SCENE EIGHT
(Enter Romolo.)
GIOVANNA Romolo! Home at this hour?
ROMOLO I'm going to bed, Mamma.
GIOVANNA Are you ill?
ROMOLO (Very upset, hesitating.) Y-yes.
GIOVANNA Well, tell me, what is wrong? (Romolo does not answer.) Sore throat? Speak up! (Romolo begins to cry.)
LUCIA I understand—Giuliano has upset him, too.
GIOVANNA Has he hurt you?
ROMOLO How did you know?
GIOVANNA Then he has done!
ROMOLO Not really hurt me; but he wanted to. I got away.
GIOVANNA Now I have had enough of this! We shall see if he'll strike me, as well! Maria! Maria!
MARIA (Entering.) You called?
GIOVANNA Fetch my shawl and hat. (Maria exits.)
LUCIA Not now, Mamma. Do not you think it best to wait a few days? Then you may tell him whatever you like; he mightn't be disrespectful. But if you go how, he may say truly ghastly things.
GIOVANNA Oh, no—it is he shall hear plenty from me. (To Romolo.) Now, quickly—tell me exactly what he has done to you.
ROMOLO He took me by the ear and led me out the door, saying, "You are never to set foot here again!"
GIOVANNA (Turning to leave.) We shall see about that!
LUCIA But why would he say such a thing?
GIOVANNA Why? We would know the reason better than he.
LUCIA Did he not say anything to you before this affront, Momi?
ROMOLO Before pulling me by the ear, you mean? He scolded me because I made a mistake in arithmetic.
GIOVANNA A large mistake?
ROMOLO I make mistakes every day; I don't know why he should be angry today more than usual.
GIOVANNA I know very well why. I'm going, then. Is there anything else? If there is, I shall truly make a scene.
ROMOLO No, Mamma! There is nothing else.
GIOVANNA Truly?
ROMOLO My word of honor, Mamma.
GIOVANNA Then I'm going. (Exits.)
FILIPPO Ah, now I understand! He is angry with everyone, not only me. Then I have nothing to do with it. This is your family's affair!
LUCIA Will you please do me the favour of leaving, Filippo?
FILIPPO Why? What have I done?
LUCIA Nothing. I am merely warning you that you may be compromising yourself if you stay here with me.
FILIPPO Tosh! How may a man compromise himself?
LUCIA Well, you know very well indeed what happened the last time you compromised yourself with me! (Makes a motion as if striking someone.)
FILIPPO (Doubtful, then cheerfully.) Who knows what notion came into Giuliano's head today? He vented himself on me, that is all. You must have done something scandalous, that he should be reduced to such a state.
SCENE NINE
(Enter Giuliano.)
GIULIANO (Appears suddenly in the doorway and remains there; Filippo and Romolo cry out in fear.) Well, then! (He is sober, composed; but one can see that he is barely controlling himself.) Romolo, go back to my writing desk! I am come for you. I've no wish to hurt you. Have I done?
ROMOLO Oh, no, Only my ear.
GIULIANO (Ruefully.) I am sorry. Forgive me.
ROMOLO Forgive you? I? Oh—it is nothing!
GIULIANO (Goes to him and kisses to top of his head.) I have always been very fond of you, you know. It would require much anger indeed to induce me to hurt you.
FILIPPO Well, cousin! So we are come to our senses? Neither have you hurt me. The next time, however, do not strike me in the street!
GIULIANO Take care you do not get in my way again, you ninny. I may kick you away!
FILIPPO (Stunned for an instant.) Ah! That is how it is! I am disposed to make peace, and you welcome me in this manner? Wait—I'll show you— (A mere glance from Giuliano confounds him.) What am I saying! (Exits hurriedly.)
GIULIANO Come, Romolo.
ROMOLO I want to wait for Mamma. Oh—but perhaps we shall find her at your house. Let's go, then.
GIULIANO She has gone to my house? What for?
ROMOLO (Smiling.) I rather think she wants to scold you for boxing my ear.
GIULIANO Then I shall go alone.
LUCIA Giuliano!
GIULIANO What is it?
LUCIA If Mamma wishes to scold you, she has every right to do so. You did wrong to vent yourself on a poor boy who has done nothing to you.
GIULIANO Nothing! I give him some figures to add, and he gave them back to me chock full or errors!
LUCIA Then I implore you, Giuliano, do not do any more harm. Leave the boy here; you've no more need of him; but do not attempt to seek out my mother in order to be insolent to her. Do not persecute the brother-in-law who owes you money; he has nothing to do with me. Do not punish me by hurting him.
GIULIANO But it was you who begged me to help him. Since you are no longer living in my house, I have no intention of throwing away my money on a man that has no right to it.
LUCIA You are the worst kind of man and I cannot regret enough ever having loved you.
GIULIANO (Controlling himself.) Go ahead and say so; you cannot anger me. I have decided, once for all. But I should like to know which people you deem bad and which you deem kind. If to you kindness is the same as insipience, then indeed I am not kind. (Interrupting himself.) But then, if you maintain that being kind signifies being tolerant and forgiving, then neither are you kind. Any other woman would have forgiven me; she would have supported me; for I was a good husband in every other respect. Would you not grant that you have wanted for nothing? Have I not done everything in my power to relieve your poverty—yes, poverty—and that of your relations? And after receiving such benefits from me, you believe you have the right to take offence at a few brusque words, a few thoughtless deeds? (Beside himself.) You have not the right, I tell you! Your duty was to kiss the dust from my shoes!
LUCIA (Indignantly.) Naturally, with your notions of what are my wifely duties, no real happiness could have resulted from our union.
GIULIANO (Even more angry.) My notions impeded the happiness of our union? When were they ever manifested? When have you ever disapproved my benefits?
LUCIA At this very moment.
GIULIANO Because you saw them withdrawn. But before this, when have you ever acknowledged them? You spoke of them little enough, but were not aware of them all, for you did not know that I gave money to your brother-in-law for your sake. Do not speak, Lucia—I had resolved to remain calm, but I cannot—quite. (Sits at the table and holds his head in his hands.)
LUCIA I have never seen you like this.
GIULIANO I know; I frighten you. Yet I have never really harmed anyone. I was wrong to marry you. My mother had a character like my own; when we fought, the anger between us lasted weeks. I thought, when I saw your fairness and your mild blue eyes, that with you I could never be in bad humour for more than a day at a time. After the weeks of anger with my mother, we would fall into each other's arms weeping, each begging the other's pardon. With you, my anger is of lesser duration, but it is never entirely appeased; you do not know how to forgive. (Ironically.) You were also wrong to marry a butcher, even if he did have money.
LUCIA Giuliano!
GIULIANO I do not mean you married me for my money; I only wanted to apprise you of your mistake so that you may learn from it.
LUCIA (Upset.) We both were mistaken in marrying each other; you yourself said so. Let us separate then; we may at least partly repair the wrong.
GIULIANO (Suspicious and ironic.) In the marriage contract, I assured you a settlement, if I am not mistaken.
LUCIA (Forcefully.) I renounce it!
GIULIANO (Paces agitatedly.) Are you seriously considering this separation?
LUCIA You yourself said it was necessary!
GIULIANO (Embracing her passionately.) It is not necessary, Lucia! Listen—look at me. My head and heart may still be full of disquiet, but do not you see that I might yet manage to control them? I hold you in my arms, and I feel the desire more to strangle than kiss you, but I do not. (Kisses her.) Why do you wish to flee from me when towards you I am anything but dangerous; when all your interests and those of your family command you to love me?
LUCIA (Trying to release herself.) Oh! Giuliano!
GIULIANO But don't let us speak of interests; let us speak of love. Do you not love me at all, that you leave me when I need you so very much? Would you leave me to improve my character alone in that horrible slaughterhouse? If there were anyone who could improve me, heal me, it was you. Do you not see that even now, still struggling to hold back my anger, I am begging you, imploring you, to stay with me?
LUCIA Yes, but—
GIULIANO No "but," no more remonstration; for I run the risk of again losing my head. No, come with me now. (Leads her to the door.)
LUCIA (Laughing.) But—
GIULIANO (Annoyed.) Another "but"?
LUCIA But like this? Without your hat?
GIULIANO (Hugging her.) Oh, thank you, thank you!
LUCIA (Pleadingly.) Please be good.
GIULIANO Have I not promised you?
LUCIA But shall we wait for Mamma?
GIULIANO No, no, let us go; I do not need to hear any more scolding. (After a moment's reflection.) We shall do this much: (Calling out.) Maria!
MARIA (Entering.) You called?
GIULIANO Give my hat to Lucia and tell Signora Giovanna— (Hesitating.) Tell her I came back to fetch my wife—and my clerk. (Indicating Romolo.)
MARIA (Gaily.) Very well, signor! It is good news I give her! (Gives Giuliano's hat to Lucia, who places it on his head.)
GIULIANO (Darkly.) The servant knows, too?
LUCIA What does it matter?
GIULIANO (Passes a hand in front of his eyes; then, calm, and smiling, offers his arm to Lucia.) Let us go! ((Exits with Lucia.)
ROMOLO (Dons his hat, to Maria.) Tell Mamma she does not have to scold Giuliano. He has said "sorry" and I've forgiven him. So it is all over and done with.
GIULIANO (Re-enters, irritably.) Are you coming, you ninny, or must we wait another half hour?
ROMOLO I'm coming, I'm coming! (Runs out.)
CURTAIN
END OF PLAY
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