The Silver Box Read Online Free PDF Page B

mind what your 'usband says, you go your own way like a proper independent woman. Here, jenny, chuck her that.
     
    [Producing a sovereign from his trousers pocket, he throws it to his wife, who catches it in her apron with a gasp. JONES resumes the lacing of his boots.]
     
    MRS. JONES. [Rubbing the sovereign stealthily.] I'm very sorry we're so late with it, and of course it's fourteen shillings, so if you've got six that will be right.
     
    [MRS. SEDDON takes the sovereign and fumbles for the change.]
     
    JONES. [With his eyes fixed on his boots.] Bit of a surprise for yer, ain't it?
     
    MRS. SEDDON. Thank you, and I'm sure I'm very much obliged. [She does indeed appear surprised.] I 'll bring you the change.
     
    JONES. [Mockingly.] Don't mention it.
     
    MRS. SEDDON. Thank you, and I'm sure I'm very much obliged. [She slides away.]
     
    [MRS. JONES gazes at JONES who is still lacing up his boots.]
     
    JONES. I've had a bit of luck. [Pulling out the crimson purse and some loose coins.] Picked up a purse—seven pound and more.
     
    MRS. JONES. Oh, James!
     
    JONES. Oh, James! What about Oh, James! I picked it up I tell you. This is lost property, this is!
     
    MRS. JONES. But isn't there a name in it, or something?
     
    JONES. Name? No, there ain't no name. This don't belong to such as 'ave visitin' cards. This belongs to a perfec' lidy. Tike an' smell it. [He pitches her the purse, which she puts gently to her nose.] Now, you tell me what I ought to have done. You tell me that. You can always tell me what I ought to ha' done, can't yer?
     
    MRS. JONES. [Laying down the purse.] I can't say what you ought to have done, James. Of course the money wasn't yours; you've taken somebody else's money.
     
    JONES. Finding's keeping. I'll take it as wages for the time I've gone about the streets asking for what's my rights. I'll take it for what's overdue, d' ye hear? [With strange triumph.] I've got money in my pocket, my girl.
     
    [MRS. JONES goes on again with the preparation of the meal, JONES looking at her furtively.]
     
    Money in my pocket! And I 'm not goin' to waste it. With this 'ere money I'm goin' to Canada. I'll let you have a pound.
     
    [A silence.]
     
    You've often talked of leavin' me. You've often told me I treat you badly—well I 'ope you 'll be glad when I 'm gone.
     
    MRS. JONES. [Impassively.] You have, treated me very badly, James, and of course I can't prevent your going; but I can't tell whether I shall be glad when you're gone.
     
    JONES. It'll change my luck. I've 'ad nothing but bad luck since I first took up with you. [More softly.] And you've 'ad no bloomin' picnic.
     
    MRS. JONES. Of course it would have been better for us if we had never met. We weren't meant for each other. But you're set against me, that's what you are, and you have been for a long time. And you treat me so badly, James, going after that Rosie and all. You don't ever seem to think of the children that I've had to bring into the world, and of all the trouble I've had to keep them, and what 'll become of them when you're gone.
     
    JONES. [Crossing the room gloomily.] If you think I want to leave the little beggars you're bloomin' well mistaken.
     
    MRS. JONES. Of course I know you're fond of them.
     
    JONES. [Fingering the purse, half angrily.] Well, then, you stow it, old girl. The kids 'll get along better with you than when I 'm here. If I 'd ha' known as much as I do now, I 'd never ha' had one o' them. What's the use o' bringin' 'em into a state o' things like this? It's a crime, that's what it is; but you find it out too late; that's what's the matter with this 'ere world.
     
    [He puts the purse back in his pocket.]
     
    MRS. JONES. Of course it would have been better for them, poor little things; but they're your own children, and I wonder at you talkin' like that. I should miss them dreadfully if I was to lose them.
     
    JONES. [Sullenly.] An' you ain't the only one. If I make money out there—[Looking up, he