MYRA: I shan’t listen. (_She stops up her ears._) DAVID: You’ll pretend not to, but you’ll hear every word really. MYRA (_sarcastically_): You’re so inscrutable and quizzical—just what a feminine psychologist should be. DAVID: Yes, aren’t I? MYRA: You frighten me dreadfully. DAVID: Darling! MYRA: Don’t call me darling. DAVID: That’s unreasonable. You’ve been trying to make me—all the evening. MYRA: Your conceit is outrageous! DAVID: It’s not conceit at all. You’ve been firmly buttering me up because you want a nice little intrigue. MYRA (_rising_): How dare you! DAVID (_pulling her down again_): It’s true, it’s true. If it weren’t, you wouldn’t be so angry. MYRA: I think you’re insufferable! DAVID (_taking her hand_): Myra—dear Myra—— MYRA (_snatching it away_): Don’t touch me. DAVID: Let’s have that nice little intrigue. The only reason I’ve been so annoying is that I love to see things as they are first, and then pretend they’re what they’re not. MYRA: Words! Masses and masses of words! DAVID: They’re great fun to play with. MYRA: I’m glad you think so. Personally, they bore me stiff. DAVID (_catching her hand again_): Myra—don’t be statuesque. MYRA: Let go my hand! DAVID: You’re charming. (_He gets up and stands close to her._) MYRA (_furiously_): Let go my hand. DAVID: I won’t. MYRA: You will! [_She slaps his face hard, and he seizes her in his arms and kisses her._ DAVID (_between kisses_): You’re—perfectly—sweet. MYRA (_giving in_): David! DAVID: You must say it’s an entrancing amusement. (_He kisses her again._) [_JUDITH appears at the top of the stairs and sees them. They break away._ JUDITH (_coming down_): Forgive me for interrupting. DAVID: Are there any chocolates in the house? JUDITH: No, David. DAVID: I should like a chocolate more than anything in the world, at the moment. JUDITH: This is a very unpleasant situation, David. DAVID (_agreeably_): Horrible. JUDITH: We’d better talk it all over. MYRA (_making a movement_): I shall do nothing of the sort. JUDITH: Please—please don’t be difficult. DAVID: I apologise, Judith. JUDITH: Don’t apologise—I quite understand. MYRA: Please let go of my hand, David; I should like to go to bed. JUDITH: I should stay if I were you—it would be more dignified. DAVID: There isn’t any real necessity for a scene. JUDITH: I don’t want a scene. I just want to straighten things out. DAVID: Very well—go ahead. JUDITH: June has always been an unlucky month for me. MYRA: Look here, Judith, I’d like to explain one thing—— JUDITH (_austerely_): I don’t wish to hear any explanations or excuses—they’re so cheapening. This was bound to happen sooner or later—it always does, to everybody. The only thing is to keep calm. DAVID: I am—perfectly. JUDITH (_sharply_): There is such a thing as being too calm. DAVID: Sorry, dear. JUDITH: Life has dealt me another blow, but I don’t mind. DAVID: What did you say?