Nor. No doubt. People exaggerate so. (standing below her)
Bea. They invent so.
Nor. They invent so.
Bea. And you have believed them! What must you think of me? (moves away a little)
Nor. To be perfectly frank, Mrs. Selwyn, I endeavour not to think of you at all. (goes to fireplace R.)
Bea. (goes up to L. of table) You have forgotten me? You have stripped me from your mind?
Nor. I have done my best to forget you. (leans on mantel, his back to her)
Bea. (moving away) And this is constancy! (down to L.)
Nor. (faces round) Constancy! I am not more punctilious than most men, but surely it is scarcely my duty to be constant to a woman who has become the wife of another. (advances to R.C.)
Bea. (goes up to C.) Ah! it is easy to talk of one’s duty but it is not always so easy to do it. (Normantower looks at her) Ned—may I call you so? Let me tell you the secret of my life.