The Skin Game by John Galsworthy
page 27 of 138 (19%)
page 27 of 138 (19%)
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HILLCRIST. That's a declaration of war.
HORNBLOWER. Ye never said a truer word. It's one or the other of us, and I rather think it's goin' to be me. I'm the risin' and you're the settin' sun, as the poet says. HILLCRIST. [Touching the bell] We shall see if you can ride rough-shod like this. We used to have decent ways of going about things here. You want to change all that. Well, we shall do our damnedest to stop you. [To FELLOWS at the door] Are the Jackmans still in the house? Ask them to be good enough to come in. HORNBLOWER. [With the first sign of uneasiness] I've seen these people. I've nothing more to say to them. I told 'em I'd give 'em five pounds to cover their moving. HILLCRIST. It doesn't occur to you that people, however humble, like to have some say in their own fate? HORNBLOWER. I never had any say in mine till I had the brass, and nobody ever will. It's all hypocrisy. You county folk are fair awful hypocrites. Ye talk about good form and all that sort o' thing. It's just the comfortable doctrine of the man in the saddle; sentimental varnish. Ye're every bit as hard as I am, underneath. MRS. H. [Who had been standing very still all this time] You flatter us. HORNBLOWER. Not at all. God helps those who 'elp themselves-- that's at the bottom of all religion. I'm goin' to help meself, and |
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