BOBBY. Suppose I had waited a year and then come to you, would that have been better?
BOBBY. Well, really I can't follow you, darling.
JANE (indignantly). You mustn't call me darling.
BOBBY (to himself). "Darling." No, I suppose I mustn't. But it suits you so awfully well--darling. (She stamps her foot) I'm sorry, darl---- I mean Jane, but really I can't follow you. Because you're so frightfully fascinating, that after twenty-four hours of it, I simply have to tell you how much I love you, then your pride is hurt. But if you had been so frightfully unattractive that it took me a whole year to see anything in you at all, then apparently you'd have been awfully proud.
JANE. You _have_ known me a whole year, Bobby.
BOBBY. Not really, you know. Directly I saw you and Sandy together I knew I was in love with one of you, but--well, love is a dashed rummy thing, and I thought it was Sandy. And so I didn't really see you till last night, when you were so awfully decent to me.
JANE (wistfully). It sounds very well, but the trouble is that it will sound just as well to the next girl.
BOBBY. You know, Jane, when you talk like that I feel that you don't deserve to be proposed to at all.
JANE (loftily). I'm sure I don't want to be.
JANE. I should have thought it was pretty obvious seeing that I've just refused you.
BOBBY. And would you be glad if I went away and never saw you again? (She hesitates) Honest, Jane. Would you?
JANE (awkwardly). Well, of course, I _like_ you, Bobby. I always have.
BOBBY. But you feel that you would like me better if I were somebody else's husband?
JANE (indignantly). Oh, I _never_ said that.
BOBBY. Dash it, you've been saying it all this afternoon.
JANE (weakly). Bobby, don't; I can't argue with you. But really, dear, I can't say now that I will marry you. Oh, you _must_ understand. Oh, _think_ what Sandy----
JANE (surprised). But she's bound to know.
BOBBY (nodding). Just you and me. Nobody else for a long time. A little private secret.
BOBBY (coming to her). Is it a bargain, Jane? Because if it's a bargain----
JANE (going away from him). No, no, Bobby. Not now. I must go upstairs and tidy myself--no, I mustn't, I must wait for Melisande--no, Bobby, don't. Not yet. I mean it, really. Do go, dear, anybody might come in.