RICHARD. [_Watching her._] Well? BERTHA. [_Absently._] Well. He says he likes me. RICHARD. [_Leans his chin in his hand._] You showed him his note? BERTHA. Yes. I asked him what it meant. RICHARD. What did he say it meant? BERTHA. He said I must know. I said I had an idea. Then he told me he liked me very much. That I was beautiful—and all that. RICHARD. Since when! BERTHA. [_Again absently._] Since when—what? RICHARD. Since when did he say he liked you? BERTHA. Always, he said. But more since we came back. He said I was like the moon in this lavender dress. [_Looking at him._] Had you any words with him—about me? RICHARD. [_Blandly._] The usual thing. Not about you. BERTHA. He was very nervous. You saw that? RICHARD. Yes. I saw it. What else went on? BERTHA. He asked me to give him my hand. RICHARD. [_Smiling._] In marriage? BERTHA. [_Smiling._] No, only to hold. RICHARD. Did you? BERTHA. Yes. [_Tearing off a few petals._] Then he caressed my hand and asked would I let him kiss it. I let him. RICHARD. Well? BERTHA. Then he asked could he embrace me—even once?... And then... RICHARD. And then? BERTHA. He put his arm round me. RICHARD. [_Stares at the floor for a moment, then looks at her again._] And then? BERTHA. He said I had beautiful eyes. And asked could he kiss them. [_With a gesture._] I said: _Do so._ RICHARD. And he did? BERTHA. Yes. First one and then the other. [_She breaks off suddenly._] Tell me, Dick, does all this disturb you? Because I told you I don’t want that. I think you are only pretending you don’t mind. I don’t mind. RICHARD. [_Quietly._] I know, dear. But I want to find out what he means or feels just as you do. BERTHA. [_Points at him._] Remember, you allowed me to go on. I told you the whole thing from the beginning. RICHARD. [_As before._] I know, dear... And then? BERTHA. He asked for a kiss. I said: _Take it._ RICHARD. And then? BERTHA. [_Crumpling a handful of petals._] He kissed me. RICHARD. Your mouth? BERTHA. Once or twice. RICHARD. Long kisses? BERTHA. Fairly long. [_Reflects._] Yes, the last time. RICHARD. [_Rubs his hands slowly; then._] With his lips? Or... the other way? BERTHA. Yes, the last time. RICHARD. Did he ask you to kiss him? BERTHA. He did. RICHARD. Did you? BERTHA. [_Hesitates, then looking straight at him._] I did. I kissed him. RICHARD. What way? BERTHA. [_With a shrug._] O simply. RICHARD. Were you excited? BERTHA. Well, you can imagine. [_Frowning suddenly._] Not much. He has not nice lips... Still I was excited, of course. But not like with you, Dick. RICHARD. Was he? BERTHA. Excited? Yes, I think he was. He sighed. He was dreadfully nervous. RICHARD. [_Resting his forehead on his hand._] I see. BERTHA. [_Crosses towards the lounge and stands near him._] Are you jealous? RICHARD. [_As before._] No. BERTHA. [_Quietly._] You are, Dick. RICHARD. I am not. Jealous of what? BERTHA. Because he kissed me. RICHARD. [_Looks up._] Is that all?