oking up into his face pathetically._] Yes, that was
_me_, Eddie, under the crust. Common as dirt, dear; common as dirt!
[_Holding the lapels of his coat._] Oh! Oh, you'll always remember me,
with my eyes starting out of my head, spitting at Nicko! You'll always
picture that horrible sight when you think of me.

FARNCOMBE.

You-- you were provoked; I-- I admired you for it.

LILY.

[_Tenderly._] Ah, you dear boy! [_In an altered tone._] Eddie----

FARNCOMBE.

Yes?

LILY.

Had you-- a little hope-- that, after all, I might turn your offer
over in my mind and-- and eventually----?

FARNCOMBE.

Yes-- yes.

LILY.

[_With a catch in her breath._] Ah----! [_In a whisper._] I-- I'll
tell you something.

FARNCOMBE.

What?

LILY.

[_In his ear._] I _might_ have, if-- if you'd persisted.

FARNCOMBE.

[_Groaning._] Oh-h-h-h!

LILY.

[_Retreating a step or two._] Thank God Nicko came along! Thank God
Nicko came along! _What_ was it his mother called us girls? A menace
to society; creatures to be dreaded, and prayed against! You see I was
right in wishing to protect you for your mammy's sake as well as your
own. But, oh-- thank God Nicko came along! [_He sits suddenly upon the
settee and covers his face with his hands. She returns to him
quickly._] Ah, don't do that; don't do that! [_Touching his hands._]
Eddie! Eddie! I'm not worth it. Eddie! [_With an effort, he lifts his
head._] Listen. _This_ is what I want to say to you. Don't come near
me any more; you mustn't. And don't come to the theatre again either.
If I thought you were sitting in front, I-- I'm sure I couldn't----!
[_Entreatingly._] Swear-- swear you'll keep away from me, and from the
theatre! [_He nods._] And you'll never go to any supper or dinner or
dance where you're likely to meet the other girls, will you? Eddie!
[_He shakes his head._] Swear! [_He rises and, as he does so, she
grips the lapels of his coat again, her eyes blazing fiercely._] Oh!
Oh! If one of the other girls ever got hold of you, I-- I-- [_hissing
into his face_] I'd kill her! [_She leaves him and goes to the door on
the left and opens it._] Nicko! [_JEYES enters the room._] March, both
of you! [_Exhausted._] I-- I'm pretty well baked. [_FARNCOMBE joins
LILY and JEYES at the door and she stands between the two men looking
from one to the other and taking a hand of each._] Ha, ha, ha! I've
made the _pair_ of you precious miserable, if you only knew it. [_To
JEYES._]