pening . . . that’s what did it . . . my fault! . . . how d’you know? . . . you can’t tell that! . . .
[He jumps to his feet again—walks up and down again distractedly]
God, if we’d only have a kid! . . . then I’d show them all what I could do! . . . Cole always used to say I had the stuff, and Ned certainly thought so. . . .
[With sudden relieved excitement]
By gosh, I was forgetting! . . . Ned’s coming out to-night . . . forgot to tell Nina . . . mustn’t let her get wise I got him to come to look her over . . . she’d hate me for swallowing my pride after he’s never been to see us . . . but I had to . . . this has got my goat . . . I’ve got to know what’s wrong . . . and Ned’s the only one I can trust . . .
[He flings himself on chair in front of desk and, picking up a fresh sheet of paper, jams it into the machine]
Gosh, I ought to try and get a new start on this before it’s time . . .
[He types a sentence or two, a strained frown of concentration on his face. Nina comes silently through the door and stands just inside it looking at him. She has grown thin again, her face is pale and drawn, her movements are those of extreme nervous tension]
Nina
[Before she can stifle her immediate reaction of contempt and dislike]
How weak he is! . . . he’ll never do anything . . . never give me my desire . . . if he’d only fall in love with someone else . . . go away . . . not be here in my father’s room . . . I even have to give him a home . . . if he’d disappear . . . leave me free . . . if he’d die . . .
