GEORGIANA.  Is it?  Well, it’s a tie for you!

DICK.  Oh—­I mean it’s ugly for reins, but perfectly lovely for a tie—­I’ll take it with me.

[Puts it in his pocket.

GEORGIANA.  I wish I could go with you.

DICK.  Don’t you think you’re needed here just at this moment?

GEORGIANA.  Has Steve told you?

DICK.  No, Coast did.

GEORGIANA.  Don’t you think I’m doing right?

DICK.  If you love him, of course, old girl, you’re doing right.  I think
I must go now. [Rises.] Good-by.

GEORGIANA.  No, don’t go yet, please.  I can’t bear to have you go.

DICK.  It’s good of you to care so much. [Leans against the table.] You know only yesterday I woke up and suddenly began to hope—­

GEORGIANA.  What—­

DICK.  Nothing; I don’t hope it any more, anyway!  I say, Georgiana, you’ll go around and see mother and father once in a while, won’t you?

GEORGIANA.  Of course I will—­

DICK.  It’ll cheer them up a lot, you know—­they feel so badly; it’s pretty tough on them, my leaving.

GEORGIANA. I feel badly too—­

DICK.  That’s jolly good of you.

GEORGIANA.  And isn’t it just a little tough to leave me?  Your oldest friend almost, you know.

[She adds this latter to cover up the sentiment which was coming too near the surface.

DICK.  Of course it is.

GEORGIANA.  You haven’t said so.

DICK.  Still waters run deep, Georgy, and I—­[He moves away.] really, I must be going.

GEORGIANA. [Rising.] No, don’t go.

DICK. [Looking at his watch.] I must.

GEORGIANA.  No, let me see your watch.  Yes, you have got three more minutes.  Please—­sit down—­

[She persuades him to sit down again, and she reseats herself.

DICK.  Have your own way!

GEORGIANA.  Will there be fighting?

DICK.  I hope so!

GEORGIANA.  Oh, but what fighting!  I’ve read, I know—­ambushes and tortures—­their war is murder.

DICK.  Yes, and that’s why we’re going out there to put an end to it.

GEORGIANA.  Why need you?

DICK.  Some one must, I as well as another; in fact, just now, I better than any other.

GEORGIANA.  Why you better?

DICK.  Because I want to go—­I’ve got a restless fit, Georgiana—­and want to get away from here—­I want to get away from everybody.

GEORGIANA.  From me?

DICK.  Yes, even from you!

GEORGIANA. [Hurt.] Thank you.

DICK.  I should think your woman’s instinct would teach you why.

GEORGIANA.  Well, it doesn’t! and I really should be very much obliged to you if you would help my woman’s instinct out.

DICK.  Of course it’s all right what you’re going to do, only—­well, I don’t want to be here to see it.