BOBBY.  I say, that’s all right

MELISANDE.  I didn’t mean them.  And—­and Bobby—­I will marry you if you like.

BOBBY (staggered).  Sandy!

MELISANDE.  And it was silly of me to mind your calling me Sandy, and to say what I did about your clothes, and I will marry you, Bobby.  And—­and thank you for wanting it so much.

BOBBY.  I say, Sandy.  I say!  I say——­

MELISANDE (offering her cheek).  You may kiss me if you like, Bobby.

BOBBY.  I say! . . .  Er—­er—­(he kisses her gingerly) thanks! . . .  Er—­I say——­

MELISANDE.  What is it, Bobby?

BOBBY.  I say, you know—­(he tries again) I don’t want you to—­to feel that—­I mean, just because I asked you twice—­I mean I don’t want you to feel that—­well, I mean you mustn’t do it just for my sake, Sandy.  I mean Melisande.

MELISANDE.  You may call me Sandy.

BOBBY.  Well, you see what I mean, Sandy.

MELISANDE.  It isn’t that, Bobby.  It isn’t that.

BOBBY.  You know, I was thinking about it last night—­afterwards, you know—­and I began to see, I began to see that perhaps you were right.  I mean about my not being romantic and—­and all that.  I mean, I’m rather an ordinary sort of chap, and——­

MELISANDE (sadly).  We are all rather ordinary sort of chaps.

BOBBY (eagerly).  No, no.  No, that’s where you’re wrong, Sandy.  I mean Melisande.  You aren’t ordinary.  I don’t say you’d be throwing yourself away on me, but—­but I think you could find somebody more suitable. (Earnestly).  I’m sure you could.  I mean somebody who would remember to call you Melisande, and who would read poetry with you and—­and all that.  I mean, there are lots of fellows——­

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?

BOBBY (taken aback).  W-what?

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!

MELISANDE.  Jane is waiting for you.

(MRS. KNOWLE comes in.)

MRS. KNOWLE.  Oh, Mr. Coote, Jane is waiting for you.

BOBBY.  Oh—­er——­

MELISANDE.  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.)