Lucy accuses Cecil of being unable to know anyone intimately
When Cecil asks why she doesn’t love him, Lucy delivers her central accusation: he is “the sort who can’t know any one intimately.” She explains that as acquaintances he let her be herself, but now he is always protecting her. She refuses to be shielded and insists on choosing for herself what is ladylike and right. She accuses him of wrapping himself in art and books and music, trying to wrap her up as well, and of hiding real people from her. She declares he was all right as long as he kept to things, but fails when it comes to actual people.
Cecil accepts the truth of her words with emotion
Cecil accepts Lucy’s accusations with profound emotion, declaring her words true. He admits he fell to pieces on the very first day of their engagement and behaved like a cad. He thanks Lucy for showing him what he really is and for revealing a true woman to him. He acknowledges that he used her as a peg for his silly notions of what a woman should be, and he thanks her for the revelation that has transformed his understanding.
Lucy angrily denies loving someone else
Cecil’s mention of a new force in Lucy prompts Lucy to explosively deny that she is in love with someone else. She is furious at the suggestion, calling it an old idea that has kept Europe back—the assumption that women are always thinking of men. She declares it is disgusting and brutal to assume a girl must have someone else in mind when breaking an engagement. Cecil respectfully apologizes, acknowledging she has taught him better, but Lucy remains angry and uncomfortable with the entire exchange.
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