g
deeply]._

JOHNNY. _[confidentially to Lina]_ You wont mention our little
conversation, Miss Shepanoska. It'll do no good; and I'd rather you
didnt.

TARLETON. Weve just heard about it, Johnny.

JOHNNY. _[shortly, but without ill-temper]_ Oh: is that so?

HYPATIA. The cat's out of the bag, Johnny, about everybody. They
were all beforehand with you: papa, Lord Summerhays, Bentley and all.
Dont you let them laugh at you.

JOHNNY. _[a grin slowly overspreading his countenance]_ Well, theres
no use my pretending to be surprised at you, Governor, is there? I
hope you got it as hot as I did. Mind, Miss Shepanoska: it wasnt
lost on me. I'm a thinking man. I kept my temper. Youll admit that.

LINA. _[frankly]_ Oh yes. I do not quarrel. You are what is called
a chump; but you are not a bad sort of chump.

JOHNNY. Thank you. Well, if a chump may have an opinion, I should
put it at this. You make, I suppose, ten pounds a night off your own
bat, Miss Lina?

LINA. _[scornfully]_ Ten pounds a night! I have made ten pounds a
minute.

JOHNNY. _[with increased respect]_ Have you indeed? I didnt know:
youll excuse my mistake, I hope. But the principle is the same. Now
I trust you wont be offended at what I'm going to say; but Ive thought
about this and watched it in daily experience; and you may take it
from me that the moment a woman becomes pecuniarily independent, she
gets hold of the wrong end of the stick in moral questions.

LINA. Indeed! And what do you conclude from that, Mister Johnny?

JOHNNY. Well, obviously, that independence for women is wrong and
shouldnt be allowed. For their own good, you know. And for the good
of morality in general. You agree with me, Lord Summerhays, dont you?

LORD SUMMERHAYS. It's a very moral moral, if I may so express myself.

_Mrs Tarleton comes in softly through the inner door._

MRS TARLETON. Dont make too much noise. The lad's asleep.

TARLETON. Chickabiddy: we have some news for you.

JOHNNY. _[apprehensively]_ Now theres no need, you know, Governor,
to worry mother with everything that passes.

MRS TARLETON. _[coming to Tarleton]_ Whats been going on? Dont you
hold anything back from me, John. What have you been doing?

TARLETON. Bentley isnt going to marry Patsy.

MRS TARLETON. Of course not. Is that your great news? I never
believed she'd marry him.

TARLETON. Theres something else. Mr Percival here--

MRS