The Vortex

comfort⁠—goodbye, Helen⁠—Pawnie, you will be nicer to me over the weekend, won’t you? I shall be so depressed, what with Gregory going away and everything⁠—Goodbye, Tom⁠—I shall dine in bed and give way at every pore⁠— She goes out. Pawnie Poor Clara⁠—she eternally labors under the delusion that she really matters. Helen We all do that a little. Florence

Laughing.

You’re awfully cruel to her, Pawnie.

Pawnie She upsets my vibrations. Florence

Before glass.

I’ve taken a sudden hatred to this hat. She takes it off. That’s better⁠—are you going to the New Elaine tonight, either of you?

Helen I’m not⁠—but Pawnie is, of course. Pawnie It’s going to be amazing⁠—what a cast, my dear! Marvelous Selwyn Steele, Nora Dean, and that perfect woman, Lily Burfield⁠— Helen I can’t stand her, she always overacts. Pawnie

Incensed.

How can you, Helen! Did you see her in Simple Faith?

Helen Yes, unfortunately. Pawnie Oh, you’re really too tiresome for words! Helen Her technique creaks like machinery. Pawnie It’s sacrilege⁠—she’s too, too marvelous. Enter Preston with a tray of cocktails. All help themselves. Florence What do you think about it, Tom? Tom I’ve never seen her. Florence Yes, you have. About three months ago, at the Comedy. Tom Oh.⁠ ⁠… I don’t remember. Pawnie Don’t remember! An artist like that! Good God, it’s agony! Helen You’ll look awfully tired at dinnertime, Pawnie, if you don’t calm down a little. Florence This is special⁠—my own invention. Helen Absolutely delicious. Tom A bit too sweet. Florence Tom, darling, don’t be so taciturn⁠—he’s always taciturn after a matinée. Pawnie When’s Nicky coming back? Florence Tomorrow. Isn’t it too divine? He’s been away for a whole year, but I saw him for a moment on my way through Paris last month. Pawnie Has he been working hard? Florence I suppose so, but you know what Nicky is⁠—bless his heart! Pawnie I heard him play at Yvonne Mirabeau’s. Florence She’s a loathsome woman, isn’t she? Helen Not as bad as that. Pawnie She’s a half-wit. I can’t bear half-wits. Florence She goes on so dreadfully about things⁠—devastating. Pawnie Funny Nicky liking her so much. Florence Only because she keeps on saying how wonderful he is⁠—that always appeals to Nicky. Pawnie How old is he now? Florence Twenty-four. Isn’t it absurd to think I have such a grown-up son⁠—old General Fenwick said last Thursday that⁠—The telephone rings; she goes to it. Hallo⁠—hallo! Yes, my dear. How are you?⁠ ⁠… Yes, so am I, simply worn out.⁠ ⁠… No. When? How perfectly marvelous!⁠ ⁠… No, dear, it’s a prescription; but I can let you have a little in a jar.⁠ ⁠… Quite easy. All you do is just rub it on at night.⁠ ⁠… Don’t be so silly.⁠ ⁠… Not in the least; if you send the car round that will be all right.⁠ ⁠… Very well.⁠ ⁠… Goodbye, darling. She hangs up receiver. I give Clara Hibbert ten for stupidity. Don’t you, Helen? Helen A hundred and ten. Pawnie Ten’s the limit. Tom I say, Florence⁠—I think I’d better be getting along if I’ve got to be dressed and back here by half-past seven⁠— Florence You’ve got half an hour. Tom That’s not very much. Florence The car’s outside⁠ ⁠… take it and send it straight back. Pawnie Can it drop me, Florence dear? I always feel so much richer in your car than anyone else’s. Florence Of course, Pawnie. The telephone rings again. Florence

At telephone.

Hallo!⁠ ⁠… Yes⁠ ⁠… speaking.⁠ ⁠… How do you do⁠—?

Pawnie Goodbye, Helen. It’s been divine⁠— Helen Ring me up at teatime tomorrow. Florence How perfectly sweet of you!⁠ ⁠… Now, now, really.⁠ ⁠… Well, naturally, if you persist in saying such charming things⁠ ⁠… laughing gayly⁠ ⁠… What nonsense!⁠ ⁠… Pawnie Goodbye, Florence⁠— Florence

She puts her hand over mouthpiece.

It’s that awful General Fenwick.⁠ ⁠… Goodbye, Pawnie dear. You’re coming down to the house on Friday?

Pawnie Yes; too lovely⁠— Florence Helen’s coming by the five-o’clock⁠—you’d better travel together. Pawnie Perfect. To Tom. Are you ready? Tom Quite. Pawnie

As they go out.

You can drop me first, can’t you? I’m not as young as I was⁠—

Florence

At telephone.

Please forgive me. People rushing in and out, this house grows more like a railway station every day.⁠ ⁠… Now, General, that was a deliberate compliment. She laughs. Ridiculous man.⁠ ⁠… Very well.⁠ ⁠… Goodbye. She hangs up receiver. My God! ten for dreariness!

Helen He’s not a bad old thing. Florence No, but he tries to be, and that’s what’s so frightful. Arranging her hair before glass. I look like Death.⁠ ⁠… Isn’t Tom a darling? Helen Yes, dear, without being aggressively brilliant. Florence I’m afraid, Helen, you’re getting rather bitter. Helen Nonsense. Florence It’s silly to be sarcastic about Tom. Helen It’s better than being maudlin about him. Florence I don’t know what you mean, dear. I’m not in the least maudlin, and never have been about anybody. I sometimes wish I could be⁠—I’m too hard. Helen

Taking a cigarette.

Tom will let you down.

Florence Let me down? Why⁠ ⁠… how⁠ ⁠… I don’t understand⁠— Helen You’re more in love with him than he is with you. Florence Don’t be so absurd, Helen. Helen It’s true. Florence

Complacently.

He adores me⁠—worships me⁠—he’s never seen anyone like me before in his life. I’m something strange⁠ ⁠… exotic⁠—

Helen You’re more in love with him than he is with you. Florence You’re getting on my nerves today, Helen. Helen You do see that I’m right, don’t you? Florence If you knew some of the things he’s said to me. Helen I can guess them. Florence That boy was utterly unawakened until he met me. Helen He’s very young. Florence I’ve taught him⁠—everything. Helen Or nothing. Florence Helen, I believe you’re jealous. Helen Don’t be a fool. Florence I wish I hadn’t this fatal knack of seeing through people. Helen How’s David? Florence I don’t know. He ought to be home soon. Helen Doesn’t he ever suspect anything? Florence Of course not⁠—he adores me. Helen It seems so strange not to see⁠— Florence I’m devoted to David⁠—I’d do anything for him, anything in the world⁠—but he’s grown old and I’ve kept young; it does muddle things up so. I can’t help having a temperament, can I? Helen Temperament.⁠ ⁠… No. Florence David’s always loved me and never understood me⁠—you see, I’m such an extraordinary mixture. I have so many sides to my character. I adore being at home and running the house and looking after David and Nicky⁠— Helen You don’t exactly overdo it. Florence Well, Nicky’s