The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd/Act II

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Act I

The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd (1914)
by D. H. Lawrence

Act II

Act III

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4791650The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd — Act II1914D. H. Lawrence

Layout 2

THE SECOND ACT

The scene is the same, two hours later. The cottage is in darkness, save for the firelight. On the table is spread a newspaper. A cup and saucer, a plate, a piece of bacon in the frying tin are on the newspaper ready for the miner’s breakfast. Mrs. Holroyd has gone to bed. There is a noise of heavy stumbling down the three steps outside.

Blackmore’s Voice

Steady, now, steady. It ’s all in darkness. Missis!—Has she gone to bed?

[He tries the latch—shakes the door.

Holroyd’s Voice (he is drunk)

Her ’s locked me out. Let me smash that bloody door in. Come out—come out—ussza! (He strikes a heavy blow on the door. There is a scuffle)

Blackmore’s Voice

Hold on a bit—what ’re you doing?

Holroyd’s Voice

I ’m smashing that blasted door in.

Mrs. Holroyd (appearing and suddenly drawing the bolts, flinging the door open) What do you think you ’re doing?

Holroyd (lurching into the room, snarling)

What? What? Tha thought tha ’d play thy monkey tricks on me, did ter? (Shouting) But I ’m going to show thee. (He lurches at her threateningly; she recoils)

Blackmore (seizing him by the arm)

Here, here,—! Come and sit down and be quiet.

Holroyd (snarling at him)

What?—What? An’ what’s thäigh got ter do wi’ it? (Shouting) What ’s thäigh got ter do wi’ it?

Blackmore

Nothing—nothing; but it ’s getting late, and you want your supper.

Holroyd (shouting)

I want nöwt. I ’m allowed nöwt in this ’ouse. (Shouting louder) ’Er begrudges me ivry morsel I ha’e.

Mrs. Holroyd

Oh, what a story!

Holroyd (shouting)

It ’s the truth, an’ you know it.

Blackmore (conciliatory)

You ’ll rouse the children. You ’ll rouse the children, at this hour.

Holroyd (suddenly quiet)

Not me—not if I know it. I shan’t disturb ’em—bless ’em.

[He staggers to his armchair and sits heavily.

Blackmore

Shall I light the lamp?

Mrs. Holroyd

No, don’t trouble. Don’t stay any longer, there ’s no need.

Blackmore (quietly)

I ’ll just see it ’s all right.

[He proceeds in silence to light the lamp. Holroyd is seen dropping forward in his chair. He has a cut on his cheek. Mrs. Holroyd is in an old-fashioned dressing-gown. Blackmore has an overcoat buttoned up to his chin. There ts a very large lump of coal on the red fire.

Mrs. Holroyd

Don’t stay any longer.

Blackmore

I ’ll see it ’s all right.

Mrs. Holroyd

I shall be all right. He ’ll go to sleep now.

Blackmore

But he can’t go like that.

Mrs. Holroyd

What has he done to his face?

Blackmore

He had a row with Jim Goodwin.

Mrs. Holroyd

What about?

Blackmore

I don’t know.

Mrs. Holroyd

The beast!

Blackmore

By Jove, and is n’t he a weight! He ’s getting fat, must be—

Mrs. Holroyd

He ’s big made—he has a big frame.

Blackmore

Whatever he is, it took me all my time to get him home. I thought I ’d better keep an eye on him. I knew you ’d be worrying. So I sat in the smokeroom and waited for him. Though it ’s a dirty hole—and dull as hell.

Mrs. Holroyd

Why did you bother?

Blackmore

Well, I thought you ’d be upset about him. I had to drink three whiskies—had to, in all conscience—(smiling)

Mrs. Holroyd

I don’t want to be the ruin of you.

Blackmore (smiling)

Don’t you? I thought he’d pitch forward onto the lines and crack his skull.

[Holroyd has been sinking farther and farther forward im drunken sleep. He suddenly jerks too far and is awakened. He sits upright, glaring fiercely and dazedly at the two, who instantly cease talking.

Holroyd (to Blackmore)

What are thiäigh doin’ ’ere?

Blackmore

Why, I came along with you.

Holroyd

Thou ’rt a liar, I ’m only just come in.

Mrs. Holroyd (coldly)

He is no liar at all, He brought you home because you were too drunk to come yourself.

Holroyd (starting up)

Thou ’rt a liar! I niver set eyes on him this night, afore now.

Mrs. Holroyd (with a “Pf” of contempt)

You don’t know what you have done to-night.

Holroyd (shouting)

I s’ll not have it, I tell thee.

Mrs. Holroyd

Psh!

Holroyd

I s’ll not ha’e it. I s’ll ha’e no carryin’s on i’ my ’ouse—

Mrs. Holroyd (shrugging her shoulders)

Talk when you ’ve got some sense.

Holroyd (fiercely)

I’ve as much sense as thäigh. Am I a fool? Canna I see? What ’s he doin’ here then, answer me that. What—?

Mrs. Holroyd

Mr. Blackmore came to bring you home, because you were too drunk to find your own way. And this is the thanks he gets.

Holroyd (contemptuously)

Blackymore, Blackymore. It ’s him tha cuts thy cloth by, is it?

Mrs. Holroyd (hotly)

You don’t know what you ’re talking about, so keep your tongue still.

Holroyd (bitingly)

I don’t know what I ’m talking about—I don’t know what I ’m talking about—don’t I? An’ what about him standing there then, if I don’t know what I ’m talking about?—What?

Blackmore

You ’ve been to sleep, Charlie, an’ forgotten I came in with you, not long since.

Holroyd

I ’m not daft, I ’m not a fool. I ’ve got eyes in my head, and sense. You need n’t try to get over me. I know what you ’re up to.

I ’ll go then—at any rate. Shall you come with me?

[She follows him, to the door.

Mrs. Holroyd

I ’ll come on Saturday.

Blackmore

Not now?

CURTAIN