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Complete Works of James Joyce

Page 226

by Unknown


  557

  RICHARD

  For what hour?

  ROBERT

  Eight. But, like yourself, he is free and easy about time. Now, Richard, you must go there. That is all. I feel tonight will be the turningpoint in your life. You will live here and work here and think here and be honoured here — among our people.

  RICHARD

  (Smiling.) I can almost see two envoys starting for the United States to collect funds for my statue a hundred years hence.

  ROBERT

  (Agreeably.) Once I made a little epigram about statues. All statues are of two kinds. (He folds his arms across his chest.) The statue which says: How shall I get down? and the other kind (he unfolds his arms and extends his right arm, averting his head) the statue which says: In my time the dunghill was so high.

  RICHARD

  The second one for me, please.

  ROBERT

  (Lazily.) Will you give me one of those long cigars of yours?

  (Richard selects a Virginia cigar from the box on the table and hands it to him with the straw drawn out.)

  ROBERT

  (Lighting it.) These cigars Europeanize me. If Ireland is to become a new Ireland she must first become European. And that is what you are here for, Richard. Some day we shall have to choose between England and Europe. I am a descendant of the dark foreigners: that is why I like to be here. I may be childish. But where else in Dublin can I get a bandit cigar like this or a cup of black coffee? The man who drinks black coffee is going to conquer Ireland. And now I will take just a half measure of that whisky, Richard, to show you there is no ill feeling.

  RICHARD

  (Points.) Help yourself.

  ROBERT

  (Does so.) Thanks. (He drinks and goes on as before.) Then you yourself, the way you loll on that lounge: then your boy’s voice and also — Bertha herself. Do you allow me to call her that, Richard? I mean as an old friend of both of you.

  558

  RICHARD

  O, why not?

  ROBERT

  (With animation.) You have that fierce indignation which lacerated the heart of Swift. You have fallen from a higher world, Richard, and you are filled with fierce indignation, when you find that life is cowardly and ignoble. While I... shall I tell you?

  RICHARD

  By all means.

  ROBERT

  (Archly.) I have come up from a lower world and I am filled with astonishment when I find that people have any redeeming virtue at all.

  RICHARD

  (Sits up suddenly and leans his elbows on the table.) You are my friend, then?

  ROBERT

  (Gravely.) I fought for you all the time you were away. I fought to bring you back. I fought to keep your place for you here. I will fight for you still because I have faith in you, the faith of a disciple in his master. I cannot say more than that. It may seem strange to you... Give me a match.

  RICHARD

  (Lights and offers him a match.) There is a faith still stranger than the faith of the disciple in his master.

  ROBERT

  And that is?

  RICHARD

  The faith of a master in the disciple who will betray him.

  ROBERT

  The church lost a theologian in you, Richard. But I think you look too deeply into life. (He rises, pressing Richard’s arm slightly.) Be gay. Life is not worth it.

  RICHARD

  (Without rising.) Are you going?

  ROBERT

  Must. (He turns and says in a friendly tone.) Then it is all arranged. We meet tonight at the vicechancellor’s. I shall look in at about ten. So you can have an hour or so to yourselves first. You will wait till I come?

  559

  RICHARD

  Good.

  ROBERT

  One more match and I am happy.

  (Richard strikes another match, hands it to him and rises also. Archie comes in by the door on the left, followed by Beatrice.)

  ROBERT

  Congratulate me, Beatty. I have won over Richard.

  ARCHIE

  (Crossing to the door on the right, calls.) Mamma, Miss Justice is going.

  BEATRICE

  On what are you to be congratulated?

  ROBERT

  On a victory, of course. (Laying his hand lightly on Richard’s shoulder.) The descendant of Archibald Hamilton Rowan has come home.

  RICHARD

  I am not a descendant of Hamilton Rowan.

  ROBERT

  What matter? (Bertha comes in from the right with a bowl of roses.)

  BEATRICE

  Has Mr Rowan...?

  ROBERT

  (Turning towards Bertha.) Richard is coming tonight to the vicechancellor’s dinner. The fatted calf will be eaten: roast, I hope. And next session will see the descendant of a namesake of etcetera, etcetera in a chair of the university. (He offers his hand.) Good afternoon, Richard. We shall meet tonight.

  RICHARD

  (Touches his hand.) At Philippi.

  BEATRICE

  (Shakes hands also.) Accept my best wishes, Mr Rowan.

  RICHARD

  Thanks. But do not believe him.

  ROBERT

  (Vivaciously.) Believe me, believe me. (To Bertha.) Good afternoon, Mrs Rowan.

  BERTHA

  (Shaking hands, candidly.) I thank you, too. (To Beatrice.) You won’t stay to tea, Miss Justice?

  560

  BEATRICE

  No, thank you. (Takes leave of her.) I must go. Good afternoon. Goodbye, Archie (going).

  ROBERT

  Addio, Archibald.

  ARCHIE

  Addio.

  ROBERT

  Wait, Beatty. I shall accompany you.

  BEATRICE

  (Going out on the right with Bertha.) O, don’t trouble.

  ROBERT

  (Following her.) But I insist — as a cousin.

  (Bertha, Beatrice and Robert go out by the door on the left. Richard stands irresolutely near the table. Archie closes the door leading to the hall and, coming over to him, plucks him by the sleeve.)

  ARCHIE

  I say, pappie!

  RICHARD

  (Absently.) What is it?

  ARCHIE

  I want to ask you a thing.

  RICHARD

  (Sitting on the end of the lounge, stares in front of him.) What is it?

  ARCHIE

  Will you ask mamma to let me go out in the morning with the milkman?

  RICHARD

  With the milkman?

  ARCHIE

  Yes. In the milkcar. He says he will let me drive when we get on to the roads where there are no people. The horse is a very good beast. Can I go?

  RICHARD

  Yes.

  ARCHIE

  Ask mamma now can I go. Will you?

  RICHARD

  (Glances towards the door.) I will.

  ARCHIE

  He said he will show me the cows he has in the field. Do you know how many cows he has?

  RICHARD

  How many?

  ARCHIE

  Eleven. Eight red and three white. But one is sick now. No, not sick. But it fell.

  RICHARD

  Cows?

  ARCHIE

  (With a gesture.) Eh! Not bulls. Because bulls give no milk. Eleven cows. They must give a lot of milk. What makes a cow give milk?

  561

  RICHARD

  (Takes his hand.) Who knows? Do you understand what it is to give a thing?

  ARCHIE

  To give? Yes.

  RICHARD

  While you have a thing it can be taken from you.

  ARCHIE

  By robbers? No?

  RICHARD

  But when you give it, you have given it. No robber can take it from you. (He bends his head and presses his son’s hand against his cheek.) It is yours then for ever when you have given it. It will be yours always. That is to give.

  ARCHIE

  But, pappie?

&nb
sp; RICHARD

  Yes?

  ARCHIE

  How could a robber rob a cow? Everyone would see him. In the night, perhaps.

  RICHARD

  In the night, yes.

  ARCHIE

  Are there robbers here like in Rome?

  RICHARD

  There are poor people everywhere.

  ARCHIE

  Have they revolvers?

  RICHARD

  No.

  ARCHIE

  Knives? Have they knives?

  RICHARD

  (Sternly.) Yes, yes. Knives and revolvers.

  ARCHIE

  (Disengages himself.) Ask mamma now. She is coming.

  RICHARD

  (Makes a movement to rise.) I will.

  ARCHIE

  No, sit there, pappie. You wait and ask her when she comes back. I won’t be here. I’ll be in the garden.

  RICHARD

  (Sinking back again.) Yes. Go.

  ARCHIE

  (Kisses him swiftly.) Thanks.

  (He runs out quickly by the door at the back leading into the garden. Bertha enters by the door on the left. She approaches the table and stands beside it, fingering the petals of the roses, looking at Richard.)

  RICHARD

  (Watching her.) Well?

  562

  BERTHA

  (Absently.) Well. He says he likes me.

  RICHARD

  (Leans his chin in his hand.) You showed him his note?

  BERTHA

  Yes. I asked him what it meant.

  RICHARD

  What did he say it meant?

  BERTHA

  He said I must know. I said I had an idea. Then he told me he liked me very much. That I was beautiful — and all that.

  RICHARD

  Since when!

  BERTHA

  (Again absently.) Since when — what?

  RICHARD

  Since when did he say he liked you?

  BERTHA

  Always, he said. But more since we came back. He said I was like the moon in this lavender dress. (Looking at him.) Had you any words with him — about me?

  RICHARD

  (Blandly.) The usual thing. Not about you.

  BERTHA

  He was very nervous. You saw that?

  RICHARD

  Yes. I saw it. What else went on?

  BERTHA

  He asked me to give him my hand.

  RICHARD

  (Smiling.) In marriage?

  BERTHA

  (Smiling.) No, only to hold.

  RICHARD

  Did you?

  BERTHA

  Yes. (Tearing off a few petals.) Then he caressed my hand and asked would I let him kiss it. I let him.

  RICHARD

  Well?

  BERTHA

  Then he asked could he embrace me — even once? ..and then...

  RICHARD

  And then?

  BERTHA

  He put his arm round me.

  RICHARD

  (Stares at the floor for a moment, then looks at her again.) And then?

  BERTHA

  He said I had beautiful eyes. And asked could he kiss them. (With a gesture.) I said: Do so.

  RICHARD

  And he did?

  563

  BERTHA

  Yes. First one and then the other. (She breaks off suddenly.) Tell me, Dick, does all this disturb you? Because I told you I don’t want that. I think you are only pretending you don’t mind. I don’t mind.

  RICHARD

  (Quietly.) I know, dear. But I want to find out what he means or feels just as you do.

  BERTHA

  (Points at him.) Remember, you allowed me to go on. I told you the whole thing from the beginning.

  RICHARD

  (As before.) I know, dear... And then?

  BERTHA

  He asked for a kiss. I said: Take it.

  RICHARD

  And then?

  BERTHA

  (Crumpling a handful of petals.) He kissed me.

  RICHARD

  Your mouth?

  BERTHA

  Once or twice.

  RICHARD

  Long kisses?

  BERTHA

  Fairly long. (Reflects.) Yes, the last time.

  RICHARD

  (Rubs his hands slowly; then:) With his lips? Or... the other way?

  BERTHA

  Yes, the last time.

  RICHARD

  Did he ask you to kiss him?

  BERTHA

  He did.

  RICHARD

  Did you?

  BERTHA

  (Hesitates, then looking straight at him.) I did. I kissed him.

  RICHARD

  What way?

  BERTHA

  (With a shrug.) O simply.

  RICHARD

  Were you excited?

  BERTHA

  Well, you can imagine. (Frowning suddenly.) Not much. He has not nice lips... Still I was excited, of course. But not like with you, Dick.

  RICHARD

  Was he?

  BERTHA

  Excited? Yes, I think he was. He sighed. He was dreadfully nervous.

  RICHARD

  (Resting his forehead on his hand.) I see.

  564

  BERTHA

  (Crosses towards the lounge and stands near him.) Are you jealous?

  RICHARD

  (As before.) No.

  BERTHA

  (Quietly.) You are, Dick.

  RICHARD

  I am not. Jealous of what?

  BERTHA

  Because he kissed me.

  RICHARD

  (Looks up.) Is that all?

  BERTHA

  Yes, that’s all. Except that he asked me would I meet him.

  RICHARD

  Out somewhere?

  BERTHA

  No. In his house.

  RICHARD

  (Surprised.) Over there with his mother, is it?

  BERTHA

  No, a house he has. He wrote the address for me.

  (She goes to the desk, takes the key from the flower vase, unlocks the drawer and returns to him with the slip of paper.)

  RICHARD

  (Half to himself.) Our cottage.

  BERTHA

  (Hands him the slip.) Here.

  RICHARD

  (Reads it.) Yes. Our cottage.

  BERTHA

  Your...?

  RICHARD

  No, his. I call it ours. (Looking at her.) The cottage I told you about so often — that we had the two keys for, he and I. It is his now. Where we used to hold our wild nights, talking, drinking, planning — at that time. Wild nights; yes. He and I together. (He throws the slip on the couch and rises suddenly.) And sometimes I alone. (Stares at her.) But not quite alone. I told you. You remember?

  BERTHA

  (Shocked.) That place?

  RICHARD

  (Walks away from her a few paces and stands still, thinking, holding his chin.) Yes.

  BERTHA

  (Taking up the slip again.) Where is it?

  RICHARD

  Do you not know?

  BERTHA

  He told me to take the tram at Lansdowne Road and to ask the man to let me down there. Is it... is it a bad place?

  565

  RICHARD

  O no, cottages. (He returns to the lounge and sits down.) What answer did you give?

  BERTHA

  No answer. He said he would wait.

  RICHARD

  Tonight?

  BERTHA

  Every night, he said. Between eight and nine.

  RICHARD

  And so I am to go tonight to interview — the professor. About the appointment I am to beg for. (Looking at her.) The interview is arranged for tonight by him — between eight and nine. Curious, isn’t it? The same hour.

  BERTHA

  Very.

  RICHARD

  Did he ask you had I any suspicion?

  BERTHA

>   No.

  RICHARD

  Did he mention my name?

  BERTHA

  No.

  RICHARD

  Not once?

  BERTHA

  Not that I remember.

  RICHARD

  (Bounding to his feet.) O yes! Quite clear!

  BERTHA

  What?

  RICHARD

  (Striding to and fro.) A liar, a thief, and a fool! Quite clear! A common thief! What else? (With a harsh laugh.) My great friend! A patriot too! A thief — nothing else! (He halts, thrusting his hands into his pockets.) But a fool also!

  BERTHA

  (Looking at him.) What are you going to do?

  RICHARD

  (Shortly.) Follow him. Find him. Tell him. (Calmly.) A few words will do. Thief and fool.

  BERTHA

  (Flings the slip on the couch.) I see it all!

  RICHARD

  (Turning.) Eh!

  BERTHA

  (Hotly.) The work of a devil.

  RICHARD

  He?

  BERTHA

  (Turning on him.) No, you! The work of a devil to turn him against me as you tried to turn my own child against me. Only you did not succeed.

  566

  RICHARD

  How? In God’s name, how?

  BERTHA

  (Excitedly.) Yes, yes. What I say. Everyone saw it. Whenever I tried to correct him for the least thing you went on with your folly, speaking to him as if he were a grownup man. Ruining the poor child, or trying to. Then, of course, I was the cruel mother and only you loved him. (With growing excitement.) But you did not turn him against me — against his own mother. Because why? Because the child has too much nature in him.

  RICHARD

  I never tried to do such a thing, Bertha. You know I cannot be severe with a child.

  BERTHA

  Because you never loved your own mother. A mother is always a mother, no matter what. I never heard of any human being that did not love the mother that brought him into the world, except you.

  RICHARD

  (Approaching her quietly.) Bertha, do not say things you will be sorry for. Are you not glad my son is fond of me?

  BERTHA

  Who taught him to be? Who taught him to run to meet you? Who told him you would bring him home toys when you were out on your rambles in the rain, forgetting all about him — and me? I did. I taught him to love you.

  RICHARD

  Yes, dear. I know it was you.

  BERTHA

  (Almost crying.) And then you try to turn everyone against me. All is to be for you. I am to appear false and cruel to everyone except to you. Because you take advantage of my simplicity as you did — the first time.

  RICHARD

  (Violently.) And you have the courage to say that to me?

  BERTHA

  (Facing him.) Yes, I have! Both then and now. Because I am simple you think you can do what you like with me. (Gesticulating.) Follow him now. Call him names. Make him be humble before you and make him despise me. Follow him!

  567

  RICHARD

 

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