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._] God,
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 spunk, 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 God 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