[Miss beech shakes her head.]

Why not?

Miss beech.  The poor little creature won’t let me in.

Dick.  You’ve been up then!

Miss beech. [Sharply.] Of course I’ve been up.  I’ve not got a stone for my heart, young man!

Dick.  All right!  I suppose I shall just have to get along somehow.

Miss beech. [With devilry.] That’s what we’ve all got to do.

Dick. [Gloomily.] But this is too brutal for anything!

Miss beech.  Worse than ever happened to any one!

Dick.  I swear I’m not thinking of myself.

Miss beech.  Did y’ ever know anybody that swore they were?

Dick.  Oh! shut up!

Miss beech.  You’d better go in and get yourself a partner.

Dick. [With pale desperation.] Look here, Peachey, I simply loathe all those girls.

Miss beech.  Ah-h! [Ironically.] Poor lot, are n’t they?

Dick.  All right; chaff away, it’s good fun, isn’t it?  It makes me sick to dance when Joy’s lying there.  Her last night, too!

Miss beech. [Sidling to him.] You’re a good young man, and you ’ve got a good heart.

     [She takes his hand, and puts it to her cheek.]

Dick.  Peachey—­I say, Peachey d’ you think there ‘s—­I mean d’ you think there’ll ever be any chance for me?

Miss beech.  I thought that was coming!  I don’t approve of your making love at your time of life; don’t you think I ’m going to encourage you.

Dick.  But I shall be of age in a year; my money’s my own, it’s not as if I had to ask any one’s leave; and I mean, I do know my own mind.

Miss beech.  Of course you do.  Nobody else would at your age, but you do.

Dick.  I would n’t ask her to promise, it would n’t be fair when she ’s so young, but I do want her to know that I shall never change.

Miss beech.  And suppose—­only suppose—­she’s fond of you, and says she’ll never change.

Dick.  Oh!  Peachey!  D’ you think there’s a chance of that—­do you?

Miss beech.  A-h-h!

Dick.  I wouldn’t let her bind herself, I swear I wouldn’t. [Solemnly.] I’m not such a selfish brute as you seem to think.

Miss beech. [Sidling close to him and in a violent whisper.] Well—­ have a go!

Dick.  Really?  You are a brick, Peachey!

     [He kisses her.]

Miss Beach. [Yielding pleasurably; then remembering her principles.] Don’t you ever say I said so!  You’re too young, both of you.

Dick.  But it is exceptional—­I mean in my case, is n’t it?