Oh, yes. She did. In her own way. A calm way, but very full of her
own kind of happiness. [_After reflection._] Bernice was good to me.
I suppose she might have liked me to have done more things, but--she
wanted me to do what--came naturally to me. I suppose that’s why we
always felt so--comfortable with her. She was never trying to make us
some--outside thing. Well--you know, Margaret, I can see her now as
a baby. She was such a nice baby. She used to--reach out her hands.
[_Doing this himself._] Well, I suppose they all do. I’m going to bed.
[_After starting._] I’m glad you’re here with Craig, Margaret. Bernice
would like this. You two who know all about her--well, no, nobody knew
_all_ about Bernice--but you two who were closest to her, here now
as--close as you can be. I’m going to bed. Good-night.
MARGARET
[_Crying._] Good-night.
CRAIG
[_After the father has closed his door. With violence._] “Reached out
her hands!” And what did she _get_? [_Roughly grasping MARGARET’S
wrists._] I _killed_ Bernice. There’s no use in your saying I didn’t.
I did. Only--[_Letting go of her_] don’t flay me tonight, Margaret. I
couldn’t stand it tonight. [_With another abrupt change._] Am I a fool?
Why did I never know Bernice loved me like this? [_In anguish._] Why
wouldn’t I _know_ it? [_Pause._] We don’t know _anything_ about each
other. Do we, Margaret? Nothing. We never--get anywhere. [_Shivering._]
I’m cold. I wonder if there’s anything to drink in the house. There
must be something. [_He goes out into the kitchen; after a moment there
is the sound of running water; he comes in with a bottle of whiskey, a
pitcher of water._] I don’t see the glasses. Things seem to have been
moved. [_Looks at MARGARET as if expecting she will go and get them;
she does not; he goes out again. From the kitchen._] Margaret, have you
any idea where the glasses are?
MARGARET
No, Craig. I don’t know. [_After hearing him moving things around._]
Isn’t Abbie somewhere there?
CRAIG
No; she isn’t here. She seems to have gone outdoors. She’s left the
door open too. No wonder it was cold. [_Calling at an outer door._]
Abbie! [_Sound of the door closing. Again the sound of dishes being
moved._] Well, I don’t know where they can have put--
MARGARET
[_Covering her face._] Don’t _look_ for things. [_More quietly._] Bring
anything, Craig, there must be something there.
CRAIG
[_Coming in with cups._] Things have been moved around. I stumbled over
things that didn’t used to be there. You’ll have a little, Margaret?
It--we need something.
MARGARET
I don’t--oh, I don’t care.
[_He pours the drinks and drinks his._
CRAIG
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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