ALICE. ‘Don’t; or I shall begin to think it’s absurd myself.’
STEVE. ‘Surely the boy felt the spell.’ She shakes her head. ‘But the boys always did.’
ALICE, wryly, ‘They were older boys.’
STEVE. ‘I believe I was the only one you never flirted with.’
ALICE, smiling, ‘No one could flirt with you, Steve.’
STEVE, pondering, ‘I wonder why.’ The problem has troubled him occasionally for years.
ALICE. ‘I wonder.’
STEVE. ‘I suppose there’s some sort of want in me.’
ALICE. ‘Perhaps that’s it. No, it’s because you were always such a good boy.’
STEVE, wincing, ‘I don’t know. Sometimes when I saw you all flirting I wanted to do it too, but I could never think of how to begin.’ With a sigh, ‘I feel sure there’s something pleasant about it.’