papers, so
naturally one--

GERALD. Oh, it's a great business. Champagne will flow like water
to-night. There will also be speeches.

WENTWORTH. Which reminds me, Gerald, I have to congratulate you.

GERALD. Thank you very much. When you've seen her you'll want to do it
again.

TOMMY (looking through the window). Hallo, there's Letty.

GERALD. If you want to tell her about it, run along, Tommy.

TOMMY (moving off). I thought I'd just take her on at putting. [He goes
out.]

GERALD (sitting down). You'll stay till--well, how long can you?
Tuesday, anyhow.

WENTWORTH. I think I can manage till Tuesday. Thanks very much. Miss
Carey is here, of course?

GERALD. Yes, she'll be in directly. She's gone to the station to meet
Bob.

WENTWORTH (smiling). And Gerald didn't go with her?

GERALD (smiling). At least six people suggested that Gerald should go
with her. They suggested it very loudly and archly--

WENTWORTH. So Gerald didn't?

GERALD. So Gerald didn't. (After a pause) I can't stand that sort of
thing.

WENTWORTH. What sort of thing?

GERALD (after a pause). Poor old boy! you've never been in love--barring
the nine or ten times you're just going to tell me about. I mean never
really in love.

WENTWORTH. Don't drag _me_ into it. What is it you can't stand?

GERALD. People being tactful about Pamela and me.... Aunt Tabitha asked
me yesterday if she might have Pamela for half an hour to do something
or other--as if she were an umbrella, with my initials on it.... And
somebody else said, "I've quite fallen in love with your Pamela; I hope
you don't mind." _Mind_? I tell you, Wentworth, my boy, if you aren't in
love with Pamela by Tuesday, there'll be the very deuce of a row. Your
electro-plated butter-dish, or whatever it's going to be, will be simply
flung back at you.

WENTWORTH. Well, as long as Miss Pamela understands--

GERALD. Of course she understands. We understand each other.

WENTWORTH (preening himself ). Then I'll do my best. Mind, if she
does happen to reciprocate my feelings, I wash my hands of all
responsibility. (Going towards the staircase) Good-afternoon, Miss
Farringdon.

[MISS FARRINGDON is coming slowly down the stairs.]

MISS FARRINGDON. Good-afternoon, Mr. Wentworth. Welcome.

(She must be well over eighty. She was pretty once, and sharp-tongued;
so much you could swear to now. For the rest she is very, very wise, and
intensely interested in life.)

GERALD (going over a