Alice Duer Miller

Name: Manslaughter — Chapter 18
Author: Alice Duer Miller

Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (1921)

Summary

“Manslaughter — Chapter 18”, published in 1921, is a work by Alice Duer Miller. It explores elements such as O'Bannon, Lydia and Bennett.

Quotes from Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (Alice Duer Miller)

Alice Duer Miller, Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (1921)

“ There never was an hour in O'Bannon's life that he set beside that hour. He sat like a man in a trance, and yet acutely aware of everything about him; of the logs in the fire that, burning through, fell apart like a blazing drawbridge across the andirons; of an occasional footstep in the street; and finally of the inevitable approach of the rattling milk wagon, of its stopping at the door, of the wire trays, of the raising of the Thorne basement window and the slow thump of the delivery of the allotted number of bottles.
After a long time a little frightened face stared at him round the door. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alice Duer Miller, Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (1921)

“ He was stopped by a sob.
"Yes, yes!" she said fiercely, her whole face distorted with emotion, "it's true I'm crying, but if you come near me I'll kill you."
"I won't," he answered. "Cry in peace."
She took him at his word. She cried, not peacefully but wildly. She flung herself face downward on the sofa and sobbed, with her head buried in the cushions, while her whole body shook. She had not cried like this since she was a little child. It was a wild luxurious abandonment of all self-control. Once she heard O'Bannon move.
She flung herself face downward on the sofa and sobbed. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alice Duer Miller, Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (1921)

“ You were glad I took you in my arms! You would have been glad if I had done it earlier!"
"Liar!" said Lydia. "Liar and cad—to say such a thing!" She was shivering so violently that her teeth chattered like a person in an ague. "If you knew—if you could guess the repugnance, the horror of a woman embraced by a man she loathes and despises! Her flesh creeps! ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alice Duer Miller, Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (1921)

“ Even while the house was still in darkness Lydia had recognized the outline of O'Bannon's head in a box across the house. She had seen it before she had seen Eleanor. Miss Bennett had stayed in the front of the box. Lydia was glad she had. She wanted to be alone while she waited. She could see her between the curtains, sweeping the house with her opera glasses. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alice Duer Miller, Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (1921)

“ Suppose anything should happen."
"Should happen?" said Lydia, and for a moment she looked like the old haughty Lydia. "What could happen?"
Miss Bennett raised both her arms and let them drop with a gesture quite French, expressing that they both knew what men were.
"He might try to make love to you," she said.
The minute she had spoken she wished she had not, for Lydia's fine dark brow contracted.
"What disgusting ideas you do have Benny! That man!" She stopped herself. "I almost wish he would. If he did I think I should kill him." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alice Duer Miller, Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (1921)

“ I wouldn't exchange my prison experience for anything in my whole life. You gave me something, Mr. O'Bannon, when you sent me to prison, that no one else was ever able to give me, not even my father, though he tried. I mean a sense of the consequences of my own character. That's the only aspect of punishment that is of use to people. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alice Duer Miller, Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (1921)

“ Lydia sprang up, and looking at Albee deliberately tucked away the paper in the front of her low dress.
"Turn out the light again Bobby," she said. "It shines between the curtains and disturbs me."
All three went back to the box, where Miss Bennett had been sitting alone. It was a long time since Lydia had heard any music, and the music of the second act of Samson and Delilah, the long sweeping chords on the harp, began to trouble her, as the coming thunderstorm seemed to be troubling Delilah.
Her long abstraction from any artistic impression made her as susceptible as a child. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alice Duer Miller, Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (1921)

“ He made a quick pass with his right hand, indicating that O'Bannon had been obliterated.
"Our friend will never be a partner in that firm," he said.
He looked at her eagerly and got his reward. She smiled at him, slowly wagging her head at the same time, as if he were too wonderful for words.
"Stephen, you are superb," she said, and evidently felt it. "Does he know it yet?"
"No, he won't know it until he opens his mail to-morrow morning."
Lydia leaned forward and peered out into the house between the curtains. Then she turned back and smiled again, but this time with amusement. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alice Duer Miller, Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (1921)

“ It gives me more power to hurt you. It must make it worse for you to know how I hate, how I despise you, everything about you; your using your looks and your fine figure to hypnotize simple people like Eleanor and Miss Bennett and poor Evans; the vanity that makes you hate me for being free of your charms ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alice Duer Miller, Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (1921)

“ She half shoved him out of the box. "And be as quick as you can," she called after him.
He really was quick. In a few seconds she saw the curtain of the opposite box pushed aside and Bobby enter. He spoke a moment to Eleanor, and then when no one else was watching she saw him speak to O'Bannon and give him her note. The two men rose and went together into the back of the box out of her sight. What was happening? Was O'Bannon now on his way to her? There was a long delay. Miss Bennett's voice called, "Is somebody knocking?" The noise was Lydia's restless feet tapping on the floor. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alice Duer Miller, Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (1921)

“ She would have plenty of time in her own drawing-room to reveal the facts in any way she liked. She hardly heard the music of the next theme, hardly enjoyed the spectacle of Samson's degradation, so absorbed was she in the anticipation of the coming interview.
During the ballet in the last scene she saw Eleanor rise and O'Bannon follow her. She sprang up at once, though Miss Bennett faintly protested.
"Oh, aren't you going to wait to see him pull down the temple? It's such fun." Miss Bennett liked to see masculine strength conquer. Lydia shook her head, but offered no explanation. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alice Duer Miller, Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (1921)

“ When you're hard and bitter I suffer, and when you're gentle and kind——"
She gave a sort of laugh at this.
"When have you ever seen me gentle and kind?" she asked.
"Oh, I know how wonderfully you could give yourself to a man if you loved him." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alice Duer Miller, Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (1921)

“ Inwardly be called down the curse of heaven upon them. He glanced down at Lydia, and suddenly knew—how he knew it he could not say—that she had heard it too; that she had been awake a long time, since he put the cloak over her—perhaps since Miss Bennett had left the room. ”

Alice Duer Miller

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Quotes from Manslaughter — Chapter 18 (Alice Duer Miller)

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