PHILIP: At the beginning there are so many things. Surprise, discovery, exploration, enchantment. You are always going a step further—a delicious unacknowledged step—or rather you don’t go further, but you are always finding yourself further—further and deeper. And later, when you are tiring, there are still inflamed moments—moments of passion, meaningless victories of the senses over the heart, which are greedily accepted as proofs of love. ANN: Don’t.... PHILIP: And with you there was nothing. No pride I could hurt, no vanity I could offend, no self-respect I could outrage. You gave your whole self to me, and therefore I was without weapons. There wasn’t anyone I could deal with. ANN (_icily_): Is it usually very easy to bring a woman to breaking-point—to breaking-off point, I mean? PHILIP (_cynically_): It can be done. ANN: It has been beautifully done this time. There is nothing left, nothing at all, no mess of regrets and pangs and importunities. PHILIP: Ann, Ann dearest, don’t! ANN (_with immense scorn_): Are you going to make _love_ to me? PHILIP: There is no making about it. I have cared very much. ANN: You are incredible. PHILIP: I wouldn’t like to leave you unnecessarily hurt by foolish things that I said in a temper. ANN: You have not hurt me; you have emptied me, depopulated me of everything I have ever known and believed. I shall be able to go out and look at life and try to find out what things exist and where they are. [_Pause._ PHILIP (_curiously_): Ann, where did you think I was that night? ANN: What night? PHILIP: The night of the debate. ANN: I didn’t know. I thought perhaps that you had been frightened. PHILIP: I _was_ with a woman. ANN: Oh! PHILIP: They were right after all, you see. [_Pause._ ANN: I think I would like you to go. PHILIP: Ann! ANN (_icily_): It is no good my discussing it with a stranger, is it? He wouldn’t understand. [_PHILIP is walking up and down the room._ ANN: I think I asked you to go. PHILIP: I hate to leave you like this. [_ANN is looking out of the window with her back turned toward him._ PHILIP: Ann! ANN: Good-bye! PHILIP: Good-bye! [_Exit PHILIP._ [_Pause._ [_Enter NINIAN._ NINIAN: Hullo! ANN: Is that you? NINIAN: You do look a wreck. ANN (_nervously_): Ninian.... NINIAN: Yes? ANN (_she thinks better of it_): Did you have a good meeting? NINIAN: Pretty good. ANN (_still more nervously_): Ninian.... NINIAN: Yes? ANN: I am afraid that what I said the other night distressed you. NINIAN: That tommy-rot about Jordan? ANN: Yes. NINIAN: Hysteria, that’s what it was. ANN: Yes. NINIAN: You cold women aren’t quite normal. No natural outlets, so you go and invent things. ANN: It was just a silly joke. NINIAN (_putting his arm around her_): After all, you didn’t need to invent a lover. ANN (_shuddering_): Don’t! NINIAN: I see what a fool I’ve been to let my little prude be a little prude. ANN: You mustn’t....