Wont you sit down ?

THE MAN. Thanks [He sits on the foot of the bed].

Raina walks with studied elegance to the ottoman and sits down. Unfortunately she sits on the pistol, and jumps up with ashriek. The man, all nerves, shies like a frightened horse to theother side of the room.

THE MAN [irritably] Dont frighten me like that. What is it ?

RAINA. Your revolver! It was staring that officer in the face all the time. What an escape!

THE MAN [vexed at being unnecessarily terrified] Oh, is that all ?

RAINA [staring at him rather superciliously as she conceives a poorer and poorer opinion of him, and feels proportionately more and more at her ease] I am sorry I frightened you. [She takes up the pistol and hands it to him]. Pray take it to protect yourself against me.

THE MAN [grinning wearily at the sarcasm as he takes the pistol] No use, dear young lady: theres nothing in it. It’s not loaded. [He makes a grimace at it, and drops it disparagingly into his revolver case.]

RAINA. Load it by all means.

THE MAN. Ive no ammunition. What use are cartridges in battle ? I always carry chocolate instead; and I finished the last cake of that hours ago.

RAINA [outraged in her most cherished ideals of manhood] Chocolate! Do you stuff your pockets with sweets – like a schoolboy – even in the field ?

THE MAN [grinning] Yes: isnt it contemptible ? [Hungrily] I wish I had some now.

RAINA. Allow me. [She sails away scornfully to the chest of drawers, and returns with the box of confectionery in her hand]. I am sorry I have eaten them all except these. [She offers him the box].

THE MAN [ravenously] Youre an angel! [He gobbles the contents]. Creams! Delicious! [He looks anxiously to see whether there are any more. There are none: he can only scrape the box with his fingers and suck them. When that nourishment is exhausted he accepts the inevitable with pathetic goodhumor, and says, with grateful emotion] Bless you, dear lady! You can always tell an old soldier by the inside of his holsters and cartridge boxes. The young ones carry pistols and cartridges: the old ones, grub. Thank you. [He hands back the box. Shesnatches it contemptuously from him and throws it away. He shies again, as if she had meant to strike him]. Ugh! Dont do things so suddenly, gracious lady. It’s mean to revenge yourself because I frightened you just now.

RAINA [loftily] Frighten me! Do you know, sir, that though I am only a woman, I think I am at heart as brave as you.

THE MAN. I should think so. You havnt been under fire for three days as I have.