Part 59

LILY.

On the stage! Ho, ho! Oh, you-- but I mustn't call you silly boy again, must I! And what do you know of me, apart from the glimpse you've had of me off the stage, and my being a shining light at the Pandora? What do you know of my-- what's the word?-- origin-- where and what I've sprung from; how I was reared; how much education I've received; how much I've contrived to pick up of the way to behave in perlite society? You can judge from poor mother, if from nothing else, that I come from humble beginnings. Yes, but how humble you couldn't dream, [making a grimace] not after a supper of raw carrots!

FARNCOMBE.

Do you think I care how humble your beginnings were! What I do know-- what I am sure about-- is that you're good-- and beautiful-- and-- and-- and gifted-- and-- and-- [leaning his head on his hands] oh, I can't describe you; you're-- you're-- to me, you're perfect.

LILY.

FARNCOMBE.

LILY.

FARNCOMBE.

Was that----?

LILY.

FARNCOMBE.

LILY.

Not a syllable against the passe-partouts! They were the making of me. It was the passe-partouts that brought me and Tedder together.

FARNCOMBE.

Who?

LILY.

Tedder. In the house where I worked, a man of the name of Tedder-- Ambrose Tedder-- taught dancing-- stage dancing-- "Tedder's Academy of Saltatory Art"-- and every time I passed Tedder's door, and heard his violin or piano, and the sound of the pupils' feet, I--! [Breaking off and throwing herself back.] Oh, lor', if once I----!

FARNCOMBE.

Go on; go on.

LILY.

Well, ultimately Tedder took me and trained me-- did it for nix-- for what he hoped to get out of me in the future. Ah, and he hasn't lost over me-- poor old Ambrose! He collared a third of my salary for ever so long; and now that the old chap's rheumaticky and worn out, I-- oh, it's not worth mentioning. [Jumping up and walking away.] My stars, he could teach, could Tedder! I began by going to him for the last twenty minutes of my dinner-hour. He wanted to stop that, because it was bad for me, he said, to practise on a full-- a full--! Ha, ha, ha! On a full--! [Behind the table, resting her two hands upon it and shaking with laughter.] Ho, ho, ho! As if I ever had-- in those days----!

FARNCOMBE.

LILY.

FARNCOMBE.

LILY.

FARNCOMBE.

LILY.

FARNCOMBE.