Justice [11]
the Friday and that morning? [RUTH nods] What was his manner then?
RUTH. Dumb--like--sometimes he didn't seem able to say a word.
FROME. As if something unusual had happened to him?
RUTH. Yes.
FROME. Painful, or pleasant, or what?
RUTH. Like a fate hanging over him.
FROME. [Hesitating] Tell me, did you love the prisoner very much?
RUTH. [Bowing her head] Yes.
FROME. And had he a very great affection for you?
RUTH. [Looking at FALDER] Yes, sir.
FROME. Now, ma'am, do you or do you not think that your danger and unhappiness would seriously affect his balance, his control over his actions?
RUTH. Yes.
FROME. His reason, even?
RUTH. For a moment like, I think it would.
FROME. Was he very much upset that Friday morning, or was he fairly calm?
RUTH. Dreadfully upset. I could hardly bear to let him go from me.
FROME. Do you still love him?
RUTH. [With her eyes on FALDER] He's ruined himself for me.
FROME. Thank you.
He sits down. RUTH remains stoically upright in the witness- box.
CLEAVER. [In a considerate voice] When you left him on the morning of Friday the 7th you would not say that he was out of his mind, I suppose?
RUTH. No, sir.
CLEAVER. Thank you; I've no further questions to ask you.
RUTH. [Bending a little forward to the jury] I would have done the same for him; I would indeed.
THE JUDGE. Please, please! You say your married life is an unhappy one? Faults on both sides?
RUTH. Only that I never bowed down to him. I don't see why I should, sir, not to a man like that.
THE JUDGE. You refused to obey him?
RUTH. [Avoiding the question] I've always studied him to keep things nice.
THE JUDGE. Until you met the prisoner--was that it?
RUTH. No; even after that.
THE JUDGE. I ask, you know, because you seem to me to glory in this affection of yours for the prisoner.
RUTH. [Hesitating] I--I do. It's the only thing in my life now.
THE JUDGE. [Staring at her hard] Well, step down, please.
RUTH looks at FALDER, then passes quietly down and takes her seat among the witnesses.
FROME. I call the prisoner, my lord.
FALDER leaves the dock; goes into the witness-box, and is duly sworn.
FROME. What is your name?
FALDER. William Falder.
FROME. And age?
FALDER. Twenty-three.
FROME. You are not married?
FALDER shakes his head
FROME. How long have you known the last witness?
FALDER. Six months.
FROME. Is her account of the relationship between you a correct one?
FALDER. Yes.
FROME. You became devotedly attached to her, however?
FALDER. Yes.
THE JUDGE. Though you knew she was a married woman?
FALDER. I couldn't help it, your lordship.
THE JUDGE. Couldn't help it?
FALDER. I didn't seem able to.
The JUDGE slightly shrugs his shoulders.
FROME. How did you come to know her?
FALDER. Through my married sister.
FROME. Did you know whether she was happy with her husband?
FALDER. It was trouble all the time.
FROME. You knew her husband?
FALDER. Only through her--he's a brute.
THE JUDGE. I can't allow indiscriminate abuse of a person not present.
FROME. [Bowing] If your lordship pleases. [To FALDER] You admit altering this cheque?
FALDER bows his head.
FROME. Carry your mind, please, to the morning of Friday, July the 7th, and tell the jury what happened.
FALDER. [Turning to the jury] I was having my breakfast when she came. Her dress was all torn, and she was gasping and couldn't seem to get her breath at all; there were the marks of his fingers round her throat; her arm was bruised, and the blood had got into her eyes dreadfully. It frightened me, and then when she told me, I felt--I felt--well--it was too much for me! [Hardening suddenly] If you'd seen it, having the feelings for her that I had, you'd have felt the same, I know.
FROME. Yes?
FALDER. When she left me--because I had to go to the office--I was out of my senses for fear that he'd
RUTH. Dumb--like--sometimes he didn't seem able to say a word.
FROME. As if something unusual had happened to him?
RUTH. Yes.
FROME. Painful, or pleasant, or what?
RUTH. Like a fate hanging over him.
FROME. [Hesitating] Tell me, did you love the prisoner very much?
RUTH. [Bowing her head] Yes.
FROME. And had he a very great affection for you?
RUTH. [Looking at FALDER] Yes, sir.
FROME. Now, ma'am, do you or do you not think that your danger and unhappiness would seriously affect his balance, his control over his actions?
RUTH. Yes.
FROME. His reason, even?
RUTH. For a moment like, I think it would.
FROME. Was he very much upset that Friday morning, or was he fairly calm?
RUTH. Dreadfully upset. I could hardly bear to let him go from me.
FROME. Do you still love him?
RUTH. [With her eyes on FALDER] He's ruined himself for me.
FROME. Thank you.
He sits down. RUTH remains stoically upright in the witness- box.
CLEAVER. [In a considerate voice] When you left him on the morning of Friday the 7th you would not say that he was out of his mind, I suppose?
RUTH. No, sir.
CLEAVER. Thank you; I've no further questions to ask you.
RUTH. [Bending a little forward to the jury] I would have done the same for him; I would indeed.
THE JUDGE. Please, please! You say your married life is an unhappy one? Faults on both sides?
RUTH. Only that I never bowed down to him. I don't see why I should, sir, not to a man like that.
THE JUDGE. You refused to obey him?
RUTH. [Avoiding the question] I've always studied him to keep things nice.
THE JUDGE. Until you met the prisoner--was that it?
RUTH. No; even after that.
THE JUDGE. I ask, you know, because you seem to me to glory in this affection of yours for the prisoner.
RUTH. [Hesitating] I--I do. It's the only thing in my life now.
THE JUDGE. [Staring at her hard] Well, step down, please.
RUTH looks at FALDER, then passes quietly down and takes her seat among the witnesses.
FROME. I call the prisoner, my lord.
FALDER leaves the dock; goes into the witness-box, and is duly sworn.
FROME. What is your name?
FALDER. William Falder.
FROME. And age?
FALDER. Twenty-three.
FROME. You are not married?
FALDER shakes his head
FROME. How long have you known the last witness?
FALDER. Six months.
FROME. Is her account of the relationship between you a correct one?
FALDER. Yes.
FROME. You became devotedly attached to her, however?
FALDER. Yes.
THE JUDGE. Though you knew she was a married woman?
FALDER. I couldn't help it, your lordship.
THE JUDGE. Couldn't help it?
FALDER. I didn't seem able to.
The JUDGE slightly shrugs his shoulders.
FROME. How did you come to know her?
FALDER. Through my married sister.
FROME. Did you know whether she was happy with her husband?
FALDER. It was trouble all the time.
FROME. You knew her husband?
FALDER. Only through her--he's a brute.
THE JUDGE. I can't allow indiscriminate abuse of a person not present.
FROME. [Bowing] If your lordship pleases. [To FALDER] You admit altering this cheque?
FALDER bows his head.
FROME. Carry your mind, please, to the morning of Friday, July the 7th, and tell the jury what happened.
FALDER. [Turning to the jury] I was having my breakfast when she came. Her dress was all torn, and she was gasping and couldn't seem to get her breath at all; there were the marks of his fingers round her throat; her arm was bruised, and the blood had got into her eyes dreadfully. It frightened me, and then when she told me, I felt--I felt--well--it was too much for me! [Hardening suddenly] If you'd seen it, having the feelings for her that I had, you'd have felt the same, I know.
FROME. Yes?
FALDER. When she left me--because I had to go to the office--I was out of my senses for fear that he'd