[_Ruefully._] Ah, I'm afraid that's too much to look forward to.
[_Touching his arm with a little gesture of sympathy._] You poor dear! You're not beginning to be nervous about your dinner, are you?
N--no. Not _nervous_ exactly. Something _might_ go wrong. Still, I hope there won't be _much_ your father can find fault with.
I'm sure there won't! And if he does, why, _we_ won't mind, will we? We shall be together, you know!
[_Putting his arm round her._] That's what I've been thinking of all day!
[_He kisses her as PRINGLE returns, unseen by them. His jaw drops as he sees them together._
[_Coming forward._] Er----[_HORACE and SYLVIA separate._] Miss Sylvia--the Professor asked me to tell you----
I was just coming. [_Taking her parasol and moving to door, which PRINGLE has left open._] Good-bye, Mr. Pringle. [_Stopping HORACE and PRINGLE as they are about to see her down the stairs._] No, you mustn't come down, either of you. [_To HORACE, with an affectation of distance._] Good-bye--Mr. Ventimore.
[_By the table._] I should like to ask you, Ventimore, have you known Miss Futvoye _long_?
[_Still at door, looking after SYLVIA._] A little over six weeks.
[_Closing door, and coming towards him._] Have you, though? I noticed the Professor was uncommonly cordial to you. Look here, are you doing anything this evening?
Er--no. That is, nothing particular. Why?
Because it would be friendly of you if you'd come and dine here. _They're_ coming, you know.
I know. [_After a moment's hesitation._] Thanks, I don't mind if I do.
Capital! I'm sure if any one can keep the old man in a good humour, _you_ can.
[_Sourly._] I see. You want me to engage him in conversation and leave you free to carry on your flirtation with Miss Futvoye unobserved?
Not quite that. There's nothing _underhand_ about it. We're engaged, you know.
Engaged! [_After a pause._] And how long have you been that?
[_Blankly._] Oh! [_He walks down to window._] I congratulate you; er--heartily, of course. [_Looking out of window._] And--and when do you think of being married?
It's no use thinking of that, at present. Not till the Professor takes a rosier view of my prospects, at all events. But if, like a good fellow, you could put in a word for me, it would give me no end of a leg up!