"[ Street band of war veterans playing "It's a Long Way to Tipperary" ]" "[ Money dropped into cup ]" "[ Sound of horse cart passing ]" "[ Baby's voice ]" "[ Factory whistle blowing ]" "It's been a terrible time." "There's a lot of distress." " Are you going home?" " Yes." "We can walk along together if you like." "All right." "[ Door opens and closes ]" " Hello." "Hello." "Oh, you're back together, good." "Supper won't be a minute." "I've been trying to talk him into joining the choir." "I wished you would." " I'm afraid I won't." "Well, as you like." "It would do you good." "Stop you being so restless." "I'd give five it would take you out of yourself." "Don't you understand." "That's the last thing I need at the moment." " But don't you think it would..." " Leave him be." "If you ask me he's having a job getting into that book." "He'll be down when he's cooled off." "[ Mother sighs ]" "[ Dog barking ]" "[ Knock on door ]" "Yes?" "[ Door opens ] Can I come in?" "Not disturbing you, am I?" "[ Door closes ]" "No such luck." "Yeah, that's a bit better, isn't it?" " I, uh..." "I wish you'd do something for me." " That's if you haven't got anything on tomorrow afternoon." "I will if I can." " We need someone to hand out the sheet music" " when we sing at the sanatorium." "Peggy Whitworth usually does it, but, uh, he fell down this morning and broke his leg." "That's a bad blow for you." "Oh, it was only his wooden one." "Well the thing is it's going to take some time to make him a new one." "Tell him to get someone else." "I think you'd like it up there." "It's all very gay and cheerful." "All those people with TB?" "Seems to have turned much warmer." "If it keeps up like this we might be able to sing out of doors." "In that case you needn't come inside if you don't want to." "All right." "As long as you don't ask me to sing." "It's a curious thing." "You feel you want to sing when you see their faces." "Makes you feel glad to be alive." "On a frog he would the full recall, Heigho!" "says Rowley," "A Frog he would a-wooing go, Whether his mother would let him or no" "With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach, Heigho!" "says Anthony Rowley." "So off he set with his opera hat, Heigho!" "says Rowley," "So off he set with his opera hat, And on the road he met with a rat" "With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach, Heigho!" "says Anthony Rowley." "So there was an end of one, two, and three, Heigho!" "says Rowley," "So there was an end of one, two, and three The rat, the mouse, and little froggee!" "With a rowley, powley, gammon and spinach, Heigho!" "says Anthony Rowley." "[ Applause ]" "Do you suppose they could sing "The Golden Vanity"?" "You know, it's about the boy and the Lowlands." " Oh yes, I know the one." " It's a fine song." " I like that song." " I'll just go and see." "Is there anything else you'd like if they can't sing that one?" "No, that's the song." "They sang it last time." "All right." " Lowland low, Lowland low" "[ Hospital cart rattle ] ...they zing me in and I am drifting with the tide" "Then they take him on the bare and they put me by his side" "And they sail by the Loland low As they sail by the Lolands low" "By the Lolands low As they sail by the Loland" "Low..." "Lowlands low As they sail by the Lowland low..." "Lowland low." "[ Applause ]" "[ Indistinct talking ]" "It's ward." "Nora Jepson." " Do you know her?" " Yes, I do." " Hello." "It's Nora Jepson, isn't it?" "You didn't know me, did you?" "Not just for that moment, no." "[ Laughing ] I thought you didn't." "I didn't know you were ill." " Well I've been waiting along..." " I've been here for ages." "I'll be out by the end of the year, from my case." "What are you doing now?" " Not much." " No dancing." " [ Chuckles ]" " My dancing days are over." "Too much dancing." "That was my trouble." "We know now." "They've dances it here sometimes." "One Saturday a month for the nearly-cured ones." "It's friendly and nice, but I can't bear it." "I put my head under the bedclothes so I can't hear the band." "You were the great one for dancing." "You used to float, positively float." "That's because there was nothing of me." "I was worn away." "Dr. Baird said that when I came in here my bones were hollow." "Like a bird." " Do you know Dr. Baird?" " No." "He's the young one." "He's been wonderful to me." "Look out." "Here's the head jailor." " I heard that." " Otherwise known as nurse tea." " This is Mr. Richardson, an old friend." " Good man." " Hello again." "What do think of this Nora of ours?" "Doesn't she look fine?" "Yes." "You should have seen her when she came in." "She was ready to float away." "Nurses always talk about people as if they simply weren't there." " Because we don't want you doing too much talking." " Ohh." "Rolls now, that's a dear." "Ha!" "Seriously, they're all inclined to think they're better before they are." "And this ward still only encourages them." "So not too long." " Pay no attention!" " I must go." "Will you come and see me again?" " Yes, if you like." " Oh, please." "I want to introduce you to Dr. Baird." "He's a great, great guy." "He loves to talk to people." " Oh." " You won't forget, will you?" "Naw, I promise." "I won't forget." "Forget!" "Forget!" "I'm the one that's forgetting." "I knew I had something to tell you." "Huh, what's that?" " There's a friend of yours here, that's what." " She came in at the end of the summer." "Friend?" " An old dancing friend." "Who?" "Lydia." " Lydia's in here." "I heard you were home." "Lydia." "I didn't know you were ill." "You're not supposed to touch me." "You're not even supposed to be here." "For God's sake, how did you get in here?" "Who told you I was here?" "Nora told you, didn't she?" "How did you get in here?" "Nora and I did it together." "We went on a long binge." "Months of it." " We did it together." " Night after night." "Every night." " Till we couldn't any longer." "Why?" "Because of a lot of things." "Why did you suppose it could be?" " Do you remember what you said to me after Tom's funeral?" "Yes." "I do." "You didn't even come and see me before you went away." "I couldn't come." " You couldn't." " Couldn't?" "You didn't want me." "Oh, we all wanted you." "[ Birds singing outside ]" "They'll stop singing altogether soon, I suppose." "He used to wake me in the morning." "Sing to me all day long when they first brought me here." "Oh, we had a terrible binge, Nora and I." "She's a terrific person, Nora." "She's got...tremendous vitality." "We tried to keep up with each other." "We just burned each other out." "Now Dr. Baird says she'll be out of here by the end of the year." "Anyway soon." "Before me." "I don't believe you're listening." "Oh yeah, I'm listening." "Well don't look so far away, then." "Oh." "There's no need to be so gloomy." "I'm not going to die." "I very nearly did, though." "I always said that owls would get me one day." "They very nearly did this time." "I went down and down." "Right to the bottom." "Right down beyond everything." "And I was never dead." "Just nobody." "Do you have to sit such miles and miles away from me?" "Oh." "Don't be frightened." "You won't catch anything." "Come, come and hold me for a bit." "What there is of me." "There was no one there." "There was no one there." "I was down in the basement." "Where there was nobody at all but me." "You're the first one I ever told." "Oh," "Oh, this won't do." "This won't do at all." "And if Dr. Baird or Nurse Simpson finds you you'll get six months." "They'll never let me have another visitor." " You'll have to go now." "You really will." " Goodbye now." "[ Kiss ]" "So, you're writing a book, are you?" "A commissioned and all those things." "And that's wonderful, isn't it?" "I can't seem to start." " Oh, you will." " We'll see." " Oh." "Don't be so serious." "Why do you always have to be so serious." "Goodbye now." "You'll come and see me again another day, won't you?" " Yes." " Often?" "Oh promise." "I shall hate you if you don't." " If you are nice to Dr. Baird, he might let you come in any day." "See if you get Nora to introduce you." "He's very sweet on Nora." "I'll bring you some flowers." "Oh, will you?" "Oh, that would be nice." "It's just like you." "You always were a great one for flowers." "Thank you for coming to see me." "[ Long sigh ]" "[ Door opens and closes ]" "[ Begins typing: "Chapter One" ]" "[ Typewriter carriage return ]" "[ Typing sound continues ]" "[ Some time later types "The End" ]" "[ Opens door; closes door ]" "It's finished!" "I'm finished!" " [ Mother screams ]" " Steady!" "[ Mother laughs ]" "It's all pretty well laughing, nearly had the dinner all out in the hall." " This calls for a celebration." " I'll say." "I've got a bottle of cherry wine somewhere." "Even though it's not Christmas." "[ Slams cabinet door ]" "I expect you learned to be handy with one of these in London." " I wouldn't say that." " Well, let's see." "Handier than me, anyway." "But then I'm not allowed to practice, am I?" "[ Edward chuckles ]" " Now, what'cha laughing at?" " Nothing, Mother." "Oh, I suppose that means the joke's on me." "[ Sound of cork popping out ] Well, there you are anyway." "Here." "[ Pouring sounds ]" " God bless." " We're proud of you." "Thank you." "So that's that, then, is it?" "Oh, good heavens, no, no." "I've still got to get a fair copy and get it all properly paragraphed and punctuated." "Well, you've broken the back of it." "Yes." "So here's to the next one." "Oh, let's hope he likes this one, otherwise there won't be a next one." "He'll like it." "You haven't even read it." "Yeah, but from what you've told us Mr. Stirling sounds a sensible sort of fellow." " He'll like it." "You'll see." " Hm." "I'll bet you can never guess where we're singing next Thursday." "No, where?" "Quite an honor." " Hmm." " At least we think it is." "I give up." "Well I'll tell you." "We're going to sing for Miss Aspen." " No, not your Miss Aspen, the old lady." "Up at the house." "Next Thursday Tea Time." "Can you think that's quite a feather in our cap?" "Yes, I suppose it is." "They say the old lady's going downhill fast." "She doesn't get up now." "She's a poor thing, they say." "As for Captain Aspen..." "What?" "What about Captain Aspen?" "They say he's soaking every penny of the place away." "That's a terrible thing." "After all, the Aspens are somebody." "Well, there must be plenty to soak away." "Is there?" "I would have thought so." "That's what everybody's always thought." "Wouldn't be enough of a popular idea." "They say they lost a great deal in the crash." "Aw, look, the Aspens have been there for 500 years." "(A ground should be.) You know what they say?" "The longer you're here the longer you have to spend it." "And let me tell you that drink is one of the surest ways." "Look who's talking." "Oh, ho, ho, ho." "Oh, dear." "Come on, then." " I'll tell Mr. Rollo you're here." "I'm in frightful business." "Heavy batch of letters to get away." "Plumb awful." "How do you do?" "A good day to you." "Uh, ah-ha-ha say good day." "Huh-really-well." "Plumb awful." "Well, good for man or beast." "Why." "Appreciate your coming." "How do you...and you, sir." "Eh?" "How do you do, sir?" "Heh, you're very welcome." "How do you do?" "Yes, heh-heh." "How do you do..." "Uaaa, I know you." "Is it?" "Richardson." "Ohhh, yeah." "The dashing suitor." " Yeah, quite so." "Heh-heh-heh." "Bad for the suiting." "I imagine." "Her going to skin and bones." "I know." "Oh, yes." "Not so much as a handful." "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha." "Naw, I mustn't laugh." "It's a plumb awful business, really." "Very." "Well, I call it just decent of you fellows to come." "Just decent." "Oh, uh, well fire away." "Fire the first...jolly old shot." "What's it gonna be?" "Whatever you think Miss Aspen would like, sir." "Oh...any damn thing." "But loud enough." "She's getting a bit cheesy in the ears up there." "I suggest we sing one or two of the things we like ourselves and, then perhaps you could go up and ask her of something she would like us to do." "Yeah, good idea." "Damn good idea." " Plumb awful, what?" "[ Laughter ]" "I feel very sorry for him." "Painful to see a man come down that way." "#Early one morning, Just as the sun was rising" "#I heard a young maid sing, In the valley below." "#Oh, don't deceive me, Oh, never leave me," "#How could you use A poor maiden so?" "#An old country maiden Who long lived and strayed" "#Although with a nature It did not agree" "#She wept and she sighed And bitterly she cried" "#I wait once again In the Lord's eye could be" "#Oh, the old (candy yance) And the bonnie I decree" "#They flourish and grow In my own country" "#While sadly I roam I regret my dear home," "#Where lads and young lasses Are making the hay." "#The merry bells ring, And the birds sweetly sing" "#And maidens and meadows Are pleasant and gay." "#For the oak and the ash And the bonnie ivy tree" "#They flourish and grow In my own country." " #Sleep and rest, sleep and rest (Follow will come sweet soon.)" " #Rest, rest on mother's breast (Honor will come...)" "Perhaps you could find one of the maids and ask her instead." "Now, Jack." "[ Low growl ]" "Go, D'Artagnan." "[ Low growl ]" "Hello." "Captain Aspen." "[ Louder ] Mr. Aspen" "[ Hollering ] Rollo!" " [ Door closes ]" "Lily." "Mr. Richardson, I'm afraid I don't know where Mr. Rollo is." "Well, it doesn't matter." "It's only to see if there's something Miss Bertie would like to hear." "If you'd like run up and see." "Perhaps she has some favorite song." "It doesn't matter if she hasn't any." "It's just like to sing some little thing to make her happy." "Happy?" "Miss Bertie happy?" "Go on you big slommacking great beast." "Go on you great ugly brutes." "Move yourselves." "Loitering in on my clean floors." "Would you like to go up and see?" "Me?" "I'm not allowed up there." "I haven't been in the room for three months." "Nearly four, (can remember and stay)." "Never been in." "Never been near her." "I'm not wanted here." "I'm not wanted." "[ Sobbing ] I'm not wanted." "[ Sobbing still ] Come on." "I'm sure you are." "Have you any idea where Rollo is?" "Perhaps he can go up instead." "[ Crying ] No, why should I know?" "I'm just lucky I'm no part of it." "It isn't the same as when you used to come." "They were the nicest days." "[ Indistinct scolding and sobbing ]" "Never mind about the song." "But I do mind." "I thought they sang so nice." "Seems wonderful to have somebody here again." "Somebody else besides her and Rollo and dogs, dogs, dumb dogs." "[ Indistinct ]" "You could go up if you like." "You go up and ask her." "She wouldn't mind." "No it doesn't matter." "She wouldn't mind." "She often used to talk about you." "(Take) and go up." "All right." "Perhaps you wouldn't mind telling my father." " I'll tell him." "Get out." "You know which room it is?" "First left top of the landing." "[ Knock on door ]" " Someone there?" " Who is it?" " I've come to ask..." " Will you say who it is, please." " It's Mr. Richardson." " Who?" "Mr. Who?" "Who?" "[ Opens door ]" "May I come in?" " Will you say who it is, please?" "I've come from the choir to ask if there's anything you want them to sing." " It's Richardson." " Lydia's friend." "May I come in?" "You may not." "You may certainly not." " The choir would be delighted." " You're church." " Chapel." "Who sent you up here?" "Who told you you could come, Lily?" "My father was most anxious to put in a piece that you especially wanted." " If you tell me." " It was Lily, wasn't it?" "Not exactly." "Why she's still here?" "She ought to have gone." "I told her to go." "Have you enjoyed the singing, Miss Aspen?" "Huh?" "Ye-ye-yes, I've enjoyed it." "It was very kind of..." "It was very kind." "It was...very..." "We must get back to Evansford." "Heh-heh." "Ha, ha, ha, ha." "It's not even on the map." "[ Sound of choir outside ]" "Was there a song you wanted the choir to sing?" "How is Lydia." "You've seen her haven't you?" "[ Sound of choir outside ]" "Yes, I've seen her." " She's very well, I think." " You think." " You think." "I'm sure she is." "It was...extraordinarily considerate of you to take her skating." "[ Sound of choir outside ]" "Was there a song, Miss Aspen?" "No, there's nothing I wanted." "I've never been very good in music." "[ Sound of choir outside ]" "I don't know any songs." "[ Choir singing continues ]" "Thank you." "Goodbye." "[ Choir singing continues ]" " Are you hyacinths over?" "Yes, I'm afraid so." "[ Choir singing continues ]" "Please tell your father it was very kind of him to come." "[ Choir singing continues outside ]" "[ Breathing ]" " # God be and mine heaven." " # And at my depart." "How much are the white chrysanthemums?" "Six pence a bunch." "Two, please." " Thank you, sir." " Thank you." " Hello, there." "How nice." "Everybody comes to see me all at once." "Mr. Richardson." "How are you?" "Good, Blackie." " You're not to call him Blackie." "His proper name is Bert." "You have to call people by their proper names." " Sorry." " That's all right, Mr. Richardson everyone still calls me Blackie." " Then they mustn't." "I'm going to convert them." "Oh, white chrysanthemums." "Would you remember how they always used to grow on the other side of the rose garden?" "Aunt Bertie loved them so." "Well, did you see Aunt Bertie?" " You see, I know where you've been." " Yes." " How is she?" "She's very well, I think." " You think?" "Well isn't she?" "I mean you saw her, didn't you?" " Yes, yes I did." "Oh, don't just stand there nursing your flowers." " Put them down somewhere, and come and sit on the bed" " and talk to me." " I'll put them in that water jug." " No, Bert can put them in." "Bert can do it." " You'll put them in, won't you, Bert." "Yours too." "[ Sigh ] Well!" "What was that horror, Rollo, doing?" "On another blinder?" "I think so." "You think so?" "You mean he was." "Why do you always have to say you think so?" "Thinking is a thing I go in for sometimes." "[ Lydia laughs ]" "Oh, that's just like you." "You haven't kissed me." "[ Kiss ]" "[ Big sigh ] Well!" "Now you can both sit down." "In a few minutes they'll bring us tea." "Well no they won't because I didn't know you were coming, and now they'll only bring us tea for two." " I'll go and tell them." " No, Bert could go and tell them." "Bert, you'll just have to go and find Nurse Simpson." "She's the nice one with the frizzy hair." "You know how, don't you, the frizzy black?" "Yes, miss." "Well, you just have to tell her tea for three, now, and not two." "[ Opens door ]" "Oh, Bert, wait a minute!" "It would be nice if we could have Nora over, wouldn't it?" "Ask Nora to come over." "Very well, Miss Aspen." " And that would be tea for four." "They came on Wednesday." "They allow her now." "Oh, it'll be like old times if Nora came over, wouldn't it?" "Oh, Bert is coming, isn't he?" "I think he's in enormously comic." "He comes every Wednesday and Sunday." "He has done all through all the time." "It's very nice of him." "Oh, I know." "It isn't that." "It's the way he does it." "But he just sits there in his best suit and stares." "Sometimes we have the most awful job to make any sort of conversation." "Oh isn't it wonderfully queer how people change sometimes?" "Very queer." "You wouldn't think it was the same person, would you?" "No." "Not in the least the same person." "As soon as he heard I was ill he started to come here to see me, except for the first few weeks when Dr. Baird wouldn't let me have anybody." "How'd you account for that?" "When you encouraged him, that's how." "No I didn't encourage him." "I've never done anything to encourage him." "What have I ever done to encourage him?" "You lent him money didn't you?" "That's just the point." "I didn't!" " But I thought..." " I offered to lend him something, but he wouldn't take it." "I felt so sorry for him when his father died and he had the fire." "I wanted to help him, but..." "he was too proud." "Too proud...or too shy, or something." "That was the trouble." "So then...that night at Ashby?" "That was all we were talking about." "When you stormed out and went home and wouldn't wait." "And Alex..." "If only you'd waited." "You see, you're so impatient." "You won't wait to have things explained to you." "You...you just storm out and, and then things happen." " What are you looking for?" " My comb." "I must have a look at myself before Nora comes." "Oh, she's a stunner." "You wouldn't think so, would you, with that long, thin body of hers." "But she can break them all." "I tried to get Bert interested in her, but he wouldn't look." "In the end she'll probably have Dr. Baird." "You see, my hair comes out..." "in handfuls." "Put the pieces out there." "The birds will fetch them." "I lie here and watch." "They'll fetch them for their nests." "That's a thought, isn't it?" "[ Door opens ] Oh, Nora!" "Lydia!" "[ Kiss ]" " Hello." " Hello." " You don't know Dr. Baird, do you?" " Mr. Richardson." " How are you?" " How d'you do?" "Now, I'll give you all strict injunctions." "She's to stay half an hour and not a second longer." "Oh, Doctor, this is a gathering of old flames." "You can damp the flames down or put them out altogether." "[ Laughter ]" " That's my last word." "[ Opens door ]" " Now, who's going to be..." " Would you mind?" " Yes, I'll take it for you." " Thank you." " There we are." "[ Nora and Lydia still giggling ] Now, you two, behave yourselves." "I think she's got designs on you, Bert." "I'm sure she hasn't." "[ Giggling again ]" "[ Opens door ]" "[ Closes door ]" "I'm sorry I'm holding everyone up." "All right." "No hurry." "Hm." "The most marvelous thing of all is to have a dress on again." "Huh-huh." "Stockings." "It's lovely to feel you're a girl again." " Not just a bit of bone in a bed." " Thank you very much." " I trust you." " You know I've topped eight and a quarter pounds altogether." " Never!" " Even the shape of my legs is coming back, you see?" " I think they're even nicer than they were before." " Aren't they fuller?" "I'm getting terrific." "I can even do a twirl with my skirt." "Just wait till I get up." "Wait till I stand there." "You've got to go carefully." "You know you've got to go carefully." "Can't have you going back." "Oh, she won't go back." "Whoever thinks of her going back." "She's got to go very carefully." "If we'd have been careful, Lydia, we shouldn't have been here, and then I shouldn't have known how lovely it is to feel I've got nice legs again." "No, nor should we." "It's time, little girl." "Come on." " She's a big girl." "[ Closes door ]" "She's been showing us where, too." "She's been dancing." "Nora, do it again for Dr. Baird." "[ Dishes rattle ]" " Good afternoon, Miss Jepson." " Bert." " Good afternoon, doctor." " Young man." " Good afternoon, Mr. Richardson." " Blackie." "[ Whispering ] Good afternoon, Miss Aspen." "You WILL call me Miss Aspen!" "Do you play rugby?" " No." " You ought to play rugby, man, with that pack of muscle on you." "Oh, no, I'm afraid I don't, doctor." "You'd make a wonderful backer of void." " He used to play motorbikes, but he's given that up." " Huh-huh, cars." "Nobody plays rugby in this damn town." "I can't get a damned soul interested." "Well, I'm afraid I must be off now." "Good afternoon, all." " [ Lydia ] Goodbye, Bert, it was nice of you to call. [ Opens door ]" " Be seeing you again, I gather." " I shouldn't wonder. [ Door closes ]" "Goodbye, now." " Come on, big girl." " Huh-huh, 'Bye everybody. [ Opens door ]" "[ Closes door ]" "It was nice of you, too." "Will you come and see me again?" "Yes." "If you want me to." "Oh, of course, I want you to." " I didn't know that Blackie came." " Oh, now, don't start that all over again." "No, I mean if you'd rather there weren't just the two of us." "He's just my watch dog." "Did you see the way he sits and looks at me?" "Yes." "It reminds me more than anything else in the world of a watchdog." "It's wonderful how people change, isn't it?" "Not everybody changes." "[ Kiss ]" "I love you dear now." "Nurse Simpson will be after you." "She's rather severe." "You will come and see me again, won't you?" "And still she wished for company." "What's that?" "One of your quotations?" "Well, goodbye now." "You haven't changed." " I don't think you have changed at all." "[ Opens door ]" "[ Closes door ]" "[ Door opens ]" " There you are, Mr. Richardson." " I thought you were never coming." " I hoped to catch you." "Is there somewhere I can take you?" "Well I'm not going anywhere." "Home eventually I suppose." "Oh, well." "Well, jump in." "[ Closes both doors ]" "[ Engine starts ]" "D'you mind if I drive around for a bit?" "If you can spend the time?" "There's something I'd like to ask you." "[ Car departs ]" "[ Car stops ]" "[ Stops engine ]" "You think she's all right?" "Oh I keep trying to get ahold of Dr. Baird to ask him but.." "You know how they are." "Doctors." " If Nora's anything to go by." " Nora's different." "Nora's not the same." "Can't go by Nora." " Baird seems confident." "The first time I saw her I couldn't sleep all night." "Hadn't got any sleep thinking of her." "Aw she couldn't speak to me that time." "They let me up three minutes with a nurse there, that's all." "She couldn't speak to me at all." "You didn't see her then, Mr. Richardson." " Or see her before that, either." "Didn't see it coming on all through last winter, into the summer." " After Mr. Holland's..." " That's when it all started." " Accident or no." " After that..." "D'you mind if we..." "I. [ Opens door ]" "[ Closes doors ]" "She always was very of the business, Mr. Richardson, when it started." "Always very glad of the business." "And she...she tried to be very kind to me before that." "Oh you remember, don't you?" "By lending you money." "And all that." "You know, I couldn't see it." "I'm a bit pig-headed." "And when I did see it..." "then I was sorry." "I just never got the chance to explain." "I know the feeling." "And then she rang up one day and... it started." "I was very glad the business." "I wish to God I hadn't done it." "I wish to God I never started it, now." "At first I was very glad the business." "And Miss Aspen ordered the car every night." "She and Nora." "And they were crazy to go in new places." "Try new dances." "Went further and further." "Later and later." "More and more." "And Nora, will she be there." "As Miss Aspen who was wild for the company." "for adventure." "I thought she'd never stop, never tire." "I wish I'd never done it, now." "You ought to know." "I should have seen it coming." "I mean there wasn't a night, except Sundays, when Miss Aspen didn't hire a car for herself and Nora." "Dances, clubs, up and down the river, farther and farther." "When they finished they'd think nothing of going down to London for the evening." "God forgive me, I'd take them there." "Glad the business." "Never mind the drink, the rowdiness, idiocies." " Men." "I suppose there must have been, although..." "So what got me was the deadliness." "The awful deadliness." "There was no joy in it, just..." "You understand?" "[ No reply ]" "Of course, she passed out on me, one night." "That was it, I thought." "Not so much seeing her drunk as..." "While realizing what would might have happened to her if I hadn't been there." "I dropped Nora off her place." "Drove Miss Aspen back the house." "I couldn't wake her up at first." "I said to her, I said..." "Miss Aspen, I'm afraid I can't take you any more afraid I shall have to give it up." "She didn't even know who I was." "She started on about Mr. Holland and where was he." "We better go back and fetch him." "Crying and everything." "Oh I tried as best I could." "She went on and on." "Oh crying and asking after him." "To tell you the honest truth I don't know whether she knew he was dead, or whether..." "She went quite quiet for a bit at last." "I carried her into the house." "Put her in the chair." "Then she kissed me." "Here, on the face." "Only it was that she thought it was someone else." "Oh Mr. Holland perhaps or..." "Well I knew if she was going to go on with it" "I had to go on." "I mean I had to, didn't I?" "I was frightened for her." "Yes." "I was frightened that night." "I've been frightened ever since." "That's why I wanted to ask you, you know." "If you thought..." "You think she'll be all right?" "Yes." "She'll be all right." "Because everytime I go up there I'm frightened." "I'm frightened she won't be there anymore." "You poor soul." "That means you're cold." "Doesn't matter." "I just had to tell someone." "Yes, of course." "Still." "[ Sniff ]" "Well, we'd better get back."