Page:Strange Interlude (1928).djvu/127

Rh

I thought you were a real find, but your work’s fallen off to nothing

[He sits down on the edge of the bench nearby, his shoulders hunched—despondently]

Couldn’t deny it been going stale ever since we came back from that trip home  no ideas  I’ll get fired  sterile

[With a guilty terror]

in more ways than one, I guess!

[He springs to his feet as if this idea were a pin stuck in him—lighting his already lighted pipe, walks up and down again, forcing his thoughts into other channels]

Bet the old man turns over in his grave at my writing ads in his study maybe that’s why I can’t  bum influence  try tomorrow in my bedroom  sleeping alone  since Nina got sick  some woman’s sickness  wouldn’t tell me  too modest  still, there are some things a husband has a right to know  especially when we haven’t  in five months  doctor told her she mustn’t, she said  what doctor? she’s never said what the hell’s the matter with you, do you think Nina’s lying? no but

[Desperately]

If I was only sure it was because she’s really sick not just sick of me!

[He sinks down in the rocking chair despondently]

Certainly been a big change in her since that visit home  what happened between Mother and her? she says nothing they seemed to like each other  both of them cried when we left  still, Nina insisted on going that same day and Mother seemed anxious to get rid of us  can’t make it out  next few weeks Nina couldn’t be loving enough  I never was so happy  then she crashed  strain of waiting and hoping she’d get pregnant  and nothing hap-