Leastways, love made angina kill him, if youtake my
meaning. I warn you shell do everything shecan to keep him from marrying you. Then
Mannons voice comessuddenly from the bed, dull and lifeless.
He is in the fifties, as ishis wife, a sallow,
flabby, self-effacing ministers wife. But my life as just meending, that didnt
appear worth a thought one way or another. Then I must go back and disband my
brigade.
Death was so common,it didnt mean
anything.
Then Mannons voice comessuddenly from the bed, dull
and lifeless. So when he called here Icouldnt be rude, could I?
She stands,dazed and frightened and hesitating, as
if she had just awakened. Death was so common,it didnt mean anything. We had just
given up hope ofyour coming tonight.
Then Christine speaks in a dry
mockingtone.
She doesnt seem to feel as much sorrow as
sheought.
Shes a damned handsome woman and hed been awaya
long time. Ive seen too many rotting in the sun to make grass greener!
Puritan maidens shouldntpeer too inquisitively into
Spring!
A moment later Ezra Mannon enters fromleft, front.
You wanted the truth and youregoing to hear it now!
Only shes too Mannon to let anyone see what
shefeels.
Well, you cant say I didnt do mine all these years.
You let me take youas if you were a nigger slave Id bought at auction!
A smallstand, with a candle on it, is by the head
of the bed on the left. Further back,against the wall, is a bureau.
Ive seen dead menscattered about, no more important
than rubbish to be got rid of.
Iwould try to make up my mind exactly what that
wall was but I nevercould discover. But does defeat end in thevictory of
death?
She even went walking in the moonlight with him!
She even went walking in the moonlight with him! He did one of thebravest things Ive
seen in the war. Hes gentle and tender, heseverything youve never been. Especially
now in the morbid,crazy state of grief shes in!
If you aregoing to say stupid things, Ill go in my
own room. Then I must go back and disband my brigade.
I dont like her and never did but I can imagine
worseways of dying! You made meappear a lustful beast in my own eyes!
Thats what mother used to say it reminded herof, I
remember.
I mustnt appear too old and haggard when Orin
comes, mustI?
He wears a mustache similar to Brants which serves
toincrease their resemblance to each other.
A smallstand, with a candle on it, is by the head
of the bed on the left.