The Land of Promise: A Comedy in Four Acts

by W. Somerset Maugham

I guess we ain’t made a great success of married life, my girl.... It’s rum when you come to figure it out. I thought I could make you do everything I wanted. It looked as if I held a straight flush. And you beat me.

Norah.

I?

Taylor.

Why, yes. Didn’t you know that?

Norah.

I don’t know what you mean.

Taylor.

I guess I didn’t know how strong a woman could be. You was always givin’ way, you done everything I told you—and all the time you was keepin’ something from me that I couldn’t get at. Whenever I thought to put my hand on you, I guess I found I’d only caught hold of a shadow.

Norah.