NED. [Starting, looking at her queerly.] He . . .  Billy knows? [LORETTA nods.  He debates with himself a moment.] Tell me about it.  You must tell me all of it.

LORETTA. [Faintly, as though about to weep again.] All of it?

NED. [Firmly.] Yes, all of it.

LORETTA. [Haltingly.] And . . . will . . . you . . . ever . . . forgive . . . me?

NED. [Drawing a long, breath, desperately.] Yes, I’ll forgive you.  Go ahead.

LORETTA.  There was no one to tell me.  We were with each other so much.  I did not know anything of the world . . . then. [Pauses.]

NED. [Impatiently.] Go on.

LORETTA.  If I had only known. [Pauses.]

NED. [Biting his lip and clenching his hands.] Yes, yes.  Go on.

LORETTA.  We were together almost every evening.

NED. [Savagely.] Billy?

LORETTA.  Yes, of course, Billy.  We were with each other so much . . .  If I had only known . . .  There was no one to tell me . . .  I was so young . . . [Breaks down crying.]

NED. [Leaping to his feet, explosively.] The scoundrel!

LORETTA. [Lifting her head.] Billy is not a scoundrel . . .  He . . . he . . . is a good man.

NED. [Sarcastically.] I suppose you’ll be telling me next that it was all your fault. [LORETTA nods.] What!

LORETTA. [Steadily.] It was all my fault.  I should never have let him.  I was to blame.

NED. [Paces up and down for a minute, stops in front of her, and speaks with resignation.] All right.  I don’t blame you in the least, Loretta.  And you have been very honest.  It is . . . er . . . commendable.  But Billy is right, and you are wrong.  You must get married.

LORETTA. [In dim, far-away voice.] To Billy?

NED. Yes, to Billy.  I’ll see to it.  Where does he live?  I’ll make him.  If he won’t I’ll . . .  I’ll shoot him!

LORETTA. [Crying out with alarm.] Oh, Ned, you won’t do that?

NED. [Sternly.] I shall.

LORETTA.  But I don’t want to marry Billy.

NED. [Sternly.] You must.  And Billy must.  Do you understand?  It is the only thing.

LORETTA.  That’s what Billy said.

NED. [Triumphantly.] You see, I am right.

LORETTA.  And if . . . if I don’t marry him . . . there will be . . . scandal?

NED. [Calmly.] Yes, there will be scandal.

LORETTA.  That’s what Billy said.  Oh, I am so unhappy!

[LORETTA breaks down into violent weeping.]

[NED paces grimly up and down, now and again fiercely twisting his moustache.]

LORETTA. [Face buried, sobbing and crying all the time.]

I don’t want to leave Daisy!  I don’t want to leave Daisy!  What shall I do?  What shall I do?  How was I to know?  He didn’t tell me.  Nobody else ever kissed me. [NED stops curiously to listen.  As he listens his face brightens.] I never dreamed a kiss could be so terrible . . . until . . . until he told me.  He only told me this morning.