Page:Playinthreexiles00joycrich.djvu/152

142

[Closing the door quietly behind him.] You sent for me.

[Rises.] Yes. Are you mad to think of going away like that—without even coming here—without saying anything?

[Advancing towards the table on which the paper lies, glances at it.] What I have to say I said here.

When did you write it? Last night—after I went

[Gracefully.] To be quite accurate I wrote part of it—in my mind—before you went away. The rest—the worst part—I wrote after. Much later.

And you could write last night!

[Shrugs his shoulders.] I am a welltrained animal. [He comes closer to her.] I passed a long wandering night after in my office, at the vicechancellor's house, in a nightclub, in the streets, in my room. Your image was always before my eyes, your hand in my hand. Bertha, I will never forget last night. [He lays his hat on the table and takes her hand.] Why do you not look at me? May I not touch you?

[Points to the study.] Dick is in there.

[Drops her hand.] In that case children be good.