Poor Edward. CAROL He doesn’t love me quite so much, either, you know. EVELYN Perhaps he wants to, but you won’t let him. CAROL Evie, why are we talking like this? EVELYN I don’t know. CAROL I can’t bear to pretend about things. EVELYN You’re quite right; it doesn’t pay in the long run. CAROL But I don’t want you to blame Edward and lecture him for something that’s not entirely his fault. EVELYN I see. CAROL I’m awfully fond of him and I always shall be, but— EVELYN But what? CAROL Don’t let’s say any more about it. EVELYN All right. You’re rather a dear, you know. CAROL Am I? EVELYN More than I ever suspected! CAROL Oh, Evie! [_They look at each other for a moment, EVELYN intently, CAROL with a faintly wistful smile. BLACKWELL enters to collect the plates and serve the sweet—pêche Melba—which he does during ensuing dialogue._] EVELYN You don’t like Zoe St. Merryn, do you? CAROL Why do you suddenly ask that? EVELYN I felt you didn’t this afternoon. CAROL She’s rather obvious, I think. EVELYN In what way? CAROL She tries to be clever. EVELYN I always thought she was clever. CAROL Yes, most men do, but very few women. EVELYN Why is that? CAROL Because they see through her. All that divorce business was a put-up job. EVELYN I say, Carol! CAROL Don’t look so shocked. Of course it was. She’s been so brave and defiant over it. Men love that. EVELYN Aren’t you being a little hard on her? CAROL No, not really. I know her type so well. EVELYN She’s an old friend of Edward’s, isn’t she? CAROL Yes, but that hasn’t anything to do with it. She tried to marry him once. EVELYN He seems very fond of her. CAROL She flatters him terribly. He’s an awful baby. EVELYN Thank Heaven I haven’t got your feminine intuition. It must complicate life dreadfully. CAROL It’s very useful sometimes. EVELYN Do you size everyone up so mercilessly. CAROL [_Laughing_] Perhaps. EVELYN I’m trembling visibly. CAROL Nonsense! You’re not frightened by anything, really. EVELYN You don’t know! [_BLACKWELL goes out._] CAROL Well, you shouldn’t be, anyhow. EVELYN That’s different. CAROL Why did you ask me not to tell Edward I was dining with you? EVELYN [_Nonplused_] Did I? CAROL You know you did. EVELYN Perhaps I was afraid he’d think I was interfering again. CAROL Did he tell you that, too? EVELYN Yes. CAROL [_Smiling_] Never mind. EVELYN I don’t. I’m used to Edward. CAROL So am I. EVELYN But when you tell me I’m interfering, I feel beastly. CAROL You are, you know. EVELYN There! You’ve done it again. CAROL People like Edward and me should be left to manage our own troubles. EVELYN All right. From now on I won’t say a word. CAROL Cheer up. EVELYN I’m a blundering fool, anyhow. CAROL [_Laughing_] Yes. EVELYN And instead of making you like me, I’ve made you laugh at me. CAROL That’s not quite true. EVELYN I’m afraid it is.