BOBBY.  I wasnt at Brighton, Meg.  I’d better tell you:  youre bound to find out sooner or later. [He begins his confession humbly, avoiding her gaze].  Meg:  it’s rather awful:  youll think me no end of a beast.  Ive been in prison.

MARGARET.  You!

BOBBY.  Yes, me.  For being drunk and assaulting the police.

MARGARET.  Do you mean to say that you—­oh! this is a let-down for me. [She comes off the table and drops, disconsolate, into a chair at the end of it furthest from the hearth].

BOBBY.  Of course I couldnt hold you to our engagement after that.  I was writing to you to break it off. [He also descends from the table and makes slowly for the hearth].  You must think me an utter rotter.

MARGARET.  Oh, has everybody been in prison for being drunk and assaulting the police?  How long were you in?

BOBBY.  A fortnight.

MARGARET.  Thats what I was in for.

BOBBY.  What are you talking about?  In where?

MARGARET.  In quod.

BOBBY.  But I’m serious:  I’m not rotting.  Really and truly—­

MARGARET.  What did you do to the copper?

BOBBY.  Nothing, absolutely nothing.  He exaggerated grossly.  I only laughed at him.

MARGARET. [jumping up, triumphant] Ive beaten you hollow.  I knocked out two of his teeth.  Ive got one of them.  He sold it to me for ten shillings.

BOBBY.  Now please do stop fooling, Meg.  I tell you I’m not rotting. [He sits down in the armchair, rather sulkily].

MARGARET. [taking up the copy of Lloyd’s Weekly and going to him] And I tell you I’m not either.  Look!  Heres a report of it.  The daily papers are no good; but the Sunday papers are splendid. [She sits on the arm of the chair].  See! [Reading]:  “Hardened at Eighteen.  A quietly dressed, respectable-looking girl who refuses her name”—­thats me.

BOBBY. [pausing a moment in his perusal] Do you mean to say that you went on the loose out of pure devilment?

MARGARET.  I did no harm.  I went to see a lovely dance.  I picked up a nice man and went to have a dance myself.  I cant imagine anything more innocent and more happy.  All the bad part was done by other people:  they did it out of pure devilment if you like.  Anyhow, here we are, two gaolbirds, Bobby, disgraced forever.  Isnt it a relief?

BOBBY. [rising stiffly] But you know, it’s not the same for a girl.  A man may do things a woman maynt. [He stands on the hearthrug with his back to the fire].

MARGARET.  Are you scandalized, Bobby?

BOBBY.  Well, you cant expect me to approve of it, can you, Meg?  I never thought you were that sort of girl.

MARGARET. [rising indignantly] I’m not.  You mustnt pretend to think that I’m a clergyman’s daughter, Bobby.

BOBBY.  I wish you wouldnt chaff about that.  Dont forget the row you got into for letting out that you admired Juggins [she turns her back on him quickly]—­a footman!  And what about the Frenchman?