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The Débutante
HE:(Discouraged)Isthatarule?
SHE:Imakerulestofitthecases.
HE:YouandIaresomewhatalike—exceptthatI’myearsolderinexperience.
SHE:Howoldareyou?
HE:Almosttwenty-three.You?
SHE:Nineteen—just.
HE:Isupposeyou’retheproductofafashionableschool.
SHE:No—I’mfairlyrawmaterial.IwasexpelledfromSpence—I’veforgottenwhy.
HE:What’syourgeneraltrend?
SHE:Oh,I’mbright,quiteselfish,emotionalwhenaroused,fondofadmiration—
HE:(Suddenly)Idon’twanttofallinlovewithyou—
SHE:(Raisinghereyebrows)Nobodyaskedyouto.
HE:(Continuingcoldly)ButIprobablywill.Iloveyourmouth.
SHE:Hush!Pleasedon’tfallinlovewithmymouth—hair,eyes,shoulders,slippers—butnotmymouth.Everybodyfallsinlovewithmymouth.
HE:It’squitebeautiful.
SHE:It’stoosmall.
HE:Noitisn’t—let’ssee.
(Hekissesheragainwiththesamethoroughness.)
SHE:(Rathermoved)Saysomethingsweet.
HE:(Frightened)Lordhelpme.
SHE:(Drawingaway)Well,don’t—ifit’ssohard.
HE:Shallwepretend?Sosoon?
SHE:Wehaven’tthesamestandardsoftimeasotherpeople.
HE:Alreadyit’s—otherpeople.
SHE:Let’spretend.
HE:No—Ican’t—it’ssentiment.
SHE:You’renotsentimental?
HE:No,I’mromantic—asentimentalpersonthinksthingswilllast—aromanticpersonhopesagainsthopethattheywon’t.Sentimentisemotional.
SHE:Andyou’renot?(Withhereyeshalf-closed.)Youprobablyflatteryourselfthatthat’sasuperiorattitude.
