You must marry this young----at once, before it gets out. He's behaved
like a ruffian: but, by your own confession, you've behaved worse.
You've been bitten by this modern disease, this--this, utter lack of
common decency. There's an eternal order in certain things, and marriage
is one of them; in fact, it's the chief. Come, now. Give me a promise,
and I'll try my utmost to forget the whole thing.
ATHENE. When we quarrelled, father, you said you didn't care what became
of me.
BUILDER. I was angry.
ATHENE. So you are now.
BUILDER. Come, Athene, don't be childish! Promise me!
ATHENE. [With a little shudder] No! We were on the edge of it. But now
I've seen you again--Poor mother!
BUILDER. [Very angry] This is simply blasphemous. What do you mean by
harping on your mother? If you think that--that--she doesn't--that she
isn't--
ATHENE. Now, father!
BUILDER. I'm damned if I'll sit down under this injustice. Your mother
is--is pretty irritating, I can tell you. She--she--Everything
suppressed. And--and no--blood in her!
ATHENE. I knew it!
BUILDER. [Aware that he has confirmed some thought in her that he had no
intention of confirming] What's that?
ATHENE.
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