Meaning that I have no initiative of my own anyhow? CAROL Exactly. EDWARD That’s charming of you—and fits in beautifully with your behavior during the last year. CAROL Are you in love with me still? EDWARD Do you expect me to be? CAROL Are you? EDWARD No, Carol. CAROL I see. EDWARD All of which is beside the point. CAROL No, it isn’t. If you loved me you’d never say such things to me. EDWARD I admit that it would be more comfortable for you if I just suffered and suffered in silence. CAROL You’re too unemotional to be capable of any suffering. EDWARD Do you imagine you’re putting up a good defense for yourself? CAROL I’m not attempting to. EDWARD That brings us to my ultimatum. CAROL [_With a forced laugh_] Ultimatum! Really Edward! EDWARD You’ve been unfaithful to me three times during the past year—Maurice Verney, Geoffrey Poole, and now Harry Challoner! CAROL [_Blanching slightly_] Edward! EDWARD All three married men, which adds considerably to the general sordidness of the whole business. CAROL [_Losing control_] I will _not_ be spoken to like this! EDWARD [_With sudden force_] Be quiet! Do you still deny it? CAROL [_More dimly_] No. EDWARD That’s better. CAROL [_Sullenly_] I’m sorry. EDWARD That’s too sudden to be convincing. CAROL [_Breaking up slightly; after a long pause_] What are you going to do? EDWARD Wait until next time. CAROL Next time? EDWARD Yes. CAROL And what then? EDWARD I shall divorce you. CAROL Edward! EDWARD I mean it. Whether the man happens to be married or single will not make the slightest difference. CAROL [_Looking down_] I see. EDWARD Is that quite clear? CAROL Quite. EDWARD Incidentally, I wish you to give up Harry Challoner entirely. I object to you even being seen with such a second-rate bounder. CAROL [_Looking at him_] Very well. EDWARD We’ll both do our best to forget the whole thing. We can get along perfectly well together with a little effort. CAROL There’s no more, is there? EDWARD No, that’s all. [_CAROL goes slowly toward the door in silence. Her expression is very thoughtful. When she reaches the door she turns._] CAROL [_In a different voice_] Edward. EDWARD Yes? CAROL Please forgive me. EDWARD Forgiveness in this case is surely rather unimportant. CAROL Oh, please, please— [_She bursts into tears and goes toward him_] EDWARD Now then, Carol— CAROL [_Standing in front of him weeping_] You must forgive me—you must! EDWARD All right. CAROL I didn’t love any of them—I swear I didn’t. EDWARD [_Turning away irritably_] Oh, Carol— CAROL You’ve been utterly indifferent to me for ages. EDWARD Naturally. CAROL No, but before—I mean before—last year you stopped loving me. EDWARD Please don’t go on like this. CAROL It’s true—it’s true. I was lonely. EDWARD Don’t talk such utter nonsense. CAROL [_Working herself up_]