Mack. Well, Mary—
Mary. There you go again! Don’t call me Mary. Call me Smilax, or Miss Smilax.
Mack. You used to be just Mary Smith.
Mary. Used to be isn’t now. Smith is too plain and common for me. When I entered the employment of this club I became a new woman, and I just took a new name. I was tired of Smith. When I applied to Justice Daisy Flyer to get a permit to change my name, she said flowers were having a great run for names, and I chose Smilax.
Mack. Mary, you are prettier to me than any flower.
Mary. (Smiles.) That is a very pretty compliment, but you forget that it is only proper for our sex to pay such compliments as that. The new woman—
Mack. Bother the new woman. Since you have become a new woman, Mary, you drive me to distraction.
Mary. Mr. Mack, you are really provoking. So weak and sentimental. Do have a little regard for propriety, and the modesty natural to your sex.
Mack. I never can please you now. The old woman was hard enough to please, but the new one—heaven help us.
Mary. Mr. Mack, can’t I teach you that it is not your place to compliment me, but my place to compliment you? You are rather forward.