Requiem for a Nun

294 WILLIAM FAULKNER

that the father was wrong, but to let the little boy learn with his

own eyes that nothing, not even that, which could possibly enter that

house, could ever harm him?

TEMPLE

But I quit. Nancy told you that too.

STEVENS

She doesn't think so now. Isn't that what she's going to prove Friday

morning?

TEMPLE

Friday. The black day. The day you never start on a journey. Except

that Nancy's journey didn't start at daylight or sunup or whenever it

is polite and tactful to hang people, day after tomorrow. Her journey

started that morning eight years ago when I got on the train at the

University-

(she stops: a moment; then

quietly)

Oh God, that was Friday too; that baseball game was Friday-

(rapidly)

You see? Dont you see? It's nowhere near enough yet. Of course he

wouldn't save her. If he did that, it would be over: Gowan could just

throw me out, which he may do yet, or I could throw Gowan out, which

I could have done until it got too late now, too late forever now, or

the judge could have thrown us both out and given Bucky to an

orphanage, and '

would be all over. But now it can go on, tomorrc.--'and tomorrow and

tomorrow, forever and forever and

forever

STEVENS

(gently tries to start her) Come on.

TEMPLE

(holding back)

Tell me exactly what he did say. Not tonight: it couldn't have been

tonight-or did he say it over the telephone, and we didn't even

need-

STEVENS

He said it a week ago-

TEMPLE

Yes, about the same time when you sent the wire. What did he say?