VOICEMechanically。It’sme-it’sPhil-it’syourhusband。
　　CAPTGShedoesn’tknowmel-It’syourownhusband，darling。
　　VOICEYourownhusband，darlingAYAHWithaninspiration。
　　MemsahibunderstandingallIsaying。
　　CAPTGMakeherunderstandmethen-quick！
　　AYAHHandonMasG。’sfore-head。Memsahib！CaptainSahibhere。
　　VOICESalaemdoFretfully。IknowI’mnotfittobeseen。
　　AYAHAsidetoG。Say“marneen“sameasbreakfash。
　　CAPTGGood-morning，littlewomanHowareweto-day？
　　VOICEThat’sPhilPooroldPhilViciously。Phil，youfool，I
　　can’tseeyouComenearer。
　　CAPTGMinnie！Minnie！It’sme-youknowme？
　　VOICEMockingly。OfcourseIdoWhodoesnotknowthemanwhowassocrueltohiswife-almosttheonlyoneheeverhad？
　　CAPTGYes，dearYes-ofcourse，ofcourseButwon’tyouspeaktobim？Hewantstospeaktoyousomuch。
　　VOICEThey’dneverlethiminTheDoctorwouldgivedarwazabundevenifhewereinthehouseHe’llnevercome。
　　Despairingly。OJudas！Judas！Judas！
　　CAPTGPuttingouthisarms。Theyhavelethimin，andhealwayswasinthehouseOh，mylove-don’tyouknowme？
　　VOrCEInahalfchant。“Anditcametopassattheeleventhhourthatthispoorsoulrepented。”Itknockedatthegates，buttheywereshut-tightasaplaster-agreat，burningplasterTheyhadpastedourmarriagecertificateallacrossthedoor，anditwasmadeofred-hotiron-peoplereallyoughttobemorecareful，youknow。
　　CAPTGWhatamItodo？Takingherinhisarms。Minnie！
　　speaktome-toPhil。
　　VOICEWhatshallIsay？Oh，tellmewhattosaybeforeit’stoolate！TheyareallgoingawayandIcan’tsayanything。
　　CAPTGSayyouknowme！Onlysayyouknowme！
　　DOCTORWhohasenteredquietly。Forpity’ssakedon’ttakeittoomuchtoheart，GadsbyIt’sthiswaysometimesTheywon’trecognizeTheysayallsortsofqueerthings-don’tyousee？
　　CAPTGAllright！Allright！Goawaynow；she’llrecognizeme；
　　you’rebotheringherShemust-mustn’tshe？
　　DOCTORShewillbefore-HaveIyourleavetotry？-
　　CAPTGAnythingyouplease，solongasshe’llknowmeIt’sonlyaquestionof-hours，isn’tit？
　　DOCTORProfessionally。Whilethere’slifethere’shopey’knowButdon’tbuildonit。
　　CAPTGIdon’tPullhertogetherifit’spossibleAside。WhathaveIdonetodeservethis？
　　DOCTORBendingoverbed。Now，MrsGadsby！WeshallbeallrighttomorrowYoumusttakeit，orIsha’n’tletPhilseeyouItisn’tnasty，isit？
　　VoiceMedicines！Alwaysmoremedicines！Can’tyouleavemealone？
　　CAPTGOh，leaveherinpeace，Doc！
　　DOCTORSteppingback，-aside。MayIbeforgivenifI’venonewrongAloud。Inafewminutessheoughttobesensible；butI
　　daren’ttellyoutolookforanythingIt’sonly-
　　CAPTGWhat？Goon，man。
　　DOCTORInawhisper。Forcingthelastrally。
　　CAPTGThenleaveusalone。
　　DOCTORDon’tmindwhatshesaysatfirst，ifyoucanThey-they-theyturnagainstthosetheylovemostsometimesinthis-It’shard，but-
　　CAPTGAmIherhusbandorareyou？Leaveusaloneforwhattimewehavetogether。
　　VOICEConfidentially。Andwewereengagedquitesuddenly，EmmaIassureyouthatIneverthoughtofitforamoment；but，oh，mylittleMe！-Idon’tknowwhatIshouldhavedoneifhehadn’tproposed。
　　CAPTGShethinksofthatDeercourtgirlbeforeshethinksofme。
　　Aloud。Minnie！
　　VOICENotfromtheshops，MummydearYoucangettherealleavesfromKaintu，andlaughingweaklynevermindabouttheblossoms-Deadwhitesilkisonlyfitforwidows，andIwon’twearitIt’sasbadasawindingsheetAlongpause。
　　CAPTGIneveraskedafavoryetIfthereisanybodytolistentome，letherknowme-evenifIdietoo！
　　VOICEVeryfaintly。Pip，Pipdear。
　　CAPTGI’mhere，darling。
　　VOICEWhathashappened？They’vebeenbotheringmesowithmedicinesandthings，andtheywouldn’tletyoucomeandseeme。
　　IwasneverillbeforeAmIillnow？
　　CAPTGYou-youaren’tquitewell。
　　VOICEHowfunny！HaveIbeenilllong？
　　CAPTGSomeday；butyou’llbeallrightinalittletime。
　　VOICEDoyouthinkso，Pip？Idon’tfeelwelland-Oh！whathavetheydonetomyhair？
　　CAPTGId-d-on’tknow。
　　VOICEThey’vecutitoffWhatashame！
　　CAPTGItmusthavebeentomakeyourheadcooler。
　　VOICEJustlikeaboy’swigDon’tIlookhorrid？
　　CAPTGNeverlookedprettierinyourlife，dearAside。HowamItoaskhertosaygood-bye？
　　VOICEIdon’tfeelprettyIfeelveryillMyheartwon’twork。
　　It’snearlydeadinsideme，andthere’safunnyfeelinginmyeyes。
　　Everythingseemsthesamedistance-youandthealmirahandthetableinsidemyeyesormilesawayWhatdoesitmean，Pip？
　　CAPTGYou’realittlefeverish，Sweetheart-veryfeverish。
　　Breakingdown。Mylove！mylove！HowcanIletyougo？
　　VOICEIthoughtsoWhydidn’tyoutellmethatatfirst？
　　CAPTGWhat？
　　VOICEThatIamgoingto-die。
　　CAPTGButyouaren’t！Yousha’n’t。
　　AYAHtopunkah-coolieSteppingintoverandaafteraglanceatthebedPunkahchordo！Stoppullingthepunkah。
　　VOICEIt’shard，PipSovery，veryhardafteroneyear-justoneyear。
　　Wailing。AndI’monlytwentyMostgirlsaren’tevenmarriedattwentyCan’ttheydoanythingtohelpme？Idon’twanttodie。
　　CAPTGHush，dearYouwon’t。
　　VOICEWhat’stheuseoftalking？Helpme！You’veneverfailedmeyetOh，Phil，helpmetokeepaliveFeverishly。Idon’tbelieveyouwishmetoliveYouweren’tabitsorrywhenthathorridBabythingdiedIwishI’dkilledit！
　　CAPTGDrawinghishandacrosshisforehead。It’smorethanaman’smeanttobear-it’snotrightAloud。Minnie，love，I’ddieforyouifitwouldhelp。
　　VOICENomoredeathThere’senoughalreadyPip，don’tyoudietoo。
　　CAPTGIwishIdared。
　　VOICEItsays：“TillDeathdouspart。”Nothingafterthat-andsoitwouldbenouseItstopsatthedyingWhydoesitstopthere？
　　Onlysuchaveryshortlife，tooPip，I’msorrywemarried。
　　CAPTGNo！Anythingbutthat，Mm！
　　VOICEBecauseyou’llforgetandI’llforgetOh，Pip，don’tforget！
　　Ialwayslovedyou，thoughIwascrosssometimesIfIeverdidanythingthatyoudidn’tlike，sayyouforgivemenow。
　　CAPTGYouneverdid，darlingOnmysoulandhonoryouneverdidIhaven’tathingtoforgiveyou。
　　VOICEIsulkedforawholeweekaboutthosepetuniasWithalaugh。WhatalittlewretchIwas，andhowgrievedyouwere！
　　Forgivemethat，Pp。
　　CAPTGThere’snothingtoforgiveItwasmyfaultTheyweretoonearthedriveForGod’ssakedon’ttalkso，Minnie！There’ssuchalottosayandsolittletimetosayitin。
　　VOICESaythatyou’llalwaysloveme-untiltheend。
　　CAPTGUntiltheendCarriedaway。It’salieItmustbe，becausewe’velovedeachotherThisisn’ttheend。
　　VOICERelapsingintosemi-delirium。MyChurch-servicehasanivory-crossontheback，anditsaysso，soitmustbetrue“TillDeathdouspart。”-butthat’salieWithaparodyofG。’smanner。
　　Adamnedlie！Recklessly。Yes，IcanswearaswellasaTrooper，PipIcan’tmakemyheadthink，thoughThat’sbecausetheycutoffmyhairHowcanonethinkwithone’sheadallfuzzy？
　　Pleadingly。Holdme，Pip！Keepmewithyoualwaysandalways。
　　Relapsing。ButifyoumarrytheThornissgirlwhenI’mdead，I’llcomebackandhowlunderourbedroomwindowallnightOh，bother！You’llthinkI’majackallPip，whattimeisit？
　　CAPTGAlittlebeforethedawn，dear。
　　VOICEIwonderwhereIshallbethistimeto-morrow？
　　CAPTGWouldyouliketoseethePadre？
　　VOICEWhyshouldI？He’dtellmethatIamgoingtoheaven；
　　andthatwouldn’tbetrue，becauseyouarehereDoyourecollectwhenheupsetthecream-icealloverhistrousersattheGassers’
　　tennis？
　　CAPTGYes，dear。
　　VOICEIoftenwonderedwhetherhegotanotherpairoftrousers；
　　butthenhisaresoshinyalloverthatyoureallycouldn’ttellunlessyouweretoldLet’scallhiminandask。
　　CAPTGGravely。NoIdon’tthinkhe’dlikethat’Yourheadcomfy，Sweetheart？’
　　VOICEFaintlywithasighofcontentment。Yeth！Gracious，Pip，whendidyoushavelast？Yourchin’sworsethanthebarrelofamusicalbox-No，don’tliftitupIlikeitApause。Yousaidyou’venevercriedatallYou’recryingallovermycheek。
　　CAPTGI-I-Ican’thelpit，dear。
　　VOICEHowfunny！Icouldn’tcrynowtosavemylifeG。
　　shivers。Iwanttosing。
　　CAPTGWon’tittireyou？’Betternot，perhaps。
　　VOICEWhy？Iwon’tbebotheredaboutBeginsinahoarsequaver
　　“Minniebakesoatencake，Minniebrewsale，AllbecauseherJohnnie’scominghomefromthesea。
　　That’sparade，Pip。
　　Andshegrowsredasarose，whowassopale；
　　And’Areyousurethechurch-clockgoes？’saysshe。”
　　Pettishly。IknewIcouldn’ttakethelastnoteHowdothebasschordsrun？Putsoutherhandsandbeginsplayingpianoonthesheet。
　　CAPTGCatchinguphands。Ahh！Don’tdothat，Pussy，ifyouloveme。
　　VOICELoveyou？OfcourseIdo。
　　Whoelseshoulditbe？Apause。
　　VOICEVeryclearly。Pip，I’mgomgnowSomething’schokingmecruellyIndistinctly。Intothedark-withoutyou，myheart-Butit’salie，dear-wemustn’tbelieveit-Foreverandever，livingordeadDon’tletmego，myhusband-holdmetight-Theycan’t-
　　whateverhappensAcough。Pip-myPip！Notforalways-and-
　　so-soon！Voiceceases。
　　PauseoftenminutesGburieshisfaceinthesideofthebedwhileAYAHbendsoverbedfromoppositesideandfeelsMasG。’sbreastandforehead。
　　CAPTGRising。DoctorSahibkosalaamdo。
　　AYAHStillbybedside，withashriek。AilAilTuta-phuta！MyMemsahib！Notgetting-nothavegot！-PusseenaagyalThesweathascome。FiercelytoG。TUMjaoDoctorSahibkojaldi！Yougotothedoctor。Oh，myMemsahib！
　　DOCTOREnteringhastily。Comeaway，GadsbyBendsoverbed。Eb！TheDev-Whatinspiredyoutostopthepunkab？Getout，man-goaway-waitoutside！Go！Here，Ayab！OverhisshouldertoG。MindIpromisenothing。
　　ThedawnbreaksasGstumblesintothegarden。
　　CAPTMRehungupatthegateonhiswaytoparadeandverysoberly。Oldman，howgoes？
　　CAPTGDazed。Idon’tquiteknowStayabitHaveadrinkorsomethingDon’trunawayYou’rejustgettingamusingHa！
　　ha！
　　CAPTMAside。WhatamIletinfor？Gaddyhasagedtenyearsinthenight。
　　CAPTGSlowly，fingeringcharger’sheadstall。Yourcurb’stooloose。
　　CAPTMSoitisPutitstraight，willyou？Aside。IshallbelateforparadePoorGaddy。
　　CAPTGlinksandunlinkscurb-chainaimlessly，andfinallystandsstaringtowardtheverandaThedaybrightens。
　　DOCTORKnockedoutofprofessionalgravity，trampingacrossflower-bedsandshakingG’shands。It’-it’s-it’s！-Gadsby，tbere’safairchance-adashedfairchanceTheflicker，y’knowThesweat，y’knowIsawhowitwouldbeThepunkab，y’know。