'Tickets, Please!' by D. H. Lawrence (motivational books for men .TXT) ๐
'Don't know what you mean,' said Laura.
'Yes, I'm toddling,' said he, rising and reaching for his coat.
'Nay,' said Polly. 'We're all here waiting for you.'
'We've got to be up in good time in the morning,' he said, in the benevolent official manner. They all laughed.
'Nay,' said Muriel. 'Don't disappoint us all.' 'I'll take the lot, if you like,' he responded, gallantly.
'That you won't, either,' said Muriel. 'Two's company; seven's too much of a good thing.'
'Nay, take one,' said Laura. 'Fair and square, all above board, say which one.'
'Ay!' cried Annie, speaking for the first time. 'Choose, John Joseph-let's hear thee.'
'Nay,' he said. 'I'm going home quiet tonight.' He frowned at the use of his double name.
'Who says?' said Annie. 'Tha's got to ta'e one.'
'Nay, how can I take one?' he said, laughing uneasily. 'I don't want to make enemies.'
'You'd only make one,' said Annie, grimly.
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He made no sound nor sign, but lay with bright, averted eyes and averted, bleeding face.
โYou ought to be killed, thatโs what you ought,โ said Annie, tensely.
Polly was ceasing to laugh, and giving long-drawn oh-h-hโs and sighs as she came to herself.
โHeโs got to choose,โ she said, vaguely.
โYes, he has,โ said Laura, with vindictive decision.
โDo you hear-do you hear?โ said Annie. And with a sharp movement, that made him wince, he turned his face to her.
โDo you hear?โ she repeated, shaking him. But he was dumb. She fetched him a sharp slap on the face. He started and his eyes widened.
โDo you hear?โ she repeated.
โWhat?โ he said, bewildered, almost overcome.
โYouโve got to choose,โ she cried, as if it were some terrible menace.
โWhat?โ he said, in fear.
โChoose which of us youโll have, do you hear, and stop your little games. Weโll settle you.โ
There was a pause. Again he averted his face. He was cunning in his overthrow.
โAll right then,โ he said. โI choose Annie.โ
โThree cheers for Annie!โ cried Laura.
โMe!โ cried Annie. Her face was very white, her eyes like coal. โMeโ!โ
Then she got up, pushing him away from her with a strange disgust.
โI wouldnโt touch him,โ she said.
The other girls rose also. He remained lying on the floor.
โI donโt want him-he can choose another,โ said Annie, with the same rather bitter disgust.
โGet up,โ said Polly, lifting his shoulder. โGet up.โ
He rose slowly, a strange, ragged, dazed creature. The girls eyed him from a distance, curiously, furtively, dangerously.
โWho wants him?โ cried Laura, roughly.
โNobody,โ they answered, with derision.
And they began to put themselves tidy, taking down their hair, and arranging it. Annie unlocked the door. John Joseph looked round for his things. He picked up the tatters, and did not quite know what to do with them. Then he found his cap, and put it on, and then his overcoat. He rolled his ragged tunic into a bundle. And he went silently out of the room, into the night.
The girls continued in silence to dress their hair and adjust their clothing, as if he had never existed.
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