MELISANDE. Don't apologise. Go on.
BOBBY. Well, I didn't discuss you with your mother. She just happened to say that girls never knew their own minds, and that they always said "No" the first time, and that I needn't be downhearted, because—
MELISANDE. That you needn't? You mean you told her?
BOBBY. Well, it sort of came out.
MELISANDE. After I had promised that I wouldn't say anything, you went and told her! And then I suppose you went and told the cook, and she said that her brother's young woman was just the same, and then you told the butcher, and he said, "You stick to it, sir. All women are alike. My missis said 'No' to me the first time." And then you went and told the gardeners—I suppose you had all the gardeners together in the potting-shed, and gave them a lecture about it—and when you had told them, you said, "Excuse me a moment, I must now go and tell the postman," and then—
BOBBY. I say, steady; you know that isn't fair.
MELISANDE. Oh, what a world!
BOBBY. I say, you know that isn't fair.
MELISANDE (picking up her book). Father and Jane are outside, Bobby, if you have anything you wish to tell them. But I suppose they know already. (She pretends to read.)
BOBBY. I say, you know—(He doesn't quite know what to say. There is an awkward silence. Then he says humbly) I'm awfully sorry, Melisande. Please forgive me.