MRS KNOX. I wanted a man who had that happiness within himself. You
made me think you had it; but it was nothing but being in love with
me.
MRS GILBEY. And do you blame him for that?
MRS KNOX. I blame nobody. But let him not think he can walk by his
own light. I tell him that if he gives up being respectable he'll go
right down to the bottom of the hill. He has no powers inside himself
to keep him steady; so let him cling to the powers outside him.
KNOX. [rising angrily] Who wants to give up being respectable?
All this for a pint of whisky that lasted a week! How long would it
have lasted Simmons, I wonder?
MRS KNOX. [gently] Oh, well, say no more, Jo. I wont plague you
about it. [He sits down]. You never did understand; and you never
will. Hardly anybody understands: even Margaret didnt til she went
to prison. She does now; and I shall have a companion in the house
after all these lonely years.
KNOX. [beginning to cry] I did all I could to make you happy. I
never said a harsh word to you.
GILBEY. [rising indignantly] What right have you to treat a man
like that? an honest respectable husband? as if he were dirt under
your feet?
KNOX. Let her alone, Gilbey. [Gilbey sits down, but mutinously].
MRS KNOX. Well, you gave me all you could, Jo; and if it wasnt what I
wanted, that wasnt your fault. But I'd rather have you as you were
than since you took to whisky and soda.
KNOX.
Pages:
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87