Gwen: Didn’t he understand?
Margaret: Oh yes, he understood. We went to the Queen’s Hall the night I told him, and when we got home talked till five in the morning; it didn’t smash all at once—it just made a difference.
Gwen: I don’t understand.
Margaret: Nor do I—altogether. He had an affair soon afterwards. You see, he’d given up everything of that sort for me, and I didn’t ... so he didn’t ... it broke up our life together. Freedom’s a devastating thing ... a few hours I shall never forget, and a year of hell afterwards, and I’ve never really made up my mind whether I’m glad or sorry.... (To Frankie) Do you disapprove of me very much?
Frankie: Disapprove? No. But I don’t think it’s right.
Gwen (a quick challenge): What’s right?
Frankie: When I marry I shall have kept myself for him, whoever he is. And I hope he will, too.
Margaret: Oh, my dear!
Gwen (alert): Why did you say “Oh, my dear” like that?
Margaret: Another young man fell in love with me. (She turns to Frankie with a smile.) I’m sorry! I know it sounds dreadful saying them one after the other, quickly, like this! But there was a year of being lonely—desperately lonely. And it hurt the young man, too; so I let him take me away.