The 'Mind the Paint' Girl Part 65

I'll tell you, my dear. You remember, when we left you early this morning, ordering us to walk away together and to part good friends?

LILY.

P-perfectly.

JEYES.

Well, we did walk away together, and we did part good friends. But we didn't part at all till some hours later, in his rooms. We didn't part till I'd made him stand by me and listen to me while I had a long jaw with my brother on the 'phone.

LILY.

[_Wonderingly._] With-- your----?

JEYES.

About that Rhodesian business.

LILY.

What Rhodesian business?

JEYES.

I mentioned it to you yesterday. Bob owns a third, with Peter Chalmers and Tom Dalby, of a group of farms near Bulawayo, and he's been badgering me eternally to cut this and to settle out there as their agent. [_Simply._] And I've accepted, old girl.

LILY.

[_With a blank face._] Ac-cepted?

JEYES.

[_Grimly._] Leaving you to bring an action against me, to recover damages for a broken heart. [_Drawing a deep breath._] Yes, I'm chucking you, Lil. I give you formal notice of my intention; and you can drive down to your solicitors this afternoon and instruct them to writ me without delay. [_Forcing a laugh._] Ha, ha, ha!

LILY.

[_Faintly._] Nicko----!

JEYES.

Unless-- unless you've an idea of consoling yourself shortly with-- with another chap, and prefer not to carry the matter into Court.

LILY.

[_About to rise._] Nicko----!

JEYES.

[_Restraining her by a gesture._] H'sh! No, no, no. [_She sinks back._] Ah, Lil-- Lil-- I know you're full of generous, honest impulses, though I _did_ tear you to rags in Farncombe's hearing a few hours ago. But I'm not going to allow you to sacrifice yourself to them; I-- I-- I've come to my senses, and I'm not going to permit it.

[_Bending forward._] Oh, my dear, why should I make you pay for the weaknesses of my character? Because that's what it 'ud amount to. I've bullied you for having played skittles with my life, my career. So you _have_! d.a.m.n it, so you have! But you've done it out of blind thoughtlessness; and if I'd been a fairly strong man, with some ballast in me, you _couldn't_ have landed me where I am-- not you nor fifty Pandora girls! [_Sitting erect._] And that-- that's the moral of the tale; and-- and-- [_abruptly, to FARNCOMBE_] There's nothing more, is there, Farncombe?

FARNCOMBE.

[_Brokenly._] Except that-- that I'd like to repeat-- what I've already said to Jeyes-- that I-- [_his elbows on the table, his head bowed_] oh, you make me feel terribly small, Jeyes.

[_Again there is a pause, and then LILY struggles to her feet and holds out her hand to JEYES uncertainly, and at once he rises and takes her in his arms. FARNCOMBE also rises and, standing behind the settee, turns his back to JEYES and LILY._

LILY.

[_To JEYES, choking._] Ah, Nicko-- I can't-- I can't----

JEYES.

[_Patting her shoulder._] Ah----!

LILY.

Why, what-- what would become of my resolutions----?

JEYES.

Resolutions?

LILY.

To-- to raise you _up_, Nicko.

JEYES.

You _are_ raising me up-- setting me on my legs again.

LILY.

[_In a fright._] And-- and drawing Eddie into my net!

JEYES.

Oh, we've talked of that too, he and I. He's given me an account of what pa.s.sed between you here. My dear girl, your conscience may be quite clear on that point. n.o.body can ever reproach _you_ with trying to draw him into your net.

LILY.

They _would_-- they _would_----

JEYES.

At all events, the task you have to face now is to prove to the world-- _his_ world-- that Miss Parradell is equal to playing "lead"

on a bigger stage than the stage of the Pandora. [_Holding her at arms' length and shaking her fondly._] And you'll _do_ it! Ho, ho, ho, ho! _You'll_ do it! Ha, ha, ha--! [_His voice dies away miserably and he releases her. Then, pulling himself together, he looks at his watch._] Well, I've got to lunch with Bob at half-past one at the Junior Carlton----

LILY.