The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts (1922)

keep. We have to work for our money, we do.'

'I didn't know you grudged me the little I eat,' said Nora bitterly. 'I wonder if I should begrudge it to you, if I were in your place.'

'Look here, it's no good talking. I'm not going to turn her out. As long as she wants a home, the farm's open to her. And she's welcome to everything I've got.'

'Then you choose her?' demanded Gertie.

'Choose her? I don't know what you're talking about!' Easy-going as he was, he was beginning to show signs of irritation.

'I said you'd got to choose between us. Very well, let her stay. I earned my own living before, and I can earn it again. I'm going.'

'Don't talk such nonsense,' said Marsh violently.

'You think I don't mean it? D'you think I'm going to stay here and be put upon? Why should I?'

'Don't you--love me any more?'

'Haven't I shown that I love you? Have you forgotten, Ed?'

'We've gone through so much together, darling,' he said huskily.

'Yes, we have that,' she said in a softened tone.

'Won't you forgive her, for--for my sake?'

Gertie's face hardened once more.

'No, I can't. You're a man, you don't understand. If she won't apologize, either she must go or I shall.'

'I can't lose you, Gertie. What should I do without you?'

'I guess you know me well enough by now. When I say a thing, I do it.'

'Eddie!'

Nora had buried her face in her hands. He looked at her a moment without speaking.

'She's my wife. After all, if it weren't for her I should be hiring out now at forty dollars a month.'

Nora lifted her face. For a long moment, brother and sister exchange a sad regard.

'Very well,' she said huskily, 'I'll do what you want.'

He made one last appeal:

'You do insist on it, Gertie?'

'Of course I do.'

'I'll go and call the men.' He looked vacantly about the room, searching for his hat.

'Frank Taylor needn't come, need he?' asked Nora timidly.

'Why not?'

'He's going away almost immediately. It can't matter about him, surely.'

'Then why are you so particular about it?'

'The others are English----' She knew she had made an unfortunate speech the moment the words had left her lips and hastened to modify it. 'He'll like to see me humiliated. He looks upon women as dirt. He's---- Oh, I don't know, but not before him!'

'It'll do you a world of good to be taken down a peg or two, my lady.'

'Oh, how heartless, how cruel!'

'Go on, Ed. I want to get on with my work.'

'Why do you humiliate me like this?' asked Nora after the door had closed on her brother. Gertie had seated herself, very