BARTHWICK。Putyourthingsaway！Youmeanto——to——er——topawnthem？
　　MRS。JONES。Yes，sir，toputthemaway。We’relivinginMerthyrStreet——thatisclosebyhere，sir——atNo。34。Wejusthavetheoneroom。
　　BARTHWICK。Andwhatdoyoupayaweek？
　　MRS。JONES。Wepaysixshillingsaweek，sir，forafurnishedroom。
　　BARTHWICK。AndIsupposeyou’rebehindintherent？
　　MRS。JONES。Yes，sir，we’realittlebehindintherent。
　　BARTHWICK。Butyou’reingoodwork，aren’tyou？
　　MRS。JONES。Well，Sir，IhaveadayinStamfordPlaceThursdays。
　　AndMondaysandWednesdaysandFridaysIcomehere。Butto—day，ofcourse，isahalf—day，becauseofyesterday’sBankHoliday。
　　BARTHWICK。Isee;fourdaysaweek，andyougethalfacrownaday，isthatit？
　　MRS。JONES。Yes，sir，andmydinner;butsometimesit’sonlyhalfaday，andthat’seighteenpence。
　　BARTHWICK。Andwhenyourhusbandearnsanythinghespendsitindrink，Isuppose？
　　MRS。JONES。Sometimeshedoes，sir，andsometimeshegivesittomeforthechildren。Ofcoursehewouldworkifhecouldgetit，sir，butitseemsthereareagreatmanypeopleoutofwork。
　　BARTHWICK。Ah！Yes。We——er——won’tgointothat。
　　[Sympathetically。]Andhowaboutyourworkhere？Doyoufindithard？
　　MRS。JONES。Oh！no，sir，notveryhard，sir;exceptofcourse，whenIdon’tgetmysleepatnight。
　　BARTHWICK。Ah！Andyouhelpdoalltherooms？Andsometimes，I
　　suppose，yougooutforcook？
　　MRS。JONES。Yes，Sir。
　　BARTHWICK。Andyou’vebeenoutthismorning？
　　MRS。JONES。Yes，sir，ofcourseIhadtogotothegreengrocer’s。
　　BARTHWICK。Exactly。Soyourhusbandearnsnothing？Andhe’sabadcharacter。
　　MRS。JONES。No，Sir，Idon’tsaythat，sir。Ithinkthere’sagreatdealofgoodinhim;thoughhedoestreatmeverybadsometimes。AndofcourseIdon’tliketoleavehim，butIthinkI
　　oughtto，becausereallyIhardlyknowhowtostaywithhim。Heoftenraiseshishandtome。Notlongagohegavemeablowhere[touchesherbreast]andIcanfeelitnow。SoIthinkIoughttoleavehim，don’tyou，sir？
　　BARTHWICK。Ah！Ican’thelpyouthere。It’saveryseriousthingtoleaveyourhusband。Veryseriousthing。
　　MRS。JONES。Yes，sir，ofcourseI’mafraidofwhathemightdotomeifIweretoleavehim;hecanbesoveryviolent。
　　BARTHWICK。H’m！Well，thatIcan’tpretendtosayanythingabout。
　　It’sthebadprincipleI’mspeakingof。
　　MRS。JONES。Yes，Sir;Iknownobodycanhelpme。IknowImustdecideformyself，andofcourseIknowthathehasaveryhardlife。Andhe’sfondofthechildren，anditsveryhardforhimtoseethemgoingwithoutfood。
　　BARTHWICK。[Hastily。]Well——er——thankyou，Ijustwantedtohearaboutyou。Idon’tthinkIneeddetainyouanylonger，Mrs。Jones。
　　MRS。JONES。No，sir，thankyou，sir。
　　BARTHWICK。Goodmorning，then。
　　MRS。JONES。Goodmorning，sir;goodmorning，ma’am。
　　BARTHWICK。[Exchangingglanceswithhiswife。]Bytheway，Mrs。
　　Jones——Ithinkitisonlyfairtotellyou，asilvercigarette—box——er——ismissing。
　　MRS。JONES。[Lookingfromonefacetotheother。]Iamverysorry，sir。
　　BARTHWICK。Yes;youhavenotseenit，Isuppose？
　　MRS。JONES。[Realisingthatsuspicionisuponher;withanuneasymovement。]Wherewasit，sir;ifyouplease，sir？
　　BARTHWICK。[Evasively。]WheredidMarlowsay？Er——inthisroom，yes，inthisroom。
　　MRS。JONES。No，Sir，Ihaven’tseenit——ofcourseifI’dseenitIshouldhavenoticedit。
　　BARTHWICK。[Givingheyarapidglance。]You——youaresureofthat？
　　MRS。JONES。[Impassively。]Yes，Sir。[Withaslownoddingofherhead。]Ihavenotseenit，andofcourseIdon’tknowwhereitis。
　　[Sheturnsandgoesquietlyout。]
　　BARTHWICK。H’m！
　　[ThethreeBARTHWICKSavoideachother’sglances。]
　　Thecurtainfalls。
　　ACTII
　　SCENEI
　　TheJONES’slodgings，MerthyrStreet，athalf—pasttwoo’clock。
　　Thebareroom，withtatteredoilclothanddamp，distemperedwalls，hasanairoftidywretchedness。OnthebedliesJONES，half—dressed;hiscoatisthrownacrosshisfeet，andmuddybootsarelyingonthefloorcloseby。Heisasleep。ThedoorisopenedandMRS。JONEScomesin，dressedinapinchedblackjacketandoldblacksailorhat;shecarriesaparcelwrappedupinthe"Times。"Sheputsherparceldown，unwrapsanapron，halfaloaf，twoonions，threepotatoes，andatinypieceofbacon。Takingateapotfromthecupboard，sherinsesit，shakesintoitsomepowderedteaoutofascrewofpaper，putsitonthehearth，andsittinginawoodenchairquietlybeginstocry。
　　JONES。[Stirringandyawning。]Thatyou？What’sthetime？
　　MRS。JONES。[Dryinghereyes，andinherusualvoice。]Half—pasttwo。
　　JONES。Whatyoubacksosoonfor？
　　MRS。JONES。Ionlyhadthehalfdayto—day，Jem。
　　JONES。[Onhisback，andinadrowsyvoice。]Gotanythingfordinner？
　　MRS。JONES。Mrs。BARTHWICK’scookgavemealittlebitofbacon。
　　I’mgoingtomakeastew。[Shepreparesforcooking。]There’sfourteenshillingsowingforrent，James，andofcourseI’veonlygottwoandfourpence。They’llbecomingforitto—day。
　　JONES。[Turningtowardsheronhiselbow。]Let’emcomeandfindmysurprisepacket。I’vehadenougho’thistryin’forwork。WhyshouldIgoroundandroundafterajoblikeabloomin’squirrelinacage。"Giveusajob，sir"——"Takeamanon"——"Gotawifeandthreechildren。"SickofitIam！I’dsoonerliehereandrot。
　　"Jones，youcomeandjointhedemonstration;comeand’oldaflag，andlistentotheruddyorators，andgo’omeasemptyasyoucame。"
　　There’ssomethatseemstolikethat——thesheep！WhenIgoseekin’
　　forajobnow，andseethebruteslookin’meupan’down，it’slikeathousandserpentsinme。I’mnotarskin’foranytreat。Amanwantstosweathisselfsillyandnotallowedthat’sarumstart，ain’tit？Amanwantstosweathissoulouttokeepthebreathinhimandain’tallowed——that’sjusticethat’sfreedomandalltherestofit！[Heturnshisfacetowardsthewall。]You’resomilkymild;youdon’tknowwhatgoesoninsideo’me。I’mdonewiththesillygame。Iftheywantme，let’emcomeforme！
　　[MRS。JONESstopscookingandstandsunmovingatthetable。]
　　I’vetriedanddonewithit，Itellyou。I’veneverbeenafraidofwhat’sbeforeme。Youmarkmywords——ifyouthinkthey’vebrokemyspirit，you’remistook。I’lllieandrotsoonerthanarsk’emagain。Whatmakesyoustandlikethat——youlong—sufferin’，Gawd—
　　forsakenimage——that’swhyIcan’tkeepmyhandsoffyou。Sonowyouknow。Work！Youcanwork，butyouhaven’tthespiritofalouse！
　　MRS。JONES。[Quietly。]Youtalkmorewildsometimeswhenyou’reyourself，James，thanwhenyou’renot。Ifyoudon’tgetwork，howarewetogoon？Theywon’tletusstayhere;they’relookingtotheirmoneyto—day，Iknow。
　　JONES。IseethisBARTHWICKo’yourseverydaygoin’downtoPawlymentsnugandcomfortabletotalkhissillysoulout;an’Iseethatyoungcalf，hisson，swellin’itabout，andgoin’ontherazzle—dazzle。Wot’avetheydonethatmakes’emanybetterthanwotIam？Theyneverdidaday’sworkintheirlives。Isee’emdayafterday。
　　MRS。JONES。AndIwishyouwouldn’tcomeaftermelikethat，andhangaboutthehouse。Youdon’tseemabletokeepawayatall，andwhateveryoudoitforIcan’tthink，becauseofcoursetheynoticeit。
　　JONES。IsupposeImaygowhereIlike。WheremayIgo？TheotherdayIwenttoaplaceintheEdgwareRoad。"Gov’nor，"Isaystotheboss，"takemeon，"Isays。"I’aven’tdoneastrokeo’worknotthesetwomonths;ittakestheheartoutofaman，"Isays;"I’monetowork;I’mnotafraidofanythingyoucangiveme！""Mygoodman，"’esays，"I’vehadthirtyofyouherethismorning。Itookthefirsttwo，"hesays，"andthat’sallIwant。""Thankyou，thenrottheworld！"Isays。"Blasphemin’，"hesays，"isnotthewaytogetajob。Outyougo，mylad！"[Helaughssardonically。]Don’tyouraiseyourvoicebecauseyou’restarvin’;don’tyereventhinkofit;takeitlyin’down！Takeitlikeasensibleman，carn’tyou？
　　Andalittlewaydownthestreetaladysaystome:[Pinchinghisvoice]"D’youwanttoearnafewpence，myman？"andgivesmeherdogto’oldoutsideashop—fatasabutler’ewas——tonso’meathadgonetothemakin’ofhim。Itdid’ergood，itdid，made’erfeel’erselfthatcharitable，butIsee’erlookin’atthecopperstandin’alongsideo’me，forfearIshouldmakeoffwith’erbloomin’fatdog。[Hesitsontheedgeofthebedandputsabooton。Thenlookingup。]What’sinthatheado’yours？[Almostpathetically。]Carn’tyouspeakforonce？
　　[Thereisaknock，andMRS。SEDDON，thelandlady，appears，ananxious，harassed，shabbywomaninworkingclothes。]
　　MRS。SEDDON。IthoughtI’eardyoucomein，Mrs。Jones。I’vespoketomy’usband，buthesayshereallycan’taffordtowaitanotherday。
　　JONES。[Withscowlingjocularity。]Neveryoumindwhatyour’usbandsays，yougoyourownwaylikeaproperindependentwoman。
　　Here，jenny，chuckherthat。
　　[Producingasovereignfromhistrouserspocket，hethrowsittohiswife，whocatchesitinherapronwithagasp。JONES
　　resumesthelacingofhisboots。]
　　MRS。JONES。[Rubbingthesovereignstealthily。]I’mverysorrywe’resolatewithit，andofcourseit’sfourteenshillings，soifyou’vegotsixthatwillberight。
　　[MRS。SEDDONtakesthesovereignandfumblesforthechange。]
　　JONES。[Withhiseyesfixedonhisboots。]Bitofasurpriseforyer，ain’tit？
　　MRS。SEDDON。Thankyou，andI’msureI’mverymuchobliged。[Shedoesindeedappearsurprised。]I’llbringyouthechange。
　　JONES。[Mockingly。]Don’tmentionit。
　　MRS。SEDDON。Thankyou，andI’msureI’mverymuchobliged。[Sheslidesaway。]
　　[MRS。JONESgazesatJONESwhoisstilllacinguphisboots。]
　　JONES。I’vehadabitofluck。[Pullingoutthecrimsonpurseandsomeloosecoins。]Pickedupapurse——sevenpoundandmore。
　　MRS。JONES。Oh，James！
　　JONES。Oh，James！WhataboutOh，James！IpickeditupItellyou。Thisislostproperty，thisis！
　　MRS。JONES。Butisn’tthereanameinit，orsomething？
　　JONES。Name？No，thereain’tnoname。Thisdon’tbelongtosuchas’avevisitin’cards。Thisbelongstoaperfec’lidy。Tikean’
　　smellit。[Hepitchesherthepurse，whichsheputsgentlytohernose。]Now，youtellmewhatIoughttohavedone。Youtellmethat。YoucanalwaystellmewhatIoughttoha’done，can’tyer？
　　MRS。JONES。[Layingdownthepurse。]Ican’tsaywhatyououghttohavedone，James。Ofcoursethemoneywasn’tyours;you’vetakensomebodyelse’smoney。
　　JONES。Finding’skeeping。I’lltakeitaswagesforthetimeI
　　’vegoneaboutthestreetsaskingforwhat’smyrights。I’lltakeitforwhat’soverdue，d’yehear？[Withstrangetriumph。]I’vegotmoneyinmypocket，mygirl。
　　[MRS。JONESgoesonagainwiththepreparationofthemeal，JONESlookingatherfurtively。]
　　Moneyinmypocket！AndI’mnotgoin’towasteit。Withthis’eremoneyI’mgoin’toCanada。I’llletyouhaveapound。
　　[Asilence。]
　　You’veoftentalkedofleavin’me。You’veoftentoldmeItreatyoubadly——wellI’opeyou’llbegladwhenI’mgone。
　　MRS。JONES。[Impassively。]Youhave，treatedmeverybadly，James，andofcourseIcan’tpreventyourgoing;butIcan’ttellwhetherI
　　shallbegladwhenyou’regone。
　　JONES。It’llchangemyluck。I’ve’adnothingbutbadlucksinceIfirsttookupwithyou。[Moresoftly。]Andyou’ve’adnobloomin’picnic。
　　MRS。JONES。Ofcourseitwouldhavebeenbetterforusifwehadnevermet。Weweren’tmeantforeachother。Butyou’resetagainstme，that’swhatyouare，andyouhavebeenforalongtime。
　　Andyoutreatmesobadly，James，goingafterthatRosieandall。
　　Youdon’teverseemtothinkofthechildrenthatI’vehadtobringintotheworld，andofallthetroubleI’vehadtokeepthem，andwhat’llbecomeofthemwhenyou’regone。
　　JONES。[Crossingtheroomgloomily。]IfyouthinkIwanttoleavethelittlebeggarsyou’rebloomin’wellmistaken。
　　MRS。JONES。OfcourseIknowyou’refondofthem。
　　JONES。[Fingeringthepurse，halfangrily。]Well，then，youstowit，oldgirl。Thekids’llgetalongbetterwithyouthanwhenI’mhere。IfI’dha’knownasmuchasIdonow，I’dneverha’hadoneo’them。What’stheuseo’bringin’’emintoastateo’thingslikethis？It’sacrime，that’swhatitis;butyoufinditouttoolate;
　　that’swhat’sthematterwiththis’ereworld。
　　[Heputsthepursebackinhispocket。]
　　MRS。JONES。Ofcourseitwouldhavebeenbetterforthem，poorlittlethings;butthey’reyourownchildren，andIwonderatyoutalkin’likethat。IshouldmissthemdreadfullyifIwastolosethem。
　　JONES。[Sullenly。]An’youain’ttheonlyone。IfImakemoneyoutthere——[Lookingup，heseeshershakingouthiscoat——inachangedvoice。]Leavethatcoatalone！
　　[Thesilverboxdropsfromthepocket，scatteringthecigarettesuponthebed。Takinguptheboxshestaresatit;
　　herushesatherandsnatchestheboxaway。]
　　MRS。JONES。[Coweringbackagainstthebed。]Oh，Jem！oh，Jem！
　　JONES。[Droppingtheboxontothetable。]Youmindwhatyou’resayin’！WhenIgooutI’lltakeandchuckitinthewateralongwiththattherepurse。I’aditwhenIwasinliquor，andforwhatyoudowhenyou’reinliquoryou’renotresponsible—andthat’sGawd’struthasyououghttoknow。Idon’twantthething——Iwon’thaveit。Itookitouto’spite。I’mnothief，Itellyou;anddon’tyoucallmeone，orit’llbetheworseforyou。
　　MRS。JONES。[Twistingherapronstrings。]It’sMr。Barthwick’s！
　　You’vetakenawaymyreputation。Oh，Jem，whatevermadeyou？
　　JONES。Whatd’youmean？
　　MRS。JONES。It’sbeenmissed;theythinkit’sme。Oh！whatevermadeyoudoit，Jem？
　　JONES。ItellyouIwasinliquor。Idon’twantit;what’sthegoodofittome？IfIweretopawnitthey’donlynabme。I’mnothief。I’mnoworsethanwotthatyoungBarthwickis;hebrought’omethatpursethatIpickedup——alady’spurse——’aditoff’erinarow，keptsayin’’e’dscored’eroff。Well，Iscored’imoff。
　　Tightasanowl’ewas！Andd’youthinkanything’llhappentohim？
　　MRS。JONES。[Asthoughspeakingtoherself。]Oh，Jem！it’sthebreadoutofourmouths！
　　JONES。Isitthen？I’llmakeithotfor’emyet。Whataboutthatpurse？WhataboutyoungBARTHWICK？
　　[MRS。JONEScomesforwardtothetableandtriestotakethebox;
　　JONESpreventsher。]Whatdoyouwantwiththat？Youdropit，I
　　say！
　　MRS。JONES。I’lltakeitbackandtellthemallaboutit。[Sheattemptstowresttheboxfromhim。]
　　JONES。Ah，wouldyer？
　　[Hedropsthebox，andrushesonherwithasnarl。Sheslipsbackpastthebed。Hefollows;achairisoverturned。Thedoorisopened;Snowcomesin，adetectiveinplainclothesandbowlerhat，withclippedmoustaches。JONESdropshisarms，MRS。JONESstandsbythewindowgasping;SNOW，advancingswiftlytothetable，putshishandonthesilverbox。]
　　SNOW。Doin’abito’skylarkin’？FancythisiswhatI’mafter。
　　J。B。，theverysame。[Hegetsbacktothedoor，scrutinisingthecrestandcypheronthebox。ToMRS。JONES。]I’mapoliceofficer。
　　AreyouMrs。Jones？
　　MRS。JONES。Yes，Sir。
　　SNOW。MyinstructionsaretotakeyouonachargeofstealingthisboxfromJ。BARTHWICK，Esquire，M。P。，of6，RockinghamGate。
　　Anythingyousaymaybeusedagainstyou。Well，Missis？
　　MRS。JONES。[Inherquietvoice，stilloutofbreath，herhandupon。herbreast。]OfcourseIdidnottakeit，sir。Ineverhavetakenanythingthatdidn’tbelongtome;andofcourseIknownothingaboutit。
　　SNOW。Youwereatthehousethismorning;youdidtheroominwhichtheboxwasleft;youwerealoneintheroom。Ifindthebox’ere。
　　Yousayyoudidn’ttakeit？
　　MRS。JONES。Yes，sir，ofcourseIsayIdidnottakeit，becauseI
　　didnot。
　　SNOW。Thenhowdoestheboxcometobehere？
　　MRS。JONES。Iwouldrathernotsayanythingaboutit。
　　SNOW。Isthisyourhusband？
　　MRS。JONES。Yes，sir，thisismyhusband，sir。
　　SNOW。DoyouwishtosayanythingbeforeItakeher？
　　[JONESremainssilent，withhisheadbenddown。]
　　Wellthen，Missis。I’lljusttroubleyoutocomealongwithmequietly。
　　MRS。JONES。[Twistingherhands。]OfcourseIwouldn’tsayIhadn’ttakenitifIhad——andIdidn’ttakeit，indeedIdidn’t。OfcourseIknowappearancesareagainstme，andIcan’ttellyouwhatreallyhappened:Butmychildrenareatschool，andthey’llbecominghome——andIdon’tknowwhatthey’lldowithoutme。
　　SNOW。Your’usband’llseetothem，don’tyouworry。[Hetakesthewomangentlybythearm。]
　　JONES。Youdropit——she’sallright！[Sullenly。]Itookthethingmyself。
　　SNOW。[Eyeinghim]There，there，itdoesyoucredit。Comealong，Missis。
　　JONES。[Passionately。]Dropit，Isay，youbloomingteck。She’smywife;she’sarespectablewoman。Takeherifyoudare！
　　SNOW。Now，now。What’sthegoodofthis？Keepaciviltongue，andit’llbethebetterforallofus。
　　[Heputshiswhistleinhismouthanddrawsthewomantothedoor。]
　　JONES。[Witharush。]Dropher，andputupyour’ands，orI’llsoonmakeyer。Youleaveheralone，willyer！Don’tItellyer，I
　　tookthethingmyself。
　　SNOW。[Blowinghiswhistle。]Dropyourhands，orI’lltakeyoutoo。Ah，wouldyou？
　　[JONES，closing，dealshimablow。APolicemaninuniformappears;thereisashortstruggleandJONESisoverpowered。
　　MRS。JONESraisesherhandsaviddropsherfaceonthem。]
　　Thecurtainfalls。
　　SCENEII
　　TheBARTHWICKS’dining—roomthesameevening。TheBARTHWICKS
　　areseatedatdessert。
　　MRS。BARTHWICK。John！[Asilencebrokenbythecrackingofnuts。]
　　John！
　　BARTHWICK。Iwishyou’dspeakaboutthenutsthey’reuneatable。
　　[Heputsoneinhismouth。]
　　MRS。BARTHWICK。It’snottheseasonforthem。IcalledontheHolyroods。
　　[BARTHWICKfillshisglasswithport。]
　　JACK。Crackers，please，Dad。
　　[BARTHWICKpassesthecrackers。Hisdemeanourisreflective。]
　　MRS。BARTHWICK。LadyHolyroodhasgotverystout。I’venoticeditcomingforalongtime。
　　BARTHWICK。[Gloomily。]Stout？[Hetakesupthecrackers——withtransparentairiness。]TheHolyroodshadsometroublewiththeirservants，hadn’tthey？
　　JACK。Crackers，please，Dad。
　　BARTHWICK。[Passingthecrackers。]Itgotintothepapers。Thecook，wasn’tit？
　　MRS。BARTHWICK。No，thelady’smaid。IwastalkingitoverwithLadyHolyrood。Thegirlusedtohaveheryoungmantoseeher。
　　BARTHWICK。[Uneasily。]I’mnotsuretheywerewise。