Complete Works of James Joyce (310 page)

BERTHA

Very.

RICHARD

Did he ask you had I any suspicion?

BERTHA

No.

RICHARD

Did he mention my name?

BERTHA

No.

RICHARD

Not once?

BERTHA

Not that I remember.

RICHARD

(Bounding to his feet.)
O yes! Quite clear!

BERTHA

What?

RICHARD

(Striding to and fro.)
A liar, a thief, and a fool! Quite clear! A common thief! What else?
(With a harsh laugh.)
My great friend! A patriot too! A thief — nothing else!
(He halts, thrusting his hands into his pockets.)
But a fool also!

BERTHA

(Looking at him.)
What are you going to do?

RICHARD

(Shortly.)
Follow him. Find him. Tell him.
(Calmly.)
A few words will do. Thief and fool.

BERTHA

(Flings the slip on the couch.)
I see it all!

RICHARD

(Turning.)
Eh!

BERTHA

(Hotly.)
The work of a devil.

RICHARD

He?

BERTHA

(Turning on him.)
No, you! The work of a devil to turn him against me as you tried to turn my own child against me. Only you did not succeed.

566

RICHARD

How? In God’s name, how?

BERTHA

(Excitedly.)
Yes, yes. What I say. Everyone saw it. Whenever I tried to correct him for the least thing you went on with your folly, speaking to him as if he were a grownup man. Ruining the poor child, or trying to. Then, of course, I was the cruel mother and only you loved him.
(With growing excitement.)
But you did not turn him against me — against his own mother. Because why? Because the child has too much nature in him.

RICHARD

I never tried to do such a thing, Bertha. You know I cannot be severe with a child.

BERTHA

Because you never loved your own mother. A mother is always a mother, no matter what. I never heard of any human being that did not love the mother that brought him into the world, except you.

RICHARD

(Approaching her quietly.)
Bertha, do not say things you will be sorry for. Are you not glad my son is fond of me?

BERTHA

Who taught him to be? Who taught him to run to meet you? Who told him you would bring him home toys when you were out on your rambles in the rain, forgetting all about him — and me? I did. I taught him to love you.

RICHARD

Yes, dear. I know it was you.

BERTHA

(Almost crying.)
And then you try to turn everyone against me. All is to be for you. I am to appear false and cruel to everyone except to you. Because you take advantage of my simplicity as you did — the first time.

RICHARD

(Violently.)
And you have the courage to say that to me?

BERTHA

(Facing him.)
Yes, I have! Both then and now. Because I am simple you think you can do what you like with me.
(Gesticulating.)
Follow him now. Call him names. Make him be humble before you and make him despise me. Follow him!

567

RICHARD

(Controlling himself.)
You forget that I have allowed you complete liberty — and allow you it still.

BERTHA

(Scornfully.)
Liberty!

RICHARD

Yes, complete. But he must know that I know.
(More calmly.)
I will speak to him quietly.
(Appealing.)
Bertha, believe me, dear! It is not jealousy. You have complete liberty to do as you wish — you and he. But not in this way. He will not despise you. You don’t wish to deceive me or to pretend to deceive me — with him, do you?

BERTHA

No, I do not.
(Looking full at him.)
Which of us two is the deceiver?

RICHARD

Of us? You and me?

BERTHA

(In a calm decided tone.)
I know why you have allowed me what you call complete liberty.

RICHARD

Why?

BERTHA

To have complete liberty with — that girl.

RICHARD

(Irritated.)
But, good God, you knew about that this long time. I never hid it.

BERTHA

You did. I thought it was a kind of friendship between you — till we came back, and then I saw.

RICHARD

So it is, Bertha.

BERTHA

(Shakes her head.)
No, no. It is much more; and that is why you give me complete liberty. All those things you sit up at night to write about
(pointing to the study)
in there — about her. You call that friendship?

RICHARD

Believe me, Bertha dear. Believe me as I believe you.

BERTHA

(With an impulsive gesture)
My God, I feel it! I know it! What else is between you but love?

568

RICHARD

(Calmly.)
You are trying to put that idea into my head but I warn you that I don’t take my ideas from other people.

BERTHA

(Hotly.)
It is, it is! And that is why you allow him to go on. Of course! It doesn’t affect you. You love her.

RICHARD

Love!
(Throws out his hands with a sigh and moves away from her.)
I cannot argue with you.

BERTHA

You can’t because I am right.
(Following him a few steps.)
What would anyone say?

RICHARD

(Turns to her.)
Do you think I care?

BERTHA

But I care. What would he say if he knew? You, who talk so much of the high kind of feeling you have for me, expressing yourself in that way to another woman. If he did it, or other men, I could understand because they are all false pretenders. But you, Dick! Why do you not tell him then?

RICHARD

You can if you like.

BERTHA

I will. Certainly I will.

RICHARD

(Coolly.)
He will explain it to you.

BERTHA

He doesn’t say one thing and do another. He is honest in his own way.

RICHARD

(Plucks one of the roses and throws it at her feet.)
He is, indeed! The soul of honour!

BERTHA

You may make fun of him as much as you like. I understand more than you think about that business. And so will he. Writing those long letters to her for years, and she to you. For years. But since I came back I understand it — well.

RICHARD

You do not. Nor would he.

BERTHA

(Laughs scornfully.)
Of course. Neither he nor I can understand it. Only she can. Because it is such a deep thing!

RICHARD

(Angrily.)
Neither he nor you — nor she either! Not one of you!

569

BERTHA

(With great bitterness.)
She will! She will understand it! The diseased woman!

(She turns away and walks over to the little table on the right. Richard restrains a sudden gesture. A short pause.)

RICHARD

(Gravely.)
Bertha, take care of uttering words like that!

BERTHA

(Turning, excitedly.)
I don’t mean any harm! I feel for her more than you can because I am a woman. I do, sincerely. But what I say is true.

RICHARD

Is it generous? Think.

BERTHA

(Pointing towards the garden.)
It is she who is not generous. Remember now what I say.

RICHARD

What?

BERTHA

(Comes nearer; in a calmer tone.)
You have given that woman very much, Dick. And she may be worthy of it. And she may understand it all, too. I know she is that kind.

RICHARD

Do you believe that?

BERTHA

I do. But I believe you will get very little from her in return — or from any of her clan. Remember my words, Dick. Because she is not generous and they are not generous. Is it all wrong what I am saying? Is it?

RICHARD

(Darkly.)
No. Not all.

(She stoops and, picking up the rose from the floor, places it in the vase again. He watches her. Brigid appears at the folding doors on the right.)

BRIGID

The tea is on the table, ma’am.

BERTHA

Very well.

BRIGID

Is Master Archie in the garden?

BERTHA

Yes. Call him in.

(Brigid crosses the room and goes out into the garden. Bertha goes towards the doors on the right. At the lounge she stops and takes up the slip.)

570

BRIGID

(In the garden.)
Master Archie! You are to come in to your tea.

BERTHA

Am I to go to this place?

RICHARD

Do you want to go?

BERTHA

I want to find out what he means. Am I to go?

RICHARD

Why do you ask me? Decide yourself.

BERTHA

Do you tell me to go?

RICHARD

No.

BERTHA

Do you forbid me to go?

RICHARD

No.

BRIGID

(From the garden.)
Come quickly, Master Archie! Your tea is waiting on you.

(Brigis crosses the room and goes out through the folding doors. Bertha folds the slip into the waist of her dress and goes slowly towards the right. Near the door she turns and halts.)