m of her hand._] Well, if I
were on board a ship at this moment, I should be ringing for the
stewardess; that's how I feel about it.

LILY.

[_Throwing herself, face downward, at full length upon the settee._]
Oh! Oh, you're just like the rest of our girls on the question of
marriage! You-- you-- you're detestable!

JIMMIE.

[_Sliding out of her chair and kneeling at the settee and putting an
arm round LILY._] Oh, Lil-- Lil----!

LILY.

[_Repulsing her._] Yes, you are! [_Raising herself upon her elbow._]
You'd rejoice to see me draw this boy into my net, wouldn't you! You
know you would. [_MRS. UPJOHN rises and comes forward._] I dare say
you jolly well wouldn't object to catching him yourself if you'd half
a chance! [_Fiercely._] You try it; you try it-- you, or any of you!

JIMMIE.

[_Attempting to rise, scandalised._] Oh----!

LILY.

[_Holding her._] No, no----! Jimmie----!

MRS. UPJOHN.

Lil, I'm perfec'ly ashamed of you, speakin' to Jimmie Birch in that
manner.

LILY.

[_Dropping her head on JIMMIE'S shoulder._] Oh----!

JIMMIE.

She doesn't mean it.

MRS. UPJOHN.

I 'ope not. It ain't exac'ly pleasant to 'ave a dog in the manger for
a daughter. [_To LILY._] Why _shouldn't_ young Farncombe turn 'is
attention to Miss Birch, pray, or to any young lady who doesn't object
to take your leavin's!

JIMMIE.

[_To MRS. UPJOHN._] H'sh, h'sh, h'sh!

MRS. UPJOHN.

[_Walking about._] No, I won't 'ush!

JIMMIE.

[_To LILY, quietly._] I'll come back in the afternoon.

MRS. UPJOHN.

Lil seems to 'ave got some maggot or other in 'er brain about drawin'
Lord Farncombe into 'er _net_. Net indeed! [_JIMMIE, not heeding MRS.
UPJOHN, arranges LILY comfortably upon the settee and then rises and
smoothes out her skirt preparatory to departure._] As Lal Roper was
sayin' yesterday, our tiptop, aristocratic English fam'lies ought to
be 'xtremely grateful that strong, 'ealthy perfeshunals o' the class
of Miss 'Arker an' Miss Trevail an' Miss Shafto are enterin' their
ranks. An' if Lil chooses to be pig-'eaded enough----! [_JIMMIE makes
a movement towards MRS. UPJOHN._] 'Ave a bottle o' ginger beer before
you go. [_There is a prolonged, playful knocking at the door on the
left followed, on the part of those in the room, by a gloomy pause._]
That _is_ Lal.

LILY.

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

JIMMIE.

[_Drawing a long face._] H'm!

LILY.

[_To JIMMIE._] Oh, Jimmie-- stay----!

[_The knocking is