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。