the master of mrs. chilvers-第4章

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＇He　reaches　out　his　hand　to　where　ANNYS　stands　a　little　behind　him；
takes　her　hand。＇　　Annys　and　I　have　fought　more　than　one　election。
It　has　been　side　by　side。

ELIZABETH　　The　lady　a　little　behind。

GEOFFREY　　＇He　moves　away　with　an　expression　of　deep　annoyance。＇

JANET　　＇She　comes　forward。　　She　holds　forth　her　hands　with　a　half…
appealing；　half…commanding　gesture。　　She　almost　seems　inspired。＇
Would　it　not　be　so　much　better　if；　in　this　first　political　contest
between　man　and　woman；　the　opponents　were　two　people　honouring　one
another；　loving　one　another？　　Would　it　not　show　to　all　the　world
that　man　and　woman　may　meetcontend　in　public　life　without　anger；
without　scorn？　　＇There　is　a　pause。　　They　stand　listening。＇　　I　do
not　know；　but　it　seems　to　me　that　if　Mr。　Chilvers　could　bring
himself　to　do　this　it　would　be　such　a　big　thingperhaps　the　most
chivalrous　thing　that　a　man　has　ever　done　to　help　women。　　If　he
would　put　aside；　quite　voluntarily；　all　the　man's　privilegejust
say　to　the　people；　〃Now　chooseone　of　us　two　to　serve　you。　　We
stand　before　you；　equal；　my　wife　and　I。〃　　I　don't　know　how　to　put
it；　but　I　feel　that　by　merely　doing　that　one　thing　Mr。　Chilvers
would　solve　the　whole　problem。　　It　would　prove　that　good　men　are
ready　to　give　us　of　their　free　accord　all　that　we　claim。　　We　should
gain　our　rights；　not　by　warfare；　but　through　love　and
understanding。　　Wouldn't　that　beso　much　better？　　＇She　looksher
hands　still　appealingfrom　one　to　the　other。＇

＇Another　silence。　　They　have　all　been　carried　a　little　off　their
feet　by　JANET'S　earnestness。＇

ANNYS　　＇She　touches　him。＇　　What　do　you　think；　dear？

GEOFFREY　　Yes；　there's　a　good　deal；　of　course；　in　what　Miss　Blake
says。

ANNYS　　It　WOULD　be　a　big　thing　for　you　to　do。

PHOEBE　　You　see；　whatever　happened；　the　seat　would　be　yours。　　This
case　only　gives　us　the　right　to　go　to　the　poll。　　We　are　keen　upon
Annys　because　she's　our　best　card；　that's　all。

GEOFFREY　　Do　you　wish　it？

ANNYS　　＇She　smiles　up　at　him。＇　　I'd　rather　fight　you　than　any　one
else。

GEOFFREY　　You　are　not　afraid　that　the　situation　might　bejust　a
trifle　comical？

ANNYS　　＇Shakes　her　head。＇　　No。　　I　think　everybody　will　say　it　was
rather　splendid　of　you。

GEOFFREY　　Well；　if　it　will　help　women。

ANNYS　　＇She　holds　out　her　hand。　　She　is　still　in　exalted　mood。＇　　We
will　show　how　man　and　woman　may　be　drawn　nearer　to　one　another　by
rivalry　for　noble　ends。

ST。　HERBERT　　＇He　shakes　GEOFFREY'S　somewhat　limp　hand。＇　　I　envy
you。　　The　situation　promises　to　be　piquant。

MRS。　MOUNTCALM…VILLIERS　　It　will　be　a　battle　of　roses。

LADY　MOGTON　　I　must　go。　　I　shall　see　you　both　again　to…morrow。
＇She　kisses　GEOFFREY。＇　　This　is　an　historic　day。

GEOFFREY　　Yes。　　I　daresay　we　shall　all　remember　it。

LADY　MOGTON　　＇To　JANET。＇　　I　will　get　you　to　come　to　the　station
with　me。　　I　can　give　you　your　instructions　in　the　cab。　　＇She　kisses
ANNYS。＇　　You　have　been　called　to　a　great　work。　　Be　worthy　of　it。

＇They　are　all　making　ready　to　go。　　ANNYS　has　rung　the　bell　for
HAKE。＇

JANET　　＇To　ANNYS。＇　　Are　you　glad？

ANNYS　　＇Kisses　her。＇　　You　showed　me　the　whole　thing　in　a　new　light。
You　were　splendid。　　＇She　turns　to　ELIZABETH。＇　　Didn't　I　tell　you　he
would　convert　you？

ELIZABETH　　I　was　wrong　to　judge　all　men　guilty。　　There　are　also
the　innocent。

ANNYS　　＇For　a　momentbut　a　moment　onlyshe　is　pleased。　　Then　the
doubtful　meaning　of　ELIZABETH'S　words　strikes　her。＇

＇Enter　HAKE。＇

ANNYS　　＇She　has　to　dismiss　ELIZABETH。＇　　Oh；　Hake＇To　LADY　MOGTON。＇
You'll　want　a　cab；　won't　you；　mamma？

LADY　MOGTON　　A　taxi　Goodbye；　everybody。

＇She　sails　out。＇

MRS。　MOUNTCALM…VILLIERS　　I　have　my　carriage。　　＇To　ELIZABETH。＇　　Can
I　give　you　a　lift？

ELIZABETH　　Thank　you。　　＇To　GEOFFREY。＇　　We　shall　meet　again。

GEOFFREY　　I　feel　sure　of　it。

＇MRS。　MOUNTCALM…VILLIERS　and　ELIZABETH　go　out。＇

PHOEBE　　＇To　HAKE。＇　　Are　Miss　Blake's　things　dry　yet？

JANET　　They'll　be　quite　all　right；　dear。　　Please　don't　trouble。
＇She　advances　a　timid　hand　to　GEOFFREY。＇　　Goodbye；　Mr。　Chilvers。

GEOFFREY　　＇He　takes　it　smiling。＇　　Goodbye。

＇She　goes　out；　HAKE　follows。＇

PHOEBE　　Goodbye；　old　boy。　　＇They　shake　hands。＇　　Don't　you　let　her
walk　over　you。　　Make　her　fight。

ANNYS　　＇Laughing。＇　　Don't　you　worry　about　that。

ST。　HERBERT　　Would　you　care　to　look　through　McCaw　v。　Potts？　　＇He
has　the　papers　in　his　hand。＇

GEOFFREY　　I'll　ask　you　for　it　when　I　want　it。

PHOEBE　　＇At　door。＇　　You'll　be　alone　this　evening？

ANNYS　　Yes。　　Come　in　to　dinner。

PHOEBE　　All　right。　　Goodbye。

ST。　HERBERT　　Goodbye。

＇GEOFFREY　and　ANNYS　answer　them。　　They　go　out；　closing　the　door。
GEOFFREY　is　by　the　fire。　　ANNYS　comes　to　him。＇

ANNYS　　＇She　puts　her　arms　round　him。＇　　You　don't　mind？

GEOFFREY　　＇He　holds　her　at　arms'　lengthlooking　into　her　eyes　and
smiling。＇　　I　believe　you　are　looking　forward　to　it。

ANNYS　　Do　you　know　how　long　we　have　been　married？　　Eight　years。
And　do　you　know；　sir；　that　all　that　time　we　have　never　had　a
difference？　　Don't　you　think　it　will　be　good　for　you？

GEOFFREY　　Do　you　know　WHY　we　have　never　had　a　difference？　　Because
you　have　always　had　your　own　way。

ANNYS　　Oh！

GEOFFREY　　You　have　got　so　used　to　it；　you　don't　notice　it。

ANNYS　　Then　it　will　be　good　for　me。　　I　must　learn　to　suffer
opposition。　　＇She　laughs。＇

GEOFFREY　　You　won't　like　it。

ANNYS　　Do　you　know；　I'm　not　at　all　sure　that　I　shan't。
＇Unconsciously　they　let　loose　of　one　another。＇　　You　see；　I　shall
have　the　right　of　hitting　back。　　＇Again　she　laughs。＇

GEOFFREY　　＇Also　laughingly。＇　　Is　woman　going　to　develop　the
fighting　instinct？

ANNYS　　I　wonder。

＇A　moment's　silence。＇

GEOFFREY　　The　difficulty　in　our　case　is　there　seems　nothing　to
fight　about。

ANNYS　　We　must　think　of　something。　　＇Laughs。＇

GEOFFREY　　What　line　are　you　going　to　takewhat　is　your　argument：
why　they　should　vote　for　you　in　preference　to　me？

ANNYS　　Simply　that　I　am　a　woman。

GEOFFREY　　My　dear　child；　that　won't　be　enough。　　Why　should　they
vote　for　you　merely　because　you're　a　woman？

ANNYS　　＇Slightly　astonished。＇　　Becausebecause　women　are　wanted　in
public　life。

GEOFFREY　　Who　wants　them？

ANNYS　　＇More　astonished。＇　　Who？　　Why＇it　doesn't　seem　too　clear。＇
Why；　all　of　usyou；　yourself！

GEOFFREY　　I'm　not　East　Poplar。

ANNYS　　＇Is　puzzled　a　moment；　then　valiantly。＇　　I　shall　ask　them　to
send　me　to　Parliament　to　represent　the　interests　of　their　women
and　therefore　of　themselvesthe　interests　of　their　children。

GEOFFREY　　Children！　　What　do　you　know　about　children？

＇Another　silence。＇

ANNYS　　Personallyno。　　We　have　had　no　children　of　our　own；　of
course。　　But　＇hopefully＇　it　is　a　woman's　instinct。

GEOFFREY　　Oh；　Lord！　　That's　what　the　lady　said　who　had　buried
seven。

ANNYS　　＇Her　mouth　is　growing　hard。＇　　Don't　you　believe　in　the　right
of　women　to　share　in　the　government　of　the　country？

GEOFFREY　　Some　women。　　Yes。　　I　can　see　some　capable　…

ANNYS　　＇Winces。＇

GEOFFREY　elderly；　motherly　woman　who　has　brought　up　a　dozen
children　of　her　ownwho　knows　the　world；　being　of　some　real　use。

ANNYS　　If　it　comes　to　that；　there　must　beI　don't　say　more
〃capable；〃　but　more　experienced；　more　fatherly　men　than　yourself。

＇He　turns；　they　look　at　one　another。　　His　tone　almost　touched
contempthers　was　veiled　anger。＇

GEOFFREY　　THAT'S　the　danger。　　It　may　come　to　a　real　fight。

ANNYS　　＇Upon　her　also　the　fear　has　fallen。＇　　It　must　not。　　＇She
flings　her　arms　around　him。＇　　We　must　show　the　world　that　man　and
woman　can　meetcontend　in　public　life　without　anger；　without
scorn。

GEOFFREY　　＇He　folds　her　to　him。＇　　The　very　words　sound　ugly；　don't
they？

ANNYS　　It　would　be　hideous。　　＇She　draws　away。＇　　How　long　will　the
election　last？

GEOFFREY　　Not　long。　　The　writ　will　be　issued　on　Wednesday。
Nomination　on　Mondaypolling；　I　expect；　on　Saturday。　　Puts　me　in
mindI　must　prepare　my　election　address。

ANNYS　　I　ought　to　be　getting　on　with　mine；　too；　I　suppose。

GEOFFREY　　It　ought　to　be　out　by　to…morrow。

ANNYS　　＇With　inspiration。＇　　We'll　do　yours　first。　　＇She　wonders　why
he　hesitates。＇

GEOFFREY　　〃We？〃　　Shan't　I　have　to　do　it　alonethis　time？

ANNYS　　Alone！　　Nonsense！　　How　can　you？

GEOFFREY　　I'm　afraid　I　shall　have　to　try。

ANNYS　　Um！　　I　suppose　you're　right。　　What　a　nuisance！　　＇She　turns
away。＇　　I　shan't　like　it。

GEOFFREY　　＇He　moves　towards　the　folding…doors。＇　　No。　　It　won't　be
quite　the　same　thing。　　Goodbye。

ANNYS　　＇She　crosses　to　her　desk　by　the　window。　　Not　the　same
instant　but　the　next　his　〃Goodbye〃　strikes　her。　　She　turns。＇
You're　not　going　out；　are　you？

GEOFFREY　　＇He　stops　and　turnspuzzled　at　her　question。＇　　No。　　Only
into　my　study。

ANNYS　　You　said　〃Goodbye。〃

GEOFFREY　　＇Not　remembering。＇　　_I_　did！　　Must　have　been　thinking　of
something　else。　　I　shall　be　in　here　if　you　want　me。　　＇He　goes　into
the　other　room。＇

ANNYS　　＇She　has　crossed　to　her　desk。　　She　is　humming。　　She　seats
herself；　takes　paper　and　pen；　writes。　　Without　turningstill
writingshe　raises　her　voice。＇　　Geoffrey！　　How　do　you　spell
〃experimental〃？　　One　〃r〃　or　two？

＇There　is　no　answer。　　Puzzled　at　the　silence；　she　looks　round。　　The
great　folding…doors　are　closed。　　She　stares　in　front　of　her；
thinking；　then　turns　again　to　her　work。＇

CURTAIN。



THE　SECOND　ACT



SCENE：…　Liberal　Central　Committee　Rooms；　East　India　Dock　Road；
Poplar。　　A　large；　high　room　on　the　first　floor　of　an　old…fashioned
house。　　Two　high　windows　right。　　A　door　at　back　is　the　main
entrance。　　A　door　left　leads　to　other　rooms。　　The　walls　are　papered
with　election　literature。　　Conspicuous　among　the　posters　displayed
is　〃A　Man　for　Men。〃　　〃No　Petticoat　Government。〃　　〃Will　you　be
Henpecked？〃　　A　large；　round　table　centre　is　littered　with　papers
and　pamphlets。　　A　large　desk　stands　between　the　windows。　　A　settee
is　against　the　left　wall。

＇When　the　curtain　rises；　ROSE　MERTON　（otherwise　〃GINGER〃）　is
discovered　seated；　her　left　arm　resting　on　the　table。　　She　is　a
young　lady　typical　of　the　Cockney　slavey　type；　dressed　according　to
the　ideas　of　her　class　as　regards　the　perfect　lady。　　Her　hat　is
characteristic。　　Her　gloves；　her　reticule；　her　umbrellathe　latter
something　rather　〃saucy〃are　displayed　around　her。　　She　is　feeling
comfortable　and　airing　her　views。　　MRS。　CHINN　is　laying　the　cloth
over　a　portion　of　the　table；　with　some　tea…things。　　MRS。　CHINN　is　a
thin；　narrow…chested　lady　with　thin　hands　and　bony　wrists。　　No　one
since　her　husband　died　has　ever　seen　her　without　her　bonnet。　　Its
appearance　suggests　the　possibility　that　she　sleeps　in　it。　　It　is
black；　like　her　dress。　　The　whole　figure　is　decent；　but　dingy。＇

GINGER　　Wot　I　say　about　the　question　is　…

MRS。　CHINN　　Do　you　mind　moving　your　arm？

GINGER　　Beg　pardon。　　＇She　shifts。＇　　Wot　I　say　is；　why　not　give　us
the　vote　and　end　all　the　talking？

MRS。　CHINN　　You　think　it　would　have　that　effect？

GINGER　　Well！　we　don't　want　to　go　on　being　a　nuisancelonger　than
we　can　possibly　'elp！

MRS。　CHINN　　Daresay　you're　right。　　It's　about　the　time　most　people
stop。

GINGER　　You've　never　thought　much　about　the　question　yourself；　'ave
you；　Mrs。　Chinn？

MRS。　CHINN　　I　ain't　fretted　much　about　it。

GINGER　　Was　a　time　when　I　didn't。　　I　used　to　be　all　foryou　know
larking　about。　　I　never　thought　much　about　anything。