Freda has muffled her face.  But Bill turns and confronts his
     mother.

Bill.  Don’t say anything against her!

Lady Cheshire. [Tries to speak to him and fails—­then to Freda]
Please-go!

Bill. [Taking FREDA’s arm] No.

     Lady Cheshire, after a moment’s hesitation, herself moves
     towards the door.

Bill.  Stop, mother!

Lady Cheshire.  I think perhaps not.

Bill. [Looking at Freda, who is cowering as though from a blow] It’s a d—–­d shame!

Lady Cheshire.  It is.

Bill. [With sudden resolution] It’s not as you think.  I’m engaged to be married to her.

     [Freda gives him a wild stare, and turns away.]

Lady Cheshire. [Looking from one to the other] I don’t think I—­quite—­understand.

Bill. [With the brutality of his mortification] What I said was plain enough.

Lady Cheshire.  Bill!

Bill.  I tell you I am going to marry her.

Lady Cheshire. [To Freda] Is that true?

     [Freda gulps and remains silent.]

Bill.  If you want to say anything, say it to me, mother.

Lady Cheshire. [Gripping the edge of a little table] Give me a chair, please. [Bill gives her a chair.]

Lady Cheshire. [To Freda] Please sit down too.

     Freda sits on the piano stool, still turning her face away.

Lady Cheshire. [Fixing her eyes on Freda] Now!

Bill.  I fell in love with her.  And she with me.

Lady Cheshire.  When?

Bill.  In the summer.

Lady Cheshire.  Ah!

Bill.  It wasn’t her fault.

Lady Cheshire.  No?

Bill. [With a sort of menace] Mother!

Lady Cheshire.  Forgive me, I am not quite used to the idea.  You say that you—­are engaged?

Bill.  Yes.

Lady Cheshire.  The reasons against such an engagement have occurred to you, I suppose? [With a sudden change of tone] Bill! what does it mean?

Bill.  If you think she’s trapped me into this——­

Lady Cheshire.  I do not.  Neither do I think she has been trapped. 
I think nothing.  I understand nothing.

Bill. [Grimly] Good!

Lady Cheshire.  How long has this-engagement lasted?

Bill. [After a silence] Two months.

Lady Cheshire. [Suddenly] This is-this is quite impossible.

Bill.  You’ll find it isn’t.