Sarah Bring me some lemonade in here, Jo...

Sarah Bring me some lemonade in here, John — it's so nice and cool.

John [Going out on to veranda.] I wish you were dining too.

Sarah I've got to be at home and help mother with our party. I ought to be there now, really.

John [Off-] Wouldn't you rather have ginger beer?

Sarah No — lemonade, please.

John Right. [After a moment he returns with lemonade for Sarah and ginger beer for himself.]

Sarah [Taking it.] Thanks.

John Pretty hot player, Philip.

Sarah He nearly killed me.

John Keep a lot of dances for me to-night, won't you?

Sarah Of course.

John It ought to be fun, if it keeps fine.

Sarah Where's Lari, I wonder?

John Reading somewhere, I expect.

Sarah She looked divine at lunch.

John It's funny you liking her. I was afraid you wouldn't.

Sarah Why?

John Oh, I don't know — she's so utterly different.

Sarah I expect that's the reason.

John I wish she wouldn't slack indoors so much.

Sarah I don't see that it matters, if she wants to.

John It's all very well in the winter, but in this sort of weather

Sarah You mustn't be grumpy just because people don't like doing exactly the same things as you.

John I'm not grumpy.

Sarah Yes, you are — a little.

John It's annoying, though.

Sarah Don't let it be.

John You're such a sport, always ready for anything.

Sarah But I haven't got Lari's beauty or charm or intelligence.

John Here, I say!

Sarah I mean that.

John She is clever, isn't she?

Sarah Yes, and being clever she's a little bored.

John She wouldn't be if only she entered into things.

Sarah Perhaps she can't enter into things. You must remember this sort of life is entirely new to her.

John Yes, I know, but

Sarah You're all right, because you're on your own ground. I think you ought to give a bit more.

John How do you mean ?

Sarah Do what she wants now and then, instead of only what you want.

John But I do. I took her for miles in the car yester- day — she said she needed air.

Sarah That's right.

John So you see

Sarah Don't make excuses ; you know what I mean.

John I don't.

Sarah Well, I can't explain ; it's something you must find out for yourself.

John I do think it's most frightfully decent of you to stand up for her.

Sarah That wasn't my object.

John I say, you have changed lately ; you never used to go on like this.

Sarah Like what?

John Well, all serious and preachy.

Sarah [Laughing.] I'm sorry you think I'm preachy; you see, I'm growing up, and you're not.

John Oh yes, I am.

Sarah Well, not in the way you should, then.

John You've got ever so much nicer-looking.

Sarah Thank you.

John Are you going to marry, too?

Sarah Certainly.

John [Anxiously.] Who? Charlie?

Sarah Good Heavens, no ! He's much too old.

John Oh!

Sarah [Repentantly.] I'm awfully sorry. I didn't mean that exactly.

John It's all right.

Sarah He's not my type at all ; if I loved him, I wouldn't care how old he was.

John I can't imagine you married.

Sarah What a pity ! I have a vivid mental picture of it.

John Is there anybody you are in love with?

Sarah Not at the moment, but I'm keeping my eyes open.

John I've often meant to ask you something, but I hadn't the courage

Sarah Well, don't then.

John I must.

Sarah Give me a cigarette first.

John Stinker ?

Sarah Yes ; anything.

John [Giving her one.] Here.

Sarah Thanks. Go ahead.

John Did you think I behaved like a cad, marrying Lari like that, without letting you know?

Sarah Of course not.

John Are you sure?

Sarah Quite. I understood perfectly.

John It's been on my mind rather.

Sarah You took your opportunity and married for love, John, and I respect you for it. If we'd married, it would have been for friendship and convenience.

John Would it?

Sarah [Firmly.] Yes — we knew one another far too well.

John Do you think that's a disadvantage?

Sarah In married life, certainly.

John I don't.

Sarah It would have been so dull and ordinary — no ex- citement at all.

John I don't want excitement.

Sarah I do. I want thrills and glamour and passionate love-letters — all the trappings.

John I could have written you love-letters.

Sarah Well, why didn't you?

John I don't know. I

Sarah [ Triumphantly. ] The fact that you didn't proves that you couldn't — you didn't feel that way about me, ever.

John It was a different sort of feeling.

Sarah Don't be a hypocrite, John, and try and deceive yourself.

John I did love you, all the same.

Sarah [Rising.] How touching.

John I do still.

Sarah Shut up, John !

John You see, I'm beginning to realize I've made rather a mess of things. [He puts his face in his hands.]

Sarah [Furiously.] Shut up, I tell you, or I'll never speak to you again. That's behaving like a cad, if you like — an utter cad !

John [Miserably.] Sarah

Sarah You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Haven't you got any sense of decency? Let me tell you one thing — you're not fit to wipe Lari's boots.

Noel Coward. Easy Virtue. Harper & Brothers, 1926. pp.124-136.