I’ll do my best to entertain you while Mr. Perigal is gone. [MR. PERIGAL _leaves them, and_ COLBY _goes up to her gaily_.] I jumped for joy when he sent me a note asking me to call for him here. CATHERINE. [_Smiling._] You might have come of your own accord. COLBY. I’m always afraid that I shall bore you if I come too often. I rack my brains for plausible excuses to present myself at your front door.... What’s the matter, Kate? CATHERINE. With me? Nothing. COLBY. I thought you seemed worried. CATHERINE. D’you know that you haven’t shown the least desire to kiss me? COLBY. I? My dear, I was obeying your strict commands. CATHERINE. If you really wanted to, you wouldn’t have cared two straws for my commands. COLBY. [_Going towards her._] My darling! CATHERINE. Oh no, don’t. I don’t beg for.... [_She breaks off._] If you didn’t think of it of your own accord, it’s too late. COLBY. What on earth’s the matter with you? CATHERINE. If you love me why don’t you say so sometimes? COLBY. Good heavens, it’s on the tip of my tongue every moment of the day! I have to hold myself in to prevent falling at your feet and telling you how much I care. CATHERINE. Oh, forgive me! If you knew how dreadfully sometimes I long for a word of love! COLBY. [_Taking her in his arms._] Darling! CATHERINE. Oh, it’s too hard to restrain myself always. Have I been peevish and horrible? COLBY. [_Smiling tenderly._] Of course not. CATHERINE. But I want to know you love me. COLBY. Kate! [_He turns her face to him and kisses her on the lips._ CATHERINE. [_Hiding her face and beginning to cry on his shoulder._] You’re all I have in the world. I don’t know what I should do if I lost you. COLBY. In a very little while now we shall belong to one another for good and all. CATHERINE. [_Looking up, withdrawing herself a little and looking into his eyes._] I wonder how much you love me? COLBY. With all my heart, with all my soul! CATHERINE. D’you love me enough to.... [_She breaks off and turns away from him._ COLBY. What? CATHERINE. Nothing. I’m being silly and sentimental. [_Smiling._] Let’s be wise and as well behaved as we generally are. COLBY. I can’t understand you this afternoon, Kate. You’re so different. CATHERINE. I shall frighten you. You’ve never realized that I’m a creature of moods. Are you sure it’s wise to link your life to a woman who’s capable of making almost a scene without any provocation? COLBY. If you had a bad temper I think I should love it. CATHERINE. [_Chaffing him._] Oh! COLBY. [_Stretching out his hands._] Kate! CATHERINE. [_Quite cheerfully, as if she were bantering._] I want to put a purely hypothetical case to you. Supposing you had to choose between me and your career--which would you choose? COLBY. [_Smiling._] You, of course. CATHERINE. How glibly you say it! COLBY. Fortunately I shall never be forced to make such a tremendous choice. CATHERINE. Of course not. COLBY.