She stretches herself, cat-like.

AMY O’CONNELL.  Praise is the greatest of luxuries, isn’t it, Henry? ...  Henry ... [she caresses the name.]

TREBELL.  Quite right ...  Henry.

AMY O’CONNELL.  Henry ...  Trebell.

TREBELL.  Having formally taken possession of my name....

AMY O’CONNELL.  I’ll go to bed.

      His eyes have never moved from her.  Now she breaks the contact and
      goes towards the door.

TREBELL.  I wouldn’t ... my spare time for love making is so limited.

      She turns back, quite at ease, her eyes challenging him.

AMY O’CONNELL.  That’s the first offensive thing you’ve said.

TREBELL.  Why offensive?

AMY O’CONNELL.  I may flirt.  Making love’s another matter.

TREBELL.  Sit down and explain the difference ...  Mrs. O’Connell.

      She sits down.

AMY O’CONNELL.  Quite so.  ‘Mrs. O’Connell’.  That’s the difference.

TREBELL. [Provokingly.] But I doubt if I’m interested in the fact that your husband doesn’t understand you and that your marriage was a mistake ... and how hard you find it to be strong.

AMY O’CONNELL. [Kindly.] I’m not quite a fool though you think so on a three months’ acquaintance.  But tell me this ... what education besides marriage does a woman get?

TREBELL. [His head lifting quickly.] Education....

AMY O’CONNELL.  Don’t be business-like.

TREBELL.  I beg your pardon.

AMY O’CONNELL.  Do you think the things you like to have taught in schools are any use to one when one comes to deal with you?

TREBELL. [After a little scrutiny of her-face.] Well, if marriage is only the means to an end ... what’s the end?  Not flirtation.

AMY O’CONNELL. [With an air of self-revelation.] I don’t know.  To keep one’s place in the world, I suppose, one’s self-respect and a sense of humour.

TREBELL.  Is that difficult?

AMY O’CONNELL.  To get what I want, without paying more than it’s worth to me....?

TREBELL.  Never to be reckless.

AMY O’CONNELL. [With a side-glance.] One isn’t so often tempted.

TREBELL.  In fact ... to flirt with life generally.  Now, what made your husband marry you?

AMY O’CONNELL. [Dealing with the impertinence in her own fashion.] What would make you marry me?  Don’t say:  Nothing on earth.

TREBELL. [Speaking apparently of someone else.] A prolonged fit of idleness might make me marry ... a clever woman.  But I’ve never been idle for more than a week.  And I’ve never met a clever woman ... worth calling a woman.

AMY O’CONNELL. [Bringing their talk back to herself, and fastidiously.] Justin has all the natural instincts.

TREBELL.  He’s Roman Catholic, isn’t he?