CELIA. (_Turns back and they both hold on to box_) Certainly not. It's an additional insult that you should even suggest such a thing. Do you suppose I ever want to see you or hear your name again--a man who has dared to hold me up to ridicule as you have done--to wickedly and cruelly amuse himself at my expense---- (SMITH _gives a low laugh_.) Oh, don't you suppose I know how funny I must have seemed to you? Ha! Ha! (_Imitates_ SMITH'S _laugh_.) Silly idiot of a girl, tired of having no notice taken of her, tired of being kept on the shelf, just dying to show people how attractive she could be--only give her the chance. And to think because of that I made such an everlasting fool of myself before a man, a man who is capable of---- SMITH. Capable of telling you a lie, Miss Faraday? (_Puts box of letters on table_.) (_READY Motor Horn_.) CELIA. Well, you did. You know you did. You did everything you could think of to deceive me. SMITH. I can't deny it. CELIA. And do you believe that a man or a woman could ever bring himself or herself to respect or have anything to do with a man or a woman who--who deceived? SMITH. I do believe it. And judging by my own case, I may say I know it. CELIA. I don't think it is very generous of you to allude to me in that manner. SMITH. Me. We are discussing me, Miss Faraday. What can I say to induce you to forgive me? CELIA. Nothing. (SMITH _turns away. She glances at him. In an indifferent tone_) But, of course, you may say it if you wish. SMITH. (_Turns and comes to her. Tenderly_) I _did_ lie to you elaborately, and I'm going to be jolly glad that I had the chance of lying to you, and I want all the rest of my life the chance of telling you the truth. These few hours with you have made me want so very much for more like them, made me want a chance to seem less odious in your eyes, at least to be on a fair footing, so that I may take my chances with the rest. CELIA. (_Looking straight into his eyes_) But they haven't any chance at all. (SMITH _laughs a little and_ CELIA, _realizing her "break" turns her head away in confusion_.) SMITH. Well, that's good news. Then give me a chance alone, won't you? You've only known me for four hours, but am I wrong in believing that you've been thinking of me for eight months? Can't I hope to take the place of the man to whom you gave my name? (CELIA _smiles and looks down a little wistfully, as if about to consent. Motor horn toots three times_.) CELIA. (_Throwing off her yielding mood, turns and goes to the winged armchair, back to audience, shaking out her veil and pointing_ L.) Oh, no, it's all too impossible. Besides, Mr. Raleigh is waiting for me in the motor. SMITH. (_Comes to her and gently takes her right hand_) You've been dreaming for eight months of an ideal that you never thought to see. I've been dreaming all my life in exactly the same way and at last I've seen mine.