NED. [Awkwardly.] I mean . . . er . . . nothing worse? LORETTA. [Puzzled.] Worse? As though there could be. Billy said-- NED. [Interrupting.] When? LORETTA. This afternoon. Just now. Billy said that my . . . our . . . our . . . our kisses were terrible if we didn't get married. NED. What else did he say? LORETTA. He said that when a woman permitted a man to kiss her she always married him. That it was awful if she didn't. It was the custom, he said; and I say it is a bad, wicked custom, and it has broken my heart. I shall never be happy again. I know I am terrible, but I can't help it. I must have been born wicked. NED. [Absent-mindedly bringing out a cigarette and striking a match.] Do you mind if I smoke? [Coming to himself again, and flinging away match and cigarette.] I beg your pardon. I don't want to smoke. I didn't mean that at all. What I mean is . . . [He bends over LORETTA, catches her hands in his, then sits on arm of chair, softly puts one arm around her, and is about to kiss her.] LORETTA. [With horror, repulsing him.] No! No! NED. [Surprised.] What's the matter? LORETTA. [Agitatedly.] Would you make me a wickeder woman than I am? NED. A kiss? LORETTA. There will be another scandal. That would make two scandals. NED. To kiss the woman I love . . . a scandal? LORETTA. Billy loves me, and he said so. NED. Billy is a joker . . . or else he is as innocent as you. LORETTA. But you said so yourself. NED. [Taken aback.] I? LORETTA. Yes, you said it yourself, with your own lips, not ten minutes ago. I shall never believe you again. NED. [Masterfully putting arm around her and drawing her toward him.] And I am a joker, too, and a very wicked man. Nevertheless, you must trust me. There will be nothing wrong. LORETTA. [Preparing to yield.] And no . . . scandal? NED. Scandal fiddlesticks. Loretta, I want you to be my wife. [He waits anxiously.] [JACK HEMINGWAY, in fishing costume, appears in doorway to right and looks on.] NED. You might say something. LORETTA. I will . . . if . . . [ALICE HEMINGWAY appears in doorway to left and looks on.] NED. [In suspense.] Yes, go on. LORETTA. If I don't have to marry Billy. NED. [Almost shouting.] You can't marry both of us! LORETTA. [Sadly, repulsing him with her hands.] Then, Ned, I cannot marry you. NED. [Dumbfounded.] W-what? LORETTA. [Sadly.] Because I can't marry both of you. NED. Bosh and nonsense! LORETTA. I'd like to marry you, but . . . NED. There is nothing to prevent you. LORETTA. [With sad conviction.] Oh, yes, there is. You said yourself that I had to marry Billy. You said you would s-s-shoot him if he didn't. NED. [Drawing her toward him.] Nevertheless . . . LORETTA. [Slightly holding him off.] And it isn't the custom . . . what . . . Billy said? NED. No, it isn't the custom. Now, Loretta, will you marry me?