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The Silver Box, by John Galsworthy.
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Abusive husbands are horrible enough without added trials and travails their wives must face when they make a scene and make the wife lose face socially; but when such a man steals from home of his wife's employer, and suspicion falls on her, because people are unaware he was there, it's much too much.
Galsworthy pairs the offenders across castes - Jones stole from young Barthwick after the latter had snatched a young woman's reticule, and latter has to face his father when the woman comes for her money, even as Mrs Jones is suspected of the theft her husband committed.
And, as if her travails weren't enough, Barthwick senior the employer opines Mrs Jones ought not consider leaving her husband, despite being abused physically. To him, that would be immoral of her! He claims being liberal, but only wishes to avoid prosecuting Jones when chances are his son would be implicated!
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And if these injustices weren't enough, there are the lives children on street because their mother abandoned the family, the father being out of work.
"BARTHWICK. [Speaking behind his hand.] A painful case, Roper; very distressing state of things.
"ROPER. Hundreds like this in the Police Courts."
Galsworthy must have seen such circumstances around commonly, as must everyone of the era; few wrote about it. Most were busy singing paens of glory of the empire that looted India while millions starved to death there.
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Jones catches young Barthwick out.
"JONES. May I ask the gentleman a question?
"MAGISTRATE. Yes—yes—you may ask him what questions you like.
"JONES. Don't you remember you said you was a Liberal, same as your father, and you asked me wot I was?
"JACK. [With his hand against his brow.] I seem to remember——
"JONES. And I said to you, "I'm a bloomin' Conservative," I said; an' you said to me, "You look more like one of these 'ere Socialists. Take wotever you like," you said."
But when Jones refers to Jack stealing the woman's reticule, which is brought out by the court officials, he's hushed.
"JONES. [Stopping and twisting round.] Call this justice? What about 'im? 'E got drunk! 'E took the purse—'e took the purse but [in a muffled shout] it's 'is money got 'im off—JUSTICE!"
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And, Jack having gone scot free while Jones is imprisoned, Barthwick is too short of courage to do justice even to Mrs Jones and her children.
"[The Court is in a stir. ROPER gets up and speaks to the reporter. JACK, throwing up his head, walks with a swagger to the corridor; BARTHWICK follows.]
"MRS. JONES. [Turning to him zenith a humble gesture.] Oh! sir!
"[BARTHWICK hesitates, then yielding to his nerves, he makes a shame-faced gesture of refusal, and hurries out of court. MRS. JONES stands looking after him.]"
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June 03, 2021 - June 04, 2021.
Purchased June 14, 2013.
Kindle Edition, 121 pages
Published May 17th 2012
(first published 1911)
ASIN:- B0084B3H16
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