[Joy shakes her head.]

Do look at me! [Joy steals a look.] Oh!  Joy!

     [Again joy shakes her head.]

Joy. [Suddenly.] Don’t!

Dick. [Seizing her hand.] Oh, Joy!  Can’t you——­

Joy. [Drawing the hand away.] Oh! don’t.

Dick. [Bending his head.] It’s—­it’s—­so——­

Joy. [Quietly.] Don’t, Dick!

Dick.  But I can’t help it!  It’s too much for me, Joy, I must tell you——­

     [Mrs. Gwyn is seen approaching towards the house.]

Joy. [Spinning round.] It’s Mother—­oh, Mother!
[She rushes at her.]

     [Mrs. Gwyn is a handsome creature of thirty-six, dressed in a
     muslin frock.  She twists her daughter round, and kisses her.]

Mrs. Gwyn.  How sweet you look with your hair up, Joy!  Who ’s this? [Glancing with a smile at Dick.]

Joy.  Dick Merton—­in my letters you know.

     [She looks at Dick as though she wished him gone.]

Mrs. Gwyn.  How do you do?

Dick. [Shaking hands.] How d ’you do?  I think if you’ll excuse me
—­I’ll go in.

     [He goes uncertainly.]

Mrs. Gwyn.  What’s the matter with him?

Joy.  Oh, nothing! [Hugging her.] Mother!  You do look such a duck. 
Why did you come by the towing-path, was n’t it cooking?

Mrs. Gwyn. [Avoiding her eyes.] Mr. Lever wanted to go into Mr.
Henty’s.

     [Her manner is rather artificially composed.]

Joy. [Dully.] Oh!  Is he-is he really coming here, Mother?

Mrs. Gwyn. [Whose voice has hardened just a little.] If Aunt Nell’s got a room for him—­of course—­why not?

Joy. [Digging her chin into her mother’s shoulder.]

     [Why couldn’t he choose some day when we’d gone?  I wanted you
     all to myself.]

Mrs. Gwyn.  You are a quaint child—­when I was your age——­

Joy. [Suddenly looking up.] Oh!  Mother, you must have been a chook!

Mrs. Gwyn.  Well, I was about twice as old as you, I know that.

Joy.  Had you any—­any other offers before you were married, Mother?

Mrs. Gwyn. [Smilingly.] Heaps!

Joy. [Reflectively.] Oh!

Mrs. Gwyn.  Why?  Have you been having any?

Joy. [Glancing at Mrs. Gwyn, and then down.] N-o, of course not!

Mrs. Gwyn.  Where are they all?  Where’s Peachey?

Joy.  Fussing about somewhere; don’t let’s hurry!  Oh! you duckie—­ duckie!  Aren’t there any letters from Dad?

Mrs. Gwyn. [In a harder voice.] Yes, one or two.