If I must tell the truth—yes. HUSBAND I am glad that you are honest with me at least. MISS But it wasn’t—no it wasn’t the way you imagine. I was in a private dining-room with a friend and her fiancé, once during the carnival. HUSBAND It wouldn’t have been anything tragic, if you had ever gone—with your sweetheart— MISS Of course, it wouldn’t have been anything serious. But I haven’t any sweetheart. HUSBAND Oh, come now. MISS I swear, I haven’t. HUSBAND But you don’t expect to make me believe that I… MISS Make you believe what?… I haven’t any—at least, haven’t had for six months. HUSBAND I see… But before then? Who was he? MISS Why are you so curious? HUSBAND I am curious because I love you. MISS Really? HUSBAND Of course! You should have noticed that. Tell me about him. (_Presses her tightly to him_) MISS What do you want me to tell? HUSBAND Don’t keep me in suspense so long. Who was he, that’s what I want to know. MISS (_Laughing_) Just a man. HUSBAND Well—well—who? MISS He looked something like you. HUSBAND No! MISS If you hadn’t looked so much like him— HUSBAND Well, what then? MISS Now, don’t ask, don’t you see that… HUSBAND (_Understanding_) That’s why you let me speak to you. MISS Yes, that’s it. HUSBAND I really don’t know whether I ought to be pleased or angry. MISS If I were you, I’d be pleased. HUSBAND All right. MISS You also remind me of him the way you speak … and the way you look at one… HUSBAND What was he? MISS And then, the eyes— HUSBAND What was his name? MISS Please don’t look at me that way; please don’t. HUSBAND (_Embraces her. A long, burning kiss_) MISS (_Trembles, and tries to get up_) HUSBAND Why do you want to leave me? MISS It’s time to go home. HUSBAND Later. MISS No, I really have to get home. What do you think mother will say. HUSBAND You live with your mother? MISS Of course, I live with my mother. What did you imagine? HUSBAND So—with your mother. Do you live alone with her? MISS Oh, yes, alone! There are five of us! Two boys and two more girls. HUSBAND Don’t sit so far away from me. Are you the oldest? MISS No, I’m the second. First comes Kitty. She’s working in a flower store. Then come I. HUSBAND Where do you work? MISS I stay at home. HUSBAND Always? MISS One of us has to stay home. HUSBAND Of course,—and what do you tell your mother, when you—come home so late? MISS That happens so seldom. HUSBAND Well, to-day, for example. Your mother will ask you, won’t she? MISS Of course, she’ll ask. It doesn’t matter how careful I am when I come home, she always wakes up. HUSBAND And what do you tell her? MISS Oh—that I’ve been to the theater. HUSBAND Does she believe that? MISS Why shouldn’t she believe it? I often go to the theater. I saw an opera on Sunday with my friend and her fiancé, and my oldest brother. HUSBAND Where did you get the tickets? MISS My brother is a hairdresser. HUSBAND