NORWOOD. Kate, don't be stupid. What's happened to you? Of course, I
know it's been beastly upsetting for you, all this--but then, why do
you want to go on with it? Why do you want _more_ upsetting scenes?
You've got a chance now of getting out of it all, and--(He looks at
his watch) Good Lord!
KATE. Is the five minutes over?
NORWOOD. Quick, quick! (He puts his fingers to his lips) Quietly. (He
walks on tiptoe to the door.)
KATE. Cyril!
NORWOOD. H'sh!
KATE (sitting down again). It's no good, Cyril, I must wait for him.
(The door opens, and NORWOOD starts back quickly as DENNIS comes in.)
DENNIS (looking at his watch). Innings declared closed. (to NORWOOD)
The dining-room is nicely warmed now, and I've left you an evening
paper.
NORWOOD (going to KATE). Look here, Mr. Camberley, Kate and I--
DENNIS. Mrs. Camberley, no doubt, will tell me.
(He holds the door open and waits politely for NORWOOD to go.)
NORWOOD. I don't know what your game is--
DENNIS. You've never been in Mesopotamia, Mr. Norwood?
NORWOOD. Never.
DENNIS. It's a very trying place for the temper. . . . I'm waiting for
you.
NORWOOD (irresolute). Well, I---- (He comes sulkily to the door) Well,
I shall come back for Kate in five minutes.
DENNIS. Mrs. Camberley and I will be ready for you. You know your way?
[NORWOOD goes out.
(DENNIS shuts the door. He comes into the room and stands looking at
KATE.)
KATE (uncomfortably). Well?
DENNIS. No, don't move. I just want to look at you. . . . I've seen you
like that for four years. Don't move. . . . I've been in some dreary
places, but you've been with me most of the time. Just let's have a
last look.
KATE. A last look?
DENNIS. Yes.
KATE. You're saying good-bye to me?
DENNIS. I don't know whether it's to you, Kate. To the girl who has
been with me these last four years. Was that you?
KATE (dropping her eyes). I don't know, Dennis.
DENNIS. I wish to God I wasn't your husband.
KATE. What would you do if you weren't my husband?
DENNIS. Make love to you.
KATE. Can't you do that now?
DENNIS. Being your husband rather handicaps me, you know. I never
really stood a chance against the other fellow.
KATE. I was to choose between you, you said. You think that I have
already made up my mind?
DENNIS (smiling). I think so.
KATE. And chosen him?
DENNIS (shaking his head). Oh, no!
KATE (surprised). You think I have chosen _you_?
DENNIS (nodding). M'm.
KATE (indignantly). Really, Dennis! Considering that I had practically
arranged to run away with him twenty minutes ago! You must think me
very fickle.
DENNIS. Not fickle. Imaginative.
KATE. What do you mean? And why are you so certain that I am going to
choose you? And why in that case did you talk about taking a last look
at me? And what--?
DENNIS. Of course, we've only got five minutes, but I think that if
you asked your questions one at a time----
KATE (smiling). Well, you needn't _answer_ them all together.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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