Read-Aloud Plays Part 14

It depends. But tell me what you thought--I mean during this last year or so. It didn't come to you all at once.

ROGER

Well.... Of course, I always took it for granted about his music. He seemed to be wonderful at that. And mother believed so in him. It really began when he left college, I found he had debts.

MARGARET

Debts?

ROGER

Yes. Not just clothes and living--other things. I paid up, but I didn't like it. I didn't like the things. But I thought it was just a boy's foolishness. I thought he would be all right after that, but--he wasn't.

MARGARET

He wasn't....

ROGER

No. After a couple of years I had to straighten it out again. I came down on him flat. He promised to cut it.

MARGARET

But he was doing such wonderful work!

ROGER

Yes, everybody began to say so. If he had only been that alone, the musician! But--

MARGARET

But afterward?

ROGER

Well, a year ago I began to hear things said again. And then I found letters and bills. It was the same thing all over. He hadn't kept his word.

MARGARET

But what did _he_ say?

ROGER

I let it go for weeks, hoping he would say something. But never a word.

MARGARET

He loved you so. How he must have suffered!

ROGER

Yes, I suppose he did suffer. But if he cared so for me why did he try to keep it hidden, the one thing I would hate most?

MARGARET

That was his way. It made him ashamed.

ROGER

Well, he couldn't keep it dark forever. Mother almost found out.

MARGARET

Almost found out?

ROGER

Yes. So of course I stepped in. We had a frightful row.

MARGARET

When was that?

ROGER

Six months ago. I got him clear. It was hard--this time the woman almost got him.

MARGARET

Oh!

ROGER

I helped him. But I did it on one condition--that he go to work.

MARGARET

Work? What about his music?

ROGER

That's what he said. But I asked him if he had thought about his music when he got into these sc.r.a.pes. He couldn't say a word. So it was all arranged for him to go into my office, right under my eye, when mother was taken sick. Then she wanted him to stay near her, so.... And then she died. And the accident. Well I don't see what more I could have done.

MARGARET

No.... Of course, it wasn't as if you turned against him. And the office--he was to pay you back that way?

ROGER