LITMIR.BIZ

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irritating, I can tell you. She—she—Everything suppressed. And—and no—blood in her!

      ATHENE. I knew it!

      BUILDER. [Aware that he has confirmed some thought in her that he had no intention of confirming] What's that?

      ATHENE. Don't you ever look at your own face, father? When you shave, for instance.

      BUILDER. Of course I do.

      ATHENE. It isn't satisfied, is it?

      BUILDER. I don't know what on earth you mean.

      ATHENE. You can't help it, but you'd be ever so much happier if you were a Mohammedan, and two or three, instead of one, had—had learned to know when you were in the right.

      BUILDER. 'Pon my soul! This is outrageous!

      ATHENE. Truth often is.

      BUILDER. Will you be quiet?

      ATHENE. I don't ever want to feel sorry for Guy in that way.

      BUILDER. I think you're the most immodest—I'm ashamed that you're my daughter. If your another had ever carried on as you are now—

      ATHENE. Would you have been firm with her?

      BUILDER. [Really sick at heart at this unwonted mockery which meets him at every turn] Be quiet, you–!

      ATHENE. Has mother never turned?

      BUILDER. You're an unnatural girl! Go your own way to hell!

      ATHENE. I am not coming back home, father.

      BUILDER. [Wrenching open the door, Right] Julia! Come! We can't stay here.

      MRS BUILDER comes forth, followed by GUY.

      As for you, sir, if you start by allowing a woman to impose her crazy ideas about marriage on you, all I can say is—I despise you. [He crosses to the outer door, followed by his wife. To ATHENE] I've done with you!

      He goes out.

      MRS BUILDER, who has so far seemed to accompany him, shuts the door quickly and remains in the studio. She stands there with that faint smile on her face, looking at the two young people.

      ATHENE. Awfully sorry, mother; but don't you see what a stunner father's given me?

      MRS BUILDER. My dear, all men are not alike.

      GUY. I've always told her that, ma'am.

      ATHENE. [Softly] Oh! mother, I'm so sorry for you.

      The handle of the door is rattled, a fist is beaten on it.

      [She stamps, and covers her ears] Disgusting!

      GUY. Shall I—?

      MRS BUILDER. [Shaking her head] I'm going in a moment. [To ATHENE] You owe it to me, Athene.

      ATHENE. Oh! if somebody would give him a lesson!

      BUILDER's voice: "Julia!"

      Have you ever tried, mother?

      MRS BUILDER looks at the YOUNG MAN, who turns away out of hearing.

      MRS BUILDER. Athene, you're mistaken. I've always stood up to him in my own way.

      ATHENE. Oh! but, mother—listen!

      The beating and rattling have recommenced, and the voice: "Are you coming?"

      [Passionately] And that's family life! Father was all right before he married, I expect. And now it's like this. How you survive—!

      MRS BUILDER. He's only in a passion, my dear.

      ATHENE. It's wicked.

      MRS BUILDER. It doesn't work otherwise, Athene.

      A single loud bang on the door.

      ATHENE. If he beats on that door again, I shall scream.

      MRS BUILDER smiles, shakes her head, and turns to the door.

      MRS BUILDER. Now, my dear, you're going to be sensible, to please me. It's really best. If I say so, it must be. It's all comedy, Athene.

      ATHENE. Tragedy!

      GUY. [Turning to them] Look here! Shall I shift him?

      MRS BUILDER shakes her head and opens the door. BUILDER stands there, a furious figure.

      BUILDER. Will you come, and leave that baggage and her cad?

      MRS BUILDER steps quickly out and the door is closed. Guy makes an angry movement towards it.

      ATHENE. Guy!

      GUY. [Turning to her] That puts the top hat on. So persuasive! [He takes out of his pocket a wedding ring, and a marriage licence] Well! What's to be done with these pretty things, now?

      ATHENE. Burn them!

      GUY. [Slowly] Not quite. You can't imagine I should ever be like that, Athene?

      ATHENE. Marriage does wonders.

      GUY. Thanks.

      ATHENE. Oh! Guy, don't be horrid. I feel awfully bad.

      GUY. Well, what do you think I feel? "Cad!"

      They turn to see ANNIE in hat and coat, with a suit-case in her hand, coming from the door Left.

      ANNIE. Oh! ma'am, please, Miss, I want to go home.

      GUY. [Exasperated!] She wants to go home—she wants to go home!

      ATHENE. Guy! All right, Annie.

      ANNIE. Oh! thank you, Miss. [She moves across in front of them].

      ATHENE. [Suddenly] Annie!

      ANNIE stops and turns to her.

      What are you afraid of?

      ANNIE. [With comparative boldness] I—I might catch it, Miss.

      ATHENE. From your people?

      ANNIE. Oh! no, Miss; from you. You see, I've got a young man that wants to marry me. And if I don't let him, I might get into trouble meself.

      ATHENE. What sort of father and mother have you got, Annie?

      ANNIE. I never thought, Miss. And of course I don't want to begin.

      ATHENE. D'you mean you've never noticed how they treat each other?

      ANNIE. I don't think they do, Miss.

      ATHENE. Exactly.

      ANNIE. They haven't time. Father's an engine driver.

      GUY. And what's your young man, Annie?

      ANNIE. [Embarrassed] Somethin' like you, sir. But very respectable.

      ATHENE. And suppose you marry him, and he treats you like a piece of furniture?

      ANNIE. I—I could treat him the same, Miss.

      ATHENE. Don't you believe that, Annie!

      ANNIE. He's very mild.

      ATHENE. That's because he wants you. You wait till he doesn't.

      ANNIE looks at GUY.

      GUY. Don't you believe her, Annie; if he's decent—

      ANNIE. Oh! yes, sir.

      ATHENE. [Suppressing a smile] Of course—but the point is, Annie, that marriage makes all the difference.

      ANNIE. Yes, Miss; that's what I thought.

      ATHENE. You don't see. What I mean is that when once he's sure of you, he may change completely.

      ANNIE. [Slowly, looking at her thumb] Oh! I don't—think—he'll hammer me, Miss. Of course, I know you can't tell till you've found out.

      ATHENE. Well, I've no right to influence you.

      ANNIE. Oh! no, Miss; that's what I've been thinking.

      GUY. You're quite right, Annie=-this is no place for you.

      ANNIE. You see, we can't be married; sir, till he gets his rise. So it'll be a continual temptation to me.

      ATHENE. Well, all right, Annie. I hope you'll never regret it.

      ANNIE.

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