rubbed each eye with his finger; then approached her again and, taking her
gently by the
shoulders, shook her, saying, “It’s wonderful, marvelous: you’re for them, at least the women; you’re on
their side.”
She stared back at him coldly for a moment before she replied, “You have misinterpreted my words;
you see things as you want to see them.
I was merely stating a social fact. And for your information, I despise them because they haven’t got the
gumption to alter their way of living. The women must know what they’re in for before they marry such
men. “ His hands slid slowly from her shoulders, all traces of laughter and amusement drained from his
face, although his voice sounded level and ordinary as he asked her a question: “ You would never have
married a poor man, would you, Elly? “
The question brought the colour sliding up over her pale skin. For the moment she
seemed lost for an
answer, and she swallowed deeply before she said, “I ... I didn’t marry you for your
money. And
anyway, you’re not rich as rich men go.”
“No, as rich men go, I’m not a rich man, but I’m what you call comfortably off,
comfortable enough to
give away the fruit and, vegetables from the garden. And in future I’ll thank you, Elly, not to interfere
with David’s work; outside is beyond your province.” Her face had shown her keen
displeasure before,
but now it expressed raw anger as she cried at him.
“David! David! I’m sick of that man’s name; he has caused nothing but dissension
between us. Why
don’t you get rid of him? Yes, any other man would. If a servant, particularly a half-caste, was annoying
his wife he would get rid of him, but what do you do ? You take his part at every turn.
Who is he
anyway that you should consider him so much? I know what I’ll do.” She half turned and gripped at the
handle of the door before ending, “I’ll go upstairs and see your father. As you said, he’s still master of
this house and he’ll understand my side of it as he did about the girl downstairs. We’ll see if Mr. David
Brooks is to be put before me!”
She was too shocked even to cry out when she felt herself being carried, half dragged across the room
and flung down onto the couch.
And then he was standing over her, glaring down into her face, and his lips were
trembling as he said,
“Don’t you ever dare go up there and ask for David to be dismissed; in fact, don’t you dare mention his
name. Do you hear me ?” When he gripped the front of her dress her hands clutched at
his wrists and
she gazed at him in fear for a moment, her eyes stretched wide, her lips apart, her tongue moving up and
down between her teeth; and her face seemed to stretch even longer in her shock and
amazement as he
went on, “My father suffered hell for years through one woman, my mother. And at this stage of his life
and condition of his health I’ll not allow you or anybody else to disturb him. He’s ... he’s fond of David,
as ... as we all are.
You go up there and talk about having him dismissed and it’ll—’ He gulped in his throat as he
swallowed a mouthful of spittle, then closed his eyes for a moment, after which he
released his hold on
her, straightened his back, and then, after a long pause while they stared at each other, he said softly,
“I’m sorry.” And on this he turned from her and walked hastily out of the room while she lay still, staring
towards the door..
He had been to the bathroom and sluiced his face in cold water, and now, as he stood on the second
landing, he passed both hands over his damp hair, after which he inserted his finger
around the inside of
his shirt collar before opening the door and entering his father’s room.
Mike was just emerging from the workroom. His back was slightly bent and he walked
slowly and with
a shambling gait. He reached his chair by the window before he spoke; then, turning his head to the side,
he asked
gently by the
shoulders, shook her, saying, “It’s wonderful, marvelous: you’re for them, at least the women; you’re on
their side.”
She stared back at him coldly for a moment before she replied, “You have misinterpreted my words;
you see things as you want to see them.
I was merely stating a social fact. And for your information, I despise them because they haven’t got the
gumption to alter their way of living. The women must know what they’re in for before they marry such
men. “ His hands slid slowly from her shoulders, all traces of laughter and amusement drained from his
face, although his voice sounded level and ordinary as he asked her a question: “ You would never have
married a poor man, would you, Elly? “
The question brought the colour sliding up over her pale skin. For the moment she
seemed lost for an
answer, and she swallowed deeply before she said, “I ... I didn’t marry you for your
money. And
anyway, you’re not rich as rich men go.”
“No, as rich men go, I’m not a rich man, but I’m what you call comfortably off,
comfortable enough to
give away the fruit and, vegetables from the garden. And in future I’ll thank you, Elly, not to interfere
with David’s work; outside is beyond your province.” Her face had shown her keen
displeasure before,
but now it expressed raw anger as she cried at him.
“David! David! I’m sick of that man’s name; he has caused nothing but dissension
between us. Why
don’t you get rid of him? Yes, any other man would. If a servant, particularly a half-caste, was annoying
his wife he would get rid of him, but what do you do ? You take his part at every turn.
Who is he
anyway that you should consider him so much? I know what I’ll do.” She half turned and gripped at the
handle of the door before ending, “I’ll go upstairs and see your father. As you said, he’s still master of
this house and he’ll understand my side of it as he did about the girl downstairs. We’ll see if Mr. David
Brooks is to be put before me!”
She was too shocked even to cry out when she felt herself being carried, half dragged across the room
and flung down onto the couch.
And then he was standing over her, glaring down into her face, and his lips were
trembling as he said,
“Don’t you ever dare go up there and ask for David to be dismissed; in fact, don’t you dare mention his
name. Do you hear me ?” When he gripped the front of her dress her hands clutched at
his wrists and
she gazed at him in fear for a moment, her eyes stretched wide, her lips apart, her tongue moving up and
down between her teeth; and her face seemed to stretch even longer in her shock and
amazement as he
went on, “My father suffered hell for years through one woman, my mother. And at this stage of his life
and condition of his health I’ll not allow you or anybody else to disturb him. He’s ... he’s fond of David,
as ... as we all are.
You go up there and talk about having him dismissed and it’ll—’ He gulped in his throat as he
swallowed a mouthful of spittle, then closed his eyes for a moment, after which he
released his hold on
her, straightened his back, and then, after a long pause while they stared at each other, he said softly,
“I’m sorry.” And on this he turned from her and walked hastily out of the room while she lay still, staring
towards the door..
He had been to the bathroom and sluiced his face in cold water, and now, as he stood on the second
landing, he passed both hands over his damp hair, after which he inserted his finger
around the inside of
his shirt collar before opening the door and entering his father’s room.
Mike was just emerging from the workroom. His back was slightly bent and he walked
slowly and with
a shambling gait. He reached his chair by the window before he spoke; then, turning his head to the side,
he asked