Chapter IV: Part 4

[_Relieved._] Will you go to my room and see if my bag has been taken down?

[_He goes out for a moment. She remains with an ecstatic look on
her face. He comes back._

DICKIE.

Yes. Peyton’s taken it.

PENELOPE.

Then--[_she gives him a look from beneath her eye-lashes_]--ring and tell her to bring it up again.

DICKIE.

[_Hardly able to believe his good fortune._] Pen!

PENELOPE.

Are you pleased?

DICKIE.

Oh, you’re much too good to me. I can’t tell you how grateful I am. Oh, Pen, if you only knew how much I adore you!

[_He falls on his knees and passionately kisses her hands. She can
hardly restrain herself from lifting him up and flinging her arms
round his neck._

DICKIE.

Is there any chance for me at all? D’you think you’ll ever love me as you used to?

PENELOPE.

How can I tell?

DICKIE.

Oh, why can’t we go back to the beginning? D’you remember how we loved one another then? You used to come down with me every day when I went out, and when I came back you always ran down to kiss me. And d’you remember how you used to sit on my chair in the morning while I smoked my pipe and we read the paper together?

PENELOPE.

[_Concealing a smile._] How you must have hated it!

DICKIE.

Hate it? I’ve never been so happy in my life.

PENELOPE.

At all events I hope we shall always continue to be good friends.

DICKIE.

[_Starting up._] Friends! What’s the good of offering me your friendship when I’m starving for your love? How can you make me so unhappy?

PENELOPE.

[_Smiling indulgently._] But I’m not going to make you unhappy. I hope I shall always be very pleasant and agreeable.

DICKIE.

What d’you think I care for that? Pen, promise that you’ll try to love me?

PENELOPE.

[_With a smile._] Yes, I’ll try if you like.

DICKIE.

I’ll make you love me. I’ll never rest till I’m sure of your love.

PENELOPE.

And when you are sure of it I suppose you won’t care twopence for me any more?

DICKIE.

Try me! Try me!

[_He kisses her hands again. He does not see her face. She smiles
and shakes her head._

DICKIE.

I never knew that you were so adorable. It fills me with rapture merely to kiss your hands.

[PENELOPE _gives a little laugh and releases herself_.

PENELOPE.

Now I must just go to the Hendersons and tell them I can’t come motoring.

DICKIE.

Can’t you telephone? I don’t want to let you out of my sight.

PENELOPE.

They’re not on the telephone. It’ll be more convenient for me to go.

DICKIE.

Very well. If you must, I suppose you must.

[_She smiles and goes to the door. When she reaches it he stops
her._

DICKIE.

Oh, Pen!

PENELOPE.

Yes.

DICKIE.

At what time will you be back?

[_Recognising the phrase, she gives a gesture of amusement, quickly
kisses her hand to him, and slips out of the door._

THE END.

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