I want to hear all about your early life.
OLIVIA. Dinah!
PIM. Oh, we are almost, I might say, old friends, Mrs. Marden.
DINAH. Of course we are. He knows Brian, too. There's more in Mr. Pim
than you think. You _will_ stay to lunch, won't you?
PIM. It's very kind of you to ask me, Mrs. Marden, but I am lunching
with the Trevors.
OLIVIA. Oh, well, you must come to lunch another day.
DINAH. The reason why we like Mr. Pim so much is that he was the first
person to congratulate us. We feel that he is going to have a great
influence on our lives.
PIM (to OLIVIA). I, so to speak, stumbled on the engagement this
morning and--er--
OLIVIA. I see. Children, you must go and tidy yourselves up. Run
along.
BRIAN. Sir Brian and Lady Strange never run; they walk. (Offering his
arm) Madam!
DINAH (taking it). Au revoir, Mr. Pim. (Dramatically)
We--shall--meet--_again_!
PIM (chuckling). Good morning, Miss Dinah.
BRIAN. Good morning.
[He and DINAH go out.
OLIVIA. You must forgive them, Mr. Pim. They're such children. And
naturally they're rather excited just now.
PIM. Oh, not at all, Mrs. Marden.
OLIVIA. Of course you won't say anything about their engagement. We
only heard about it five minutes ago, and nothing has been settled
yet.
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