BETTY.[_Hearing_ HECTOR _coming._] Sh.
[HECTOR _comes in--she is idly tossing the cards about._ HECTOR
_has put on a smoking-jacket--he comes in, very jolly, fussing
around, rubbing his hands, so glad to be home. He sits, to the
right of_ BETTY.
HECTOR. Now for a game!
[_He seizes a pack, and spreads out the cards._
BETTY. [_Leaning back._] Not sure that I want to play.
HECTOR. Don't be disagreeable, Betty! Why?
BETTY. [_Listlessly, as she rises and moves across the room._] No fun,
being three.
HECTOR. Good practice for you. Come on.
BETTY. [_Leaning against the other table, and turning and facing them._]
Besides, _he_ has something to tell you.
HECTOR. Walter?
BETTY. Yes.
HECTOR. [_Looking inquiringly at_ WALTER.] To tell _me?_ What is it?
BETTY. That he's engaged.
HECTOR. [_Shouting, as he leans across the table._] Never! Walter!
Engaged? You?
WALTER. [_Nervously._] Yes.
HECTOR. [_Noisily and affectionately._] You old scoundrel! You rascal and
villain! Engaged--and you don't come and tell _me_ first! Well
I--am--damned!
WALTER. [_Trying to take it gaily._] I knew you'd chaff me about it.
HECTOR. Chaff you! Silly old coon! why I'm glad! Of course we shall miss
you--but marriage--it's the only thing, my boy--the only thing! Who is
she? Do I know her?
WALTER. [_Mumbling, as he fingers the cards._] A friend of Betty's--I
fancy you've met her--
HECTOR. Who?
BETTY. Mary Gillingham. We're the first to know--he only proposed to-day.
HECTOR. Gillingham, Gillingham.... Oh yes, I've seen her, just seen her,
but I don't remember.... I say, not the daughter of the sealing-wax man?
WALTER. Yes.
HECTOR. Then there's lots of tin! Fine! Oh you artful old dodger! Is she
pretty?
WALTER. So-So.
BETTY. [_Still leaning against the table, and looking at them both._]
She's excessively pretty. She has yellow hair and blue eyes.
HECTOR. [_Chuckling._] And she has caught old Wallie. The cynical old
Wallie who sniffed at women! Though perhaps it's the money--
BETTY. No. He's in love with her.
HECTOR. That's good. I'm glad. And I congratulate you--heartily, my boy.
[_He seizes_ WALTER'S _hand, and wrings it._] We must drink to it! [_He
gets up, goes to the side-table, and pours some whiskey into a tumbler._]
Charge your glass, Walter! [WALTER _rises and goes to the side-table._]
Ladies and gentlemen. I give you the bride and bridegroom! [_He fills the
glass from the syphon and passes it to_ WALTER, _then proceeds to fill his
own._] Betty, you must join us.
BETTY. [_Quietly._] No.
HECTOR. You can't toast him in water, of course. Has she cleared away yet?
I'll get you some Hock.
[_He puts his glass down and moves to the door at back._
BETTY. Don't be so silly. I won't drink at all.
HECTOR. [_Amazed._] Not to old Walter?
BETTY. [_Steadily._] No.
HECTOR. Why?
BETTY. [_Almost jeeringly._] Because--old Walter--has been my lover.
HECTOR. [_Stopping, and staring at her._] What?
BETTY. [_Calmly, looking full at him._] My lover ... these last two years.