[Remonstrant] If she hadn't had it how could she have
smothered it?
COOK. [Soothingly] Perhaps she's repented, ma'am.
MRS MARCH. Of course she's repented. But did you ever know repentance
change anybody, Cook?
COOK. [Smiling] Well, generally it's a way of gettin' ready for the
next.
MRS MARCH. Exactly.
MR MARCH. If we never get another chance because we repent--
COOK. I always think of Master Johnny, ma'am, and my jam; he used to
repent so beautiful, dear little feller--such a conscience! I never
could bear to lock it away.
MRS MARCH. Cook, you're wandering. I'm surprised at your encouraging
the idea; I really am.
Cook plaits her hands.
MR MARCH. Cook's been in the family longer than I have--haven't you,
Cook? [COOK beams] She knows much more about a girl like that than we
do.
COOK. We had a girl like her, I remember, in your dear mother's time,
Mr Geoffrey.
MR MARCH. How did she turn out?
COOK. Oh! She didn't.
MRS MARCH. There!
MR MARCH. Well, I can't bear behaving like everybody else. Don't you
think we might give her a chance, Cook?
COOK. My 'eart says yes, ma'am.
MR MARCH. Ha!
COOK. And my 'ead says no, sir.
Pages:
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231