And never was there aught to come of it! The world was always looking to use its life In some great handsome way at last. And now-- We are just fooled. There never was any good In the world going on or being at all. The fine things life has plotted to do are worth A rotten toadstool kickt to flying bits. End of the World? Ay, and the end of a joke. Vine: Well, Huff's the man for this turn. Merrick: Ay, the good man! He could but grunt when times were pleasant; now There's misery enough to make him trumpet. And yet, by God, he shan't come blowing his horn Over my misery! We are just fooled, did I say?--We fooled ourselves, Looking for worth in what was still to come; And now there's a stop to our innings. Well, that's fair: I've been a living man, and might have been Nothing at all! I've had the world about me, And felt it as my own concern. What else Should I be crying for? I've had my turn. The world may be for the sake of naught at last, But it has been for my sake: I've had that. [He sits again, and broods.] Sollers: I can't stay here. I must be where my sight May silence with its business all my thinking-- Though it will be the star plunged down so close It puffs its flaming vengeance in my face. [He goes.] Vine: I wish there were someone who had done me wrong, Like Huff with his wife and Shale; I wish there were Somebody I would like to see go crazed With staring fright. I'ld have my pleasure then Of living on into the End of the World. But there is no one at all for me, no one Now my poor wife is gone. Merrick: Why, what did she To harm you? Vine: Didn't she marry me?--It's true She made it come all right. She died at last. Besides, it would be wasting wishes on her, To be in hopes of her weeping at this. She'ld have her hands on her hips and her tongue jumping As nimble as a stoat, delighting round The way the world's to be terrible and tormented.-- Ay, but I'll have a thing to tell her now When she begins to ask the news! I'll say 'You've misst such a show as never was nor will be, A roaring great affair of death and ruin; And I was there--the world smasht to sparkles!' O, I can see her vext at that! [MERRICK has been sunk in thought during this, but VINE seems to brighten at his notion, and speaks quite cheerfully to HUFF, who now comes in, looking mopish, and sits down.] Vine: We've all been envying you, Huff. You're well off, You with your goodness and your enemies Showing you how to relish it with their terror. When do you mean the gibing is to start? Huff: There's time enough. Vine: