Why, this is Henry. Letitia's husband.
OCEANA. Oh! Letitia's husband! [With a sudden, frank gesture, putting
out her hand.] Henry!
HENRY. Oceana!
[As their hands meet, they stand looking into each other's faces.]
OCEANA. [Gripping his hand tightly.] You are strong! [Looks at his
hand.] And you do not smoke, either! Let me see your eyes.
HENRY. [Perplexed.] My eyes?
OCEANA. Your eyes. [Turns him toward the light; studies his eyes.]
They dosed you with quinine! Malaria, I suppose?
HENRY. Why . . . yes. But how can you tell?
OCEANA. I can tell many things. Let me see your tongue.
HENRY. [Bewildered.] My tongue?
OCEANA. Your tongue.
HENRY. But what for?
OCEANA. I can tell more about a man by looking at his tongue for a
minute than by listening to it for a week.
HENRY. But, Oceana -
OCEANA. I am in earnest.
HENRY. [Laughs.] Why . . . really . . .
OCEANA. Are you afraid?
HENRY. Good heavens, no!
OCEANA. Put it out. [He pats his tongue out and she examines it.] So!
A man with a red tongue! And in a civilized city!
HENRY. Oughtn't it to be red?
OCEANA. And he doesn't know what it ought to be! How delicious! [She
steps back from him.] And so you are Letitia's husband. Tell me, are
you happy with her?
HENRY. [Startled; stares at her intently.] No, no . . . you ought not
to ask me that.
OCEANA. Why not?
HENRY. [In a low voice.] Because you know.
OCEANA. Yes, that's true.
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