So there it is!"
She said nothing at once, but struck a match, and lit the gas.
"It's easy to give you what you want," she answered after a little.
"I'm used to it now."
There was something animal-like in the thrust forward of his neck, in the
anger that mounted to his eyes. When she had drawn down the blinds, he
said to her: "Who's been here?"
For an instant she hesitated. Then she said: "Carnac's been here, but
that has naught to do with what I said. I've lived with you for over
thirty years, and I haven't spoken my mind often, but I'm speaking it
now."
"Never too late to mend, eh!" he gruffly interposed. "So Carnac's been
here! Putting up his independent clack, eh? He leaves his old father to
struggle as best he may, and doesn't care a damn. That's your son
Carnac."
How she longed to say to him, "That's not your son Carnac!" but she
could not. A greyness crossed over her face.
"Is Carnac staying here?"
She shook her head in negation.
"Well, now I'll tell you about Carnac," he said viciously. "I'm shutting
him out of the business of my life. You understand?"
"You mean--" She paused.
"He's taken his course, let him stick to it. I'm taking my course, and
I'll stick to it."
She came close and reached out a faltering hand.
Pages:
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117