The 'Mind the Paint' Girl - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
W-w-when, then. When we marry, you'll be obliged to resign your commission in the Guards, won't you?
FARNCOMBE.
[_Snapping his fingers._] P's.h.!.+ I shan't care a rap about that.
LILY.
[_s.n.a.t.c.hing her hand away._] The sn.o.bs! The sn.o.bs! They'd let you marry any bit of trash in your own set; but a Pandora girl, though she's as pure as the Queen of England----! Oh, the contemptible sn.o.bs!
FARNCOMBE.
[_Regaining possession of her hand._] H's.h.!.+ H's.h.!.+ It-- it's the practice----
LILY.
Blow the practice! A cheerful reflection for _me_, it'll be. The arrant sn.o.bs!
FARNCOMBE.
[_Stroking her hand._] Ah! Ah!
LILY.
And then-- poor mother! You-- you won't be very proud of poor mother.
FARNCOMBE.
Your mother? [_Boyishly._] Oh, she-- she's an awfully good sort.
LILY.
She hasn't an H. to her name.
FARNCOMBE.
[_Inadvertently._] She _oughtn't_ to have.
LILY.
[_Withdrawing her hand again, sharply._] She calls herself _H_upjohn, you mean!
FARNCOMBE.
[_Distressed._] No, no, no. [_In a difficulty._] Er-- at any rate, h's don't lead you to heaven, do they?
LILY.
[_Gloomily._] You're right; mother's lead _her_ to _'eaven_. [_Rising and walking away._] Well, you'd better go now.
FARNCOMBE.
[_Rising._] And to-night----?
LILY.
No; I'll come home alone.
FARNCOMBE.
Lily----!
LILY.
[_Imperatively._] Please----!
FARNCOMBE.
When----?
LILY.
[_Moving to the door on the left._] Not for two or three days. Give me time to shake down over this.
FARNCOMBE.
[_Taking up his hat and cane which he has left upon the centre table._] Sunday?
LILY.
[_Fretfully._] No.
FARNCOMBE.
Monday?
LILY.
[_Opening the door._] No.
FARNCOMBE.
[_Joining her at the door._] Tuesday?
LILY.
[_Appealingly._] I-- I'll write. [_Again he takes her hand, she keeping him at a distance. He attempts to lessen the distance, but she checks him, shaking her head._] Not just yet, Eddie. [_He smiles at her tenderly and, with a bow, departs. From the doorway, she watches him disappear; then she shuts the door and wanders listlessly to the door of the bedroom. Her hand lingers upon the k.n.o.b for a moment, and then she opens the door a little way and calls._] Mother! Mother----!
[_She leaves the door and is returning to the settee when MRS. UPJOHN enters._