Mrs. D monologue (Act 13) — Christmas Candles: Plays for Boys and Girls

And you've kept her here when she ought to have been in bed these hours, to bear the first burst of my displeasure---- [MRS. DARLING _says so much in a hard voice, with an appearance of cold anger; here her voice suddenly dies, and she bursts out crying like a vexed, injured child._] I declare it's too bad! [_She sobs, reckless of making a spectacle of herself, while all look on in consternation._] I declare it's too bad! It's no use! It doesn't matter _what_ I do--it's always the same! It's _always_ taken for granted that I will conduct myself like a beast. Who can wonder, after that, if I do? Here I find them, pale as sheets, the five of them shaking in their boots, because a forlorn little child has broken a miserable doll. And _what_ is it supposed I shall do about it? Didn't I dress the hundred of them for children, and little poor children, too? And I must have known they would get broken, of course. _Why_ did I dress them? _What_ did I spend months dressing them for? Solely for _show_, they think,--not for any charity, any kindness, any love of children, or anything in the _world_ but to make an effect on an occasion--to make myself a merit with the parson, perhaps! [_Her crying seems to become less of anger and nervousness, and more of sorrow._] Oh, it is too bad! One would imagine I never said a decent thing or did a kind act to anyone. And, Heaven knows it's not for lack of trying to change. But no one sees the difference! I am treated like a vixen and a terror. And the people about me hate and fear and deceive me! A proof of it to-night. Oh, the _lesson_! Oh, I wasn't _meant_ for this! I wasn't meant for it! When I think of last Sunday's sermon and how straight to my heart it went. Oh, I am a fool to cry! [_Dries her eyes, and holds out her hand to_ TIBBIE.] Come here to me, dear child. What is your name? What? A little louder! What did you say? Tibbie! Oh, what a nice, funny name! _You_ didn't think I was going to scold you, did you, dear? Of _course_ not! It was an accident; I understand all about it. I used to break my dolls' heads frequently, I remember very well. [_Puts her arm about_ TIBBIE _and tries to make her head easy on her shoulder._ TIBBIE, _however, cannot relax, and rests uncomfortably against her._] Let us see, dear, now, what we can do to make us both feel happier. I dressed all those dolls for little children I am not acquainted with at all. Which of them would you like the very best? Which should you like for your very own?