Read-Aloud Plays Part 13

MARGARET

What do you mean?

ROGER

Watering the plants. Isn't that what you meant?

MARGARET

You aren't watering the plants. I've been watching you for half an hour.

If you only would! But you keep forgetting what you are at.

ROGER

I wish it were only forgetting--it's remembering.

MARGARET

Oh Roger, don't I know? But you mustn't!

ROGER

I suppose not. I suppose not.

MARGARET

I knew all along, and I kept away. How you felt, I mean. I ought to have come over a week ago. You haven't anybody to talk to--that's the trouble, Roger, really. I know. Now let's have the whole thing out. Come. And don't be afraid of me. Why, I could tie you all up in bandages if you needed it.

And not flinch.

ROGER

Yes, I guess you could.... It's, it's absurd how well I keep!

MARGARET

Hm. Isn't it? You ought to be wilting away like a rose. But no, you keep your splendid strength and go on with two or three men's work! What would your mother think if she heard you talking like that? Don't you know that you couldn't please her better than by going on as you are?

ROGER

That's so. Of course. But that really isn't what I was thinking of. I was thinking how queer this whole business is. Take our family. As far back as I know we were always struggling along with many children and few means. I am the first one who could really make money. And just when I could make mother comfortable and easy ... besides, I'm all alone.

MARGARET

Ah, Roger, of course you feel that way! But you don't really appreciate that wonderful mother of yours. Do you think her happiness depended on having a new house, and a car?

ROGER

No....

MARGARET

Didn't she round out her life beautifully? Wasn't she repaid for her struggles by seeing you succeed? Didn't she pa.s.s away as quietly as going to sleep? And wasn't her marriage happy? You don't know how much a woman will meet with, if she's happy!

ROGER

That part of it I can face all right, though I suppose it's hard for the ordinary selfish man to realize that love like mother's is its own reward.

But toward the end she suffered--she worried....

MARGARET

I know she did. She told me.

ROGER

She told you? I didn't know that.

MARGARET

We were good friends, your mother and I--and women. That's why she told me. And I think I rea.s.sured her.

ROGER

Oh! She did seem to get mightily comforted, just at the last. I never understood why.

MARGARET

I thank heaven I really did that!--And when I looked out the window and saw you standing here, I had to come over. I knew it wasn't your mother's death that was hurting you, but--but your brother's.

ROGER

Arthur ... I'm glad the accident happened after _she_ died.

MARGARET

Yes. But there's something else. Something that hurts. You've got to tell me. Everything. Don't be afraid. Face it.

ROGER

I have faced it. I--I've made up my mind.

MARGARET

There's still pain somewhere. Is it in the way you have made up your mind?

ROGER

How could that be?

MARGARET