FullReads

What’s the text to-day?

CHRISTINE.
Oh, about John the Baptist beheaded, I guess.

JEAN.
That’s going to be a long story, I’m sure. My, but you choke me! Oh, I’m so sleepy, so sleepy!

CHRISTINE.
Well, what has been keeping you up all night? Why, man, you’re just green in the face!

JEAN.
I have been sitting here talking with Miss Julia.

CHRISTINE.
She hasn’t an idea of what’s proper, that creature!

[Pause.]

JEAN.
Say, Christine.

CHRISTINE.
Well?

JEAN.
Isn’t it funny anyhow, when you come to think of it? Her!

CHRISTINE.
What is it that’s funny?

JEAN.
Everything!

[Pause.]

CHRISTINE.
[Seeing the glasses on the table that are only half-emptied]

So you’ve been drinking together also?

JEAN.
Yes.

CHRISTINE.
Shame on you! Look me in the eye!

JEAN.
Yes.

CHRISTINE.
Is it possible? Is it possible?

JEAN.
[After a moment’s thought]

Yes, it is!

CHRISTINE.
Ugh! That’s worse than I could ever have believed. It’s awful!

JEAN.
You are not jealous of her, are you?

CHRISTINE.
No, not of her. Had it been Clara or Sophie, then I’d have scratched your eyes out. Yes, that’s the way I feel about it, and I can’t tell why. Oh my, but that was nasty!

JEAN.
Are you mad at her then?

CHRISTINE.
No, but at you! It was wrong of you, very wrong! Poor girl! No, I tell you, I don’t want to stay in this house any longer, with people for whom it is impossible to have any respect.

JEAN.
Why should you have any respect for them?

CHRISTINE.
And you who are such a smarty can’t tell that! You wouldn’t serve people who don’t act decently, would you? It’s to lower oneself, I think.

JEAN.
Yes, but it ought to be a consolation to us that they are not a bit better than we.

CHRISTINE.
No, I don’t think so. For if they’re no better, then it’s no use trying to get up to them. And just think of the count! Think of him who has had so much sorrow in his day! No, I don’t want to stay any longer in this house–And with a fellow like you, too. If it had been the county attorney–if it had only been some one of her own sort–

JEAN.
Now look here!

CHRISTINE.
Yes, yes! You’re all right in your way, but there’s after all some difference between one kind of people and another— No, but this is something I’ll never get over!–And the young lady who was so proud, and so tart to the men, that you couldn’t believe she would ever let one come near her–and such a one at that! And she who wanted to have poor Diana shot because she had been running around with the gate-keeper’s pug!–Well, I declare!–But I won’t stay here any longer, and next October I get out of here.

JEAN.
And then?

CHRISTINE.
Well, as we’ve come to talk of that now, perhaps it would be just as well if you looked for something, seeing that we’re going to get married after all.

JEAN.
Well, what could I look for? As a married man I couldn’t get a place like this.

CHRISTINE
.
No, I understand that. But you could get a job as a janitor, or maybe as a messenger in some government bureau. Of course, the public loaf is always short in weight, but it comes steady, and then there is a pension for the widow and the children–