NED. [Abruptly.] Is that what you are crying about?

LORETTA. [Reluctantly.] N-no.

NED. [In hopeless voice, the brightness gone out of his face, about to begin pacing again.] Then what are you crying about?

LORETTA.  Because you said I had to marry Billy.  I don’t want to 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.