I shall be bound,
When I'm to give my wife the tale of it all,
To be devising: more of this to-do
My mind won't carry.
Huff:
O ashamed I am,
Ashamed!--It needn't have been downright feats,
Such as the braving men, the like of Shale,
Do easily, and smile, keeping them up.
If I could look back to one manful hour
Of romping in the face of all my goodness!--
[SHALE comes in, dragging Mrs HUFF by the hand.]
Shale:
Huff! Where's Huff?--Huff, you must take her back!
You'll take her back? She's yours: I give her up.
Merrick:
Belike here's something bold again.
Mrs Huff (to SHALE):
Once more,
Listen.
Shale:
I will not listen. There's no time
For aught but giving you back where you belong;
And that's with you, Huff. Take her.
Huff:
Here is depth
I cannot see to. Is it your last fling?--
The dolt I am in these things!--What's this way
You've found of living wickedly to the end?
Shale:
Scorn as you please, but take her back, man, take her.
Huff:
But she's my wife! Take her back now? What for?
Mrs Huff:
What for? Have you not known of thieves that throw
Their robbery down, soon as they hear a step
Sounding behind them on the road, and run
A long way off, and pull an honest face?
Ay, see Shale's eyes practising baby-looks!
He never stole, not he!
Shale:
Don't hear her talk.
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