human
Better shut that door, she said briefly; and he gave the door in the glass partition a shove with his foot. Then they looked at each other.
gpt
Well, she said; and stretched out her hand.
human
We're in the same box. I guess we'd better shake hands. She grinned with pain, but she forced her grunt of a laugh.
gpt
What's your story? Mine is only his explanation to Nannie.
human
Mine isn't even that. She merely wrote me she had married him; that was all. Miss White told me what he wrote to Nannie. What do you know about it?
gpt
That's all I know,
human
Well, what are you going to do?
gpt
Do? There's nothing to do. I'm done with her!
human
He's my son, Sarah Maitland said.
gpt
I have got to do something.
human
But there's nothing to be done, he pointed out; it was not like this ruthless woman to waste time crying over spilt milk.
gpt
They are both of age, and they are married; that's all there is to it. I went into the mayor's office and found the registry. The marriage is all right so far as that goes. As for David--men don't go out with a gun or a horsewhip in these fine times. He won't do anything. For that matter, he is well rid of her. I told him so. I might have added that the best thing a jilted man can do is to go down on his knees and thank God that he's been jilted; I know what I'm talking about! As for your son--
human
Yes, she said,
gpt
And even in his fury, Robert Ferguson felt a pang at the sight of her torn and ravaged face that quivered so that he turned his eyes away out of sheer decency.
human
I must do something for my son. And I think I know what it will be. She bit her forefinger, frowning with thought.
gpt
I think I know ... I have not done right by Blair.
human
No, you haven't, he said dryly.
gpt
Have you just discovered that? But I don't see what you or I or God Almighty can do _now_! They're married.
human
Oh, I can't do anything about this marriage, she said, with a gesture of indifference;
gpt
Not important? What do you mean?
human
I mean that the important thing is to know what made Blair behave in this way; and then cure him.
gpt
Cure him! There's no cure for rottenness.
human
I blame myself for Blair's conduct,
gpt
Oh, Elizabeth is as bad as he is!
human
Probably worse.
gpt
But I mean to forgive her,
human
Forgive Elizabeth? he said, angrily, and his anger was the very small end of the wedge of his own forgiveness;
gpt
Oh, well, she said,
human
I'm glad you think so.
gpt
I _do_ think so. Blair is young yet; and if she costs him something, he may value her--and I think I can manage to make her cost him something! A man doesn't value what comes cheap; and all his life everything has come cheap to Blair.
human
I don't see what you're driving at.
gpt
Just this, she explained;
human
Blair has had everything he wanted,--oh, yes, yes; it's my fault! she struck an impatient fist upon the arm of her chair.
gpt
I told you it was my fault. Don't take precious time to argue over that. It is _all_ my fault. There! will that satisfy you? I've given him everything. So he thought he could have everything. He doesn't know the meaning of 'no.' He has got to learn. I shall teach him. I have thought it all out. I'm going to make a man of him.
human
How?
gpt
I haven't got the details clear in my mind yet, but this is the gist of it: _NO money but what he earns_.
human
No money?
gpt
After this, it will be 'root, hog, or die.'
human
But Blair can't root,
gpt
Then he must die! Ferguson, don't you see--_he has begun to die already?_ Again her face quivered.
human
Look at this business of taking David's wife--oh, I know, they weren't married yet, but the principle is the same; what do you call that but dying? Look at his whole life: what has he done? Received--received! Given nothing. Ferguson, you can't fool God: you've got to give something! A privilege means an obligation--the obligation of sweat! Sweat of your body or your brains. Blair has never sweated. He's always had something for nothing. That is the one immorality that damns. It has damned Blair. Of course, I ought to have realized it before, but I--I suppose I was too busy. Yes; I tell you, if Blair had had to work for what he's got, as you and I have worked for what we've got, he wouldn't be where he is to-day. You know that! He'd have had something else to think of than satisfying his eyes, or his stomach, or his lust. He'd have been decent.
gpt
He might have been, Robert Ferguson said drearily,
human
No, she said heavily, and for a moment her passion of hope flagged;
gpt
He's gone back to his mother, he ended;
human
Then, with a bark of anger, he added,
gpt
Mrs. Richie was always saying that Elizabeth would turn out well. I wonder what she will say now? I knew better; her mother, my brother Arthur's wife, was--no good. Yet I let Mrs. Richie bamboozle me into building on her. I always said Life shouldn't play the same trick on me twice--but it has done it! It has done it. My heart was set on Elizabeth. Yes, Mrs. Maitland, I've been fooled again--but so have you.
human
Nothing of the kind! I never was fooled before, Sarah Maitland said;
gpt
I'll never forgive her, said Robert Ferguson;