Maggie.  Look at me, John, for the first time.  What do you see?

John.  I see a woman who has brought her husband low.

Maggie.  Only that?

John.  I see the tragedy of a man who has found himself out.  Eh, I can’t live with you again, Maggie.

[He shivers.]

Maggie.  Why did you shiver, John?

John.  It was at myself for saying that I couldn’t live with you again, when I should have been wondering how for so long you have lived with me.  And I suppose you have forgiven me all the time. [She nods.] And forgive me still? [She nods again.] Dear God!

Maggie.  John, am I to go? or are you to keep me on? [She is now a little bundle near his feet.] I’m willing to stay because I’m useful to you, if it can’t be for a better reason. [His hand feels for her, and the bundle wriggles nearer.] It’s nothing unusual I’ve done, John.  Every man who is high up loves to think that he has done it all himself; and the wife smiles, and lets it go at that.  It’s our only joke.  Every woman knows that. [He stares at her in hopeless perplexity.] Oh, John, if only you could laugh at me.

John.  I can’t laugh, Maggie.

[But as he continues to stare at her a strange disorder appears in his face.  Maggie feels that it is to be now or never.]

Maggie.  Laugh, John, laugh.  Watch me; see how easy it is.

[A terrible struggle is taking place within him.  He creaks.  Something that may be mirth forces a passage, at first painfully, no more joy in it than in the discoloured water from a spring that has long been dry.  Soon, however, he laughs loud and long.  The spring water is becoming clear.  Maggie claps her hands.  He is saved.]

*** End of the project gutenberg EBOOK, what every woman knows ***

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