MASSEY. I wish old Foster could hear you.
MASSEY. He'd say--"And where do I come in?"
MAGGIE. Well, of course he'll be there. I wish--
MRS. M. Maggie, my dear--I should like a little more tea! Have you got some more hot water?
MASSEY. It's all very well for her to chaff, but she ain't quite natural about this affair of hers. She ought to be more pleased--excited like.
MRS. M. I think they've had a little quarrel. People often do. She's a little bit down about it. We've had a talk about it.
MASSEY. Well, she can't have any quarrel about him himself. _He's_ all right, and got a jolly soft job, too. He'll make her a good husband. He's insured for £500.
MRS. M. Is he? That's very nice. If anything happened to him she'd be all right.
MASSEY. He's a thoughtful sort of chap. Of course he's not exactly young, but he's steady.
MRS. M. The poor child is jealous of his first wife.
MASSEY. You don't say so? Jealous, is she? That's all right--that's a healthy feeling. I'm glad she's jealous, but she'll get over it once she's married. Jealous! Lord! Fancy, Mag too--I wouldn't have thought it. He'll be head clerk, one of these days--he can stay at Whitakers all his life. He told me.
LILY. Do you think he'll ever get tired of it?
MASSEY. [_roaring._] Tired! Tired of what? A good job? Why ever should he be? He couldn't have anything better--Ten to half-past five every day of his life, except Saturdays, and then it's _one_--and three weeks' holiday. Think of that?
_Enter MAGGIE with hot water. The door-bell is heard._
MRS. M. Let them in, Lily, my dear--it's Percy and Syb.
_Re-enter LILY a moment after, followed by PERCY and SYBIL._
SYBIL. Aren't we dreadfully late, Mrs. Massey? I'm _so_ sorry!
MAGGIE. Don't blame the poor thing--it's all right.
MASSEY. The watch, was it? Come here, my girl!
_SYBIL goes to him with giggling shyness. He takes her face between his hands._
_Was_ it the watch? Not a bit of it! It was this--[_He pats her cheek_] these roses. Lucky young dog! Percy! [_He kisses her._]
MAGGIE. Rather cold in the Park, isn't it?
MAGGIE. There's a northeast wind. Still, you can find a sheltered seat.
PERCY. Just beyond the glass house thing.
MAGGIE. What did I tell you? [_Looking triumphantly round._]