The 'Mind the Paint' Girl Part 46

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'sh! 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 worship you-- worship you. I _do_ worship you!

LILY.

H'sh! 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 shining 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.

[_Pushing 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?