MINNIE. No, I didn't, Mrs. Pindar, and that's the truth. I never went
near a church.
AUGUSTA (drily). It's a pity you ever went to Newcastle, I think.
MINNIE. It's some town! Every time you ride into it you see a big sign,
"Welcome to Newcastle, population one hundred and six thousand, and
growing every day. Goodbye, and thank you!"
AUGUSTA (knitting). You drive about in automobiles!
MINNIE. Oh, sometimes I get a joy ride.
AUGUSTA. It grieves me to hear you talk in this way. I knew you were
pleasure loving, I thought I saw certain tendencies in you, yet you
seemed to realize the grace of religion when you were in my Bible class.
Your brother Jamesy took to drink--
MINNIE. And I took to religion. You meant to be kind, Mrs. Pindar, and
I thank you. But now I know why Jamesy took to drink--it was for the
same reason I took to religion.
AUGUSTA (scandalized). Minnie!
MINNIE. We were both trying to be free, to escape.
AUGUSTA. To escape? From what?
MINNIE (with a gesture indicating futility). I guess it would be pretty
hard to get it across to you, Mrs. Pindar. But I was working ten hours a
day packing tools in your shops, and all you gave me when the whistle
blew was--Jesus.
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