MARY is on her
right.
MR MARCH leads into the room and stands next his daughter, then
FAITH in hat and coat to the left of the table, and JOHNNY, pale but
determined, last. Assembled thus, in a half fan, of which MRS MARCH
is the apex, so to speak, they are all extremely embarrassed, and no
wonder.
Suddenly MARY gives a little gurgle.
JOHNNY. You'd think it funnier if you'd just come out of prison and were
going to be chucked out of your job, on to the world again.
FAITH. I didn't want to come down here. If I'm to go I want to go at
once. And if I'm not, it's my evening out, please.
She moves towards the door. JOHNNY takes her by the shoulders.
JOHNNY. Stand still, and leave it to me. [FAITH looks up at him,
hypnotized by his determination] Now, mother, I've come down at your
request to discuss this; are you ready to keep her? Otherwise up we go
again.
MR MARCH. That's not the way to go to work, Johnny. You mustn't ask
people to eat their words raw--like that.
JOHNNY. Well, I've had no dinner, but I'm not going to eat my words, I
tell you plainly.
MRS MARCH. Very well then; go up again.
MARY. [Muttering] Mother--logic.
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