The Return of Peter Grimm by David Belasco
page 145 of 154 (94%)
page 145 of 154 (94%)
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missing in New York. I've got up at cock-crow to be in time for grace at
the breakfast table. I took charge of a class in Sabbath-school, and I handed out the infernal cornucopias at the church Christmas tree, while he played Santa Claus. What more can a fellow do to earn his money? Don't you call that sweating? No, sir; I've danced like a damned hand-organ monkey for the pennies he left me, and I had to grin and touch my hat and make believe I liked it. Now I'm going to spend every cent for my own personal pleasure. DR. MACPHERSON. Will rich men never learn wisdom! FREDERIK. [_Rising_.] No, they won't! But in every fourth generation there comes along a _wise_ fellow--a spender who knows how to distribute the money others have hoarded: I'm the spender. DR. MACPHERSON. Shame upon you and your like! Your breed should be exterminated. FREDERIK. [_Taking a little packet of letters from the desk_.] Oh, no, we're quite as necessary as you are. And now--I shall answer no more questions. I'm done. Good-night, Doctor. DR. MACPHERSON. Good-night and good-bye. [_With a look of disgust, he has gone to the table, held a medicine bottle to the light to look at the label and poured a spoonful into a wine-glass filled with water. As_ FREDERIK _leaves the house, the_ DOCTOR _taps on a door and calls_.] Catherine! [CATHERINE _enters, and shows by the glance she directs at the front door that she knows_ FREDERIK _has been in the room and has just left the house_.] Burn up your wedding dress. We've made no mistake. I can tell you _that_! [_Goes up the stairs to_ WILLIAM'S _room, taking the lamp |
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