TENNANT. [laughing.] You don’t want much. The old chap was quite excited, asked me to write—how’s that?

Pause.

[Rising.] The thing is—I can’t see why I didn’t go before. Why did I ever go into the beastly office? There was nobody to stop me going to Timbuctoo, if I liked. I say, will you tell Mrs. Wilson?

CHAR. She’s only in the kitchen. Lil!—Lil! [Shouting.]

LILY. [from outside.] Yes, dear.

CHAR. Come here! Here’s news.

LILY enters, wiping her hands on her pinafore and smiling.

LILY. Yes?

CHAR. [waving his pipe towards TENNANT.] What d’ye think he’s going to do?

LILY. [studying TENNANT seriously.] Do? How—