Don’t you know better than to frighten ladies and eavesdrop and—
LANCELOT (warmly)
I was abs’lootly honorable, because I couldn’t help it, and you none of you ever gave me a single chance to get away. My conduct is the only one here that hasn’t got a stain on it or anything. (He turns hotly upon Mrs. Briggs and Jessie.) I got nothing to reproach myself with, but I’d just like to know what either of you got to say for yourselves now about the way you been talkin’ about Mrs. Curtis! If you either of you ever just dare to soil your lips with even her name again, why, I know more things—
MRS. BRIGGS
Be quiet, Lancelot.
LANCELOT
Quiet? Me? (He laughs shortly with an irony he could not express in words.) In the first place, don’t call me Lancelot any more. You know how I hate that name, and I been tryin’ to break you of it long enough—and now I will! I don’t care what you call me, but don’t call me that!
JESSIE (pointing to the settee)
How long were you under there?
LANCELOT (sternly)