THE HUMAN
VOICE
What? .... I'm all right .... Of course I am .... Courage?
Why, I've got all the courage in the world . . .. Mter that? Well,
after that I got dressed, and Martha came for me, and there you
are .... I've just got back from her house . . . . She's been won-
derful .... Absolutely wonderful, perfect .... Yes, she gives you
that impression, but she really isn't .... You were right; you
always are .... My rose gown, with the fur .... My black hat
. . . . Yes, I've still got it on . . . . no, no, I'm not smoking. I've
only smoked three cigarettes . . . . Yes, of course . . . . Yes, yes . . . .
how good you are! .... And you, you just got home?
Oh, you've been at home all along . . . . What lawsuit? . . . .
Oh yes . . . . but you mustn't wear yourself out . . . . Hello!
hello! don't cut us off. Hello .... Hello, darling .... hello! ... .
If
they cut us off, call me back right away .... of course ... .
Hello! No .... here I am .... The bag? .... Your letters
and mine .... You can have it picked up whenever you want ....
A little hard .... I understand .... Oh darling, don't apologize,
it's the most natural thing
in
the world, .and I'm the one that's
being stupid .... You're so nice .... you're so nice ....
Neither did I; I didn't think I had it in me . . . . Admire me?
Why should you? I manage to get around, like a sleepwalker. I get
dressed, I go out, I come home, like a machine. Tomorrow, maybe
I'll not be so brave .... You? .... No, no .... No, but darling,
I haven't the slightest thing to hold against you . . . . I . . . . I
.... let me .... What? .... Perfectly all right .... Not at all ....
We've .... We've always agreed to be frank with each other, and
I think it would have been criminal of you to leave me without
knowing anything up till the last minute. That would have been
too brutal; but as it is, I've had time to get used to it, to under-
stand .... What do you mean, an "act"? .... Hello! ... .
Who? .... you think I'm making an "act" out of it, me? ... .
You know me, you know I couldn't make myself .... Not at all
.... Not at
all ....
Perfectly calm .... You'll see .... I said:
You'll see. Does my voice sound as if I were hiding something? ... .
No .... I've made up my mind to be brave, and I will ... .
Please .... it wasn't the same thing .... maybe, no use worrying,
looking for trouble, and then missing it .... Don't exaggerate ....
I have all the same had time to get used to it! . . . . You used to
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