THE YOUNG WOMAN (_absently_) You think that’s it, Mr. Briggs? (_She looks about the room thoughtfully as she speaks._) MR. BRIGGS (_with intense seriousness_) I know it is. I had that feeling the minute I was introduced to you, night before last in the lobby--right by the third column beyond the office news stand, at a quarter after nine o’clock in the evening. THE YOUNG WOMAN You did? MR. BRIGGS It came over me, and I felt kind of-- (_he swallows_) kind of drawn to you, Missuz--Missuz--Missuz-- (_He seems to hesitate somewhat emotionally._) THE YOUNG WOMAN My name is Mrs. Curtis. You seem to have forgotten it. MR. BRIGGS (_swallowing again_) I haven’t. I know it’s Curtis. The trouble is, it kind of upsets me to call you _Missuz_ Curtis. I thought it was Miss Curtis when I was introduced to you. I didn’t know your name was Missuz--Missuz--Missuz Curtis till the clerk told me, early the next morning. MRS. CURTIS (_frowning a little_) The clerk told you? MR. BRIGGS Yes. I asked him if he’d noticed whether you’d gone in to breakfast yet. He said, “You mean Missuz--Missuz Curtis?” Then I knew you must be married. (_He shakes his head ruefully._) MRS. CURTIS (_smiling_) Well? MR. BRIGGS (_thoughtfully_) Well, it can’t be helped. MRS. CURTIS I suppose not. MR. BRIGGS (_brightening a little_) Well, anyhow, I had that--that sort of _drawn_ feeling toward you, the way I _would_ get toward a woman that’s had some experience of life; but a hotel like this is no place to explain feelings like that. You can’t when you’re dancing--not the way you want to--and all the rest of the time you had some o’ those _old_ men hangin’ around, or else my mother and sister wanted me for something; because a hotel like this--why, it’s terrible the way a young man’s mother and sister want him to do somep’n for ’em _all_ the time; so this is the first chance I’ve had. MRS. CURTIS (_rather urgently_) Don’t you really think you’d better be dancing with some of those young things yonder? MR. BRIGGS (_puzzled_) Think I’d _better_ be? MRS. CURTIS Yes; I do really wish you would. Wouldn’t it be a lot more fun than explaining something, as you said, to me? MR. BRIGGS (_hurriedly_) No. No, it wouldn’t. I want to explain how I feel about you. MRS. CURTIS Please go and dance, Mr. Briggs. I think it would be _much_ better if you-- MR. BRIGGS (_rapidly_)