The Complete Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald. F. Scott Fitzgerald

Чтение книги онлайн.

Читать онлайн книгу The Complete Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald - F. Scott Fitzgerald страница 73

Автор:
Серия:
Издательство:
The Complete Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Скачать книгу

(Gazing around) This is sort of a new wrinkle for me.

      She: This is No Man’s Land.

      He: This is where you—you—(pause)

      She: Yes—all those things. (She crosses to the bureau.) See, here’s my rouge—eye pencils.

      He: I didn’t know you were that way.

      She: What did you expect?

      He: I thought you’d be sort of—sort of—sexless, you know, swim and play golf.

      She: Oh, I do—but not in business hours.

      He: Business?

      She: Six to two—strictly.

      He: I’d like to have some stock in the corporation.

      She: Oh, it’s not a corporation—it’s just “Rosalind, Unlimited.” Fifty-one shares, name, good-will, and everything goes at $25,000 a year.

      He: (Disapprovingly) Sort of a chilly proposition.

      She: Well, Amory, you don’t mind—do you? When I meet a man that doesn’t bore me to death after two weeks, perhaps it’ll be different.

      He: Odd, you have the same point of view on men that I have on women.

      She: I’m not really feminine, you know—in my mind.

      He: (Interested) Go on.

      She: No, you—you go on—you’ve made me talk about myself. That’s against the rules.

      He: Rules?

      She: My own rules—but you—Oh, Amory, I hear you’re brilliant. The family expects so much of you.

      He: How encouraging!

      She: Alec said you’d taught him to think. Did you? I didn’t believe any one could.

      He: No. I’m really quite dull.

      (He evidently doesn’t intend this to be taken seriously.)

      She: Liar.

      He: I’m—I’m religious—I’m literary. I’ve—I’ve even written poems.

      She: Vers libre—splendid! (She declaims.)

      “The trees are green,

      The birds are singing in the trees,

      The girl sips her poison

      The bird flies away the girl dies.”

      He: (Laughing) No, not that kind.

      She: (Suddenly) I like you.

      He: Don’t.

      She: Modest too——

      He: I’m afraid of you. I’m always afraid of a girl—until I’ve kissed her.

      She: (Emphatically) My dear boy, the war is over.

      He: So I’ll always be afraid of you.

      She: (Rather sadly) I suppose you will.

      (A slight hesitation on both their parts.)

      He: (After due consideration) Listen. This is a frightful thing to ask.

      She: (Knowing what’s coming) After five minutes.

      He: But will you—kiss me? Or are you afraid?

      She: I’m never afraid—but your reasons are so poor.

      He: Rosalind, I really want to kiss you.

      She: So do I.

      (They kiss—definitely and thoroughly.)

      He: (After a breathless second) Well, is your curiosity satisfied?

      She: Is yours?

      He: No, it’s only aroused.

      (He looks it.)

      She: (Dreamily) I’ve kissed dozens of men. I suppose I’ll kiss dozens more.

      He: (Abstractedly) Yes, I suppose you could—like that.

      She: Most people like the way I kiss.

      He: (Remembering himself) Good Lord, yes. Kiss me once more, Rosalind.

      She: No—my curiosity is generally satisfied at one.

      He: (Discouraged) Is that a rule?

      She: I make rules to fit the cases.

      He: You and I are somewhat alike—except that I’m years older in experience.

      She: How old are you?

      He: Almost twenty-three. You?

      She: Nineteen—just.

      He: I suppose you’re the product of a fashionable school.

      She: No—I’m fairly raw material. I was expelled from Spence—I’ve forgotten why.

      He: What’s your general trend?

      She: Oh, I’m bright, quite selfish, emotional when aroused, fond of admiration——

      He: (Suddenly) I don’t want to fall in love with you——

      She: (Raising her eyebrows) Nobody asked you to.

      He: (Continuing coldly) But I probably will. I love your mouth.

      She: Hush! Please don’t fall in love with my mouth—hair, eyes, shoulders, slippers—but not my mouth. Everybody falls in love with my mouth.

      He: It’s quite beautiful.

      She: It’s too small.

      He: No it isn’t—let’s see.

      (He kisses her again with the same thoroughness.)

      She: (Rather

Скачать книгу