Volume Ii Part 12 (1/2)

BILL. I know all that, thanks.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. n.o.body does till they've been through it. Marriage is hard enough when people are of the same cla.s.s. [With a sudden movement towards him] Oh! my dear-before it's too late!

BILL. [After a struggle] It's no good.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. It's not fair to her. It can only end in her misery.

BILL. Leave that to me, please.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [With an almost angry vehemence] Only the very finest can do such things. And you don't even know what trouble's like.

BILL. Drop it, please, mother.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Bill, on your word of honour, are you acting of your own free will?

BILL. [Breaking away from her] I can't stand any more.

[He goes out into the workroom.]

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. What in G.o.d's name shall I do?

In her distress she walks up and doom the room, then goes to the workroom door, and opens it.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Come in here, please, Freda.

After a seconds pause, FREDA, white and trembling, appears in the doorway, followed by BILL.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. No, Bill. I want to speak to her alone.

BILL, does not move.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. [Icily] I must ask you to leave us.

BILL hesitates; then shrugging his shoulders, he touches FREDA's arms, and goes back into the workroom, closing the door. There is silence.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. How did it come about?

FREDA. I don't know, my lady.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. For heaven's sake, child, don't call me that again, whatever happens. [She walks to the window, and speaks from there]

I know well enough how love comes. I don't blame you. Don't cry.

But, you see, it's my eldest son. [FREDA puts her hand to her breast] Yes, I know. Women always get the worst of these things.

That's natural. But it's not only you is it? Does any one guess?

FREDA. No.

LADY CHEs.h.i.+RE. Not even your father? [FREDA shakes her head] There's nothing more dreadful than for a woman to hang like a stone round a man's neck. How far has it gone? Tell me!

FREDA. I can't.