Why can't you let me alone?
LADY PEMBURY (going to a side-table and taking up a photograph). Five
children--all girls--and now I'm a grandmother. (Showing him the
photograph) There! That's my eldest daughter with her eldest son and
my eldest grandchild. Isn't he a duck? He's supposed to be like me. . . .
I never had a son of my own. (THE STRANGER has taken the photograph in
his hand and is holding it awkwardly.) Oh, let me take it away from
you. Other's people's relations are so uninteresting, aren't they?
(She takes it away and puts it back in its place. Then she returns to
her seat and goes on with her work.) So you've made a lot of money?
How exciting for you!
STRANGER (grimly). I haven't got it yet, but it's coming.
LADY PEMBURY. Soon?
STRANGER. To-day.
LADY PEMBURY. You're not married, are you?
STRANGER. You want to know a lot, don't you? Well, I'm not married.
LADY PEMBURY. I was thinking how much nicer it is when you can share
that sort of news with somebody else, somebody you love. It makes good
news so much better, and bad news so much more bearable.
STRANGER. That's what you and your husband do, is it?
LADY PEMBURY (nodding). Always. For eight-and-twenty years.
STRANGER.
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