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           Father’stellinghimallaboutthewarandhe’srestless.He’ssortoftemperamental.

           (ThislastsufficestodrawCECELIAintotheroom.)

           CECELIA:(Seatingherselfhighuponlingerie)Howdoyoumean—temperamental?Youusedtosaythatabouthiminletters.

           ALEC:Oh,hewritesstuff.

           CECELIA:Doesheplaythepiano?

           ALEC:Don’tthinkso.

           CECELIA:(Speculatively)Drink?

           ALEC:Yes—nothingqueerabouthim.

           CECELIA:Money?

           ALEC:GoodLord—askhim,heusedtohavealot,andhe’sgotsomeincomenow.

           (MRS.CONNAGEappears.)

           MRS.CONNAGE:Alec,ofcoursewe’regladtohaveanyfriendofyours—

           ALEC:YoucertainlyoughttomeetAmory.

           MRS.CONNAGE:Ofcourse,Iwantto.ButIthinkit’ssochildishofyoutoleaveaperfectlygoodhometogoandlivewithtwootherboysinsomeimpossibleapartment.Ihopeitisn’tinorderthatyoucanalldrinkasmuchasyouwant.(Shepauses.)He’llbealittleneglectedto-night.ThisisRosalind’sweek,yousee.Whenagirlcomesout,sheneedsalltheattention.

           ROSALIND:(Outside)Well,then,proveitbycominghereandhookingme.

           (MRS.CONNAGEgoes.)

           ALEC:Rosalindhasn’tchangedabit.

           CECELIA:(Inalowertone)She’sawfullyspoiled.

           ALEC:She’llmeethermatchto-night.

           CECELIA:Who—Mr.AmoryBlaine?

           (ALECnods.)

           CECELIA:Well,Rosalindhasstilltomeetthemanshecan’toutdistance.Honestly,Alec,shetreatsmenterribly.Sheabusesthemandcutsthemandbreaksdateswiththemandyawnsintheirfaces—andtheycomebackformore.

           ALEC:Theyloveit.

           CECELIA:Theyhateit.