CINDERELLA (_sneering_). What are you looking at? POLICEMAN. Just at you. CINDERELLA (_in high delight_). Me! There’s little to look at in me. You should see the larder at the Home! You’ll have a cup of China tea and some of this cake? POLICEMAN. No, Jane, no. (_In a somewhat melancholy voice._) Things to eat have very little interest to me now. CINDERELLA. Oh? POLICEMAN. I’ve gone completely off my feed. (CINDERELLA _would have liked the_ PROBATIONER _to hear this_.) CINDERELLA (_artfully_). I wonder how that can be! POLICEMAN. Did you get my letter, Jane? CINDERELLA (_calmly_). I got it— POLICEMAN. Did you—did you think it was a peculiar sort of a letter? CINDERELLA (_mercilessly_). I don’t mind nothing peculiar in it. POLICEMAN. There was no word in it that took you aback, was there? CINDERELLA. Not that I mind of. POLICEMAN (_worried_). Maybe you didn’t read it very careful? CINDERELLA. I may have missed something. What was the word, David? POLICEMAN (_in gloom_). Oh, it was just a small affair. It was just a beginning. I thought, if she stands that she’ll stand more. But if you never noticed it—(_He sighs profoundly._) CINDERELLA. I’ll take another look— POLICEMAN (_brightening_). You’ve kept it? CINDERELLA. I have it here. POLICEMAN. I could let you see the word if it’s convenient to you to get the letter out of your pocket. CINDERELLA. It’s not in my pocket. POLICEMAN. Is it under the pillow? CINDERELLA. No. POLICEMAN (_puzzled_). Where, then? (CINDERELLA, _with charming modesty, takes the letter from her bodice. Her lover is thunderstruck._) What made you think of keeping it there? CINDERELLA. I didn’t think, David; it just came to me. POLICEMAN (_elate_). It’s infall_ay_able! I’ll let you see the word. CINDERELLA (_smiling at the ridiculous man_). You don’t need to bother, David. Fine I know what the word is. POLICEMAN (_anxious_). And you like it? CINDERELLA. If you like it. POLICEMAN. That emboldens me tremendous. CINDERELLA. I don’t like that so much. If there’s one thing I like more than any other thing in the world— POLICEMAN (_eager_). Yes? CINDERELLA. It’s seeing you, David, tremendous bold before all other folk, and just in a quake before me. POLICEMAN (_astounded_). It’s what I am! And yet there’s something bold I must say to you. CINDERELLA (_faltering genteelly_). Is there? POLICEMAN. It’ll be a staggering surprise to you. (CINDERELLA _giggles discreetly_.) I promised the Doctor as I came in not to tire you. (_With some awe._) She’s a powerful woman that. CINDERELLA. If you tire me I’ll hold up my hand just like you do to stop the traffic. Go on, David. Just wait a moment. (_She takes off his helmet and holds it to her thin breast._) Here’s a friend of mine. Now?