MALISE. Have you ever acted? [CLARE shakes her head] You mightn't think so, but I've heard there's a prejudice in favour of training. There's Chorus—I don't recommend it. How about your brother?
CLARE. My brother's got nothing to spare, and he wants to get married; and he's going back to India in September. The only friend I should care to bother is Mrs. Fullarton, and she's—got a husband.
MALISE. I remember the gentleman.
CLARE. Besides, I should be besieged day and night to go back. I must lie doggo somehow.
MALISE. It makes my blood boil to think of women like you. God help all ladies without money.
CLARE. I expect I shall have to go back.
MALISE. No, no! We shall find something. Keep your soul alive at all costs. What! let him hang on to you till you're nothing but— emptiness and ache, till you lose even the power to ache. Sit in his drawing-room, pay calls, play Bridge, go out with him to dinners, return to—duty; and feel less and less, and be less and less, and so grow old and—die!
[The bell rings.]
MALISE. [Looking at the door in doubt] By the wayhe'd no means of tracing you?
[She shakes her head.] [The bell rings again.]