[_Bored_] Oh—give her mine when she rings up again. EDWARD You’ll see her to-night at the Harringtons’. CAROL No, I shan’t. I’m not going. They’re going to have that awful string quartette again. I suffered so acutely last time. EDWARD I shall go by myself, then. CAROL Never mind. You’ll be able to talk to Zoe. EDWARD Where are you dining? CAROL With the Challoners at the Embassy; then we’re going on somewhere. EDWARD Do you want the car? CAROL No. They’re picking me up. EDWARD Right. I’ll go and dress. Don’t go, Evie. We might have a slight aperitif at one of your disreputable clubs before dinner. CAROL Are you dining together? EDWARD No. I’m going to the Russian Ballet with Richard and Sheila. They’ve got a box or something. [_EDWARD goes off into his bedroom._] EVELYN You’re looking charming, Carol. CAROL [_Raising her eyebrows_] Thank you. EVELYN That’s a splendid hat. Is it new? CAROL No—incredibly old. EVELYN Well, it doesn’t look it. CAROL I’m glad. [_She goes toward the door._] EVELYN Carol— CAROL [_Turning_] Yes? EVELYN Nothing. CAROL [_Surprised_] Is there anything the matter? EVELYN No—honestly it’s nothing. CAROL Oh well, I must go and dress, too. See you later on. EVELYN I shall be gone when you come down. CAROL Really, Evie, you’re behaving very strangely. EVELYN Why? CAROL I don’t know. You seem different, somehow. EVELYN Won’t you stay and talk for a moment. I haven’t seen you to speak to for ages. CAROL That’s your fault. EVELYN You’re always so engaged. CAROL I never seem to have a minute for anything. I _do_ wish life wasn’t so hectic. EVELYN Why do you let it be? CAROL I don’t. It just happens like that. EVELYN I’d resent it a good deal if you were my wife. CAROL [_Smiling_] Aren’t you glad I’m not, Evie? EVELYN I don’t know. CAROL [_Surprised_] Well, now! I thought you disliked me thoroughly! EVELYN Disliked you? CAROL Yes. You always have such a polite preoccupied air with me. It makes me feel terribly frivolous and shallow. EVELYN How can you, Carol? CAROL [_Gayly_] It’s true. You’re the kind of man who despises women dreadfully—I know you are. EVELYN You’re quite wrong. I adore them. CAROL Well, that’s a lovely surprise, isn’t it? EVELYN I can’t get over you imagining that I disliked you. CAROL I expect it’s because you’re so tremendously fond of Edward. One always feels that with one’s husband’s friends. EVELYN I don’t see any reason, just because I like Edward, that—— CAROL Don’t you, Evie? EVELYN Of course not. CAROL Well, I’m very, very glad. EVELYN That’s settled, then, isn’t it? CAROL Quite. I shan’t be frightened of you any more. EVELYN Frightened of me! How ridiculous! CAROL It isn’t ridiculous; it’s quite natural. EVELYN I don’t see why. I’m perfectly harmless. CAROL Are you? EVELYN Mild as a kitten. CAROL I wonder. EVELYN