the master of mrs. chilvers-第9章

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LAMB　　Hasn't　Chilvers　any　idea？

SIGSBY　　Can't　get　him　to　talk。　　Don't　think　he's　seen　her　since
that　shindy　over　the　Deputation。

LAMB　　Humph！

SIGSBY　　Even　if　she　herself　wished　to　draw　back；　the　others　would
overrule　her。

LAMB　　I'm　not　so　sure　of　that。　　She's　got　a　way　of　shutting　her
mouth　that　reminds　me　of　my　old　woman。

SIGSBY　　The　arrangement；　as　he　explained　it　to　me；　was　that　the
whole　thing　was　to　end　with　the　polling。　　It　was　to　have　been　a
mere　joke；　a　mere　ballon　d'essai。　　The　mistake　he　made　was　thinking
he　could　depend　on　her。

LAMB　　Guess　she　made　the　same　mistake。　　You　can　fight　and　shake
hands　afterwards；　it　doesn't　go　with　kissing。

SIGSBY　　Man　and　woman　were　not　made　to　fight。　　It　was　never
intended。

＇The　woman's　〃Marseillaise〃　has　been　taken　up　by　the　crowd。　　The
chorus　has　been　reached。＇

Oh；　damn　your　row！　　＇He　slams　to　the　window；　it　was　ajar。＇

＇JAWBONES　has　entered；　with　his　purchases。＇

＇Turning　from　window　he　sees　JAWBONES；　goes　to　meet　him。＇　　Couldn't
they　do　anything？

JAWBONES　　＇He　has　bought　a　new　hat；　has　also　brought　back　the
remains。　　He　shakes　his　head。＇　　No　good　for　anything　else　but　a
memento。

SIGSBY　　＇With　a　grunt　he　snatches　the　thing　and　flings　it　into　a
corner。　　Tries　on　the　new　one。＇

JAWBONES　　'Ow's　it　feel？

＇SIGSBY；　with　the　help　of　JAWBONES；　attends　to　his　appearance。＇

LAMB　　＇To　ST。　HERBERT。＇　　No　use　talking　to　her；　I　suppose？

ST。　HERBERT　　＇Shrugs　his　shoulders。＇　　She'll　do　what　she　imagines
to　be　her　duty。　　Women　are　so　uncivilised。

＇A　burst　of　cheering　is　heard。　　A　shrill　male　voice：　　〃Three　cheers
for　Winston　Churchill！〃　　It　is　followed　by　an　explosion　of　yells。＇

ST。　HERBERT　　Who's　that？

LAMB　　＇He　has　opened　the　window。＇　　Phoebe　Mogton！

SIGSBY　　What　a　family！

＇JANET　has　entered。＇

JANET　　Is　that　Mrs。　Chilvers？　　＇To　LAMB　and　ST。　HERBERT。＇　　Good
evening。

ST。　HERBERT　　Good　evening。

LAMB　　No；　it's　her　sister。

JANET　　I　wonder　she　doesn't　come。

SIGSBY　　What　are　the　latest　figures？　　Do　you　know？

＇PHOEBE　enters。＇

JANET　　I　forget　the　numbers。　　Mrs。　Chilvers　is　forty　ahead。

PHOEBE　　Forty　ahead！　　＇To　JANET。＇　　Did　you　order　the　band？

LAMB　　＇To　SIGSBY。＇　　The　Dock　division　was　against　him　to　a　man；
that　Shipping　Bill　has　upset　them。

JANET　　No。　　I　didn't　think　we　should　want　the　band。

PHOEBE　　Not　want　it！　　My　dear　girl　…

JANET　　Perhaps　Lady　Mogton　has　ordered　it；　I'll　ask　her。　　＇She　goes
out。＇

SIGSBY　　Hadn't　you　better　〃Wait　and　see〃？　　It　isn't　over　yet。

PHOEBE　　We　may　as　well　have　it！　　It　can　play　the　Dead　March　in
〃Saul〃　if　you　win。　　＇She　laughs。＇

SIGSBY　　＇Grunts。　　To　LAMB。＇　　Are　you　coming？

＇He　goes　out。＇

LAMB　　Yes。　　＇To　ST。　HERBERT。＇　　Are　you　coming？

ST。　HERBERT　　Hardly　worth　while；　nearly　over；　isn't　it？

LAMB　　It　generally　takes　an　hour　and　a　half。　　＇He　looks　at　his
watch。＇　　Another　forty　minutes。　　Perhaps　less。　　＇He　goes　out。＇

PHOEBE　　I　do　love　to　make　him　ratty。　　Wish　it　wasn't　poor　old　Geoff
we　were　fighting。

ST。　HERBERT　　When　I　marry；　it　will　be　the　womanly　woman。

PHOEBE　　No　chance　for　me　then？

ST。　HERBERT　　I　don't　say　that。　　I　can　see　you　taking　your　political
opinions　from　your　husband；　and　thinking　them　your　own。

PHOEBE　　Good　heavens！

ST。　HERBERT　　The　brainy　woman　will　think　for　herself。　　And　then　I
foresee　some　lively　breakfast　tables。

PHOEBE　　Humph！　　No　fear；　I　suppose；　of　a　man　taking　his　views　from
his　wife　and　thinking　them　his　own？

ST。　HERBERT　　That　may　be　the　solution。　　The　brainy　woman　will　have
to　marry　the　manly　man。

＇GINGER　enters。＇

JAWBONES　　＇He　is　on　his　knees　blowing　the　fire。　　In　a　low　growl。＇
Shut　the　door！

GINGER　　Can't　till　I'm　inside；　can　I？　　＇Shuts　it。＇　　Where's　Lady
Mogton？

JAWBONES　　I　don't　know。

PHOEBE　　What　do　you　want　her　for？

GINGER　　Only　to　tell　her　that　I　can't　find　Chilvers。

PHOEBE　　Isn't　she　here？

GINGER　　Not　unless　she's　come　while　I've　been　out。

＇JANET　enters。＇

JANET　　Oh；　Lady　Mogton　…

PHOEBE　　＇Interrupting　her。＇　　Isn't　Annys　here？

JANET　　No。　　＇To　GINGER。＇　　Haven't　you　found　her？

GINGER　　＇Shakes　her　head。＇　　Been　everywhere　I　could　think　of。

PHOEBE　　＇To　herself。＇　　She　couldn't　have　gone　home？　　Is　there　a
telephone　here？

JANET　　The　room's　locked　up。

JAWBONES　　There's　one　at　118；　High　Street。　　Shall　I　go；　miss？

PHOEBE　　No；　thanks。　　I'll　go　myself。　　Oh；　what　about　the　band？

JANET　　Lady　Mogton　says　she'd　like　it。　　If　it　isn't　too　tired。

GINGER　　It's　at　Sell's　Coffee…'ouse　in　Piggott　Street。　　I　'eard
them　practising。

PHOEBE　　Good。　　I　shan't　be　more　than　a　few　minutes。

ST。　HERBERT　　I'll　come　with　you；　if　I　may？　　I've　got　some　news　that
may　be　of　use　to　you。

PHOEBE　　Do。　　＇To　GINGER。＇　　Stop　here；　I　may　want　you。

＇PHOEBE　and　ST。　HERBERT　go　out。＇

JANET　　How　was　Mrs。　Chilvers　seeming　this　afternoon？

GINGER　　Never　'eard　'er　speak　better；　miss。

JANET　　Did　you　stop　to　the　end？

GINGER　　Not　quite。　　Mrs。　Spender　wanted　some　shopping　done。

＇JANET　goes　out。＇

GINGER　　Can　I　'elp　yer？

JAWBONES　　Yer　might　hold　the　piper　while　I　blow。

＇The　fire　begins　to　burn。＇

GINGER　　It's　getting　brighter。

JAWBONES　　That's　caught　it。

GINGER　　Wonderful　what　a　little　coaxing　will　do。

JAWBONES　　＇He　is　still　squatting　on　his　heels；　folding　up　the
paper。　　He　looks　up。＇　　Ain't　yer　ever　thought　of　that；　instead　of
worrying　about　the　vote？

GINGER　　＇She　moves　away。＇　　You　don't　understand　us　wimmin。

JAWBONES　　＇He　has　risen。　　He　pauses　in　his　folding　of　the　paper。＇
Don't　say　that。

GINGER　　Why　should　we　coax　yerfor　our　rights？

JAWBONES　　Because　it's　the　easiest　way　of　getting　'em。

GINGER　　＇She　has　become　oratorical。＇　　Our　appeal　is　not　to　man
＇with　upraised　hand＇　but　to　Justice！

JAWBONES　　Oh！　　And　what　does　the　lidy　say？

GINGER　　＇Descending。＇　　'Ow　do　yer　mean？

JAWBONES　　To　your　appeal。　　Is　she　goin'　to　give　'em　to　yer　？　　You
tike　my　tip：　　if　yer　in　a　'urry；　you　get　a　bit　on　accountfrom
Man。　　'Ere。　　＇He　dives　into　his　pocket；　produces；　wrapped　up　in
tissue　paper；　a　ring；　which　he　exhibits　to　her。＇　　That's　a　bit　more
in　your　line。

GINGER　　＇Her　eyes　sparkle。　　She　takes　the　ring　in　her　hand。　　Then
problems　come　to　her。＇　　Why　do　yer　want　me；　William？

JAWBONES　　Because；　in　spite　of　all；　I　love　yer。

GINGER　　＇She　looks　into　the　future。＇　　What　will　I　be？　　A　general
servant；　without　wages。

JAWBONES　　The　question；　as　it　seems　to　me；　is；　which　of　us　two　is
the　biggest　fool？　　Instead　of　thirty　bob　a　week　in　my　pocket　to
spend　as　I　likeguess　I'll　'ave　to　be　content　with　three　'alf…
crowns。

GINGER　　Seven　an'　six！　　Rather　a　lot；　Bill；　out　o'　thirty　bob。
Don't　leave　much　for　me　an'　the　children。

JAWBONES　　I　shall　'ave　to　get　my　dinners。

GINGER　　I　could　mike　yer　somethin'　tasty　to　tike　with　yer。　　Then
with；　saythree　shillings　…

JAWBONES　　'Ere＇He　is　on　the　point　of　snatching　back　the　ring。　　He
encounters　her　eyes。　　There　is　a　moment's　battle。　　The　Eternal
Feminine　conquers。＇　　Will　yer　always　look　as　sweet　as　yer　do　now？

GINGER　　Always；　Bill。　　So　long　as　yer　good　to　me！

＇She　slips　the　ring　over　her　finger；　still　with　her　eyes　drawing
him。　　He　catches　her　to　him　in　fierce　passion；　kisses　her。＇

＇A　loud　shrill　female　cheer　comes　from　the　crowd。　　The　cheer　is
renewed　and　renewed。＇

JAWBONES　　＇He　breaks　away　and　goes　to　the　window。＇　　'Ullo！　　What
are　they　shoutin'　about　now？　　＇He　looks　out。＇　　It's　the　Donah！

GINGER　　Mrs。　Chilvers？

JAWBONES　　Yus。　　Better　not　get　wearin'　itmay　shock　their
feelings。

GINGER　　＇She　gazes　rapturously　at　the　ring　as　she　draws　it　off。＇
It　is　a　beauty！　　I　do　love　yer；　Bill。

＇There　enter　ANNYS　and　ELIZABETH。　　ANNYS　is　excited；　she　is
laughing　and　talking。＇

ANNYS　　＇Laughing　while　she　rearranges　her　hat　and　hair。＇　　A　little
embarrassing。　　That　red…haired　girlshe　carried　me　right　up　the
steps。　　I　was　afraid　she　would　…

＇JAWBONES　has　been　quick　enough　to　swing　a　chair　into　place　just　in
time　to　receive　her。＇

＇She　recovers　herself。＇　　Thank　you。

ELIZABETH　　＇She　hands　ANNYS　a　smelling…bottle。　　To　JAWBONES。＇　　Open
the　window　a　few　inches。

＇He　does　so。　　Some　woman；　much　interrupted；　is　making　a　speech。＇

＇JANET　opens　the　door　a　little　way　and　looks　in。＇

JANET　　Oh；　it　is　you！　　I　am　glad！

＇She　goes　out　again。＇

ELIZABETH　　Are　the　others　all　here？

GINGER　　'Er　ladyship　is　watching　the　counting。　　Miss　Phoebe　'as
just　gone　out　…

＇PHOEBE　enters。＇

Oh；　'ere　she　is。

PHOEBE　　Hullo！　　＇She　is　taking　off　her　things。＇　　Wherever　have　you
been？　　We've　been　scouring　the　neighbourhood　…

＇LADY　MOGTON　enters；　followed　by　JANET。＇

I　say；　you're　looking　jolly　chippy。

ELIZABETH　　We　had　an　extra　enthusiastic　meeting。　　She　spoke　for
rather　a　long　time。　　I　made　her　come　home　with　me　and　lie　down。　　I
think　she　is　all　right　now。

LADY　MOGTON　　Would　you　like　to　see　a　doctor？

PHOEBE　　There　is　a　very　good　man　close　here。　　＇She　turns　to
JAWBONES；　who　is　still　near　the　window。＇　　Gordon　…

ANNYS　　＇Interrupting。＇　　No。　　Please　don't。　　I　am　quite　all　right。
I　hate　strange　doctors。

PHOEBE　　Well；　let　me　send　for　Whitby；　he　could　be　here　in　twenty
minutes。

ANNYS　　I　wish　you　would　all　leave　me　alone。　　There's　absolutely
nothing　to　fuss　about　whatever。　　We　pampered　womenwe　can't
breathe　the　same　air　that　ordinary　mortals　have　to。　　We　ought　to　be
ashamed　of　ourselves。

PHOEBE　　＇To　herself。＇　　Obstinate　pig。

＇She　catches　JAWBONES'　eye；　unnoticed　by　the　others；　she　takes　him
aside。　　They　whisper。＇

ANNYS　　How　is　it　going？

LADY　MOGTON　　You　must　be　prepared　for　winning。　　＇She　puts　again　the
question　that　ANNYS　has　frequently　been　asked　to　answer　during　the
last　few　days。＇　　What　are　you　going　to　do？

＇MRS。　MOUNTCALM…VILLIERS　enters；　as　usual　in　a　flutter　of
excitement。＇

MRS。　MOUNTCALM…VILLIERS　　Am　I　late？

＇They　brush　her　back　into　silence。　　ELIZABETH　takes　charge　of　her。＇

ANNYS　　＇She　has　risen。＇　　You　think　it　wise　tactics；　to　make　it
impossible　for　Geoffrey　to　be　anything　else　in　the　future　but　our
enemy？

LADY　MOGTON　　＇Contemptuously。＇　　You　are　thinking　of　him；　and　not　of
the　cause。

ANNYS　　And　if　I　were！　　Haven't　I　made　sacrifice　enough？more　than
any　of　you　will　ever　know。　　Ayand　would　make　more；　if　I　felt　it
was　demanded　of　me。　　I　don't！　　＇Her　burst　of　anger　is　finished。
She　turns；　smiling。＇　　I'm　much　more　cunning　than　you　think。　　There
will　be　other　elections　we　shall　want　to　fight。　　With　the　Under…
Secretary　for　Home　Affairs　in　sympathy　with　us；　the　Government　will
find　it　difficult　to　interfere。　　Don't　you　see　how　clever　I　am？

＇JAWBONES；　having　received　his　instructions　from　PHOEBE；　has
slipped　out　unobserved。　　He　has　beckoned　to　GINGER；　she　has
followed　him。　　PHOEBE　has　joined　the　group。＇

MRS。　MOUNTCALM…VILLIERS。　　There's　something　in　that。

JANET　　Is　Mr。　Chilvers　still　in　sympathy　with　us？

PHOEBE　　Of　course　he　is。　　A　bit　rubbed　up　the　wrong　way　just　at
present；　that's　our　fault。　　When　Annys　goes　down；　early　next　mouth；
to　fight　the　Exchange　Division　of　Manchester；　we　shall　have　him
with　us。

＇A　moment。＇

LADY　MOGTON　　Where　do　you　get　that　from？

PHOEBE　　From　St。　Herbert。　　The　present　member　is　his　cousin。　　They
say　he　can't　live　more　than　a　week。

MRS。　MOUNTCALM…VILLIERS　　It　reall