y.] I little dreamed when I came down
here visiting that I was to meet my destiny in--[Abruptly releases
LORETTA's hand.]

[MAID enters from left with tray.]

[LORETTA glances into tray and discovers that it is empty. She looks
inquiringly at MAID.]

MAID. A gentleman to see you. He hasn't any card. He said for me to
tell you that it was Billy.

LORETTA. [Starting, looking with dismay and appeal to NED.] Oh! . . .
Ned!

NED [Gracefully and courteously, rising to his feet and preparing to
go.] If you'll excuse me now, I'll wait till afterward to tell you what
I wanted.

LORETTA. [In dismay.] What shall I do?

NED. [Pausing.] Don't you want to see him? [LORETTA shakes her head.]
Then don't.

LORETTA. [Slowly.] I can't do that. We are old friends. We . . . were
children together. [To the MAID.] Send him in. [To NED, who has
started to go out toward right.] Don't go, Ned.

[MAID makes exit to left.]

NED. [Hesitating a moment.] I'll come back.

[NED makes exit to right.]

[LORETTA, left alone on stage, shows perturbation and dismay.]

[BILLY enters from left. Stands in doorway a moment. His shoes are
dusty. He looks overheated. His eyes and face brighten at sight of
LORETTA.]

BILLY. [Stepping forward, ardently.] Loretta!

LORETTA. [Not exactly enthusiastic in her reception, going slowly to
meet him.] You never said you were coming.

[BILLY shows that he expects to kiss her, but she merely shakes his
hand.]

BILLY. [Looking down at his very dusty shoes.] I walked from the
station.

LORETTA. If you had let me know, the carriage would have been sent for
you.

BILLY. [With expression of shrewdness.] If I had let you know, you
wouldn't have let me come.

[BILLY looks around stage cautiously, then tries to kiss her.]

LORETTA. [Refusing to be kissed. ] Won't you sit down?

BILLY. [Coaxingly.] Go on, just one. [LORETTA shakes head and holds
him off.] Why not? We're engaged.

LORETTA. [With decision. ] We're not. You know we're not. You know I
broke it off the day before I came away. And . . . and . . . you'd
better sit down.

[BILLY sits down on edge of chair. LORETTA seats herself by table.
Billy, without rising, jerks his chair forward till they are facing each
other, his knees touching hers. He yearns toward her. She moves back
her chair slightly.]

BILLY. [With supreme confidence.] That's what I came to see you for--to
get engaged over