him_ into my net! [_Clinging to JEYES and burying her face in the breast of his coat, crying._] Oh! Oh! Oh! I'm not going to draw _him_ into my net!

[_Again there is a pause and then JEYES turns to FARNCOMBE, dazed._

JEYES.

Farncombe----?

FARNCOMBE.

[_Inclining his head._] Yes-- yes----

JEYES.

[_With feeling._] My dear fellow, I-- I----!

LILY.

[_Raising her head and speaking through her tears-- to JEYES._] Nicko, I-- I want to have one more word with Lord Farncombe-- just one more word. [_He nods understandingly and goes to the door on the left. She follows him._] Only a minute; [_he opens the door_] and then you must walk away together, you and he, and part good friends. [_He goes out on to the landing and she closes the door and stands with her back to it, drying her eyes with her handkerchief. FARNCOMBE, still carrying his hat and overcoat, has crossed to the settee, a forlorn figure._]

W-w-well, you-- you _have_ had a lucky escape, haven't you?