Requiem for a Nun

212 WILLIAM FAULKNER

are merely appellants or appellees. The law is tender only of women

and children-particularly of women, PaFtICLII.,Irly particular of

nigger dope-fiend whores who murder white children.

(hands the highball to Stevens, who takes it) So why should we expect

Defense Attorney Stevens to be tendcr of a man or a woman who just

happen to be the parents of the child that got murdered?

TEMPLE

(harshly)

Will you for God's sake please get through? Then will you for God's

sake please hush?

GOWAN

(quickly: turns) Sorry.

(he turns toward her, sees her hand empty, then sees her full glass

beside his own on the tray) No drink?

TEMPLE

I don't want it. I want some milk.

GOWAN

Right. Hot, of course.

TEMPLE

Please.

GOWAN

(turning)

Right. I thought of that too. I put a pan on to beat while I was

getting the drinks.

(crossing toward dining-room exit) Dont let Uncle Gavin get away until

I get back. Lock the door, if you have to. Or maybe just telephone

that nigger freedom agent-what's his name?-

He exits. They dont move until the sIap of the pantry door sounds.

TEMPLE

(rapid and hard) How much do you know?

(rapidly)

Dont lie to me; dont you see there's not time?