The Corn Is Green Page #4

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Watty's talked about sending her away

into service. I suppose that's best.

Has anyone seen my copy

of Meditations?

I don't see how Morgan

can manage 10 hours in the pit.

And Marcus Aurelius on top

of all the other stuff you've set for him.

I don't... Oh, for heaven's sake,

where was it now?

I don't see how he can.

I thought... He's incredible.

He left the mine on Friday.

- Finished?

- Permanently.

He's agreed to accept a loan.

Have you looked at the accounts?

I'm afraid we'll have to sell out

a couple more of Uncle Robert's shares.

Forgive me if I start to cram.

"From my Grandfather Verus,

I learned good morals...

...and the management of my temper.

From my father, and my memory of him...

...modesty and manliness."

"From my mother..."

- Piety.

- "Piety."

"From my mother, piety and..."

- Giving?

- "Generosity" would be a better choice.

Generosity.

"Generosity and abstinence,

not only from wicked deeds...

...but from wicked thoughts.

- And what is more..."

- Furthermore.

"And furthermore,

from my great-grandfather...

...not to go to public schools,

but to have a good teacher at home."

Continue.

Now, you must memorize this, Morgan.

As given any two,

you can always find the third, because A...

She has some wonderful plans for him,

I can tell by her manner. It's so exciting.

I think she's riding for a fall.

- Bessie, why?

- All this ordering him about.

I got me eyes on the lad, if she hasn't.

He's getting sick of it. She's got no idea.

I got some scent on my hands, Mr. Jones.

Would you like to smell them?

No, thank you, Bessie.

I can smell them from here.

Sweetheart

The man in the moon

I'm going to marry him soon

All right, try it again.

Good. Don't forget.

That's the third one. Remember it.

Then read it.

Was Duddy...?

Can you repeat it?

Evans? Evans? Evans?

- Are you there, Evans?

- Yes, Miss Moffat.

What are you mumbling about?

Nothing. Nothing at all.

Finished?

Finally, Miss Moffat.

Let me see.

You are good, you know?

Anything wrong? You tired?

No, no, I'm not.

Give this a pull, will you?

Why not kill two birds with one stone,

get Voltaire by heart?

If you can even argue a point like that,

you'll do. Thank you.

Take a bit of a run.

It'll clear your head.

Then start your essay on

The Wealth of Nations.

You're buried under books.

Oh, you're here, Morgan.

Miss Moffat's having a bit of a walk.

And I am having a bit of a drink.

- I'll go and find her.

- I don't wanna see no Miss Moffat.

- Morgan, the double negative...

- Now, don't you start.

I like the double negative,

it says what I want the way I like.

I've never seen you like this before.

Come to think of it,

I haven't either, not for two years.

And I'm surprised by me self

and shocked by me self.

Got into one of them public houses

and pouring poison rum...

...down me nice, clean teeth.

What's come over you, Morgan Evans?

Come back here to your little cage.

If you wash hands, comb hair

and get your grammar right...

...we might give you a nice bit

of sewing to do.

Bloody Voltaire.

Don't you dare use an expression

like that to me.

I got plenty of others, thank you,

and they're all coming out.

You're in my road.

Move please, Miss Ronnyberry.

- Going for a walk, Evans?

- Yes, Miss Moffat.

- Can you repeat the Voltaire?

- Not yet.

It's very short.

Paper blowed away.

Copy it again

and bring it to me, will you?

Yes, miss.

I was just coming out to find you.

- Morgan seems...

- He's gone for a walk.

I do hope he doesn't slow down.

Taking on Greek is gonna be a real task.

You don't think all this, in his situation,

is rather sudden?

- I mean...

- Oh, no, no, not in his case, touch wood.

He has one of the most receptive brains

I've ever come across.

- Oh, I know his brain's all right, but...

- Oh, stop worrying.

Tomorrow you're gonna hear some news

that will dumbfound you, dumbfound him.

- You're going to see the squire?

- That's right.

- But he was furious with you last time...

- That's right.

- I'm afraid he might still...

- So am I, but I have to risk it.

Why?

I can only tell you that my plan

depends entirely on him.

How do I look?

Oh, charming.

- Is it a favor of the squire?

- Yes.

- A big favor of the squire?

- Yes, big.

Then may I suggest that you should borrow

Miss Ronberry's hat.

- Her hat?

- Yes, her hat and we'll keep yours.

Miss Ronberry?

Yes. Yes, of course.

- But it's so fluffy.

- That's the whole point.

Oh, it all helps.

I should feel a perfect fool.

- Ready?

- Yes, ready.

Oh, dear.

Wish me luck.

The door's open.

Good grief.

Is anyone here?

I say, is anyone at home?

This is the one.

Right. Up you go there

and I'll try and pass it up to you.

On the hook properly, is it?

Good.

Good heavens.

Yes?

Oh, squire.

I was just saying to myself,

what a perfectly delightful room.

So manly.

Just the sort of place you'd expect

an addle-pated nincompoop to live in...

...I suppose.

Can you ever find it in your heart

to forgive me?

I know I don't deserve it,

but I ask it anyway, as a woman.

A poor, foolish woman.

You've got a lot of nerve

coming here uninvited, I must say.

I know, and how good of you,

how big of you to receive me.

But then, madam,

I haven't received you, have I?

And I want to tell you to your face

that I wouldn't...

I won't.

You're quite right, of course.

I don't deserve it. I should leave at once.

I should hope so, if you have

any sense of shame.

I shall leave at once.

- What's the matter? What's the matter?

- Nothing.

- No, I'm all right.

- Would you like a glass of water?

No, no, I just... If I might sit here

just for a minute. Just for a minute.

Probably a touch of the sun.

That coupled with all the other problems

at the school.

I heard you're a spiffing success.

Oh, such a lot of obstacles

to be overcome.

So many times when one longs

for the qualities of a man.

The courage of a lion, the cunning of a fox,

the strength of a bear.

Yes, quite so.

I see what you mean, but...

The skin of a rhinoceros.

Beg your pardon?

So many things that only the wit...

...and resourcefulness

of a man can provide.

I'll grant you that, my dear.

A woman's way, weak, weak, weak.

What is it, my dear, you're suffering?

Squire, I must bare my soul to you.

I have a problem,

a problem with Morgan Evans.

Evans?

Morgan Evans.

- Can't say it rings a bell.

- A pupil of mine. A tenant of yours.

Well, what's he been up to? A bit

of muslin? That little Cockney filly, eh?

- Bessie Watty, a schoolgirl?

- Don't you forget...

...proximity is the mother of invention.

Well, you are so wise.

This boy is quite out of the ordinary.

Who?

- Oh, Morgan Evans.

- Yes, yes.

I mean he was born

with very extraordinary gifts.

You don't say.

- He should be given every chance to...

- To do what?

- To write.

- To write? What?

Well, you see, if he had been born earlier,

he would have had a protector.

Protector? Against what?

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