Then you were a
nobleman--or haven't you ever been at the theatre and seen the
hypnotist--[Jean nods] He says to his subject "Take the broom," and
he takes it; he says, "Sweep," and he sweeps.
JEAN. Then the subject must be asleep!
JULIE [Ecstatically]. I sleep already. The whole room is like smoke
before me--and you are like a tall black stove, like a man clad in
black clothes with a high hat; and your eyes gleam like the hot
coals when the fire is dying; and your face a white spot like
fallen ashes. [The sunshine is coming in through the windows and
falls on Jean. Julie rubs her hands as though warming them before a
fire]. It is so warm and good--and so bright and quiet!
JEAN [Takes razor and puts it in her hand]. There is the broom, go
now while it's bright--out to the hay loft--and--[He whispers in
her ear.]
JULIE [Rousing herself]. Thanks. And now I go to rest. But tell me
this--the foremost may receive the gift of Grace? Say it, even if
you don't believe it.
JEAN. The foremost? No, I can't say that. But wait, Miss Julie--you
are no longer among the foremost since you are of the lowliest.
JULIE. That's true, I am the lowliest--the lowliest of the lowly.
Oh, now I can't go. Tell me once more that I must go.
JEAN. No, now I cannot either--I cannot.
JULIE. And the first shall be last-- -- --
JEAN. Don't think. You take my strength from me, too, so that I
become cowardly.--What-- --I thought I heard the bell!-- -- No! To
be afraid of the sound of is bell! But it's not the bell--it's
someone behind the bell, the hand that sets the lull in motion--and
something else that sets the land in motion.
Pages:
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132