The 'Mind the Paint' Girl - LightNovelsOnl.com
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FARNCOMBE.
[_Blankly._] Disap-pointed?
LILY.
[_Raising her eyes to his and shaking her head at him._] You-- you silly boy!
FARNCOMBE.
[_Coming to her quickly._] Ah, please-- please don't take that tone with me. I'm no boy. And I'm simply mad about you. If you don't marry me, I-- I-- I'm done for.
LILY.
H's.h.!.+ Nonsense; not you!
FARNCOMBE.
It's true. Life'll be over for me from that moment, if you refuse to marry me.
LILY.
[_Mockingly._] Over!
FARNCOMBE.
Oh, love is all on my side at present, naturally; but, as G.o.d hears me, it'll be no fault of mine if you don't grow to love me in time.
LILY.
Listen----!
FARNCOMBE.
I'll wors.h.i.+p you-- wors.h.i.+p you. I _do_ wors.h.i.+p you!
LILY.
H's.h.!.+ Lord Farncombe----
FARNCOMBE.
_Eddie!_ Won't you?
LILY.
Certainly not.
FARNCOMBE.
Do! Eddie! Eddie!
LILY.
Eddie, then----
FARNCOMBE.
Ah----!
LILY.
Sit down a minute. [_She goes to the settee and sits there, somewhat ruffled, and he moves to the arm-chair by the centre table and also sits, his elbows on his knees, bending towards her. She pushes her hair back from her brow impatiently, as if vexed with herself._] Lord Farncombe-- Eddie-- for how long have you known me?
FARNCOMBE.
What does it matter? I-- I admit----
LILY.
Reckoning our acquaintance from last week-- from the afternoon Bertie brought you here, when we scarcely spoke to one another-- you haven't known me for as many days as you can count on your fingers.
FARNCOMBE.
I've watched you-- watched you in the theatre----
LILY.
On the stage! Ho, ho! Oh, you-- but I mustn't call you silly boy again, must I! And what do you know _of_ me, apart from the glimpse you've had of me off the stage, and my being a s.h.i.+ning light at the Pandora? What do you know of my-- what's the word?-- origin-- where and what I've sprung from; how I was reared; how much education I've received; how much I've contrived to pick up of the way to behave in _per_lite society? You can judge from poor mother, if from nothing else, that I come from humble beginnings. Yes, but _how_ humble you couldn't _dream_, [_making a grimace_] not after a supper of raw carrots!
FARNCOMBE.
Do you think I _care_ how humble your beginnings were! What I do know-- what I _am_ sure about-- is that you're good-- and beautiful-- and-- and-- and gifted-- and-- and-- [_leaning his head on his hands_]
oh, I can't describe you; you're-- you're-- to me, you're _perfect_.
LILY.
[_After a pause, looking at him with blinking eyelids._] You-- you _dear_! [_He raises his head. She changes her tone instantly._]
_Merci_; yes, perfect, _pour le moment_. Hear my French! [_Taking the box of cigarettes from the table._] Have a cigarette? Don't get up.
[_She tosses him a cigarette and he catches it._] My name's printed on them-- "Lily." [_Lighting a cigarette._] Isn't it _chic_!
FARNCOMBE.
[_Producing his cigarette case and exchanging her cigarette for one of his own._] I'll never smoke _that_.
LILY.
[_Pus.h.i.+ng the match-stand towards him._] _Stoo_pid! Now, attend to me.
What do you say to a tiny provision shop in Kennington, over the water?
