t's not in me really to love anybody
in a marrying way. [_Meeting his eyes._] Still, as you say----

JEYES.

As I say----?

LILY.

[_Pursing her mouth at him winningly._] I'm _accustomed_ to you,
Nicko. [_He draws her to him; but, with a laugh, she checks him by
offering him her head to kiss._] There-- [_putting the point of her
finger playfully on the crown of her head_] you may _there_. [_As he
kisses her._] Now I must run upstairs, or mother'll whack me.

JEYES.

[_Detaining her._] Won't you allow me to fetch you after the dance?

LILY.

Three or four in the morning! No; I'll give you a rest. Uncle Lal or
Sam'll take on your job. [_Going to the door._] And don't try to see
me to-morrow.

JEYES.

[_Sharply._] Why not?

LILY.

Not till you turn up at night as usual. I shall be a shocking rag all
day.

JEYES.

[_Breaking out._] Yes, I expect you'll manage to enjoy yourself
thoroughly, and dance yourself off your feet, whoever your partners
may be!

LILY.

[_Wilfully._] Expect I shall. [_Tossing her head up._] Ha, ha! I'll do
my best.

[_She departs, leaving him standing near the tea-table. He takes out
his handkerchief and mops his brow. As he does so, his eyes rest upon
the telephone-instrument on the writing-table and he stares at it. He
hesitates, as if struggling to resist an impulse; then he goes quickly
to the instrument and puts the receiver to his ear._

JEYES.

[_After a pause._] Gerrard, three, eight, four, eight. [_Discovering
that LILY has left the door wide open, he lays the receiver upon the
writing-table and goes to the door and shuts it. Then he returns to
the writing-table and again listens at the receiver._] Is that the
office of the Pandora Theatre?... [_Suddenly, imitating the voice of
DE CASTRO._] Ith Mithter Morrith Cooling in?... I'm Mithter de Castro
... Tham de Castro ... Gone, ith he?... Oh, ith that you, Mithter
Hickthon?... Yeth, you'll do ... About the thupper-party to-night that
Mithter Smythe ith giving to Mith Parradell ... Yer there?... I didn't
quite underthtand whether ith to be at the theatre or at a rethtaurong
... At the theatre?... Oh, yeth ... A largth party?... Oh, that _ith_
nithe!... Who are the guesth, d'ye know?... Yeth?... Yeth?... Oh, an'
the boyth!... oh, thome o' the _boyth_ are comin', are they!...
Hey?... Haven't got the litht from Mithter Roper yet?... Oh, _he'th_
been helpin' to get it up!... Oh, we _shall_ have a thplendid time