Lesbia.  Yes, I know.  It’s no use, Boxer.  When will you be old enough to take no for an answer?

The general.  Never, Lesbia, never.  You have never given me a real reason for refusing me yet.  I once thought it was somebody else.  There were lots of fellows after you; but now theyve all given it up and married. [Bending still nearer to her] Lesbia:  tell me your secret.  Why—­

Lesbia [sniffing disgustedly] Oh!  Youve been smoking. [She rises and goes to the chair on the hearth] Keep away, you wretch.

The general.  But for that pipe, I could not have faced you without breaking down.  It has soothed me and nerved me.

Lesbia [sitting down with The Times in her hand] Well, it has nerved me to tell you why I’m going to be an old maid.

The general [impulsively approaching her] Dont say that, Lesbia.  It’s not natural:  it’s not right:  it’s—­

Lesbia. [fanning him off] No:  no closer, Boxer, please. [He retreats, discouraged].  It may not be natural; but it happens all the time.  Youll find plenty of women like me, if you care to look for them:  women with lots of character and good looks and money and offers, who wont and dont get married.  Cant you guess why?

The general.  I can understand when there is another.

Lesbia.  Yes; but there isnt another.  Besides, do you suppose I think, at my time of life, that the difference between one decent sort of man and another is worth bothering about?

The general.  The heart has its preferences, Lesbia.  One image, and one only, gets indelibly—­

Lesbia.  Yes.  Excuse my interrupting you so often; but your sentiments are so correct that I always know what you are going to say before you finish.  You see, Boxer, everybody is not like you.  You are a sentimental noodle:  you dont see women as they really are.  You dont see me as I really am.  Now I do see men as they really are.  I see you as you really are.

The general [murmuring] No:  dont say that, Lesbia.

Lesbia.  I’m a regular old maid.  I’m very particular about my belongings.  I like to have my own house, and to have it to myself.  I have a very keen sense of beauty and fitness and cleanliness and order.  I am proud of my independence and jealous for it.  I have a sufficiently well-stocked mind to be very good company for myself if I have plenty of books and music.  The one thing I never could stand is a great lout of a man smoking all over my house and going to sleep in his chair after dinner, and untidying everything.  Ugh!

The general.  But love—­

Lesbia.  Ob, love!  Have you no imagination?  Do you think I have never been in love with wonderful men? heroes! archangels! princes! sages! even fascinating rascals! and had the strangest adventures with them?  Do you know what it is to look at a mere real man after that? a man with his boots in every corner, and the smell of his tobacco in every curtain?