The Browning Version (NHB Modern Plays) by Terence Rattigan

Author:Terence Rattigan
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781780011059
Publisher: Nick Hern Books
Published: 2013-04-04T07:00:00+00:00

GILBERT. (After a pause.) I’m afraid I said something that hurt you very much. It’s myself you must forgive, sir. Believe me, I’m desperately sorry.

ANDREW. There’s no need. You were merely telling me what I should have known for myself. Perhaps I did in my heart, and hadn’t the courage to acknowledge it. I knew, of course, that I was not only not liked, but now positively disliked. I had realized, too, that the boys – for many long years now – had ceased to laugh at me. I don’t know why they no longer found me a joke. Perhaps it was my illness. No, I don’t think it was that. Something deeper than that. Not a sickness of the body, but a sickness of the soul. At all events it didn’t take much discernment on my part to realize I had become an utter failure as a schoolmaster. Still, stupidly enough, I hadn’t realized that I was also feared. The Himmler of the lower fifth! I suppose that will become my epitaph.

GILBERT is now deeply embarrassed and rather upset, but he remains silent.

(With a mild laugh.) I cannot for the life of me imagine why I should choose to unburden myself to you – a total stranger – when I have been silent to others for so long. Perhaps it is because my very unworthy mantle is about to fall on your shoulders. If that is so I shall take a prophet’s privilege and foretell that you will have a very great success with the lower fifth.

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