No; I don’t want you to say any more at all. EVELYN You have the soul of a harlot! CAROL [_Suddenly bursting out laughing_] Oh, Evie! EVELYN [_Losing control_] Don’t laugh. Don’t laugh. CAROL [_Continuing to laugh_] What do you expect me to do? You’re so ridiculous— EVELYN I suppose you consider anyone with decent ideals ridiculous? CAROL [_Laughing helplessly_] Oh dear! Oh dear! EVELYN [_Working himself up more and more_] You think it funny that I should make an attempt to defend the honor of my best friend, who is too shamed by your utter wantonness to defend himself— CAROL [_Growing hysterical_] You’re mad—quite, quite mad— EVELYN You’re deliberately ruining his reputation and wrecking his happiness because you never make the slightest effort to control your rotten passions— CAROL [_Rising, trying to control her hysteria_] How dare you say that—how dare you— EVELYN Dare! I’ll say it again and again. Rotten passions! All you live for, all you think of—women of your type can’t exist without men—men—nothing but men all the time— CAROL [_Frantically_] Stop! Stop! You shan’t say any more. [_She gives him a ringing slap on the face. He stands quite still._] Cad! cad! unutterable cad! [_She gives him another slap between each word. He remains motionless. They stand facing each other. CAROL puts her hand to her head._] I think—I think I’m going to be ill. [_She falls in a heap at his feet. He carries her back to the sofa. He deposits her there and rushes to get some more brandy. When his back is turned she lifts her head sharply and looks at him, then lets it drop attractively against the side of the sofa. He returns and ministers the brandy. After a slight pause she opens her eyes and sits up and finishes the brandy._] EVELYN Be careful. Don’t spill it on your dress. CAROL I’m awfully sorry to be so stupid. EVELYN I didn’t mean to make you ill. CAROL [_Meekly_] Please may I go home now? EVELYN You’d better wait a moment until you feel stronger. I won’t say any more—I promise. CAROL My head aches. EVELYN Would you like some aspirin? I think I’ve got some somewhere. CAROL No, thanks. EVELYN It wasn’t out of any personal spite, you know— CAROL It doesn’t matter—it— [_She bursts into tears._] EVELYN I say, don’t cry—please. CAROL I can’t help it. [_She cries a little more._] EVELYN Please! Please! CAROL Leave me alone. I’ll be all right in a minute. EVELYN I had no intention of losing my temper. I apologize. CAROL [_With a fresh burst of tears_] It’s all so—so horrible! EVELYN Carol—please, please don’t! CAROL [_Sobbing bitterly_] I’d no idea—anyone could think of me like that. EVELYN I was only trying to show you, for Edward’s sake— CAROL Don’t—don’t say any more. You promised. EVELYN All right, but you see I— CAROL