MELISANDE. I don't understand. Don't you _want_ to marry me now?
BOBBY (with dignity). I don't want to be married out of pity.
MELISANDE (coldly). I have told you that it isn't out of pity.
BOBBY. Well, what _is_ it out of? I mean, after what you said yesterday about my tie, it can't be love. If you really loved me----
MELISANDE. Are you under the impression that I am proposing to you?
MELISANDE. Are you flattering yourself that you are refusing me?
BOBBY. I say, shut up, Sandy. You know it isn't that at all.
MELISANDE. I think you had better join Jane. (Carelessly) It _is_ Jane, isn't it?
BOBBY. I say, look here---- (She doesn't) Of course, I know you think I'm an awful rotter. . . . Well . . . well--oh, _damn_!
MRS. KNOWLE. Oh, Mr. Coote, Jane is waiting for you.
BOBBY (realising that he is not quite at his best). Er--oh--er, righto. (He goes to the door and hesitates there) Er--(Now if he can only think of something really good, he may yet carry it off.) Er--(something really witty)--er--er, righto! (He goes out--to join JANE, who is waiting for him.)
MRS. KNOWLE (in a soft gentle voice). Where is your father, dear? In the library with Mr. Mallory? . . . I want to speak to him. Just on a little matter of business. . . . Dear child!
(She walks about, pulling at her handkerchief and telling herself that she won't cry. But she feels that she is going to, and she goes to the open windows, and stands for a moment looking out, trying to recover herself)
GERVASE (gently). Princess! (She hears; her hand closes and tightens; but she says nothing.) Princess!
(With an effort she controls herself, turns round and speaks coldly)
MELISANDE. Please don't call me by that ridiculous name.
MELISANDE. Yes? What do you want, Mr. Mallory?
MELISANDE (taken by surprise). Oh! . . . How dare you!
MELISANDE. I think you had better leave this morning out of it.
GERVASE. But if I leave this morning out of it, then I have only just met you.
GERVASE. Oh! . . . Then if I have only just met you, perhaps I oughtn't to have said straight off that I want to marry you.
GERVASE. Yes. But not unusual to _want_ to marry you.
MELISANDE. I am not interested in your wants.
GERVASE. Oh! (Gently) I'm sorry that we've got to forget about this morning. (Going closer to her) Is it so easy to forget, Melisande?