[Turning to Hector]. Do you know what they call him, Hector?
HECTOR } [speaking { Please don't tell me.
RANDALL } together] { I'll not stand it--
LADY UTTERWORD. Randall the Rotter: that is his name in good
society.
RANDALL [shouting]. I'll not bear it, I tell you. Will you listen
to me, you infernal--[he chokes].
LADY UTTERWORD. Well: go on. What were you going to call me? An
infernal what? Which unpleasant animal is it to be this time?
RANDALL [foaming]. There is no animal in the world so hateful as
a woman can be. You are a maddening devil. Hushabye, you will not
believe me when I tell you that I have loved this demon all my
life; but God knows I have paid for it [he sits down in the
draughtsman's chair, weeping].
LADY UTTERWORD [standing over him with triumphant contempt].
Cry-baby!
HECTOR [gravely, coming to him]. My friend, the Shotover sisters
have two strange powers over men. They can make them love; and
they can make them cry. Thank your stars that you are not married
to one of them.
LADY UTTERWORD [haughtily]. And pray, Hector--
HECTOR [suddenly catching her round the shoulders: swinging her
right round him and away from Randall: and gripping her throat
with the other hand]. Ariadne, if you attempt to start on me,
I'll choke you: do you hear? The cat-and-mouse game with the
other sex is a good game; but I can play your head off at it.
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