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what a fool I am! Ned’s dead for me! oh, I hate Charlie! why did he tell me?

[Looking at —contemptuously thinking]

What a poor simpleton Sam is! boasting of his virtue! as if women loved you for that! they despise it! I don’t want Nina to think I’ve had no experiences with women. [Mockingly]

So then it’s Sam who is the Galahad, eh? Really, Nina, you should have him put in the Museum among the prehistoric mammals!

[Pleased—comes back kiddingly]

Well, I never had your chances, Charlie! I couldn’t run over to Europe and get away with murder the way you have!

[Foolishly pleased—admitting while denying]

Oh, I wasn’t quite as bad as all that, Sam!

[Scornfully ashamed of himself—thinking]

Poor sick ass that I am! I want them to think I’ve been a Don Juan! how pitiful and disgusting! I wouldn’t have a mistress if I could! if I could? of course I could! I’ve simply never cared to degrade myself!

[Thinking—tormentedly]

The thought of that woman! Ned forgetting our afternoons in nights with her! stop these thoughts!