Heartbreak House

go all mushy and want to slobber over me. I’m not angry; I’m not unfriendly; but for God’s sake do pull yourself together; and don’t think that because you’re on velvet and always have been, women who are in hell can take it as easily as you. Mrs. Hushabye Shrugging her shoulders. Very well. She sits down on the sofa in her old place. But I warn you that when I am neither coaxing and kissing nor laughing, I am just wondering how much longer I can stand living in this cruel, damnable world. You object to the siren: well, I drop the siren. You want to rest your wounded bosom against a grindstone. Well folding her arms, here is the grindstone. Ellie Sitting down beside her, appeased. That’s better: you really have the trick of falling in with everyone’s mood; but you don’t understand, because you are not the sort of woman for whom there is only one man and only one chance. Mrs. Hushabye I certainly don’t understand how your marrying that object indicating Mangan will console you for not being able to marry Hector. Ellie Perhaps you don’t understand why I was quite a nice girl this morning, and am now neither a girl nor particularly nice. Mrs. Hushabye Oh, yes, I do. It’s because you have made up your mind to do something despicable and wicked. Ellie I don’t think so, Hesione. I must make the best of my ruined house. Mrs. Hushabye Pooh! You’ll get over it. Your house isn’t ruined. Ellie Of course I shall get over it. You don’t suppose I’m going to sit down and die of a broken heart, I hope, or be an old maid living on a pittance from the Sick and Indigent Roomkeepers’ Association. But my heart is broken, all the same. What I mean by that is that I know that what has happened to me with Marcus will not happen to me ever again. In the world for me there is Marcus and a lot of other men of whom one is just the same as another. Well, if I can’t have love, that’s no reason why I should have poverty. If Mangan has nothing else, he has money. Mrs. Hushabye And are there no young men with money? Ellie Not within my reach. Besides, a young man would have the right to expect love from me, and would perhaps leave me when he found I could not give it to him. Rich young men can get rid of their wives, you know, pretty cheaply. But this object, as you call him, can expect nothing more from me than I am prepared to give him. Mrs. Hushabye He will be your owner, remember. If he buys you, he will make the bargain pay him and not you. Ask your father. Ellie Rising and strolling to the chair to contemplate their subject. You need not trouble on that score, Hesione. I have more to give Boss Mangan than he has to give me: it is I who am buying him, and at a pretty good price too, I think. Women are better at that sort of bargain than men. I have taken the Boss’s measure; and ten Boss Mangans shall not prevent me doing far more as I please as his wife than I have ever been able to do as a poor girl. Stooping to the recumbent figure. Shall they, Boss? I think not. She passes on to the drawing table, and leans against the end of it, facing the windows. I shall not have to spend most of my time wondering how long my gloves will last, anyhow. Mrs. Hushabye Rising superbly. Ellie, you are a wicked, sordid little beast. And to think that I actually condescended to fascinate that creature there to save you from him! Well, let me tell you this: if you make this disgusting match, you will never see Hector again if I can help it. Ellie Unmoved. I nailed Mangan by telling him that if he did not marry me he should never see you again. She lifts herself on her wrists and seats herself on the end of the table. Mrs. Hushabye Recoiling. Oh! Ellie So you see I am not unprepared for your playing that trump against me. Well, you just try it: that’s all. I should have made a man of Marcus, not a household pet. Mrs. Hushabye Flaming. You dare! Ellie Looking almost dangerous. Set him thinking about me if you dare. Mrs. Hushabye Well, of all the impudent little fiends I ever met! Hector says there is a certain point at which the only answer you can give to a man who breaks all the rules is to knock him down. What would you say if I were to box your ears? Ellie Calmly. I should pull your hair. Mrs. Hushabye Mischievously. That wouldn’t hurt me. Perhaps it comes off at night. Ellie So taken aback that she drops off the table and runs to her. Oh, you don’t mean to say, Hesione, that your beautiful black hair is false? Mrs. Hushabye Patting it. Don’t tell Hector. He believes in it. Ellie Groaning. Oh! Even the hair that ensnared him false! Everything false! Mrs. Hushabye Pull it and try. Other women can snare men in their hair; but I can swing a baby on mine. Aha! you can’t do that, Goldilocks. Ellie Heartbroken. No. You have stolen my babies. Mrs. Hushabye Pettikins, don’t make me cry. You know what you said about my making a household pet of him is a little true. Perhaps he ought to have waited for you. Would any other woman on earth forgive you? Ellie Oh, what right had you to take him all for yourself! Pulling herself together. There! You couldn’t help it: neither of us could help it. He couldn’t help it. No, don’t say anything more: I can’t bear it. Let us wake the object. She begins stroking Mangan’s head, reversing