[_Disengaging herself._] You"re all very kind, and I know you sympathise with me....
MRS. CROWLEY.
[_Interrupting her._] You know that we"ll do everything we can to help you.
LUCY.
It"s so good of you. There"s really nothing that any one can do. Would you all mind leaving me alone with George? We must talk this over by ourselves.
MRS. CROWLEY.
Very well. Mr. Lomas, will you put me into a cab?
d.i.c.k.
Certainly. [_To_ LUCY.] Good-bye, dear, and G.o.d bless you.
LUCY.
[_Shaking hands with him._] Don"t worry too much about me. If there"s anything I want, I"ll let you know.
d.i.c.k.
Thanks.
[_He goes out with_ MRS. CROWLEY.
ALEC.
May I speak to you for a few minutes alone?
LUCY.
Not now, Mr. Mackenzie. I don"t want to seem rude, but ...
ALEC.
[_Interrupting._] I know, and I wouldn"t insist unless it were a matter of the most urgent importance.
LUCY.
Very well. George, will you take Aunt Alice to her room? I shall want you in a moment.
GEORGE.
Yes.
LUCY.
[_To_ LADY KELSEY.] Won"t you lie down and try and sleep a little? You must be dreadfully exhausted.
LADY KELSEY.
Ah, don"t think of me now, dear. Think of yourself.
LUCY.
[_Smiling._] It"s purely selfish. It eases me a little to fuss about you.
GEORGE.
I"ll wait in the smoking-room, Lucy.
LUCY.
Do!
[GEORGE _and_ LADY KELSEY _go out._
ALEC.
I think your self-command is wonderful. I"ve never admired you more than at this moment.
LUCY.
You make me feel such a prig. It"s not really very strange if I keep my head, because I"ve had an immensely long training. Since I was fifteen I"ve been alone to care for George and my father.... Won"t you sit down?
ALEC.
I can say what I want in a very few words. You know that in a week I start for Momba.s.sa to take charge of the expedition in North-East Africa. I may be away for three or four years, and I shall be exposed to a certain amount of danger. When I left Africa last time to gather supplies, I determined I would crush those wretched slave-traders, and now I think I have the means to do it.
LUCY.
I think you are engaged on a very great work.
ALEC.
I don"t know whether you ever noticed that--that I cared more for you than for any one in the world. But with the long journey in front of me I didn"t think it was right to say anything to you. It wasn"t fair to ask you to bind yourself during my long absence. And there was always the risk that a stray bullet might put an end to me. I made up my mind that I must wait till I returned. But things have changed now. Lucy, I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me before I go?
LUCY.
No, I can"t do that. It"s very generous of you, but I couldn"t.
ALEC.
Why not? Don"t you know that I love you? It would help me so much if I knew that you were waiting for me at home.
LUCY.