[_Evelyn moves down, sitting at bottom of bank, a little below him._]
EVELYN. Did you often quarrel with your sister?
CECIL. Perpetually. _And_ my brothers. Didn't you?
CECIL. Poor little kid. You must have been rather lonely.
EVELYN [_matter-of-fact_]. There was always Reggie.
EVELYN. My cousin, Reggie Townsend. He lived with us when we were children. His parents were in India.
CECIL [_matter-of-fact_]. So he used to quarrel with you instead.
EVELYN [_shocked_]. Oh no! We _never_ quarreled. At least, Reggie never did. _I_ did sometimes.
CECIL. How dull! There's no good in quarreling if people won't quarrel back.
EVELYN. I don't think there's any good in quarreling at all.
CECIL. Oh, yes, there is. There's the making it up again.
EVELYN. Was that why you used to quarrel with your sister?
CECIL. I expect so, though I didn't know it, of course--then. I used to tease her awfully, I remember, and pull her hair. She had awfully jolly hair. Like yours--oh! I forgot, I mustn't say that. Used you to pull Reggie's hair?
EVELYN [_laughing_]. I'm afraid I did sometimes.
CECIL. I was sure of it. How long was he with you?
EVELYN. Till he went to Winchester. And of course he used to be with us in the holidays after that. And he comes to us now whenever he can get away for a few days. He's in his uncle's office in the city. He'll be a partner some day.
EVELYN. _Poor_ chap! Mother says he's very _fortunate_.
CECIL. She would. Parents always think it very fortunate when young men have to go to an office every day. I know mine do.
EVELYN. _Do_ you go to an office every day?
EVELYN [_with dignity_]. Then I don't think you can know much about it, can you?
CECIL [_carelessly_]. I know too much. That's why I don't go.
CECIL. I don't do anything. I'm at the Bar.
EVELYN. If you're at the Bar, why are you down here instead of up in London working?
CECIL. Because if I were in London I might possibly get a brief. It's not likely, but it's possible. And if I got a brief I should have to be mugging in chambers, or wrangling in a stuffy court, instead of sitting under a tree in the shade with you.
EVELYN. But _ought_ you to waste your time like that?
CECIL [_genuinely shocked_]. _Waste_ my time! To sit under a tree--a really nice tree like this--talking to you. You can call that _wasting time_!