天邊外英文原劇

BeyondtheHorizon(天邊外)—O'Neill,Eugene2007-10-3015:58:14來(lái)自:ektaraBeyondtheHorizon天邊外1920.ActISceneI:TheRoad.SunsetofadayinSpring.SceneII:TheFarmHouse.Thesamenight.ActII(Threeyearslater)SceneI:TheFarmHouse.NoonofaSummerday.SceneII:Thetopofahillonthefarmoverlookingthesea.Thefollowingday.ActIII(Fiveyearslater)SceneI:TheFarmHouse.DawnofadayinlateFall.SceneII:TheRoad.Sunrise.CHARACTERSJAMESMAYO,afarmerKATEMAYO,hiswifeCAPTAINDICKSCOTT,ofthebark"Sunda,"herbrotherANDREWMAYOandROBERTMAYO,sonsofJamesMayoRUTHATKINS,MRS.ATKINS,herwidowedmotherMARY,BEN,afarmhandDOCTORFAWCETT.(The"right"and"left"ofthestagedirectionsaretheaudience’s.)========================ACTONESCENEONE—TheRoad.SunsetofadayinSpring.SCENE—Asectionofcountryhighway.Theroadrunsdiagonallyfromtheleft,forward,totheright,rear,andcanbeseeninthedistancewindingtowardthehorizonlikeapaleribbonbetweenthelow,rollinghillswiththeirfreshlyplowedfieldsclearlydividedfromeachother,checkerboardfashion,bythelinesofstonewallsandroughsnakefences.1Theforwardtrianglecutoffbytheroadisasectionofafieldfromthedarkearthofwhichmyriadbright-greenbladesoffall-sownryearesprouting.Astragglinglineofpiledrocks,toolowtobecalledawall,separatesthisfieldfromtheroad.2Totherearoftheroadisaditchwithasloping,grassybankonthefarside.Fromthecenterofthisanold,gnarledappletree,justbuddingintoleaf,strainsitstwistedbranchesheavenwards,blackagainstthepallorofdistance.Asnake-fencesidlesfromlefttorightalongthetopofthebank,passingbeneaththeappletree.3ThehushedtwilightofadayinMayisjustbeginning.Thehorizonhillsarestillrimmedbyafaintlineofflame,andtheskyabovethemglowswiththecrimsonflushofthesunset.Thisfadesgraduallyastheactionofthesceneprogresses.4Attheriseofthecurtain,ROBERTMAYOisdiscoveredsittingonthefence.Heisatall,slenderyoungmanoftwenty-three.Thereisatouchofthepoetabouthimexpressedinhishighforeheadandwide,darkeyes.Hisfeaturesaredelicateandrefined,leaningtoweaknessinthemouthandchin.Heisdressedingreycorduroytrouserspushedintohighlacedboots,andablueflannelshirtwithabrightcoloredtie.Heisreadingabookbythefadingsunsetlight.Heshutsthis,keepingafingerintomarktheplace,andturnshisheadtowardthehorizon,gazingoutoverthefieldsandhills.Hislipsmoveasifhewererecitingsomethingtohimself.5HisbrotherANDREWcomesalongtheroadfromtheright,returningfromhisworkinthefields.Heistwenty-sevenyearsold,anoppositetypetoROBERT—husky,sun-bronzed,handsomeinalarge-featured,manlyfashion—asonofthesoil,intelligentinashrewdway,butwithnothingoftheintellectualabouthim.Hewearsoveralls,leatherboots,agreyflannelshirtopenattheneck,andasoft,mud-stainedhatpushedbackonhishead.HestopstotalktoROBERT,leaningonthehoehecarries.6ANDREW—[SeeingROBERThasnotnoticedhispresence—inaloudshout.]Heythere![ROBERTturnswithastart.Seeingwhoitis,hesmiles.]Gosh,youdotaketheprizeforday-dreaming!AndIseeyou'vetotedoneoftheoldbooksalongwithyou.Wanttobustyoureyesightreadinginthislight?7ROBERT—[Glancingatthebookinhishandwitharathershamefacedair.]Iwasn'treading—justthen,Andy.8ANDREW—No,butyouhavebeen.Shucks,youneverwillgetanysense,Rob.[Hecrossestheditchandsitsonthefencenearhisbrother.]Whatisitthistime—poetry,I'llbet.[Hereachesforthebook.]Letmesee.9ROBERT—[Handingittohimratherreluctantly.]Yes,it'spoetry.Lookoutyoudon'tgetitfullofdirt.10ANDREW—[Glancingathishands.]Thatisn'tdirt—it'sgoodcleanearth;butI'llbecarefuloftheoldthing.Ijustwantedtotakeapeepatit.[Heturnsoverthepages.]11ROBERT—[Slyly.]Betterlookoutforyoureyesight,Andy.12ANDREW—Huh!Ifreadingthisstuffwastheonlywaytogetblind,I'dseeforever.[Hiseyesreadsomethingandhegivesanexclamationofdisgust.]Hump![Withaprovokinggrinathisbrotherhereadsaloudinadoleful,sing-songvoice.]"Ihavelovedwindandlightandthebrightsea.Butholyandmostsacrednight,notasIloveandhavelovedthee."[Hehandsthebookback.]Here!Takeitandburyit.Givemeagoodmagazineanytime.13ROBERT—[Withatraceofirritation.]TheFarmJournal?14ANDREW—Sure;anythingsensible.Isupposeit'sthatyearincollegegaveyoualikingforthatkindofstuff.I'mdarngladIstoppedwithHighSchool,ormaybeI'dbeencrazytoo.[HegrinsandslapsROBERTonthebackaffectionately.]Imaginemereadingpoetryandplowingatthesametime.Theteam'drunaway,I'llbet.15ROBERT—[Laughing.]Orpicturemeplowing.That'dbeworse.16ANDREW—[Seriously.]Pawasrightnevertosickyouontothefarm.Yousurelywerenevercutoutforafarmer,that'safact,—evenifyou'dneverbeentooksick.[Withconcern.]Say,how'dyoufeelnow,anyway?I'velosttrackofyou.SeemsasifIneverdidgetachancetohaveatalkalonewithyouthesedays,'countofthework.Butyou'relookingfineassilk.17ROBERT—Why,Ifeelgreat—neverbetter.18ANDREW—That'sbully.You'vesurelyearnedit.Youcertainlyhadenoughsicknessintheolddaystolastyoutherestofyourlife.19ROBERT—Ahealthyanimallikeyou,youbrute,canhardlyunderstandwhatIwentthrough—althroughyousawit.Youremember—sickoneday,andwellthenext—alwaysweak—neverabletolastthroughawholetermatschool'tilIwasyearsbehindeveryonemyage—notabletogetinanygames—itwashell!Theselastfewyearsofcomparativehealthhavebeenheaventome.20ANDREW—Iknow;theymusthavebeen.[Afterapause.]Youshouldhavegonebacktocollegelastfall,likeIknowyouwantedto.You'refittedforthatsortofthing—justasIain't.21ROBERT—YouknowwhyIdidn'tgoback,Andy.Padidn'tliketheidea,evenifhedidn'tsayso;andIknowhewantedthemoneytouseimprovingthefarm.Andbesides,IhadprettymuchallIcaredforinthatoneyear.I'mnotkeenonbeingastudent,justbecauseyouseemereadingbooksallthetime.WhatIwanttodonowiskeeponmovingsothatIwon'ttakerootinanyoneplace.22ANDREW—Well,thetripyou'releavingontomorrowwillkeepyoumovingallright.[Atthismentionofthetriptheybothfallsilent.Thereisapause.FinallyANDREWgoeson,awkwardlyattemptingtospeakcasually.]Unclesaysyou'llbegonethreeyears.23ROBERT—Aboutthat,hefigures.24ANDREW—[Moodily.]That'salongtime.25ROBERT—Notsolongwhenyoucometoconsiderit.YouknowtheSundasailsaroundtheHornforYokohamafirst,andthat'salongvoyageonasailingship;andifwegotoanyoftheotherplacesUncleDickmentions—India,orAustralia,orSouthAfrica,orSouthAmerica—they'llbelongvoyages,too.26ANDREW—Youcanhaveallthoseforeignpartsforallofme.Atriptotheportonceinawhile,ormaybedowntoNewYorkacoupleoftimesayear—that'sallthetravelI'mhankeringafter.[Helooksdowntheroadtotheright.]HerecomesPa.[Thenoiseofateamofhorsescomingslowlydowntheroadisheard,andaman'svoiceurgingthemon.AmomentlaterJAMESMAYOenters,drivingthetwowearyhorseswhichhavebeenunhitchedfromtheplow.HeishissonANDREWoveragaininbodyandface—anANDREWsixty-fiveyearsold,withashort,square,whitebeard.HeisdressedmuchthesameasANDREW.]27MAYO—[Checkinghishorseswhenheseeshissons.]Whoathere!Helloboys!Whatareyoutwodoin'thereroostin'onthefencelikeapairofhens?28ROBERT—[Laughing.]Oh,justtalkingthingsover,Pa.29ANDREW—[Withaslywink.]Rob'stryingtogetmeintoreadingpoetry.Hethinksmyeducation'sbeenneglected.30MAYO—[Chuckling.]That'sgood!Youkingooutandsingittothestockatnightstoput'emtosleep.What'sthathe'sgotthere—'notherbook?GoodLord,Ithoughtyou'dreadeverybooktherewasintheworld,Robert;andhereyougoandfinds'notherone!31ROBERT—[Withasmile.]There'sstillafewleft,Pa.32ANDREW—He'slearninganewpoemaboutthe"brightsea"sohe'llbeallpreparedtorecitewhenhegetsontheboattomorrow.33MAYO—[Abitrebukingly.]He'llhaveplentyoftimetobethinkin''boutthewaterinthenextyears.Noneedtobother'boutityet.34ROBERT—[Gently.]Iwasn't.That'sjustAndy'sfooling.35MAYO—[Changingthesubjectabruptly;turnstoANDREW.]Howarethingslookin'uptothehilllot,Andy?36ANDREW—[Enthusiastically.]Fineassilkforthisearlyintheyear.Thoseoatsseemtobecomingalonggreat.37MAYO—I'mmostdoneplowin'uptheoldmedder—figgerIoughttohaveitallupbytomorrownoon;thenyoukinstartinwiththeharrowin'.38ANDREW—Sure.IexpectI'llbethroughupabovebythen.Thereain'tbutalittlelefttodo.39MAYO—[Totherestiveteam.]Whoathere!You'llgetyoursuppersoonenough,youhungrycritters.[TurningagaintoANDREW.]Itlookslikeagoodyearforus,son,withfairluckontheweather—evenifit'shardtuckergettin'thingsstarted.40ANDREW—[Withagrinofsatisfaction.]Icanstandmyshareofthehardwork,Iguess—andthensome.41MAYO—That'sthewaytotalk,son.Workneverdoneamanharmyet—leastways,notworkdoneoutintheopen.[ROBERThasbeentryingtopretendaninterestintheirconversation,buthecan'thelpshowingthatitboreshim.ANDREWnoticesthis.]42ANDREW—Butfarmingain'tpoetry,isit,Rob?[ROBERTsmilesbutremainssilent.]43MAYO—[Seriously.]There'smoresatisfactionintheearththaneverwasinanybook;andRobert'llfinditoutsoonerorlater.[Atwinklecomesintohiseyes.]Whenhe'sgrownupandgotsomesense.44ROBERT—[Whimsically.]I'mnevergoingtogrowup—ifIcanhelpit.45MAYO—Time'lltell.Well,I'llbemovin'alonghome.Don'tyoutwostaygossipin'toolong.[HewinksatROBERT.]'Speciallyyou,Andy.RuthandherMawiscomin'tosupper,andyou'dbestbehurryin'towashupandputonyourbestSunday-go-to-mettin'clothes.[Helaughs.ROBERT'Sfacecontractsasifhewerewincingatsomepain,butheforcesasmile.ANDREWgrowsconfusedandcastsaquicksideglanceathisbrother.]46ANDREW—I'llbealonginaminute,Pa.47MAYO—Andyou,Robert,don'tyoustaymoonin'attheskylonger'nisneedful.You'llgetlotso'timeforthatthenextthreeyearsyou'reoutonthesea.Rememberthisisyourlastnighttohome,andyou'vegottomakeanearlystarttomorrow,[Hehesitates,thenfinishesearnestly]'n'yourMa'llbewantin'toseeallshekino'youthelittletimeleft.48ROBERT—I'mnotforgetting,Pa.I'llbehomerightaway.49MAYO—That'sright.I'lltellyourMawyou'reacomin'.[Hechuckstothehorses.]Giddap,oldbones!Don'tyouwantnosuppertonight?[Thehorseswalkoff,andhefollowsthem.Thereisapause.ANDREWandROBERTsitsilently,withoutlookingateachother.]50ANDREW—[Afterawhile.]Ma'sgoingtomissyoualot,Rob.51ROBERT—Yes—andI'llmissher.52ANDREW—AndPaain'tfeelingnonetoohappytohaveyougo—thoughhe'sbeentryingnottoshowit.53ROBERT—Icanseehowhefeels.54ANDREW—AndyoucanbetthatI'mnotgivinganycheersaboutit.[HeputsonehandonthefencenearROBERT.]55ROBERT—[PuttingonehandontopofANDREW'Swithagesturealmostofshyness.]Iknowthattoo,Andy.56ANDREW—I'llmissyouasmuchasanybody,Iguess.Iknowhowlonesometheoldplacewaswinterbeforelastwhenyouwasawaytocollege—andeventhenyouusedtocomehomeonceinawhile;butthistime——[Hestopssuddenly.]57ROBERT—Let'snotthinkaboutit—'tilafterward.We'llonlyspoilthislastnightifwedo.58ANDREW—That'sgoodadvice.[Butafterapause,hereturnstothesubjectagain.]Yousee,youandIain'tlikemostbrothers—alwaysfightingandseparatedalotofthetime,whilewe'vealwaysbeentogether—justthetwoofus.It'sdifferentwithus.That'swhyithitssohard,Iguess.59ROBERT—[Withfeeling.]It'sjustashardforme,Andy—believethat!Ihatetoleaveyouandtheoldfolks—but—IfeelI'vegotto.There'ssomethingcallingme——[Hepointstothehorizon]callingtomefromoverthere,beyond——andIfeelasif——nomatterwhathappens——Oh,Ican'tjustexplainittoyou,Andy.60ANDREW—Noneedto,Rob.[Angryathimself.]Youneedn'ttrytoexplain.It'salljustasitoughttobe.Hell!Youwanttogo.Youfeelyououghtto,andyougotto!——that'sallthereistoit;andIwouldn'thaveyoumissthischancefortheworld.61ROBERT—It'sfineofyoutofeelthatway,Andy.62ANDREW—Huh!I'dbeaniceson-of-a-gunifIdidn't,wouldn'tI?WhenIknowhowyouneedthisseatriptomakeanewmanofyou—inthebody,Imean—andgiveyouyourfullhealthback.63ROBERT—[Atrifleimpatiently.]Allofyouseemtokeepharpingonmyhealth.YouweresousedtoseeingmelyingaroundthehouseintheolddaysthatyouneverwillgetoverthenotionthatI'machronicinvalid,andhavetobelookedafterlikeababyallthetime,orwheeledroundinachairlikeMrs.Atkins.Youdon'trealizehowI'vebuckedupinthepastfewyears.Why,IbetrightnowI'mjustashealthyasyouare—Imeanjustassoundinwindandlimb;andifIwasstayingonatthefarm,I'dproveittoyou.You'resufferingfromafixedideaaboutmydelicateness—andsoarePaandMa.EverytimeI'veofferedtohelp,PahasstaredatmeasifhethoughtIwascontemplatingsuicide.64ANDREW—[Conciliatingly.]Nobodyclaimedtheundertakerwastakingyourmeasurements.AllIwassayingwastheseatripwouldbeboundtodoanybodygood.65ROBERT—IfIhadnootherexcuseforgoingonUncleDick'sshipbutjustmyhealth,I'dstayrighthereandstartinplowing.66ANDREW—Can'tbedone.Nouseinyourtalkingthatway,Rob.Farmingain'tyournature.There'sallthedifferenceshowninjustthewayustwofeelaboutthefarm.Ilikeit,allofit,andyou—well,youlikethehomepartofit,Iexpect;butasaplacetoworkandgrowthings,youhateit.Ain'tthatright?67ROBERT—Yes,Isupposeitis.I'vetriedtotakeaninterestbut—well,you'retheMayobranchofthefamily,andItakeafterMaandUncleDick.It'snaturalenoughwhenyoucometothinkofit.TheMayoshavebeenfarmersfromwayback,whiletheScottshavebeenmostlysea-faringfolks,withaschoolteacherthrowninnowandthenonthewoman'sside—justasMawasbeforehermarriage.68ANDREW—YoudofavorMa.IremembersheusedalwaystohavehernoseinabookwhenIwasakid;butsheseemstohavegivenitupoflateyears.69ROBERT—[Withatraceofbitterness.]Thefarmhasclaimedherinspiteofherself.That'swhatI'mafraiditmightdotomeintime;andthat'swhyIfeelIoughttogetaway.[FearinghehashurtANDREW'Sfeelings.]Youmusn'tmisunderstandme,Andy.Foryouit'sadifferentthing.You'reaMayothroughandthrough.You'reweddedtothesoil.You'reasmuchaproductofitasanearofcornis,oratree.Fatheristhesame.Thisfarmishislife-work,andhe'shappyinknowingthatanotherMayo,inspiredbythesamelove,willtakeuptheworkwhereheleavesoff.Icanunderstandyourattitude,andPa's;andIthinkit'swonderfulandsincere.ButI—well,I'mnotmadethatway.70ANDREW—No,youain't;butwhenitcomestounderstanding,IguessIrealizethatyou'vegotyourownangleoflookingatthings.71ROBERT—[Musingly.]Iwonderifyoudo,really.72ANDREW—[Confidently.]SureIdo.You'veseenabitoftheworld,enoughtomakethefarmseemsmall,andyou'vegottheitchtoseeitall.73ROBERT—It'smorethanthat,Andy.74ANDREW—Oh,ofcourse.Iknowyou'regoingtolearnnavigation,andallaboutaship,so'syoucanbeanofficer.That'snatural,too.There'sfairpayinit,Iexpect,whenyouconsiderthatyou'vealwaysgotahomeandgrubthrownin;andifyou'resetontravelling,youcangoanywhereyou'reamindto,withoutpayingfare.75ROBERT—[Withasmilethatishalf-sad.]It'smorethanthat,Andy.76ANDREW—Sureitis.There'salwaysachanceofagoodthingcomingyourwayinsomeofthoseforeignportsorother.I'veheardtherearegreatopportunitiesforayoungfellowwithhiseyesopeninsomeofthosenewcountriesthatarejustbeingopenedup.Andwithyoureducationyououghttopickupthelanguagequick.[Jovially.]I'llbetthat'swhatyou'vebeenturningoverinyourmindunderallyourquietness![Heslapshisbrotheronthebackwithalaugh.]Well,ifyougettobeamillionaireallofasudden,call'roundonceinawhileandI'llpasstheplatetoyou.Wecouldusealotofmoneyrighthereonthefarmwithouthurtingitany.77ROBERT—[Forcedtolaugh.]I'veneverconsideredthatpracticalsideofitforaminute,Andy.[AsANDREWlooksincredulous.]That'sthetruth.78ANDREW—Well,yououghtto.79ROBERT—No,Ioughtn't.You'retryingtowishaneye-for-businessonmeIdon'tpossess.[Pointingtothehorizon—dreamily.]SupposingIwastotellyouthatit'sjustBeautythat'scallingme,thebeautyofthefaroffandunknown,themysteryandspelloftheEast,whichluresmeinthebooksI'veread,theneedofthefreedomofgreatwidespaces,thejoyofwanderingonandon—inquestofthesecretwhichishiddenjustoverthere,beyondthehorizon?SupposeItoldyouthatwastheoneandonlyreasonformygoing?80ANDREW—Ishouldsayyouwerenutty.81ROBERT—ThenImustbe—becauseit'sso.82ANDREW—Idon'tbelieveit.You'vegotthatideaoutofyourpoetrybooks.Agooddoseofsea-sicknesswillgetthatoutofyoursystem.83ROBERT—[Frowning.]Don't,Andy.I'mserious.84ANDREW—Thenyoumightaswellstayrighthere,becausewe'vegotallyou'relookingforrightonthisfarm.There'swidespaceenough,Lordknows;andyoucanhavealltheseayouwantbywalkingamiledowntothebeach;andthere'splentyofhorizontolookat,andbeautyenoughforanyone,exceptinthewinter.[Hegrins.]Asforthemysteryandspell,andotherthingsyoumentioned,Ihaven'tmet'emyet,butthey'reprobablylyingaroundsomewheres.I'llhaveyouunderstandthisisafirstclassfarmwithallthefixings.[Helaughs.]85ROBERT—[Joininginthelaughterinspiteofhimself.]It'snousetalkingtoyou,youchump!86ANDREW—Maybe;butyou'llseeI'mrightbeforeyou'vegonefar.You'renotasbiganutasyou'dliketomakeout.You'dbetternotsayanythingtoUncleDickaboutspellsandthingswhenyou'reontheship.He'lllikelychuckyouoverboardforaJonah.[Hejumpsdownfromfence.]I'dbetterrunalong.I'vegottowashupsomeaslongasRuth'sMaiscomingoverforsupper.87ROBERT—[Pointedly—almostbitterly.]AndRuth.88ANDREW—[Confused—lookingeverywhereexceptatROBERT—tryingtoappearunconcerned.]Yes,Padidsayshewasstayingtoo.Well,Ibetterhustle,Iguess,and——[Hestepsovertheditchtotheroadwhileheistalking.]89ROBERT—[Whoappearstobefightingsomestronginwardemotion—impulsively.]Waitaminute,Andy![Hejumpsdownfromthefence.]ThereissomethingIwantto——[Hestopsabruptly,bitinghislips,hisfacecoloring.]90ANDREW—[Facinghim;half-defiantly.]Yes?91ROBERT—[Confusedly.]No——nevermind——itdoesn'tmatter,itwasnothing.92ANDREW—[Afterapause,duringwhichhestaresfixedlyatROBERT'Savertedface.]MaybeIcanguess——whatyouweregoingtosay——butIguessyou'rerightnottotalkaboutit.[HepullsROBERT'Shandfromhissideandgripsittensely;thetwobrothersstandlookingintoeachother'seyesforaminute.]Wecan'thelpthosethings,Rob.[Heturnsaway,suddenlyreleasingROBERT'Shand.]You'llbecomingalongshortly,won'tyou?93ROBERT—[Dully.]Yes.94ANDREW—Seeyoulater,then.[Hewalksoffdowntheroadtotheleft.ROBERTstaresafterhimforamoment;thenclimbstothefencerailagain,andlooksoutoverthehills,anexpressionofdeepgriefonhisface.Afteramomentorso,RUTHentershurriedlyfromtheleft.Sheisahealthy,blonde,out-of-doorgirloftwenty,withagraceful,slenderfigure.Herface,thoughinclinedtoroundness,isundeniablypretty,itslargeeyesofadeepbluesetoffstrikinglybythesun-bronzedcomplexion.Hersmall,regularfeaturesaremarkedbyacertainstrength—anunderlying,stubbornfixityofpurposehiddeninthefrankly-appealingcharmofherfreshyouthfulness.Shewearsasimplewhitedressbutnohat.]95RUTH—[Seeinghim.]Hello,Rob!96ROBERT—[Startled.]Hello,Ruth!97RUTH—[Jumpstheditchandperchesonthefencebesidehim.]Iwaslookingforyou.98ROBERT—[Pointedly.]Andyjustlefthere.99RUTH—Iknow.Imethimontheroadasecondago.Hetoldmeyouwerehere.[Tenderlyplayful.]Iwasn'tlookingforAndy,Smarty,ifthat'swhatyoumean.Iwaslookingforyou.100ROBERT—BecauseI'mgoingawaytomorrow?101RUTH—Becauseyourmotherwasanxioustohaveyoucomehomeandaskedmetolookforyou.IjustwheeledMaovertoyourhouse.102ROBERT—[Perfunctorily.]Howisyourmother?103RUTH—[Ashadowcomingoverherface.]She'saboutthesame.Sheneverseemstogetanybetteroranyworse.Oh,Rob,Idowishshe'dpickupalittleor——ortrytomakethebestofthingsthatcan'tbehelped.104ROBERT—Hasshebeennaggingatyouagain?105RUTH—[Nodsherhead,andthenbreaksforthrebelliously.]Sheneverstopsnagging.NomatterwhatIdoforhershefindsfault.She'sgrowingmoreirritableeveryday.Oh,Rob,you'venoideahowharditislivingtherealonewithherinthatbiglonelyhouse.It'senoughtodriveanyonemad.IfonlyPawasstillliving——[Shestopsasifashamedofheroutburst.]IsupposeIshouldn'tcomplainthisway.Iwouldn'ttoanyonebutyou.[Shesighs.]PoorMa,Lordknowsit'shardenoughforher—havingtobewheeledaroundinachaireversinceIwasborn.Isupposeit'snaturaltobecrosswhenyou'renotableevertowalkastep.Butwhyshouldshebeinatemperwithmeallthetime?Oh,I'dliketobegoingawaysomeplace—likeyou!106ROBERT—It'shardtostay—andequallyhardtogo,sometimes.107RUTH—There!IfI'mnotthestupidbody!IsworeIwasn'tgoingtospeakaboutyourtrip—untilafteryou'dgone;andthereIgo,firstthing!108ROBERT—Whydidn'tyouwanttospeakofit?109RUTH—BecauseIdidn'twanttospoilthislastnightyou'rehere.Oh,Rob,I'mgoingto—we'reallgoingtomissyousoawfully.Yourmotherisgoingaroundlookingasifshe'dburstoutcryinganyminute.YououghttoknowhowIfeel.AndyandyouandI—whyitseemsasifwe'dalwaysbeentogether.110ROBERT—[Withawryattemptatasmile.]YouandAndywillstillhaveeachother.It'llbeharderformewithoutanyone.111RUTH—Butyou'llhavenewsightsandnewpeopletotakeyourmindoff;whilewe'llbeherewiththeold,familiarplacetoreminduseveryminuteoftheday.It'sashameyou'regoing—justatthistime,inspring,wheneverythingisgettingsonice.[Withasigh.]Ioughtn'ttotalkthatwaywhenIknowgoing'sthebestthingforyou—onaccountofyourhealth.Theseatrip'sboundtodoyousomuchgood,everyonesays.112ROBERT—[Withahalf-resentfulgrimace.]Don'ttellmeyouthinkI'mahopelessinvalid,too!I'veheardenoughofthattalkfromthefolks.Honestly,Ruth,IfeelbetterthanIeverdidinmylife.I'mdisgustinglyhealthy.Iwouldn'tevenconsidermyhealthanexcuseforthistrip.113RUTH—[Vaguely.]Ofcourseyou'reboundtofindallsortsofopportunitiestogeton,yourfathersays.114ROBERT—[Heatedly.]Idon'tgiveadamnaboutthat!Iwouldn'ttakeavoyageacrosstheroadforthebestopportunityintheworldofthekindPathinksof.I'drunawayfromitinstead.[Hesmilesathisownirritation.]Excuseme,Ruth,forgettingworkedupoverit;butAndygavemeanoverdoseofthepracticalconsiderations.115RUTH—[Slowlypuzzled.]Well,then,ifitisn'tanyofthosereasons——[Withsuddenintensity.]Oh,Rob,whydoyouwanttogo?116ROBERT—[Turningtoherquickly,insurprise—slowly.]Whydoyouaskthat,Ruth?117RUTH—[Droppinghereyesbeforehissearchingglance.]Because——[Lamely.]Itseemssuchashame.118ROBERT—[Insistently.]Why?119RUTH—Oh,because—everything.120ROBERT—Icouldhardlybackoutnow,evenifIwantedto.AndI'llbeforgottenbeforeyouknowit.121RUTH—[Indignantly.]Youwon't!I'llneverforget——[Shestopsandturnsawaytohideherconfusion.]122ROBERT—[Softly.]Willyoupromisemethat?123RUTH—[Evasively.]Ofcourse.It'smeanofyoutothinkthatanyofuswouldforgetsoeasily.124ROBERT—[Disappointedly.]Oh!125RUTH—[Withanattemptatlightness.]Butyouhaven'ttoldmeyourreasonforleavingyet?Aren'tyougoingto?126ROBERT—[Moodily.]Idoubtifyou'llunderstand.It'sdifficulttoexplain,eventomyself.It'smoreaninstinctivelongingthatwon'tstanddissection.Eitheryoufeelit,oryoudon't.Thecauseofitallisinthebloodandthebone,Iguess,notinthebrain,althoughimaginationplaysalargepartinit.IcanrememberbeingconsciousofitfirstwhenIwasonlyakid—youhaven'tforgottenwhatasicklyspecimenIwasthen,inthosedays,haveyou?127RUTH—[Withashudder.]They'repast.Let'snotthinkaboutthem.128ROBERT—You'llhaveto,tounderstand.Well,inthosedays,whenMawasfixingmeals,sheusedtogetmeoutofthewaybypushingmychairtothewestwindowandtellingmetolookoutandbequiet.Thatwasn'thard.IguessIwasalwaysquiet.129RUTH—[Compassionately.]Yes,youalwayswere—andyousufferingsomuch,too!130ROBERT—[Musingly.]SoIusedtostareoutoverthefieldstothehills,outthere—[Hepointstothehorizon]andsomehowafteratimeI'dforgetanypainIwasin,andstartdreaming.Iknewtheseawasoverbeyondthosehills,—thefolkshadtoldme—andIusedtowonderwhattheseawaslike,andtrytoformapictureofitinmymind.[Withasmile.]Therewasallthemysteryintheworldtomethenaboutthat—far-offsea—andtherestillis!Itcalledtomethenjustasitdoesnow.[Afteraslightpause.]Andothertimesmyeyeswouldfollowthisroad,windingoffintothedistance,towardthehills,asifit,too,wassearchingforthesea.AndI'dpromisemyselfthatwhenIgrewupandwasstrong,I'dfollowthatroad,anditandIwouldfindtheseatogether.[Withasmile.]Yousee,mymakingthistripisonlykeepingthatpromiseoflongago.131RUTH—[Charmedbyhisl