Page:Strange Interlude (1928).djvu/265

Rh

I have wounded everyone poor Charlie, what can I do for you? if giving myself to you would bring you a moment’s happiness, could I? the idea used to be revolting  now, nothing about love seems important enough to be revolting  poor Charlie, he only thinks he ought to desire me! dear Charlie, what a perfect lover he would make for one’s old age! what a perfect lover when one was past passion!

[Then with sudden scornful revulsion]

These men make me sick! I hate all three of them! they disgust me! the wife and mistress in me has been killed by them! thank God, I am only a mother now! Gordon is my little man, my only man!

[Suddenly]

I’ve got a job for you, Charlie—make the salad dressing for lunch. You know, the one I’m so crazy about.

[Springs to his feet]

Righto!

[He puts his arm about her waist and they go out together laughingly, without a glance at ]

[Thinking dully]

I mustn’t stay to lunch ghost at my son’s feast! I better go now why wait for Sam? what is there to say to him I can say? and there’s nothing about him I want to see he’s as healthy as a pig  and as sane  I was afraid once his mother had lied to Nina  I went upstate and investigated  true, every word of it  his great-grandfather, his