FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137  
138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   >>  
you---- [Seeing his eyes fixed on her, she stops.] ROBERTS. [Without raising his voice.] If I saw Mr. Anthony going to die, and I could save him by lifting my hand, I would not lift the little finger of it. ENID. You--you----[She stops again, biting her lips.] ROBERTS. I would not, and that's flat! ENID. [Coldly.] You don't mean what you say, and you know it! ROBERTS. I mean every word of it. ENID. But why? ROBERTS. [With a flash.] Mr. Anthony stands for tyranny! That's why! ENID. Nonsense! [MRS. ROBERTS makes a movement as if to rise, but sinks back in her chair.] ENID. [With an impetuous movement.] Annie! ROBERTS. Please not to touch my wife! ENID. [Recoiling with a sort of horror.] I believe--you are mad. ROBERTS. The house of a madman then is not the fit place for a lady. ENID. I 'm not afraid of you. ROBERTS. [Bowing.] I would not expect the daughter of Mr. Anthony to be afraid. Mr. Anthony is not a coward like the rest of them. ENID. [Suddenly.] I suppose you think it brave, then, to go on with the struggle. ROBERTS. Does Mr. Anthony think it brave to fight against women and children? Mr. Anthony is a rich man, I believe; does he think it brave to fight against those who have n't a penny? Does he think it brave to set children crying with hunger, an' women shivering with cold? ENID. [Putting up her hand, as though warding off a blow.] My father is acting on his principles, and you know it! ROBERTS. And so am I! ENID. You hate us; and you can't bear to be beaten! ROBERTS. Neither can Mr. Anthony, for all that he may say. ENID. At any rate you might have pity on your wife. [MRS. ROBERTS who has her hand pressed to her heart, takes it away, and tries to calm her breathing.] ROBERTS. Madam, I have no more to say. [He takes up the loaf. There is a knock at the door, and UNDERWOOD comes in. He stands looking at them, ENID turns to him, then seems undecided.] UNDERWOOD. Enid! ROBERTS. [Ironically.] Ye were not needing to come for your wife, Mr. Underwood. We are not rowdies. UNDERWOOD. I know that, Roberts. I hope Mrs. Roberts is better. [ROBERTS turns away without answering. Come, Enid!] ENID. I make one more appeal to you, Mr. Roberts, for the sake of your wife. ROBERTS. [With polite malice.] If I might advise ye, Ma'am--make it for the sake of your husba
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137  
138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   >>  



Top keywords:

ROBERTS

 

Anthony

 

Roberts

 

UNDERWOOD

 

movement

 

afraid

 

children

 

stands

 

pressed

 

breathing


acting

 

principles

 

beaten

 

Neither

 

answering

 

appeal

 

advise

 

malice

 
Seeing
 

polite


rowdies

 
undecided
 

Without

 

raising

 

father

 

Ironically

 

Underwood

 

needing

 

warding

 
horror

madman
 

Coldly

 

Bowing

 

expect

 
Recoiling
 
tyranny
 
Please
 

impetuous

 
daughter
 

crying


lifting

 

hunger

 

shivering

 

Nonsense

 

Putting

 

Suddenly

 

suppose

 

coward

 

struggle

 

finger