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Rh

[As she comes—with a defensive, boastful bravery]

Oh, I can get another job just as good, all right—maybe a lot better.

[Reassuringly]

Certainly, you can! And I’m sure you’re not going to lose this one. You’re always anticipating trouble.

[She kisses him and sits on the arm of his chair, putting an arm around his neck and pulling his head on to her breast]

And it isn’t your fault, you big goose, you! It’s mine. I know how hard it makes everything for you, being tied to a wife who’s too sick to be a wife. You ought to have married a big strapping, motherly—

[In the seventh heaven now—passionately]

Bunk! All the other women in the world aren’t worth your little finger! It’s you who ought to have married someone worth while, not a poor fish like me! But no one could love you more than I do, no matter what he was!

[Presses his head on her breast, avoiding his eyes, kisses him on the forehead]

And I love you, Sam.

[Staring out over his head—with loving pity, thinking]

I almost do poor unfortunate boy! at these moments as his mother loves him but that