A Duet, with an Occasional Chorus Part 19

'You had just remarked that before your marriage you had love-affairs with a number of men.'

'How horrid it sounds, doesn't it?'

'Well, it did strike me in that way.'

'But that's because you exaggerate what I said. I said that I had been attracted by several men.'

'And that dark men thrilled you.'

'Exactly.'

'I had hoped that I was the first.'

'It was not fated to be so. I could easily tell you a lie, Frank, and say that you were, but I should never forgive myself if I were to do such a thing. You see I left school at seventeen, and I was twenty-three when I became engaged to you. There are six years.

Imagine all the dances, picnics, parties, visitings of six years. I could not help meeting young men continually. A good many were interested in me, and I--'

'You were interested in them.'

'It was natural, Frank.'

'Oh yes, perfectly natural. And then I understand that the interest deepened.'

'Sometimes. When you met a young man who was interested several times running, at a dance, then in the street, then in the garden, then a walk home at night--of course your interest began to deepen.'

'Yes.'

'And then--'

'Well, what was the next stage?'

'Sure you're not angry?'

'No, no, not at all. Why don't you keep the key in the spirit- stand?'

'It might tempt Jemima. Shall I get it?'

'No, no, go on! The next stage was?'

'Well, when you have been deeply interested some time, then you begin to have experiences.'

'Ah!'

'Don't shout, Frank.'

'Did I shout? Never mind. Go on! You had experiences.'

'Why go into details?'

'You must go on. You have said too much to stop. I insist upon hearing the experiences.'

'Not if you ask for them in that way, Frank.' Maude had a fine dignity of her own when she liked.

'Well, I don't insist. I beg you to have confidence in me, and tell me some of your experiences.'

She leaned back in her armchair with her eyes half closed, and a quiet retrospective smile upon her face.

'Well, if you would really like to hear, Frank, as a proof of my confidence and trust, I will tell you. You will remember that I had not seen you at the time.'

'I will make every excuse.'

'I will tell you a single experience. It was my first of the sort, and stands out very clearly in my memory. It all came through my being left alone with a gentleman who was visiting my mother.'

'Yes!'

'Well, we were alone in the room, you understand.'

'Yes, yes, go on!'

'And he paid me many little compliments: kept saying how pretty I was, and that he had never seen a sweeter girl, and so on. You know what gentlemen would say?'

'And you?'

'Oh, I hardly answered him, but of course I was young and inexperienced, and I could not help being flattered and pleased at his words. I may have shown him what I felt, for he suddenly--'

'Kissed you!'

'Exactly. He kissed me. Don't walk up and down the room, dear. It fidgets me.'

'All right. Go on. Don't stop. After this outrage what happened next?'

'You really want to know?'

'I must know. What did you do?'

'I am so sorry that I ever began, for I can see that it is exciting you. Light your pipe, dear, and let us talk of something else. It will only make you cross if I tell you the truth.'

'I won't be cross. Go on. What did you do?'

'Well, Frank, since you insist--I kissed him back.'

'You--you kissed him back!'

'You'll have Jemima up if you go on like that.'

'You kissed him back!'

'Yes, dear; it may be wrong, but I did.'