EDWARD Evie— EVELYN She ought to be taught a lesson. EDWARD What sort of lesson? EVELYN She wants some of the self-assurance knocked out of her. EDWARD [_Smiling_] Really, Evie! EVELYN She needs humiliating. EDWARD You’re positively vindictive. EVELYN Perhaps I am, but it’s for your sake. EDWARD I’d no idea you disliked Carol so heartily. EVELYN It isn’t that at all. I don’t like or dislike her. She never pays attention to me, anyhow. EDWARD To think that there’s even a streak of feminine in you! EVELYN What do you mean? EDWARD Never mind. EVELYN I won’t stand by and see you let down all along the line. EDWARD It’s awfully sweet of you, Evie, to be so cross, but you really mustn’t be. I’m the one to get cross if necessary. EVELYN It is necessary. EDWARD You must allow me to be the best judge of that. EVELYN Now look here, Edward— EDWARD Remember what I said—you’re not to interfere. It’s my affair, and mine alone. EVELYN I know a good deal more about women than you. EDWARD Do you, Evie? EVELYN I’ve handled too many of them not to. EDWARD How mechanical that sounds. [_He laughs._] EVELYN Oh, you’re hopeless. [_The door opens and CAROL comes in. She is, as usual, looking delightful._] CAROL Hallo, Evie! [_She shakes hands with him._] Are there any telephone messages for me, Edward? EDWARD No. CAROL [_Taking off her gloves_] I’m quite exhausted. EDWARD Where have you been? CAROL Playing mah-jong with Fanny, I won a good deal. EVELYN Splendid. CAROL How’s Margot’s picture going? EDWARD It’s nearly finished. CAROL Give me a cigarette, Evie. EVELYN [_Handing her a cigarette_] You look remarkably fit, Carol. CAROL [_Smiling_] I am fit, but I’m a tiny bit worried over Edward. EVELYN Why, he looks all right to me. CAROL You don’t know him like I do. I can always tell when he’s tired and overworked, can’t I, darling? EDWARD Yes, I’m sure you can. CAROL It’s all these people buzzing round him all day. Let’s go away, Edward, and have a real holiday—somewhere quiet. EVELYN That’s a damned good idea. EDWARD [_Smiling_] I can’t—for the next six weeks, anyhow. CAROL [_With a slight shrug_] There you see? It’s quite impossible to do anything with him. EVELYN Why don’t you chuck everything, and just go? EDWARD Funnily enough, Zoe suggested that this afternoon. CAROL Zoe? I didn’t know she was back. EDWARD She arrived yesterday. CAROL Why didn’t you tell me? EDWARD I didn’t know until this morning. She rang me up. CAROL Well, she didn’t lose much time anyhow. EDWARD I don’t see why she should. CAROL I suppose she talked and talked and talked as usual. EDWARD Yes, we both talked a good bit. CAROL What about? EDWARD Everything. CAROL No wonder you look tired. EVELYN She looked awfully well. CAROL She always does. She’s wonderfully healthy. EDWARD [_With faint malice_] She sent you her love. CAROL