Act 2, Scene 1 Summary

A month later, Ben is in the office waiting room reading from a book of Shakespeare given to him by an old teacher. Cleo is very attentive, bringing Ben a glass of cold water and matches to light his pipe. Frenchy watches the attentions provided by Cleo and makes pointed remarks to Cleo about her sexually inappropriate clothing and gestures.

Cleo is understandably hurt by Frenchy's comments and argues with him when Frenchy intimates that he wishes Cleo had not been hired. Cleo continues her mild flirtations with Ben, and Frenchy realizes that he is not going to thwart Cleo's forward behavior. He eventually leaves.

Ben and Cleo discuss marriage, and Cleo tells Ben that she has been trained in all the domestic arts and will make a wonderful wife someday. Cleo then asks Ben if he loves his wife, and...