VIVIE [very angry] Why not?

FRANK.  Because she’s an old wretch, Viv.  If you ever put your arm around her waist in my presence again, I’ll shoot myself there and then as a protest against an exhibition which revolts me.

VIVIE.  Must I choose between dropping your acquaintance and dropping my mother’s?

FRANK [gracefully] That would put the old lady at ever such a disadvantage.  No, Viv:  your infatuated little boy will have to stick to you in any case.  But he’s all the more anxious that you shouldn’t make mistakes.  It’s no use, Viv:  your mother’s impossible.  She may be a good sort; but she’s a bad lot, a very bad lot.

VIVIE [hotly] Frank—! [He stands his ground.  She turns away and sits down on the bench under the yew tree, struggling to recover her self-command.  Then she says] Is she to be deserted by the world because she’s what you call a bad lot?  Has she no right to live?

FRANK.  No fear of that, Viv:  she won’t ever be deserted. [He sits on the bench beside her].

VIVIE.  But I am to desert her, I suppose.

FRANK [babyishly, lulling her and making love to her with his voice] Mustn’t go live with her.  Little family group of mother and daughter wouldn’t be a success.  Spoil o u r little group.

VIVIE [falling under the spell] What little group?

FRANK.  The babes in the wood:  Vivie and little Frank. [He nestles against her like a weary child].  Lets go and get covered up with leaves.

VIVIE [rhythmically, rocking him like a nurse] Fast asleep, hand in hand, under the trees.

FRANK.  The wise little girl with her silly little boy.

VIVIE.  The deal little boy with his dowdy little girl.

FRANK.  Ever so peaceful, and relieved from the imbecility of the little boy’s father and the questionableness of the little girl’s—­

VIVIE [smothering the word against her breast] Sh-sh-sh-sh! little girl wants to forget all about her mother. [They are silent for some moments, rocking one another.  Then Vivie wakes up with a shock, exclaiming] What a pair of fools we are!  Come:  sit up.  Gracious! your hair. [She smooths it].  I wonder do all grown up people play in that childish way when nobody is looking.

I never did it when I was a child.

FRANK.  Neither did I. You are my first playmate. [He catches her hand to kiss it, but checks himself to look around first.  Very unexpectedly, he sees Crofts emerging from the box hedge].  Oh damn!

VIVIE.  Why damn, dear?

FRANK [whispering] Sh!  Here’s this brute Crofts. [He sits farther away from her with an unconcerned air].

CROFTS.  Could I have a few words with you, Miss Vivie?

VIVIE.  Certainly.

CROFTS [to Frank] Youll excuse me, Gardner.  Theyre waiting for you in the church, if you don’t mind.

FRANK [rising] Anything to oblige you, Crofts—­except church.  If you should happen to want me, Vivvums, ring the gate bell. [He goes into the house with unruffled suavity].