Part 12

ANNYS. (For a moment—but a moment only—she is pleased. Then the doubtful meaning of ELIZABETH’S words strikes her.)

(Enter HAKE.)

ANNYS. (She has to dismiss ELIZABETH.) Oh, Hake—(To LADY MOGTON.) You’ll want a cab, won’t you, mamma?

LADY MOGTON. A taxi— Goodbye, everybody.

(She sails out.)

MRS. MOUNTCALM-VILLIERS. I have my carriage. (To ELIZABETH.) Can I give you a lift?

ELIZABETH. Thank you. (To GEOFFREY.) We shall meet again.

GEOFFREY. I feel sure of it.

(MRS. MOUNTCALM-VILLIERS and ELIZABETH go out.)

PHOEBE. (To HAKE.) Are Miss Blake’s things dry yet?

JANET. They’ll be quite all right, dear. Please don’t trouble. (She advances a timid hand to GEOFFREY.) Goodbye, Mr. Chilvers.

GEOFFREY. (He takes it smiling.) Goodbye.

(She goes out; HAKE follows.)

PHOEBE. Goodbye, old boy. (They shake hands.) Don’t you let her walk over you. Make her fight.

ANNYS. (Laughing.) Don’t you worry about that.

ST. HERBERT. Would you care to look through McCaw v. Potts? (He has the papers in his hand.)

GEOFFREY. I’ll ask you for it when I want it.

PHOEBE. (At door.) You’ll be alone this evening?

ANNYS. Yes. Come in to dinner.

PHOEBE. All right. Goodbye.

ST. HERBERT. Goodbye.

(GEOFFREY and ANNYS answer them. They go out, closing the door. GEOFFREY is by the fire. ANNYS comes to him.)

ANNYS. (She puts her arms round him.) You don’t mind?

GEOFFREY. (He holds her at arms’ length—looking into her eyes and smiling.) I believe you are looking forward to it.

ANNYS. Do you know how long we have been married? Eight years. And do you know, sir, that all that time we have never had a difference? Don’t you think it will be good for you?

GEOFFREY. Do you know why we have never had a difference? Because you have always had your own way.

ANNYS. Oh!

GEOFFREY. You have got so used to it, you don’t notice it.