A smallstand, with a candle on it, is by the head
of the bed on the left. We had just given up hope ofyour coming tonight. Mannon
described from his letter toher, I was as certain as if Id examined him he had
angina.
The only talk has been that he came tocourt Vinnie!
Then all the yearsweve been man and wife would rise up in my mind and I would try
tolook at them. She puts the pellet on histongue and presses the glass of water to
his lips.
Lavinia musthave been starting to go
alone.
His face, with the flickering candle light on its
side, has a grim,bitter _expression_. It would be bad for him to get tied to your
apron strings again.
Andwhat she told me about waking up to find him
groaning and doubledwith pain confirmed it. Ive been thinking of what we could do to
get back toeach other. Lavinia musthave been starting to go alone.
I would feel cleaner now if I had goneto a
brothel!
Wouldnt you like to sit here on the steps for
awhile?
She wears slippersover her bare feet and has a dark
dressing-gown over her nightdress. Light appears between the chinks of the shutters
in thebedroom on the second floor to the left.
They wentto the white meeting-house on Sabbaths and
meditated on death.
In the middle of battle Idthink maybe in a minute
Ill be dead. I hinted that his visits werentwelcome, but men of his type dont
understand hints.
I mustnt appear too old and haggard when Orin
comes, mustI?
At left,front, is a table with a lamp on it and a
chair beside it. Then Christine speaks in a dry mockingtone.
Hazel Niles comes out of the house to thehead of
the steps. Light appears between the chinks of the shutters in thebedroom on the
second floor to the left.
But my life as just meending, that didnt appear
worth a thought one way or another.
Its dreadful he should die just at his momentof
victory. Ioverheard her mother talking to Lavinia in the hall.
But does defeat end in thevictory of death? If you
aregoing to say stupid things, Ill go in my own room. He was in a rundowncondition,
they say at the hospital. But hes onlybeen here four times in all, I think. Wouldnt
you like to sit here on the steps for awhile?
She stands listening forsome sound from the bed.
The only talk has been that he came tocourt Vinnie!
The only talk has been that he came tocourt Vinnie!
And all my trips to New York werent tovisit Father but to be with Adam!
And as for there having beengossip, thats
nonsense!
Only shes too Mannon to let anyone see what
shefeels.
She even went walking in the moonlight with
him!
But my life as just meending, that didnt appear
worth a thought one way or another.