he　Esquire　stories　in　the　world。〃

〃I'll　be　home　early。〃

But　he　hadn't　been　home　until　four　in　the　morning；　stumbling　and　mumbling　his

way　up　the　stairs；　waking　Danny　up　when　he　came　in。　He　had　tried　to　soothe　the

baby　and　dropped　him　on　the　floor。　Wendy　had　rushed　out；　thinking　of　what　her

mother　would　think　if　she　saw　the　bruise　before　she　thought　of　anything　else　—

God　help　her；　God　help　them　both　—　and　then　picked　Danny　up；　sat　in　the　rocking

chair　with　him；　soothed　him。　She　had　been　thinking　of　her　mother　for　most　of　the

five　hours　Jack　had　been　gone；　her　mother's　prophecy　that　Jack　would　never　e

to　anything。　Big　ideas；　her　mother　had　said。　Sure。　The　welfare　lines　are　full　of

educated　fools　with　big　ideas。　Did　the　Esquire　story　make　her　mother　wrong　or

right？　Winnifred；　you're　not　holding　that　baby　right。　Give　him　to　me。　And　was

she　not　holding　her　husband　right？　Why　else　would　he　take　his　joy　out　of　the

house？　A　helpless　kind　of　terror　had　risen　up　in　her　and　it　never　occurred　to

her　that　he　had　gone　out　for　reasons　that　had　nothing　to　do　with　her。

〃Congratulations；〃　she　said；　rocking　Danny　—　he　was　almost　asleep　again。　〃Maybe

you　gave　him　a　concussion。〃

〃It's　just　a　bruise。〃　He　sounded　sulky；　wanting　to　be　repentant：　a　little　boy。

For　an　instant　she　hated　him。

〃Maybe；〃　she　said　tightly。　〃Maybe　not。〃　She　heard　so　much　of　her　mother

talking　to　her　departed　father　in　her　own　voice　that　she　was　sickened　and

afraid。

〃Like　mother　like　daughter；〃　Jack　muttered。

〃Go　to　bed！〃　she　cried；　her　fear　ing　out　sounding　like　anger。　〃Go　to　bed；

you're　drunk！〃

〃Don't　tell　me　what　to　do。〃

〃Jack　。。。　please