BETTY. I did. You had a way of squeezing my hand.... And then when we came back here. You know it didn't take me long to discover--
WALTER. [_Protesting._] I scarcely saw you the first two or three years!
BETTY. No--you were afraid. Oh I thought you so silly! [_He suddenly contrives to release himself--gets up, and moves to the card-table._] Why, what's the matter?
WALTER. [_At the table, with his back to her._] I hate hearing you talk like this.
BETTY. Silly boy! [_She rises, and goes to him; he has taken a cigarette out of the box on the table, and stands there, with his head bent, tapping the cigarette against his hand._] Women only talk "like this," as you call it, to their lovers. They talk "like that" to their husbands--and that's why the husbands never know. That's why the husbands are always sitting in the stalls, looking on. [_She puts her arms round him again._] Looking and not seeing.
[_She approaches her lips to his--he almost fretfully unclasps her arms._
WALTER. Betty--I want to say a--serious word ...
BETTY. [_Looking fondly at him._] Well, isn't what _I'm_ saying serious?
BETTY. Yes. I'm only thirty. But I'm not complaining.
[WALTER _looks at her--tries to speak, but cannot--then he breaks away, goes across the room to the fireplace and stands for a moment looking into the fire. She has remained where she was, her eyes following him wonderingly. Suddenly he stamps his foot violently._
BETTY. [_Moving towards him in alarm._] What's the matter?
WALTER. [_With a swift turn towards her._] I'm going to get married.
BETTY. [_Stonily, stopping by the round table._] You ...
WALTER. [_Savagely._] Going to get married, yes. Married, married!
[_She stands there and doesn't stir--doesn't speak or try to speak; merely stands there, and looks at him, giving no sign. Her silence irritates him; he becomes more and more violent, as though to give himself courage._
WALTER. You're wonderful, you women--you really are. Always contrive to make us seem brutes, or cowards! I've wanted to tell you this a dozen times--I've not had the pluck. Well, to-day I must. Must, do you hear that?... Oh, for Heaven's sake, say something.
BETTY. [_Still staring helplessly at him._] You ...
WALTER. [_Feverishly._] Yes, I, I! Now it's out, at least--it's spoken! I mean to get married, like other men--fooled, too, I dare say, like the others--at least I deserve it! But I'm tired, I tell you--tired--