DINAH.  What do I want?

BRIAN.  You want a secret engagement, and notes left under door-mats, and meetings by the withered thorn, when all the household is asleep. I know you.

DINAH.  Oh, but it is such fun!  I love meeting people by withered thorns.

BRIAN.  Well, I’m not going to have it.

DINAH (childishly).  Oh, George!  Look at us being husbandy!

BRIAN.  You babe!  I adore you. (He kisses her and holds her away from him and looks at her) You know, you’re rather throwing yourself away on me.  Do you mind?

DINAH.  Not a bit.

BRIAN.  We shall never be rich, but we shall have lots of fun, and meet interesting people, and feel that we’re doing something worth doing, and not getting paid nearly enough for it, and we can curse the Academy together and the British Public, and—­oh, it’s an exciting life.

DINAH (seeing it).  I shall love it.

BRIAN.  I’ll make you love it.  You shan’t be sorry, Dinah.

DINAH.  You shan’t be sorry either, Brian.

BRIAN (looking at her lovingly).  Oh, I know I shan’t. . . .  What will
Olivia think about it?  Will she be surprised?

DINAH.  She’s never surprised.  She always seems to have thought of things about a week before they happen.  George just begins to get hold of them about a week after they’ve happened. (Considering him) After all, there’s no reason why George shouldn’t like you, darling.

BRIAN.  I’m not his sort, you know.

DINAH.  You’re more Olivia’s sort.  Well, we’ll tell Olivia this morning.

OLIVIA (coming in).  And what are you going to tell Olivia this morning? (She looks at them with a smile) Oh, well, I think I can guess.

(Shall we describe OLIVIA?  But you will know all about her before the day is over.)

DINAH (jumping up).  Olivia, darling!

BRIAN (following).  Say you understand, Mrs. Marden.

OLIVIA.  Mrs. Marden, I am afraid, is a very dense person, Brian, but I think if you asked Olivia if she understood——­

BRIAN.  Bless you, Olivia.  I knew you’d be on our side.

DINAH.  Of course she would.

OLIVIA.  I don’t know if it’s usual to kiss an aunt-in-law, Brian, but Dinah is such a very special sort of niece that—­(she inclines her cheek and BRIAN kisses it).

DINAH.  I say, you are in luck to-day, Brian.

OLIVIA (going over to her chair by the work-table and getting to business with the curtains) And how many people have been told the good news?

BRIAN.  Nobody yet.

DINAH.  Except Mr. Pim.

BRIAN.  Oh, does he—­

OLIVIA.  Who’s Mr. Pim?

DINAH.  Oh, he just happened—­I say, are those the curtains?  Then you’re going to have them after all?

OLIVIA (with an air of surprise).  After all what?  But I decided on them long ago. (to BRIAN) You haven’t told George yet?