FullReads

[He opens the table-drawer, takes out the wine bottle and fills up two glasses that have already been used.]

JULIA.
Where did you get that wine?

JEAN.
In the cellar.

JULIA.
My father’s Burgundy!

JEAN.
Well, isn’t it good enough for the son-in-law?

JULIA.
And I am drinking beer–I!

JEAN.
It shows merely that I have better taste than you.

JULIA.
Thief!

JEAN.
Do you mean to tell on me?

JULIA.
Oh, oh! The accomplice of a house thief! Have I been drunk, or have I been dreaming all this night? Midsummer Eve! The feast of innocent games—

JEAN.
Innocent–hm!

JULIA.
[Walking back and forth]

Can there be another human being on earth so unhappy as I am at this moment’

JEAN.
But why should you be? After such a conquest? Think of Christine in there. Don’t you think she has feelings also?

JULIA.
I thought so a while ago, but I don’t think so any longer. No, a menial is a menial–

JEAN.
And a whore a whore!

JULIA.
[On her knees, with folded hands]

O God in heaven, make an end of this wretched life! Take me out of the filth into which I am sinking! Save me! Save me!

JEAN.
I cannot deny that I feel sorry for you. When I was lying among the onions and saw you up there among the roses–I’ll tell you now–I had the same nasty thoughts that all boys have.

JULIA.
And you who wanted to die for my sake!

JEAN.
Among the oats. That was nothing but talk.

JULIA.
Lies in other words!

JEAN.
[Beginning to feel sleepy]

Just about. I think I read the story in a paper, and it was about a chimney-sweep who crawled into a wood-box full of lilacs because a girl had brought suit against him for not supporting her kid—

JULIA.
So that’s the sort you are–

JEAN.
Well, I had to think of something–for it’s the high-faluting stuff that the women bite on.

JULIA.
Scoundrel!

JEAN.
Rot!

JULIA.
And now you have seen the back of the hawk–

JEAN.
Well, I don’t know–

JULIA.
And I was to be the first branch–

JEAN.
But the branch was rotten–

JULIA.
I was to be the sign in front of the hotel–

JEAN.
And I the hotel–

JULIA.
Sit at your counter, and lure your customers, and doctor your bills–

JEAN.
No, that I should have done myself–

JULIA.
That a human soul can be so steeped in dirt!

JEAN.
Well, wash it off!

JULIA.
You lackey, you menial, stand up when I talk to you!

JEAN.
You lackey-love, you mistress of a menial–shut up and get out of here! You’re the right one to come and tell me that I am vulgar. People of my kind would never in their lives act as vulgarly as you have acted to-night. Do you think any servant girl would go for a man as you did? Did you ever see a girl of my class throw herself at anybody in that way? I have never seen the like of it except among beasts and prostitutes.