ANN: It makes me so dreadfully sad when I hear them, because I know—you have taught me—that they don’t understand life. PHILIP: Suppose that they are right? They are careless and care-free, and courageous and clear-eyed, and old and young—why shouldn’t they be right? ANN: They have never loved. PHILIP: A hundred times. ANN: It is the same thing. [_She is looking into his face._ PHILIP (_more gently_): What do you want? ANN: I want to be kissed—to be kissed better, as we said in the nursery. PHILIP: Where does it hurt? ANN: It doesn’t hurt when you ask me. PHILIP: Baby! ANN: Beloved! [_PHILIP kisses her. Pause. Her face is buried on his shoulder._ ANN: Philip.... PHILIP: Yes? ANN (_happily_): Why did you frighten me? It was wicked and cruel. PHILIP: This is an impossible situation. ANN (_drowsily gay_): Don’t talk business. PHILIP: We can’t go on like this for ever. ANN: We can’t help going on like this. PHILIP: And if your husband finds out? ANN (_doubtfully_): Perhaps he would divorce me; then we could marry. PHILIP: How could I marry you? ANN (_still gay_): Do members of Parliament never marry? PHILIP: Ann, how can you be so exasperating? ANN: Did she threaten him with respectability? It was a shame. PHILIP: Of all the contrary little devils.... ANN: Philip, I’ve made you laugh.... Oh, I’m so happy. Do you know that ten minutes ago I thought I should never make you laugh again? PHILIP: Ann, get up. [_ANN gets up._ PHILIP: Let me look at you. Ann—you are a beautiful woman. ANN: So I’ve been told. PHILIP: Ann, come here. [_ANN approaches him gingerly. PHILIP crushes her in his arms._ ANN: Philip, you’re hurting me! PHILIP (_passionately_): I want to hurt you. [_PHILIP is pushing back her hair with one hand, and with the other he holds her at arm’s length. Very brutally he crushes her against himself, and then pushes her away again. Her hair is coming down and her lip is bleeding. At last he releases her and walks away with his back to her. ANN tremulously follows him and puts her hand on his arm. PHILIP turns._ ANN: Philip, you do _love_ me, don’t you? PHILIP (_in a hard voice_): I wonder. CURTAIN ACT II ACT II SCENE I _ANN, alone, walks about humming happily. PHILIP is shown in by THOMPSON._ THOMPSON: Mr. Jordan. [_Exit THOMPSON._ ANN: Philip—— PHILIP: Here I am. ANN: But you can’t dine—— PHILIP: No, I must be in the House. ANN: Of course. PHILIP (_suspiciously_): Why do you say “of course”? ANN (_smiling_): Because I am so well trained. PHILIP: You sounded as if you were thinking of something. ANN: My mind was in that rare and delightful state known as a perfect blank. PHILIP: You don’t usually say “of course” when I break an engagement with you. ANN: You told me it was so important to be sensible.