_
BETTY. Hector! You're not ill?
HECTOR. [_Kissing her._] Play postponed, my child--bit of luck! When I got
to the theatre I found that the actor-manager's car had collided with a
cab outside the stage-door--he was thrown through the window--there's a
magnificent exit for you! and has been cut about a bit. Nothing serious.
But the play's postponed for a week. Bit of luck!
WALTER. [_Sitting._] Not for him.
HECTOR. Oh _he_ has had luck enough--tons of it! I'll get into a
jacket--then we'll have some bridge. See what progress you've made, Betty!
[_He hurries out, and closes the door._
BETTY. [_Producing a little mirror from her bag, looking into it,
touching her hair._] We were only just in time.
WALTER. [_Eagerly, as he bends across the table._] You're splendid--you
are--splendid!
BETTY. Yes. All very nice and comfortable for you--isn't it? [_She puts
the mirror back into the bag._]
WALTER. [_Coaxingly._] Betty.
BETTY. To-morrow you'll go to her--or to-night perhaps--
WALTER. To-night--ridiculous! At this hour!
BETTY. She's a deceitful little cat. I saw her last week--she never told
me--
WALTER. I don't think she knew. I only proposed to-day.
BETTY. [_Flinging herself back in her chair, and opening wide eyes._]
You--proposed--to-day!
WALTER. [_Very embarrassed._] Yes--I mean--
BETTY. You--proposed--to-day! And waited till she had accepted you--to
tell _me_--
WALTER. [_Eagerly._] Don't be so silly--come, come, he'll be back in a
minute.
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