oing to marry Georgiana.

[_A pause._ COAST _looks_ DICK _in the eye, then away._

DICK. Congratulate you, Coast! [_Shakes his hand._] She's worth even
more than you can give her!

COAST. That's right!

[COAST _goes out on the balcony and whistles "Congo."_ DICK _walks away
and turns his back._ DICK _goes to the mantel and takes up a picture
of_ GEORGIANA, _looks at it, takes it out of the frame, and seeing that_
COAST _isn't observing, puts it in his breast pocket. He turns round
with a pathetic sort of half-laughing exclamation to_ COAST.

DICK. I say, Coast. [COAST _comes in from the balcony._] I've been in
love with Georgiana for years.

COAST. That don't surprise me!

[COAST _sits on the piano bench._

DICK. I never realized it until the other day, when I found I was going
to leave her, and--perhaps--not coming back, and then I found boy
friendship had sort of grown up into a man's love--I almost told
her--[_Pause._] I wonder if I'd found it out sooner--before you came
along--

COAST. No use shutting the stable door _after_ the horse is swiped!

DICK. I shan't be able to say exactly what I wanted to to
Georgiana--but that's--your luck--I guess the quicker I can say good-by
and get out, the better for me--

COAST. Listen--don't say anything to Georgiana about her and me, will
you, unless of course she tells you--we're not talking about it yet.

DICK. _I_ don't care mentioning it, thank you.

[MRS. CARLEY _and_ GEORGIANA _come in Right and meet_ DICK.

MRS. CARLEY. We're so sorry to say good-by, Dick--will you have some
tea?

DICK. No, thanks.

COAST. Hello, Auntie.

[MRS. CARLEY _goes to the sofa and sits with her crocheting._

GEORGIANA. Dick!

[_Shaking his hand--a second long. They look into each other's eyes._

MRS. CARLEY. Isn't he fine in his uniform?

DICK. [_Embarrassed._] I hadn't time to change before we start.

MRS. CARLEY. Louise asks me to give her farewells; she's got a bad
headache and is being shampooed--she's _too_ disappointed not to see
you.

DICK. I'm sorry she's in her usual health.

MRS. CARLEY. Got it from her father; we didn't expect him to live a year
when I married him, but he surprised us all--and I tell Louise she'll
outlive me yet. How are you, Sammy?

[_Drops her worsted;_ COAST _picks it up and gives it to her._

COAST. All right, only I need a shave.

[_He sits Left._

MRS. CARLEY. Well, you shouldn't talk about it! You need a lot of
coaching.