This Side of Paradise

pread on a cream-colored bed. Pink and cream are the motifs of the room, but the only article of furniture in full view is a luxurious dressing-table with a glass top a

has lost its dignity and wound itself tortuously around everything in sight, and (4) upon the two small chairs, a collection of lingerie that beggars description. One would enjoy seeing the bill called forth by the finery displayed and one is possessed by a desire to see the princess for whose ben

hable mumble fr

Her lips move significantly as she looks for IT. Her search is less thorough than the maid's but there is a touch of fury in it

s voice, a very spoiled voice, s

teen, pretty, shrewd, and constitutionally good-humored. She is dressed for the evening in a gown the obvious simplici

LIA:

: (Outsi

: Very

LIND

: I've

of the dressing-table and commen

e) What are you d

out carrying the garmen

n a huge voice shouts: Mama! There is a chorus of protest from next doo

ere you all are! A

ckly) Take hi

he is do

him where his room is. Tell him I

u'd hurry. Father's telling him all about the w

es to draw CECELI

gerie) How do you mean-temperamental? Y

, he wri

oes he pla

on't th

Speculativ

othing quee

IA: M

he used to have a lot, an

ONNAGE

course we're glad to ha

tainly ought

wo other boys in some impossible apartment. I hope it isn't in order that you can all drink as much as you want. (She pauses

l, then, prove it by co

CONNAG

nd hasn't ch

ower tone) She's

meet her ma

ho-Mr. Amo

C no

onestly, Alec, she treats men terribly. She abuses them and cuts them and

They l

of vampire, I think-and she can make girls d

ality runs i

) I guess it ran out

Rosalind be

s sometimes, drinks punch, frequently kissed-Oh, yes-co

s MRS.

lmost finished so I can go

his moth

(Outside)

Mother's

htest effort to have men fall in love with them. Two types of men seldom do: dull men are usually afraid of he

he wants when she wants it and she is prone to make every one around her pretty miserable when she doesn't get it-but in the true sense she is not spoiled. Her fr

f and laissez faire for others. She loves shocking stories: she has that coarse streak that usually goes with natures that are both fi

presented qualities that she felt and despised in herself-incipient meanness, conceit, cowardice, and petty dishonesty. She once told a roomful of her mother's friends that the only excuse for w

e eternal kissable mouth, small, slightly sensual, and utterly disturbing. There were gray eyes and an unimpeachable skin with two spots of vanishing color. She wa

AMORY had found in ISABELLE. MONSIGNOR DARCY would have been quite up a tree whether to call her a

decided impatiently that she can do a better job herself. She is too nervous just now to stay in one place. To that we owe her presence in this littered ro

being in-(Combing her hair at the dressing-table.) One's a hoop skirt with pant

lad you're

: Yes; a

ive on Long Island with the fast younger married set. You wan

to be one! You mea

LIA:

t to keep men from winking at me. If I laugh hard from a front row in the theatre, the comedian plays to me for the rest of t

must be an a

en who interest me at all are the totally ineligi

as well get paid for the

particularly radiant I've thought,

it should all be wasted on just one family. (Getting up.) I think

now how to be really angry or really ha

d I don't have all you

ttle lunatic! If mother heard you talking like that sh

ough, because I know things I c

ittle girl! Who are you engaged to, the i

-good-by, darling,

sure and do that-

it on the soft carpet. She watches not her feet, but her eyes-never casually but always intently, even when she smiles

'm sorry.

tly) Oh, you're Amor

er closely) And

ome in-it's all right-mother'll be rig

This is sort of a

is No Ma

where you-

he crosses to the bureau.) Se

know you we

t did yo

rt of-sort of-sexless, yo

-but not in b

Busi

to two-

ave some stock in

alind, Unlimited." Fifty-one shares, name, goo

gly) Sort of a c

n I meet a man that doesn't bore me to death

ame point of view on me

lly feminine, yo

tereste

ve made me talk about mysel

Ru

ory, I hear you're brilliant. Th

w enco

him to think. Did you? I d

m really q

't intend this to b

: L

-I'm literary. I've-I

re-splendid!

ees are

re singing

sips he

ies away th

ng) No, not

denly) I

Do

Modes

'm always afraid of a gi

ly) My dear boy,

always be af

sadly) I supp

tation on both

ation) Listen. This is

at's coming) Aft

ou-kiss me? Or

raid-but your rea

I really wan

So

efinitely an

s second) Well, is you

Is

it's onl

look

ed dozens of men. I suppo

Yes, I suppose yo

ople like th

f) Good Lord, yes. Kiss

ity is generally

raged) Is t

rules to f

t alike-except that I'm y

w old a

t twenty-

inetee

e the product of a

erial. I was expelled from

your gene

selfish, emotional when a

don't want to fal

r eyebrows) Nobo

y) But I probably wil

outh-hair, eyes, shoulders, slippers-but not m

quite b

t's to

t isn't-

gain with the sa

moved) Say so

tened) Lor

ay) Well, don't-

we pretend

same standards of

y it's-oth

et's p

an't-it's

re not se

s things will last-a romantic person hopes agai

alf-closed.) You probably flatter you

Rosalind, don't a

now) No-I have no

ack) You wanted to k

This

d bett

suppo

toward

E:

tu

e-Home Team: One hun

tarts

ckly) Rai

goes

cigarette-case and hides it in the side drawer

wanting to speak to you alo

eavens! you

d, you've been a very

(Resigne

know your father has

ry face) Oh, please d

s is our last year in this house-and unless things

patiently) We

men. There may be a time when it's valuable, but at present I want you on the dance-floor where I can find you. There are certain men I w

cally) Yes, listeni

en and twenty years old. I don't mind a prom or a football game, but staying away f

e as high as her mother's) Mother, it's done-you can't r

e several bachelor friends of your father's

ding wisely) A

GE: (Sharp

life and are so adorably tired looking

-but I don't think you'll care for him

er, I never th

ver keep it long eno

pose some day I'll marry a t

e's a young man I like, and he's floating in money. It seems to me that since you seem tired of Howard

ou know I was tired

boy looks so miserabl

those romantic, pre-battle

aid) At any rate, make u

't you think

GE: You kn

violin being tuned, the roll of a drum. M

ONNAGE

D: One

the discreet patter of faint drums, the rustle of new silk, all blend on the staircase outside and drift in through the partly opened door. Bundled figures pass in the lighted hall. The laughter heard below becomes doubled and multiplied. Then some one comes in

seventeen, that it's positively anticlimax. (Shaking hands with a visionary middle-aged nobleman.) Yes, your grace-I b'lieve I've heard my sister spe

down-stairs, her arms outstretched to an imagi

L HOUR

ight is on each side above, and in the middle, over the couch hangs a painting of a ver

OWARD GILLESPIE, a vapid youth of about twenty-four.

o you mean I've changed. I

you don't look

o say that you liked me because I was

used to like you because you

y're still thin and brown.

core. What confuses men is that I'm perfectly natural. I used to think

IE: I l

(Coldly)

for two weeks. I had an idea that aft

r. I have to be won all over

: Are you

s a third kind, where the man is kissed and deserted. If Mr. Jones of the nineties bragged he'd kissed a girl, every one knew he was through with her

en why do you

t, when he's interested. There is a moment-Oh, just before the

PIE: A

Pretty soon he thinks of nothing but being alone with you

e, wealthy, faithful to his own, a bore

ve this is my

me. Now I know I haven't got too much p

GILLESPIE leaves, tr

arty is certa

en it lately. I'm weary-Do y

I loathe this "rushing" idea. See

IND:

R: W

nder if you kn

What-Oh-you know

roposition. Any one who marries me will h

I wouldn'

t to me. (She rises.) Come, let's go. I've changed my m

ter ALEC an

to get my own brothe

y) I'll go if

gin the next dance? (Sighs.) There's no color

don't want Amory to fal

n idea that that was

wfully attached to Amory. He's sensitive and I don't want him

e's very g

t marry him, but a girl doesn't hav

es it? I wish I

le kitty. It's lucky for some th

MRS. CO

Where on ear

've come to the best people to fi

as marshalled eight bachel

m a squad and march

e may be at the Cocoanut Grove with some football pla

t you better send the bu

y serious) Oh, you don'

's only jok

of her tapping a keg of b

: Let's look

SALIND comes in

re I ask you. Don't you car

alks in

: My

Gillespie, thi

Mr. Blaine. From Lak

RY:

've been there. It's in th

lways felt that I'd rather be provincia

SPIE:

Oh, no

E bows an

He's too m

in love with

LIND

sabelle-nothing at all to her

: What h

smarter than I was-then she threw me over. S

t do you mean

a car, but can

hat are you

ay-run for Pre

Greenwic

vens, no-I said

ness men. Clever men

as if I'd know

u going to commence

was Louis XIV and you were one of my-my-(

ve suggested

did it woul

LIND

ople are in a way terribl

rning her lip

berately t

sweet things. But

ND: No

: Wha

-only I want sentiment, real

nything else in the w

to find a male to grati

d the music of a waltz surges

! they're playin

oks at

Y: W

IND:

-the battle lo

: I love

y ki

God, what h

g. Oh, don't tal

or how, but I love you-f

o-I-I-oh, to-ni

s and then in a loud voice say

stirring) Don't let me go-I d

Y: S

God-and rather beautiful, thank God-and happy, thank God, thank God-

ses her

SM

ve. The critical qualities which had spoiled for each of them a dozen

fair," she told her anxious

he alternated between astonishing bursts of rather exceptional work an

s paradise of rose and flame. But the spell became a trance, seemed to increase from day to day; they began to talk of marrying in July-in June. All life was transmitted into terms of their love,

ad had a complete bouleversement and wa

LE INT

Everywhere these countless lights, this promise of a night of streets and singing-he moved in a half-dream through the crowd as if expecting to meet Rosalind hurrying toward him with eager feet from every corner.... How the unforgettable faces of dusk woul

cigarette where he lounged by the open window. As the door s

ne. How went the adver

rawled o

ry vision of the bustling agency was

She's w

si

t how wonderful she is. I don't want you

from the window-qu

pe and happiness,

iver of a tear

Golly

ER S

we do," sh

held out his arms so that

softly, "like summer, just when I nee

ed lazily ov

so good,"

you mean

just sweet..." he

, "when you're ready f

have much

h yourself for what you can't give me. I've go

l me

on't you? Oh

want to hear

Amory, with a

s, wil

life-Oh,

ha

nt your people to be my people

ven't any

at me, Amory.

at you want

re you-not me. Oh, you're so mu

sed hi

ned. Wouldn't it be awful if t

d at him

oo. I suppose all great happiness is a little sad. Beaut

ony of sacrifice and

eautiful, I know. I'

u're his most pre

ou. For the first time I regret all the other

times, when he was particularly loquacious, she went to sleep in his arms, but he loved that Rosalind-a

IC IN

d Amory heard a story that delighted him. Gillespie after several cocktails was in a tal

Kellerman had been there one day on a visit and had dived from the top of a rickety, thirty-foot summ

a form shot by him; Rosalind, her arms spread in a beautiful

arty tried it. Well, afterward Rosalind had the nerve to ask me why I stooped over when I dove. 'It didn't make it any easier,'

miling delightedly all through lunch. He thoug

WEEKS

very moodily and unhappily at nothing. She has changed perceptibly-she is a trifle thin

n an opera-cloak. She takes in

: Who is com

hear her, at leas

play, "Et tu, Brutus." (She perceives that she is talking

tarting) Oh-

ldn't imagine which one. (ROSALIND doesn't answer.) Dawson Ryder is more

expression that is quite ne

r two months on a theoretical genius who hasn't a penny to his

u know he has a little income-and you know he's

ke a step you'll spend your days regretting. It's not as if your father could help you. Things have been hard for him lately and he's an old man. You'd

r heaven's s

een telling him for ten days that he "looks like the wrath of God," and he does. As a

evening, M

ot unkindly) Goo

ut has been neutral. He believes in his heart that the marriage would make AMORY

Hi,

om said he'd meet

ow's the advertising to-day

ise-(Every one looks at him rather eagerly

Come, Alec,

d ALEC go out there is a pause. ROSALIND still stares moodily a

Darli

she seizes his hand, covers it with

ything. I see them often when you're away from me

cond and then she begins

: Ros

, we're so d

: Ros

Oh, I wa

ase.) We'll have to make a start. I like having to make a start together. (His forced hopefulness fades as he sees her unresponsive.) What's the matter? (He gets up suddenly and starts to pace the floor.) It's Dawson Ryder, that's what it is. He's been

if you don't sit

own suddenly besi

hand gently) You know

RY:

know I'll al

(She cries a little and rising from the couch goes to the armchair.) I've felt all afternoon that

othing to tell, I s

playing with the idea

pause) He's been as

l, he's go

er another pau

t say that.

t. You know you're the only man

osalind, let's get

ND: We

: Why

t. I'd be your squaw-

ndred and seventy-five d

I don't even do m

'll do i

een a laugh and

some one else. Tell me! You leave me in the dark.

s all. The very qualities I love you for are

(Grimly

. He's so reliable, I almost fe

ou don't

respect him, and he's a

dgingly) Ye

him on his lap and talked to him and promised him an Indian suit-and next day he remembered and bought it-and, oh, it was

spair) Rosali

roguishness) Don't look

r we have of hur

eam that I'd longed for and never thought I'd find. The first real unselfishness

t won't-

it as a beautiful memory

member always, not the beauty of it while it last

IND:

, never to kiss you, just a gate shut

gest course. Marrying you would be a failure and I never

despairingly o

over here

LIND

t you want

I want you to love

beginning

us now for our poses and vanities, for treating people like Sancho and yet getti

re afraid to ta

poem I read somewhere-you'll say Ell

wisdom-to l

fate or the g

estion, to m

lips and car

's ebb as we

hold, and, in

ut we ha

mes in the last month I'd have been completely yours if yo

to take our cha

on says I'd le

s hands does not move. The life

an't do with you, and I can

her's nerves. It's just that we'r

e crosses to him and taking his

es and flowers, cooped up in a little flat, waiting for you

nded by sudden un

: Ros

, go-Don't make it ha

e strained) Do you know what you

somehow in the qualit

: Can't

ou love me. You're afraid of t

ldn't be the Ro

I can't give you up! I can't, t

te in her voice) You

don't care! You're

ng the wise thing

going to marr

unshine and pretty things and cheerfulness-and I dread responsibility. I don't want to think about pots an

And you

end. Drifting hurts too much. We c

inger and hands it to him. The

wet cheek) Don't! Keep it, pl

he ring softly

rokenly) You

: Goo

more, with infinite lon

n't ever for

: Goo

m throw back his head-and he is gone. Gone-she half starts from

once more at the room. Here they had sat and dreamed: that tray she had so often filled with matches for him; that shade that they had

ss in time, Rosalind feels that she has lost so