Page:The life of the insects by Čapek brothers.pdf/15

 passion and I shall then produce an exquisite lament. For instance,—

If only thou wert ill, hard-hearted Iris!

Then I could melt thee with my kind inquiries Listen! Iris! (He stands at the side, burying his face in his hands.)

Iris. All alone, Felix? And so picturesquely mournful?

Felix. You, Iris? I didn’t think—

Iris. Why aren’t you over there? So many pretty little flappers—

Felix. You know very well, Iris—they don’t interest me.

Iris. Poor little fellow—why not?

Victor (a lady-killer). You mean, they don’t interest you yet!

Felix. They interest me no longer.

Iris. Do you hear that, Victor? That ’s a nice thing to say to my face. Come here, you rude little man. Sit down close to me No, close. You don’t call that close, do you? Tell me, my precious, don’t women really interest you any longer?

Felix. No–I’m weary of them.

Iris. (With a sigh) Oh, you men—you’re such cynics. You have your fun—as much fun as you can get—and then you say (imitating) ‘I’m weary of them’. It ’s a terrible thing to be a woman.

Victor. Why?

Iris. We never grow tired of love. Have you had a terrible past, Felix? When did you first fall in love?