Peter. Your brother's coming for you. Meantime I ask you to remember the difference between the Peter Garside of six months ago and the Garside of to-day. I've bridged the gulf that lay between us. A man of genius can do things like that. I meant what I said, Miss Mottram. I didn't say it till you encouraged me.
Glad. I have not encouraged you.
Peter. You're here, you know. You let your brother go without you. You let my mother leave us alone. Isn't that encouragement?
Glad. (as cruelly as she can). I stayed because I find you amusing.
Peter. Yes. I dare say I am amusing. People in deadly earnest usually are.
Glad, (gently). We'll forget what you said, Mr. Garside.
Peter. No, we won't. I can't ask you to marry me yet because I am not rich. I'm merely prospering. But I ask you to wait. Give me a year—no, six months. I can offer you a home in London then. It won't be worthy of you, but we shan't stagnate. May I come to you in six months' time to get your answer to the question I haven't yet the right to ask?
Glad. I don't know.
Peter. No. Rut I know six months of Midlandton are longer than six years here. You badly want to live in London now. You'll want it worse then. Don't think of me as I was. That's buried. Think of me as I am and as I'm going to be. (Electric bell rings right.) That's probably your brother.
Glad (half sorry, but on the whole relieved). Yes. Don't keep him waiting.