Page:The Return of the Soldier (Van Druten).djvu/78

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THE RETURN OF THE SOLDIER

Chris : Margaret!

Margaret : Oh, I shouldn’t have come, I know that.

Chris : Don’t say that, for God’s sake. If you hadn’t come, I should have gone mad. Didn’t you want to come?

Margaret : Oh, yes . . . so badly.

Chris : Well, then.

Margaret : But, Chris . . . one can’t always do what one wants in life. One can’t hurt other people . . . can one? Can one?

Chris : No, I suppose not.

Margaret : You wouldn’t want to; you were always so kind and thoughtful. Oh, Chris, it’s no use. But it’s so awful . . . it’s like being shown a second chance and not allowed to take it. I must go away.

Chris : No . . . oh, no. Margaret . . . you mustn’t go. I shan’t be able to bear it. You can’t leave me . . . you mustn’t. I shall go mad!

Margaret (wringing her hands) : Oh, I don’t know what to do. I want to stay . . . I do want to stay . . . but it isn’t right.

Chris : Why? There’s no harm in our being together.

Margaret : Your wife, Chris.

Chris : She asked you to come to-day. She said I might see as much of you as I liked.

Margaret : Oh, poor thing. Chris, dear, listen.

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