LORETTA. [Turning her face to his shoulder like a tired child, sobbing.] Oh, Ned, if you only knew how wicked I am.
NED. [Smiling indulgently.] What is the matter, little one? Has your dearly beloved sister failed to write to you? [LORETTA shakes head.] Has Hemingway been bullying you? [LORETTA shakes head.] Then it must have been that caller of yours? [Long pause, during which LORETTA’s weeping grows more violent.] Tell me what’s the matter, and we’ll see what I can do. [He lightly kisses her hair – so lightly that she does not know.]
LORETTA. [Sobbing.] I can’t. You will despise me. Oh, Ned, I am so ashamed.
NED. [Laughing incredulously.] Let us forget all about it. I want to tell you something that may make me very happy. My fondest hope is that it will make you happy, too. Loretta, I love you —
LORETTA. [Uttering a sharp cry of delight, then moaning.] Too late!
NED. [Surprised.] Too late?
LORETTA. [Still moaning.] Oh, why did I? [NED somewhat stiffens.] I was so young. I did not know the world then.
NED. What is it all about anyway?
LORETTA. Oh, I.. he.. Billy.. I am a wicked woman, Ned. I know you will never speak to me again.
NED. This.. er.. this Billy – what has he been doing?
LORETTA. I.. he.. I didn’t know. I was so young. I could not help it. Oh, I shall go mad, I shall go mad!
[NED’s encircling arm goes limp. He gently disengages her and deposits her in big chair.]
[LORETTA buries her face and sobs afresh.]
NED. [Twisting moustache fiercely, regarding her dubiously, hesitating a moment, then drawing up chair and sitting down.] I.. I do not understand.
LORETTA. [Wailing.] I am so unhappy!
NED. [Inquisitorially.] Why unhappy?
LORETTA. Because.. he.. he wants to marry me.
NED. [His face brightening instantly, leaning forward and laying a hand soothingly on hers.] That should not make any girl unhappy. Because you don’t love him is no reason – [Abruptly breaking off.] Of course you don’t love him? [LORETTA shakes her head and shoulders vigorously.] What?
LORETTA. [Explosively.] No, I don’t love Billy! I don’t want to love Billy!
NED. [With confidence.] Because you don’t love him is no reason that you should be unhappy just because he has proposed to you.
LORETTA. [Sobbing.] That’s the trouble. I wish I did love him. Oh, I wish I were dead.
NED. [Growing complacent.] Now my dear child, you are worrying yourself over trifles. [His second hand joins the first in holding her hands.] Women do it every day. Because you have changed your mind, or did not know you mind, because you have – to use an unnecessarily harsh word – jilted a man —
LORETTA. [Interrupting, raising her head and looking at him.] Jilted? Oh Ned, if that were a all!
NED. [Hollow voice.] All!
[NED’s hands slowly retreat from hers. He opens his mouth as though to speak further, then changes his mind and remains silent.]
LORETTA. [Protestingly.] But I don’t want to marry him!
NED. Then I shouldn’t.
LORETTA. But I ought to marry him.
NED. Ought to marry him? [LORETTA nods.] That is a strong word.
LORETTA. [Nodding.] I know it is. [Her lips are trembling, but she strives for control and manages to speak more calmly.] I am a wicked woman. A terrible wicked woman. No one knows how wicked I am.. except Billy.
NED. [Starting, looking at her queerly.] He.. Billy knows? [LORETTA nods. He debates with himself a moment.] Tell me about it. You must tell me all of it.
LORETTA. [Faintly, as though about to weep again.] All of it?
NED. [Firmly.] Yes, all of it.
LORETTA. [Haltingly.] And.. will.. you.. ever.. forgive.. me?
NED. [Drawing a long, breath, desperately.] Yes, I’ll forgive you. Go ahead.
LORETTA. There was no one to tell me. We were with each other so much. I did not know anything of the world.. then. [Pauses.]
NED. [Impatiently.] Go on.
LORETTA. If I had only known. [Pauses.]
NED. [Biting his lip and clenching his hands.] Yes, yes. Go on.
LORETTA. We were together almost every evening.
NED. [Savagely.] Billy?
LORETTA. Yes, of course, Billy. We were with each other so much.. If I had only known.. There was no one to tell me.. I was so young.. [Breaks down crying.]
NED. [Leaping to his feet, explosively.] The scoundrel!
LORETTA. [Lifting her head.] Billy is not a scoundrel.. He.. he.. is a good man.
NED. [Sarcastically.] I suppose you’ll be telling me next that it was all your fault. [LORETTA nods.] What!
LORETTA. [Steadily.] It was all my fault. I should never have let him. I was to blame.
NED. [Paces up and down for a minute, stops in front of her, and speaks with resignation.] All right. I don’t blame you in the least, Loretta. And you have been very honest. It is.. er.. commendable. But Billy is right, and you are wrong. You must get married.
LORETTA. [In dim, far-away voice.] To Billy?
NED. Yes, to Billy. I’ll see to it. Where does he live? I’ll make him. If he won’t I’ll.. I’ll shoot him!
LORETTA. [Crying out with alarm.] Oh, Ned, you won’t do that?