Volume Ii Part 11 (1/2)

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [Fixing her eyes on FREDA] Now!

BILL. I fell in love with her. And she with me.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. When?

BILL. In the summer.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Ah!

BILL. It wasn't her fault.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. No?

BILL. [With a sort of menace] Mother!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Forgive me, I am not quite used to the idea. You say that you--are engaged?

BILL. Yes.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. The reasons against such an engagement have occurred to you, I suppose? [With a sudden change of tone] Bill! what does it mean?

BILL. If you think she's trapped me into this----

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. I do not. Neither do I think she has been trapped.

I think nothing. I understand nothing.

BILL. [Grimly] Good!

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. How long has this-engagement lasted?

BILL. [After a silence] Two months.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [Suddenly] This is-this is quite impossible.

BILL. You'll find it isn't.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. It's simple misery.

BILL. [Pointing to the workroom] Go and wait in there, Freda.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [Quickly] And are you still in love with her?

FREDA, moving towards the workroom, smothers a sob.

BILL. Of course I am.

FREDA has gone, and as she goes, LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE rises suddenly, forced by the intense feeling she has been keeping in hand.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Bill! Oh, Bill! What does it all mean? [BILL, looking from side to aide, only shrugs his shoulders] You are not in love with her now. It's no good telling me you are.