Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 6,432 pages of information about Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works.

Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 6,432 pages of information about Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works.

Mrs. Gwyn.  I can’t reason with you.  As to what you heard, it ’s—­ ridiculous.

Joy.  It ’s not that.  It ’s—­it ’s you!

Mrs. Gwyn. [Stonily.] I don’t know what you mean.

Joy. [Passionately.] I wish Dad were here!

Mrs. Gwyn.  Do you love your Father as much as me?

Joy.  Oh!  Mother, no-you know I don’t.

Mrs. Gwyn. [Resentfully.] Then why do you want him?

Joy. [Almost under her breath.] Because of that man.

Mrs. Gwyn.  Indeed!

Joy.  I will never—­never make friends with him.

Mrs. Gwyn. [Cuttingly.] I have not asked you to.

Joy. [With a blind movement of her hand.] Oh, Mother!

     [Mrs. Gwyn half turns away.]

Mother—­won’t you?  Let’s tell Uncle Tom and go away from him?

Mrs. Gwyn.  If you were not, a child, Joy, you wouldn’t say such things.

Joy. [Eagerly.] I’m not a child, I’m—­I’m a woman.  I am.

Mrs. Gwyn.  No!  You—­are—­not a woman, Joy.

     [She sees joy throw up her arms as though warding off a blow,
     and turning finds that lever is standing in the opening of the
     wall.]

Lever. [Looking from face to face.] What’s the matter? [There is no answer.] What is it, Joy?

Joy. [Passionately.] I heard you, I don’t care who knows.  I’d listen again.

Lever. [Impassively.] Ah! and what did I say that was so very dreadful?

Joy.  You’re a—­a—­you ’re a—­coward!

Mrs. Gwyn. [With a sort of groan.] Joy!

Lever. [Stepping up to joy, and standing with his hands behind him—­ in a low voice.] Now hit me in the face—­hit me—­hit me as hard as you can.  Go on, Joy, it’ll do you good.

     [Joy raises her clenched hand, but drops it, and hides her
     face.]

Why don’t you?  I’m not pretending!

     [Joy makes no sign.]

Come, joy; you’ll make yourself ill, and that won’t help, will it?

     [But joy still makes no sign.]

[With determination.] What’s the matter? now come—­tell me!

Joy. [In a stifled, sullen voice.] Will you leave my mother alone?

Mrs. Gwyn.  Oh! my dear Joy, don’t be silly!

Joy. [Wincing; then with sudden passion.] I defy you—­I defy you! [She rushes from their sight.]

Mrs. Gwyn. [With a movement of distress.] Oh!

Lever. [Turning to Mrs. Gwyn with a protecting gesture.] Never mind, dear!  It’ll be—­it’ll be all right!

     [But the expression of his face is not the expression of his
     words.]

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Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.