The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts

by W. Somerset Maugham

And this morning, when I called for you at the Y.W.C.A., you wanted to say you wouldn’t marry me. You tried to speak the words, but they wouldn’t come. When you shook hands with me your hand was like ice.

Norah.

I was nervous for a moment. After all, one isn’t married every day of one’s life, is one?

Taylor.

If I hadn’t shown you the licence and the ring, I guess you wouldn’t have done it. You hadn’t the nerve to back out of it then.

Norah.

I hadn’t slept a wink all night. I kept on turning it over in my mind. I was frightened at what I’d done. But I didn’t know a soul in Winnipeg. I hadn’t anywhere to go. I had four dollars in my pocket. I had to go through with it.

Taylor.

You took pretty good stock of me in the train on the way here, I guess.

Norah.