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se Auntie Helen'll stay with us till he does. KATHERINE. Yes. OLIVE. That's something, isn't it? KATHERINE. [Picking her up] Now then! OLIVE. [Deliciously limp] Had I better put in the duty to your neighbour if there isn't a victory soon? [As they pass through the door] You're tickling under my knee! [Little gurgles of pleasure follow. Then silence. Then a drowsy voice] I must keep awake for Daddy. KATHERINE comes back. She is about to leave the door a little open, when she hears a knock on the other door. It is opened a few inches, and NURSE'S voice says: "Can I come in, Ma'am?" The NURSE comes in. KATHERINE. [Shutting OLIVE's door, and going up to her] What is it, Nurse? NURSE. [Speaking in a low voice] I've been meaning to--I'll never do it in the daytime. I'm giving you notice. KATHERINE. Nurse! You too! She looks towards OLIVE'S room with dismay. The NURSE smudges a slow tear away from her cheek. NURSE. I want to go right away at once. KATHERINE. Leave Olive! That is the sins of the fathers with a vengeance. NURSE. I've had another letter from my son. No, Miss Katherine, while the master goes on upholdin' these murderin' outlandish creatures, I can't live in this house, not now he's coming back. KATHERINE. But, Nurse----! NURSE. It's not like them [With an ineffable gesture] downstairs, because I'm frightened of the mob, or of the window's bein' broke again, or mind what the boys in the street say. I should think not-- no! It's my heart. I'm sore night and day thinkin' of my son, and him lying out there at night without a rag of dry clothing, and water that the bullocks won't drink, and maggots in the meat; and every day one of his friends laid out stark and cold, and one day--'imself perhaps. If anything were to 'appen to him. I'd never forgive meself--here. Ah! Miss Katherine, I wonder how you bear it--bad news comin' every day--And Sir John's face so sad--And all the time the master speaking against us, as it might be Jonah 'imself. KATHERINE. But, Nurse, how can you leave us, you? NURSE. [Smudging at her cheeks] There's that tells me it's encouragin' something to happen, if I stay here; and Mr. More coming back to-night. You can't serve God and Mammon, the Bible says. KATHERINE. Don't you know what it's costing him? NURSE. Ah! Cost him his seat, and his reputation; and more than that it'll cost hi
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