Page 535 - sons-and-lovers

him crash down the half-dozen steps into Fanny’s room.
There was a second of amazement; then men and girls were
running. Dawes stood a moment looking bitterly on the
scene, then he took his departure.
Thomas Jordan was shaken and braised, not otherwise
hurt. He was, however, beside himself with rage. He dis-
missed Dawes from his employment, and summoned him
for assault.
At the trial Paul Morel had to give evidence. Asked how
the trouble began, he said:
‘Dawes took occasion to insult Mrs. Dawes and me be-
cause I accompanied her to the theatre one evening; then I
threw some beer at him, and he wanted his revenge.’
‘Cherchez la femme!’ smiled the magistrate.
The case was dismissed after the magistrate had told
Dawes he thought him a skunk.
‘You gave the case away,’ snapped Mr. Jordan to Paul.
‘I don’t think I did,’ replied the latter. ‘Besides, you didn’t
really want a conviction, did you?’
‘What do you think I took the case up for?’
‘Well,’ said Paul, ‘I’m sorry if I said the wrong thing.’
Clara was also very angry.
‘Why need MY name have been dragged in?’ she said.
‘Better speak it openly than leave it to be whispered.’
‘There was no need for anything at all,’ she declared.
‘We are none the poorer,’ he said indifferently.
‘YOU may not be,’ she said.
‘And you?’ he asked.
‘I need never have been mentioned.’

Sons and Lovers