Cuthbertson (looking first after her, then at Charteris).  More neurasthenia. (He follows her.)

Sylvia (jumping up on her knees on the settee and speaking over the back of it).  What’s up, Charteris?  Julia been making love to you?

Charteris (speaking to her over his shoulder).  No.  Blowing me up for making love to Grace.

Sylvia.  Serve you right.  You are an awful devil for philandering.

Charteris (calmly).  Do you consider it good club form to talk that way to a man who might nearly be your father?

Sylvia (knowingly).  Oh, I know you, my lad.

Charteris.  Then you know that I never pay any special attention to any woman.

Sylvia (thoughtfully).  Do you know, Leonard, I really believe you.  I don’t think you care a bit more for one woman than for another.

Charteris.  You mean I don’t care a bit less for one woman than another.

Sylvia.  That makes it worse.  But what I mean is that you never bother about their being only women:  you talk to them just as you do to me or any other fellow.  That’s the secret of your success.  You can’t think how sick they get of being treated with the respect due to their sex.

Charteris.  Ah, if Julia only had your wisdom, Craven! (He gets off the table with a sigh and perches himself reflectively on the stepladder.)

Sylvia.  She can’t take things easy, can she, old man?  But don’t you be afraid of breaking her heart:  she gets over her little tragedies.  We found that out at home when our great sorrow came.

Charteris.  What was that?

Sylvia.  I mean when we learned that poor papa had Paramore’s disease.  But it was too late to inoculate papa.  All they could do was to prolong his life for two years more by putting him on a strict diet.  Poor old boy! they cut off his liquor; and he’s not allowed to eat meat.

Charteris.  Your father appears to me to be uncommonly well.

Sylvia.  Yes, you would think he was a great deal better.  But the microbes are at work, slowly but surely.  In another year it will be all over.  Poor old Dad! it’s unfeeling to talk about him in this attitude:  I must sit down properly. (She comes down from the settee and takes the chair near the bookstand.) I should like papa to live for ever just to take the conceit out of Paramore.  I believe he’s in love with Julia.

Charteris (starting up excitedly).  In love with Julia!  A ray of hope on the horizon!  Do you really mean it?

Sylvia.  I should think I do.  Why do you suppose he’s hanging about the club to-day in a beautiful new coat and tie instead of attending to his patients?  That lunch with Julia will finish him.  He’ll ask Daddy’s consent before they come back—­I’ll bet you three to one he will, in anything you please.