The Fifth Column by Ernest Hemingway

Author:Ernest Hemingway
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Scribner
Published: 2002-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

[She is crying]

PHILIP. Oh, yes. That.

DOROTHY. Is that all it means to you?

PHILIP. That’s a commodity you shouldn’t pay too high a price for.

DOROTHY. So I’m a commodity?

PHILIP. Yes, a very handsome commodity. The most beautiful I ever had.

DOROTHY. Good. I’m glad to hear you say it. And I’m glad it’s daylight. Now get out of here. You conceited, conceited drunkard. You ridiculous, puffed-up, posing braggart. You commodity, you. Did it ever occur to you that you’re a commodity, too? A commodity one shouldn’t pay too high a price for?

PHILIP. [Laughing] No. But I see it the way you put it.

DOROTHY. Well, you are. You’re a perfectly vicious commodity. Never home. Out all night. Dirty, muddy, disorderly. You’re a terrible commodity. I just liked the package it was put up in. That was all. I’m glad you’re going away.

PHILIP. Really?

DOROTHY. Yes, really. You and your commodity. But you didn’t have to mention all those places if we weren’t ever going to them.

PHILIP. I’m very sorry. That wasn’t kind.

DOROTHY. Oh, don’t be kind either. You’re frightful when you’re kind. Only kind people should try being kind. You’re horrible when you’re kind. And you didn’t have to mention them in the daytime.

PHILIP. I’m sorry.

DOROTHY. Oh, don’t be sorry. You’re at your worst when you’re sorry. I can’t stand you sorry. Just get out.

PHILIP. Well, good-bye.

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