Page:Strange Interlude (1928).djvu/180

174 [He slumps down in the chair at center mechanically. and return to their chairs. looks across him at —triumphantly—thinking]

You do love me, Ned!

[Thinking—answering her look—defiantly]

I don’t love you!

[''Stares intensely before him. Thinking suspiciously—morbidly agitated'']

Darrell! and Nina! there’s something in this room! something disgusting! like a brutal, hairy hand, raw and red, at my throat! stench of human life! heavy and rank! outside it’s April green buds on the slim trees  the sadness of spring  my loss at peace in Nature  her sorrow of birth consoling my sorrow of death  something human and unnatural in this room! love and hate and passion and possession! cruelly indifferent to my loss! mocking my loneliness! no longer any love for me in any room! lust in this room! lust with a loathsome jeer taunting my sensitive timidities! my purity! purity? ha! yes, if you say prurient purity! lust ogling me for a dollar with oily shoe button Italian eyes!

[In terror]

What thoughts! what a low scoundrel you are! and your mother dead only two weeks! I hate Nina! that Darrell in this room! I feel their desires! where is Sam? I’ll tell him! no, he wouldn’t believe he’s such a trusting fool  I must punish her some other way

[Remorsefully]