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[Doing so mechanically—stupidly]

Only too glad—pleased to meet you—know you by reputation—the famous oarsman—great race you stroked last June—but I was hoping the Navy would give you a beating.

[Thinking in desperate hysterical anguish]

Oh, I wish Ned would go away and stay away forever! I can’t bear to watch him suffer any more! it’s too frightful! yes, God the Father, I hear you laughing you see the joke  I’m laughing too  it’s all so crazy, isn’t it?

[Laughing hysterically]

Oh, Ned! Poor Ned! You were born unlucky!

[Making her sit down again—soothing her]

Mother! Stop laughing! Please! It’s all right—all right between us! I’ve apologized!

[As she has grown calmer]

And now I want to say what I was going to say. It wasn’t anything bad. It was just that I want you to know how fine I think you’ve both acted. I’ve known ever since I was a kid that you and Darrell were in love with each other. I hated the idea on Father’s account—that’s only natural, isn’t it?—but I knew it was unfair, that people can’t help loving each other any more than Madeline and I could have helped ourselves. And I saw how fair you both were to Dad—what a good wife you were, Mother—what a true friend you were, Darrell—and how damn much he loved you both! So all I wanted to say is, now he’s dead, I hope you’ll get