It is _not_ beside the point! How dare you behave like this! If you were Edward’s Siamese twin you’ve no right to ask me here and insult me. You surely don’t imagine that by talking until you’re blue in the face you could ever alter my life one way or another. You’ve played a filthy second-rate trick on me and you think you did it for Edward’s sake, but all the time it was only to prove to yourself how clever you are. You’ve got to let me go now—at once. Do you hear? If not I’ll scream the place down. [_She rises and makes a dash for the door. He intercepts her. She struggles. He grasps her wrist._] Let me go. Help! Help! EVELYN Shut up, you little fool! [_He puts his hand over her mouth and drags her back to the sofa, upon which she collapses, sobbing._] CAROL [_Almost hysterical, in muffled tones_] How dare you! Oh, how dare you! It’s outrageous! It’s— EVELYN Do you want some brandy? CAROL Don’t speak to me. EVELYN [_With emphasis_] Do you want some brandy! CAROL No. EVELYN You’d better have some. Stay where you are. [_He goes over and pours out a glass of brandy and brings it to her._] Here—sit up. CAROL Go away. Don’t come near me. EVELYN You’re hysterical. Drink this and pull yourself together. [_He puts his arm round her to lift her up. She wriggles free of him, sits up quickly by herself, snatches the glass from his hand and flings it into the fireplace._] CAROL I don’t want your filthy brandy. EVELYN That was childish. CAROL Why are you doing this to me? Why? Why? What have I ever done to you? EVELYN You’re on the verge of ruining the life of one of the best men that ever lived. CAROL [_Tearfully_] How? EVELYN You know perfectly well how. CAROL It’s no business of yours—what I do—ever. EVELYN I’ve made it my business. What you attempted to-night with me you’ve accomplished with other men—you’ve flirted and encouraged them to make love to you, and in many cases you’ve given yourself to them— CAROL Evie! EVELYN I don’t want you to deny it or affirm it. I _know_ it’s true, but I don’t think Edward does; he loves you too much to believe it possible, and my object in playing on you this second-rate trick, as you call it, is to make you realize what a hideous mess you’re making both of his life and your own. [_During this speech CAROL is looking at EVIE intently. He begins to stride up and down while he talks._] Edward’s too sensitive and reserved to fight for his own rights. I’ve known for ages that he wasn’t happy—that something was weighing on his mind. To-day I asked him plump out and he admitted— [_He pauses._] CAROL What did he admit? EVELYN That he was worried and miserable about you. CAROL [_Calmly_] And what did you advise him to do? EVELYN Give you hell. CAROL How crude of you! EVELYN Women of your sort require a little crudity occasionally. CAROL What do you mean “women of my sort”? EVELYN Do you want me to tell you? CAROL