The 'Mind the Paint' Girl - LightNovelsOnl.com
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I wonder whether Mr. Cooling would let you off.
LILY.
I shouldn't dream of asking him.
FARNCOMBE.
No, but-- may _I_?
LILY.
[_Haughtily._] I beg you'll do nothing of the sort.
FARNCOMBE.
Forgive me.
[_There is a further pause and then she turns to him._
LILY.
Why I spoke so-- so sharply to you-- was----
FARNCOMBE.
You didn't speak sharply to me.
LILY.
Was because I've been very nasty with Morrie-- wrote him a furious letter-- and I want to make it up to him.
FARNCOMBE.
Ah, yes.
LILY.
I called him a pig, and other things; I hate myself for it.
FARNCOMBE.
A pig?
LILY.
[_Smiling._] Still, that's no reason why I should be nasty with _you_.
FARNCOMBE.
[_Laughingly._] And call _me_ a pig.
LILY.
[_Impulsively, kneeling upon the settee so that she may compare her programme with his._] Look here! Fifteen-- the last but one. Are you fixed up for Fifteen?
FARNCOMBE.
No.
LILY.
No!
FARNCOMBE.
I kept it open-- in case----
LILY.
[_Merrily._] Ha, ha--! [_Checking herself, severely._] I _might_ be able to give you Fifteen. [_FARNCOMBE scribbles on his programme eagerly._] Don't count on it, please; but it's booked to Mr.
Fulkerson, and Bertie's not always to be depended upon at that hour.
FARNCOMBE.
Thank you-- thank you-- thank you. [_She resumes her seat and he jumps up and goes to her._] That reminds me. May I ask who is going to see you home, Miss Parradell?
LILY.
See me home?
FARNCOMBE.
It would be an honour that I should-- appreciate-- more than I can-- find words to express.
LILY.
[_Rising, sternly._] I am very much obliged to you. [_Walking away from him again._] I dare say Mr. Roper will see me home-- and Mr. de Castro-- and Mr. Bland----
FARNCOMBE.
[_Following her, unhappily._] I-- I hope-- I-- I hope I haven't offended you.
LILY.
Not in the least; [_in a frigid tone_] only I am in the habit of relying on old friends for those little services.
[_STIDULPH enters from the landing and again wanders to the counter and to the cigarettes. The "Mind the Paint" air, to the time of a Two Step, is played in the distance._
FARNCOMBE.
