You’d told me all about Jim and Bobbie and your exact feelings toward each of them before we’d known each other a month. MARGOT It’s because you’re so sympathetic; you invite confidence. EDWARD Nonsense. MARGOT You’re being perfectly horrid to-day. Has anything happened to upset you? EDWARD No, I don’t think so. MARGOT Well I shan’t sit for you again unless you’re in a better temper. EDWARD Don’t be cross. MARGOT I’m not cross. I’m hurt. EDWARD I think perhaps I do feel a little nervy. MARGOT There now, I knew it. [_BERRY enters with tea._] EDWARD Here’s tea, anyhow. When Lord Romford calls, Berry, show him straight in, will you? BERRY Yes, sir. EDWARD You’d better make some cocktails. BERRY Very well, sir. [_He goes out._] MARGOT Do you want lemon or milk? EDWARD Neither, thanks. Just plain unvarnished tea. MARGOT Is that Katherine Loring? [_Looking at picture._] EDWARD Yes, unfinished. MARGOT She always is unfinished. She has a negligible personality, I’m afraid. Here you are. [_She hands him his tea._] EDWARD Thank you. MARGOT I hear Zoe’s back. EDWARD Yes, she rang me up this morning. MARGOT Where’s she been, exactly? EDWARD All over the place. MARGOT Who with? EDWARD By herself, I believe. MARGOT My dear, she must have been with _somebody_. She couldn’t have been all alone after all that awful business. She’d have gone mad. EDWARD She’ll be here soon. You’ll be able to ask her about it. MARGOT You were engaged to her once, weren’t you? EDWARD Now then, Margot. MARGOT You were. I _know_ you were. Carol told me. EDWARD Well, as a matter of fact, we weren’t actually. We’ve been friends since we were children and we did discuss marriage at one time, but without great conviction. MARGOT I can’t understand why she let Kenneth divorce her. Everybody knows— EDWARD Zoe wished for her freedom and just went about getting it as quickly as possible. MARGOT Well I don’t know how she could have faced it. I shouldn’t have dared— EDWARD You’re less independent than she is. MARGOT I believe you’re going to be horrid again. [_BERRY enters._] BERRY [_Announcing_] Lord Romford. [_BOBBIE ROMFORD enters. He is a nice-looking, meaningless young man._] BOBBIE Excuse my butting in like this, Churt. [_He and EDWARD shake hands._] EDWARD We were expecting you. The cocktails will be here in a moment. BOBBIE Hallo, Margot! How’s the picture going? MARGOT It’s nearly finished, but Edward won’t let me see it. He’s been thoroughly soured up all the afternoon. EDWARD Margot has been trying to persuade me to brush my hair with her. BOBBIE [_Puzzled_] Brush your hair? EDWARD Yes, metaphorically speaking. BOBBIE [_Relieved_] Oh, I see. EDWARD Hair-brushing is a symbol of girlish confidences. Even the nicest people do it. MARGOT