To think you’ve been building up the most frightful image of me in your mind all this time and I never knew. CAROL You can’t blame me, really. EVELYN Yes, I can. It’s awfully suspicious and distrustful of you. CAROL It’s your own fault, for holding so aloof. EVELYN I don’t hold aloof a bit. CAROL You’ve never talked anything but commonplaces to me ever since I’ve known you. EVELYN You never gave me the chance. CAROL What did you expect me to do? EVELYN I don’t know. Just be nice. CAROL Haven’t I been nice? I’m so sorry. EVELYN Yes, I suppose you have, really, but I’ve always felt you thought me rather dull. CAROL You have been—up to now. EVELYN [_Despondently_] There you are, then! CAROL [_Quietly_] I said “up to now.” EVELYN Men of my sort are all wrong in society. We don’t seem to fit in, somehow. CAROL Are you glad or sorry? EVELYN Well, to be frank, I’m glad, until moments like this crop up. CAROL You’re awfully funny, you know. EVELYN Funny? CAROL Yes. You do despise women, after all. EVELYN How do you mean? CAROL You think we only like men who play up and talk well and dance well. EVELYN It’s only natural that you should. CAROL Oh no, it isn’t. EVELYN You think there’s some hope for me, after all, then? CAROL Now you’re fishing. EVELYN It’s cruel of you to snap me up like that. CAROL I’m sorry, Evie. EVELYN You’d find me a fearful bore after a bit, you know. CAROL Why should I? EVELYN I take things so damned seriously. CAROL That’s refreshing! Most of the men I know don’t take things seriously enough. EVELYN What an extraordinary woman you are! CAROL Why extraordinary? EVELYN Making me talk like this. I never have before. CAROL I shall take that as a compliment, whether you like it or not. EVELYN I mean it. CAROL Yes, I know you do. EVELYN I see now why your life’s so hectic and why everyone runs after you so much. CAROL [_Smiling_] Why? EVELYN You’ve got the most amazing knack of drawing people out. CAROL Not always. Only people I like. EVELYN You’ve made me feel lonely for the first time in my life. CAROL How hateful of me! EVELYN It’s not your fault; it’s mine. CAROL In what way? EVELYN I ought to make more efforts and not be so boorish. CAROL You’re not in the least boorish. EVELYN Yes, I am—utterly wrapped up in my own affairs, then suddenly some one like you comes along and makes me realize all in a minute what a lot I’m missing. CAROL You’re not missing much, really. It’s much better to remain yourself than try to be something you’re not. EVELYN It’s awfully sweet of you to say that. CAROL I mean it honestly. You never can guess how tired I get by having the same sort of things said to me always. EVELYN Do you really? CAROL Of course. EVELYN I wish you weren’t dining out to-night. CAROL Why? EVELYN I’d like better than anything in the world for you to come and dine with me quietly. CAROL