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The Débutante
GILLESPIE:Areyouserious?
ROSALIND:Aboutasusual.Thereusedtobetwokindsofkisses:Firstwhengirlswerekissedanddeserted;second,whentheywereengaged.Nowthere’sathirdkind,wherethemaniskissedanddeserted.IfMr.Jonesoftheninetiesbraggedhe’dkissedagirl,everyoneknewhewasthroughwithher.IfMr.Jonesof1919bragsthesameeveryoneknowsit’sbecausehecan’tkissheranymore.Givenadecentstartanygirlcanbeatamannowadays.
GILLESPIE:Thenwhydoyouplaywithmen?
ROSALIND:(Leaningforwardconfidentially)Forthatfirstmoment,whenhe’sinterested.Thereisamoment—Oh,justbeforethefirstkiss,awhisperedword—somethingthatmakesitworthwhile.
GILLESPIE:Andthen?
ROSALIND:Thenafterthatyoumakehimtalkabouthimself.Prettysoonhethinksofnothingbutbeingalonewithyou—hesulks,hewon’tfight,hedoesn’twanttoplay—Victory!
(EnterDAWSONRYDER,twenty-six,handsome,wealthy,faithfultohisown,aboreperhaps,butsteadyandsureofsuccess.)
RYDER:Ibelievethisismydance,Rosalind.
ROSALIND:Well,Dawson,soyourecognizeme.NowIknowIhaven’tgottoomuchpainton.Mr.Ryder,thisisMr.Gillespie.
(TheyshakehandsandGILLESPIEleaves,tremendouslydowncast.)
RYDER:Yourpartyiscertainlyasuccess.
ROSALIND:Isit—Ihaven’tseenitlately.I’mweary—Doyoumindsittingoutaminute?
RYDER:Mind—I’mdelighted.YouknowIloathethis"rushing"idea.Seeagirlyesterday,to-day,to-morrow.