o marry
Billy. I don't want to leave Daisy. I don't know what I want. I wish I
were dead.

NED. [Nerving himself for another effort.] Now look here, Loretta, be
sensible. What is this about kisses? You haven't told me everything
after all.

LORETTA. I . . . I don't want to tell you everything.

NED. [Imperatively.] You must.

LORETTA. [Surrendering.] Well, then . . . must I?

NED. You must.

LORETTA. [Floundering.] He . . . I . . . we . . . I let him, and he
kissed me.

NED. [Desperately, controlling himself.] Go on.

LORETTA. He says eight, but I can't think of more than five times.

NED. Yes, go on.

LORETTA. That's all.

NED. [With vast incredulity.] All?

LORETTA. [Puzzled.] All?

NED. [Awkwardly.] I mean . . . er . . . nothing worse?

LORETTA. [Puzzled.] Worse? As though there could be. Billy said--

NED. [Interrupting.] When?

LORETTA. This afternoon. Just now. Billy said that my . . . our . . .
our . . . our kisses were terrible if we didn't get married.

NED. What else did he say?

LORETTA. He said that when a woman permitted a man to kiss her she
always married him. That it was awful if she didn't. It was the custom,
he said; and I say it is a bad, wicked custom, and it has broken my
heart. I shall never be happy again. I know I am terrible, but I can't
help it. I must have been born wicked.

NED. [Absent-mindedly bringing out a cigarette and striking a match.] Do
you mind if I smoke? [Coming to himself again, and flinging away match
and cigarette.] I beg your pardon. I don't want to smoke. I didn't
mean that at all. What I mean is . . . [He bends over LORETTA, catches
her hands in his, then sits on arm of chair, softly puts one arm around
her, and is about to kiss her.]

LORETTA. [With horror, repulsing him.] No! No!

NED. [Surprised.] What's the matter?

LORETTA. [Agitatedly.] Would you make me a wickeder woman than I am?

NED. A kiss?

LORETTA. There will be another scandal. That would make two scandals.

NED. To kiss the woman I love . . . a scandal?

LORETTA. Billy loves me, and he said so.

NED. Billy is a joker . . . or else he is as innocent as you.

LORETTA. But you said so yourself.

NED. [Taken aback.] I?

LORETTA. Yes, you said it yourself, with your own lips, not ten minutes
ago. I shall never believe you again.

NED. [Masterfully putting arm around her and drawing her toward him.]
And I am