NORA [answering in spite of herself in a sudden spring of bitterness].I should think you ought to know better than me whether you're interfering with him.You've seen him oftener than I have.You know him better than I do,by this time.You've come to me quicker than he has,haven't you?
BROADBENT.I'm bound to tell you,Miss Reilly,that Larry has not arrived in Rosscullen yet.He meant to get here before me;but his car broke down;and he may not arrive until to-morrow.
NORA [her face lighting up].Is that the truth?
BROADBENT.Yes:that's the truth.[She gives a sigh of relief].
You're glad of that?
NORA [up in arms at once].Glad indeed!Why should I be glad?As we've waited eighteen years for him we can afford to wait a day longer,I should think.
BROADBENT.If you really feel like that about him,there may be a chance for another man yet.Eh?
NORA [deeply offended].I suppose people are different in England,Mr Broadbent;so perhaps you don't mean any harm.In Ireland nobody'd mind what a man'd say in fun,nor take advantage of what a woman might say in answer to it.If a woman couldn't talk to a man for two minutes at their first meeting without being treated the way you're treating me,no decent woman would ever talk to a man at all.
BROADBENT.I don't understand that.I don't admit that.I am sincere;and my intentions are perfectly honorable.I think you will accept the fact that I'm an Englishman as a guarantee that Iam not a man to act hastily or romantically,though I confess that your voice had such an extraordinary effect on me just now when you asked me so quaintly whether I was ****** love to you--NORA [flushing]I never thought--
BROADHHNT [quickly].Of course you didn't.I'm not so stupid as that.But I couldn't bear your laughing at the feeling it gave me.You--[again struggling with a surge of emotion]you don't know what I--[he chokes for a moment and then blurts out with unnatural steadiness]Will you be my wife?
NORA [promptly].Deed I won't.The idea![Looking at him more carefully]Arra,come home,Mr Broadbent;and get your senses back again.I think you're not accustomed to potcheen punch in the evening after your tea.
BROADBENT [horrified].Do you mean to say that I--I--I--my God!
that I appear drunk to you,Miss Reilly?
NORA [compassionately].How many tumblers had you?
BROADBENT [helplessly].Two.
NORA.The flavor of the turf prevented you noticing the strength of it.You'd better come home to bed.
BROADBENT [fearfully agitated].But this is such a horrible doubt to put into my mind--to--to--For Heaven's sake,Miss Reilly,am Ireally drunk?
NORA [soothingly].You'll be able to judge better in the morning.
Come on now back with me,an think no more about it.[She takes his arm with motherly solicitude and urges him gently toward the path].
BROADBENT [yielding in despair].I must be drunk--frightfully drunk;for your voice drove me out of my senses [he stumbles over a stone].No:on my word,on my most sacred word of honor,Miss Reilly,I tripped over that stone.It was an accident;it was indeed.
NORA.Yes,of course it was.Just take my arm,Mr Broadbent,while we're goin down the path to the road.You'll be all right then.
BROADBENT [submissively taking it].I can't sufficiently apologize,Miss Reilly,or express my sense of your kindness when I am in such a disgusting state.How could I be such a bea--[he trips again]damn the heather!my foot caught in it.
NORA.Steady now,steady.Come along:come.[He is led down to the road in the character of a convicted drunkard.To him there it something divine in the sympathetic indulgence she substitutes for the angry disgust with which one of his own countrywomen would resent his supposed condition.And he has no suspicion of the fact,or of her ignorance of it,that when an Englishman is sentimental he behaves very much as an Irishman does when he is drunk].
