Requiem for a Nun

286 WILLIAM FAULKNER

'Yes, Lord, I done it,' and then in the cell at the jail still saying

it-

(Stevens leans and touches her arm, as if to help her up. She

resists, though still not raising her head)

Not yet. It's my cue to stay down here until his honor or excellency

grants our plea, isn't it? Or have I already missed my cue forever even

if the sovereign state should offer me a handkerchief right out of its

own elected public suffrage dressing-gown pocket? Because see?

(she raises her face, quite blindly, tearless, still not

looking toward the chair where she could see Gowan instead

of the Governor, into the full glare of the light)

Still no tears.

STEVENS

Get up, Temple.

(he starts to lift her again, but before he can do so, she

rises herself, standing, her face still turned away from the

desk, still blind; she puts her arm up almost in the gesture

of a little girl about to cry, but instead she merely shields

her eyes from the light while her pupils readjust)

TEMPLE

Nor cigarette either; this time it certainly wont take long, since all

he has to say is, No.

(still not turning her face to look, even though she is now

speaking directly to the Governor whom she still thinks is

sitting behind the desk)

Because you aren't going to save her, are you? Because all this was not

for the sake of her soul because her soul doesn't need it, but for mine.

STEVENS

(gently)

Why not finish first? Tell the rest of it. You had started to say

something about the jail.