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.]