GEORGE.  Brighten the room up a bit.

OLIVIA.  Yes. . . .

GEORGE (walking over to the present curtains).  H’m.  They are a bit faded.

OLIVIA (shaking out hers, and looking at them critically).  Sometimes I think I love them, and sometimes I’m not quite sure.

GEORGE.  Best way is to hang ’em up and see how you like ’em then. 
Always take ’em down again.

OLIVIA.  That’s rather a good idea, George!

GEORGE.  Best way.

OLIVIA.  Yes. . . .  I think we might do that. . . .  The only thing is—­(she hesitates).

GEORGE.  What?

OLIVIA.  Well, the carpet and the chairs, and the cushions and things—­

GEORGE.  What about ’em?

OLIVIA.  Well, if we had new curtains—­

GEORGE.  You’d want a new carpet, eh?

OLIVIA (doubtfully).  Y—­yes.  Well, new chair-covers anyhow.

GEORGE.  H’m. . . .  Well, why not?

OLIVIA.  Oh, but—­

GEORGE (with an awkward laugh).  We’re not so hard up as all that, you know.

OLIVIA.  No, I suppose not. (Thoughtfully) I suppose it would mean that
I should have to go up to London for them.  That’s rather a nuisance.

GEORGE (extremely casual).  Oh, I don’t know.  We might go up together one day.

OLIVIA.  Well, of course if we were up—­for anything else—­we could just look about us, and see if we could find what we want.

GEORGE.  That’s what I meant.

(There is another silence.  GEORGE is wondering whether to come to closer quarters with the great question.)

OLIVIA.  Oh, by the way, George—­

GEORGE.  Yes?

OLIVIA (innocently).  I told Brian, and I expect he’ll tell Dinah, that
Mr. Pim had made a mistake about the name.

GEORGE (astonished).  You told Brian that Mr. Pim—­

OLIVIA.  Yes—­I told him that the whole thing was a mistake.  It seemed the simplest way.

GEORGE.  Olivia!  Then you mean that Brian and Dinah think that—­that we have been married all the time?

OLIVIA.  Yes . . .  They both think so now.

GEORGE (coming close to her).  Olivia, does that mean that you are thinking of marrying me?

OLIVIA.  At your old Registry Office?

GEORGE (eagerly).  Yes!

OLIVIA.  To-morrow?

GEORGE.  Yes!

OLIVIA.  Do you want me to very much?

GEORGE.  My darling, you know I do!

OLIVIA (a little apprehensive).  We should have to do it very quietly.

GEORGE.  Of course, darling.  Nobody need know at all.  We don’t want anybody to know.  And now that you’ve put Brian and Dinah off the scent, by telling them that Mr. Pim made a mistake—­(He breaks off, and says admiringly) That was very clever of you, Olivia.  I should never have thought of that.

OLIVIA (innocently).  No, darling. . . .  You don’t think it was wrong,
George?