CAROL You don’t know a bit what I’m really like. EVELYN No. CAROL Do you want to? EVELYN Yes. CAROL I’m not sure that it’s wise. EVELYN Why not? CAROL You might be shocked. EVELYN As bad as that? CAROL Yes—as bad as that. EVELYN I don’t believe it. CAROL Good. EVELYN You’re too sensitive to behave really badly. CAROL That’s nonsense. EVELYN No, it isn’t. CAROL Sensitiveness hasn’t anything to do with it. EVELYN Yes, it has. CAROL Don’t contradict me. EVELYN [_With truculence_] Why shouldn’t I? CAROL Because it infuriates me. EVELYN [_Slowly_] We’re almost quarreling. CAROL Yes. EVELYN I’m sorry. CAROL Antagonism is a bad sign. EVELYN What do you mean? CAROL [_Suddenly burying her face in her hands_] Oh, Evie! EVELYN [_Alarmed_] What on earth’s the matter? CAROL [_Muffled_] Nothing. EVELYN Carol, don’t—please— [_He gets up and comes to her._] CAROL No, no. Sit down. Your man will be in in a moment. EVELYN Do tell me what’s wrong. CAROL Sit down, please. EVELYN All right. [_He sits down._] CAROL Give me my bag, will you? It’s over there. I want to powder my nose. [_EVELYN rises. When his back is toward her, an expression of extreme satisfaction flits across CAROL’S face. By the time he has turned she is once again bravely melancholy._] EVELYN Here. [_He gives her her bag._] CAROL Thank you. [_She looks up at him with a weary smile. BLACKWELL enters and takes away the remains of the sweet._] EVELYN Serve the coffee at once, Blackwell; then I shan’t want you any more. BLACKWELL Very good, sir. [_He goes out._] CAROL I feel better now. EVELYN I don’t suppose you’ll ever want to dine with me again. CAROL Don’t be silly. Of course I shall. EVELYN I seem to have depressed you terribly. CAROL No—it’s not your fault, really. EVELYN I wish I understood you a bit better. CAROL I’m glad you don’t. [_BLACKWELL enters with coffee and liqueurs, which he places beside EVELYN._] EVELYN Thank you, Blackwell. Good night. BLACKWELL Good night, sir. [_He goes out._] EVELYN Coffee? CAROL Yes, please. EVELYN [_Pouring it out_] Sugar? CAROL One. EVELYN [_Handing it to her_] There. Cointreau or brandy? CAROL Cointreau—just a little. EVELYN The brandy’s very good. CAROL All right. Brandy, then—you’re so dominant. EVELYN Don’t laugh at me any more. CAROL I must a little. EVELYN Here you are. [_He gives her some brandy and takes some himself._] CAROL Next time I come I’ll try to be more amusing. EVELYN I don’t want you to be amusing if you don’t feel like it. CAROL You’re awfully kind and gentle. EVELYN I want you to relax completely. CAROL I am relaxing completely. EVELYN I feel you need it. CAROL No one else has ever taken the trouble to feel that. EVELYN They’re all too occupied in enjoying themselves. CAROL