the master of mrs. chilvers-第5章

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

MRS。　CHINN　　Ah！　it's　a　useful　habit。

GINGER　　What　is？

MRS。　CHINN　　Thinking。

GINGER　　It's　what　we　women　'aven't　done　enough　ofin　the　past；　I
mean。　　All　that's　going　to　be　altered。　　In　the　future　there's　going
to　be　no　difference　between　men　and　women。

MRS。　CHINN　　＇Slowly；　quietly　she　turns　upon　GINGER　her
expressionless　eyes。＇

GINGER　　Mentally；　I　mean；　o'　course。

MRS。　CHINN　　＇Takes　back　her　eyes。＇

GINGER　　Do　you　know；　Mrs。　Chinn；　that　once　upon　a　time　there　was
only　one　sex？　　＇She　spreads　herself。＇　　Hus！

MRS。　CHINN　　You　ain't　thinking　of　going　back　to　it；　are　you？

GINGER　　Not　if　the　men　be'ave　themselves。

MRS。　CHINN　　Perhaps　they're　doing　their　best；　poor　things！　　It
don't　do　to　be　too　impatient　with　them。

GINGER　　Was　talking　to　old　Dot…and…carry…one　the　other　d'y。　　You
know　who　I　meanchap　with　the　wooden　leg　as　'as　'is　pitch　outside
the　〃George。〃　　〃Wot　do　you　wimmen　want　worrying　yourselves　about
things　outside　the　'ome？〃　'e　says　to　me。　　〃You've　got　the
children；〃　'e　says。　　〃Oh；〃　I　says；　〃and　whose　fault's　that；　I'd
like　to　know？　　You　wait　till　we've　got　the　vote；〃　I　says；　〃we'll
soon　show　you〃

＇SIGSBY　enters。　　SIGSBY　is　a　dapper　little　man；　very　brisk　and
bustlinghirsutelooks　as　if　he　wanted　dusting；　cleaning　up
generally。＇

SIGSBY　　That　young　blackguard　come　back　yet？

GINGER　　＇At　sound　of　SIGSBY'S　voice　she　springs　up。　　At　first　is
about　to　offer　excuses　for　being　found　seated；　but　recollects
herself。＇

MRS。　CHINN　　Which　one；　sir？

SIGSBY　　Young　Jawboneswhat's　he　call　himself？Gordon。

MRS。　CHINN　　Not　yet；　sir。

SIGSBY　　＇Grunts。＇　　My　chop　ready？

MRS。　CHINN　　I　expect　it's　about　done。　　I'll　see。

＇She　goes　out。＇

SIGSBY　　＇He　turns　to　GINGER。＇　　What　can　_I_　do　for　you？

GINGER　　＇She　produces　a　letter。＇　　I　was　to　wait　for　an　answer。

SIGSBY　　＇He　opens　and　reads　it。＇　　What　do　they　expect　me　to　do？

GINGER　　'Er　ladyship　thought　as　perhaps　you　would　consult　Mr。
Chilvers　'imself　on　the　subject。

SIGSBY　　Look　here。　　What　I　want　to　know　is　this：　　am　I　being　asked
to　regard　Lady　Mogton　as　my　opponent's　election　agent；　or　as　my
principal's　mother…in…law？　　That　point's　got　to　be　settled。　　＇His
vehemence　deepens。＇　　Look　at　all　these　posters。　　Not　to　be　used；
for　fear　the　other　side　mayn't　like　them。　　Now　Lady　Mogton　writes
me　that　my　candidate's　supporters　are　not　to　employ　a　certain
argument　she　disapproves　of：　　because；　if　they　do；　she'll　tell　his
wife。　　Is　this　an　election；　or　is　it　a　family　jar？

＇JAWBONES　enters。　　JAWBONESotherwise　WILLIAM　GORDONis　a　clean…
shaven　young　hooligan。　　He　wears　a　bicycle　cap　on　the　back　of　his
head；　allowing　a　picturesque　tuft　of　hair　to　fall　over　his
forehead。　　Evidently　he　is　suffering　from　controlled　indignation。＇

SIGSBY　　＇Seeing　him。＇　　Oh；　so　you've　come　back；　have　you？

JAWBONES　　I　'ave；　wot's　left　of　me。

SIGSBY　　What　have　you　been　doing？

JAWBONES　　Clinging　to　a　roof　for　the　last　three　hours。

SIGSBY　　Clinging　to　a　roof！　　What　for？

JAWBONES　　＇He　boils　over。＇　　Wot　for？　　'Cos　I　didn't　want　to　fall
off！　　Wot　do　you　think：　　'cos　I　was　fond　of　it？

SIGSBY　　I　don't　understand　…

JAWBONES　　You　find　yourself　'alf　way　up　a　ladder；　posting　bills　as
the　other　side　'as　took　objection　towith　a　crowd　of　girls　from
Pink's　jam　factory　waiting　for　you　at　the　bottom　with　a　barrel　of
treacle；　and　you　WILL　understand。　　Nothing　else　for　me　to　do；　o'
course；　but　to　go　up。　　Then　they　took　the　ladder　away。

SIGSBY　　Where　are　the　bills？

JAWBONES　　Last　I　see　of　them　was　their　being　put　into　a　'earse　on
its　way　to　Ilford　Cemetery。

SIGSBY　　This　has　got　to　be　seen　into。　　This　sort　of　thing　can't　be
allowed　to　go　on。　　＇He　snatches　up　his　hat。＇

JAWBONES　　There's　another　suggestion　I'd　like　to　make。

SIGSBY　　＇Pauses。＇

JAWBONES　　That　is；　if　this　election　is　going　to　be　fought　fairly；
that　our　side　should　be　provided　with　'at…pins。

SIGSBY　　＇Grunts。＇　　Tell　Mrs。　Chinn　to　keep　that　chop　warm。　　＇He
goes　out。＇

GINGER　　＇She　begins　to　giggle。　　It　grows　into　a　shrill　hee…haw。＇

JAWBONES　　＇He　looks　at　her　fixedly。＇

GINGER　　＇Her　laugh；　under　the　stern　eye　of　JAWBONES；　dies　away。＇

JAWBONES　　Ain't　no　crowd　of　you　'ere；　you　know。　　Nothing　but　my
inborn　chivalry　to　prevent　my　pulling　your　nose。

GINGER　　＇Cowed；　but　simmering。＇　　Chivalry！　　＇A　shrill　snort。＇

JAWBONES　　Yus。　　And　don't　you　put　a　strain　upon　it　neither。
Because　I　tell　you　straight；　it's　weakening。

GINGER　　＇His　sudden　fierceness　has　completely　cowed　her。＇

JAWBONES　　You　wimmin　…

＇There　re…enters　Mrs。　CHINN　with　a　tray。　　He　is　between　them。＇

That's　old　Sigsby's　chop？

MRS。　CHINN　　Yes。　　He　hasn't　gone　out　again；　has　he？

JAWBONES　　I'll　'ave　it。　　Get　'im　another。　　Guess　'e　won't　be　back
for　'alf　an　hour。

MRS。　CHINN　　He's　nasty　when　his　food　ain't　ready。

JAWBONES　　＇He　takes　the　tray　from　her。＇　　Not　your　fault。　　Tell　'im
I　took　it　from　you　by　brute　force。

MRS。　CHINN　　＇She　acquiesces　with　her　usual　even　absence　of　all
emotion。＇

JAWBONES　　You　needn't　stop。　　Miss　Rose　Merton　will　do　the　waiting。

GINGER　　＇Starts；　then　begins　to　collect　her　etceteras。＇

MRS。　CHINN　　Perhaps　there'll　be　time　to　cook　him　another。

＇She　goes　out。＇

JAWBONES　　Take　off　that　cover。

GINGER　　＇She　starts　on　a　bolt　for　the　door。＇

JAWBONES　　＇He　is　quite　prepared。　　In　an　instant　he　is　in　front　of
her。＇　　No；　yer　don't。

＇A　pause。＇

Take　off　that　cover。

GINGER　　＇She　still　hesitates。＇

JAWBONES　　If　yer　don't　do　what　I　tell　yer；　I'll　'ide　yer。　　I'm　in
the　mood。

GINGER　　＇She　takes　off　the　cover。＇

JAWBONES　　＇He　seats　himself　and　falls　to。＇　　Now　pour　me　out　a　cup
of　tea。

GINGER　　＇Is　pouring　it　out。＇

JAWBONES　　Know　why　yer　doing　it？

GINGER　　＇With　shrill　indignation。＇　　Yus。　　Becos　yer　got　me　'ere
alone；　yer　beast；　with　only　that　cracked　image　of　a　Mrs。　Chinn　…

JAWBONES　　That'll　do。

GINGER　　＇It　is　sufficient。　　She　stops。＇

JAWBONES　　None　of　your　insults　agen　a　lady　as　I　'olds　in　'igh
respect。　　The　rest　of　it　is　all　right。　　Becos　I've　got　yer　'ere
alone。　　You　wimmin；　you　think　it's　going　to　pay　you　to　chuck　law
and　order。　　You're　out　for　a　fight；　are　yer？

GINGER　　Yus；　and　we're　going　to　win。　　Brute　force　'as　'ad　its　d'y。
It's　brains　wot　are　going　to　rule　the　world。　　And　we've　got　'em。

＇She　has　become　quite　oratorical。＇

JAWBONES　　Glad　to　'ear　it。　　Take　my　tip：　　you'll　use　'em。
Meanwhile　I'll　'ave　another　cup　o'　tea。

GINGER　　＇She　takes　the　cupis　making　for　the　window。＇

JAWBONES　　＇Fierce　again。＇　　I　said　tea。

GINGER　　All　right；　I　was　only　going　to　throw　the　slops　out　of
window。　　There　ain't　no　basin。

JAWBONES　　I'll　tell　yer　when　I　want　yer　to　open　the　window　and　call
for　the　p'lice。　　You　can　throw　them　into　the　waste…paper　basket。

GINGER　　＇She　obeys。＇

JAWBONES　　Thank　you。　　Very　much　obliged。　　One　of　these　d'ys；　maybe；
you'll　marry。

GINGER　　When　I　do；　it　will　be　a　man；　not　a　monkey。

JAWBONES　　I'm　not　proposing。　　I'm　talking　to　you　for　your　good。

GINGER　　＇Snorts。＇

JAWBONES　　You've　been　listening　to　a　lot　of　toffs。　　Easy　enough　for
them　to　talk　about　wimmen　not　being　domestic　drudges。　　They　keep　a
cook　to　do　it。　　They　don't　pity　'e　for　being　a　down…trodden　slive；
spending　sixteen　hours　a　d'y　in　THEIR　kitchen　with　an　evening　out
once　a　week。　　When　you　marry　it　will　be　to　a　bloke　like　me；　a
working　man　。　。　。

GINGER　　Working！　　＇She　follows　it　with　a　shrill　laugh。＇

JAWBONES　　Yus。　　There's　always　a　class　as　laughs　when　you　mention
the　word　〃work。〃　　Them　as　knows　wot　it　is；　don't。　　I've　been　at　it
since　six　o'clock　this　morning；　carrying　a　ladder；　a　can　of　paste
weighing　twenty　pounds；　and　two　'undred　double　royal　posters。　　You
try　it！　　When　'e　comes　'ome；　'e'll　want　'is　victuals。　　If　you've
got　'em　ready　for　'im　and　are　looking　niceno　reason　why　you
shouldn'tand　feeling　amiable；　you'll　get　on　very　well　together。
If　you　are　going　to　argue　with　'im　about　woman's　sphere；　you'll　get
the　worst　of　it。

GINGER　　You　always　was　a　bully。

JAWBONES　　Not　always。　　Remember　last　Bank　'oliday？　　＇He　winks。＇

GINGER　　＇She　tries　not　to　give　in。＇

JAWBONES　　'Ave　a　cup　of　tea。　　＇He　pours　it　out　for　her。＇

GINGER　　＇The　natural　woman　steals　inshe　sits。＇

JAWBONES　　'Ow　are　they　doing　you；　fairly　well？

GINGER　　Oh！　　Well；　nothing　to　grumble　at。

JAWBONES　　You　can　do　a　bit　o'　dressing　on　it。

GINGER　　＇She　meets　his　admiring　eye。　　The　suffragette　departs。＇
Dressing　don't　cost　muchwhen　you've　got　tyste。

JAWBONES　　Wot！　　Not　that　'at？

GINGER　　Made　it　myself。

JAWBONES　　No！

GINGER　　Honour　bright！　　Tell　yer　…

＇GEOFFREY　and　ST。　HERBERT　enter。　　JAWBONES　and　GINGER　make　to　rise。
GINGER　succeeds。＇

GEOFFREY　　All　right；　all　right。　　Don't　let　me　disturb　the　party。
Where's　Mr。　Sigsby？

JAWBONES　　Gone　to　look　up　the　police；　I　think；　sir。　　＇Having
finished；　he　rises。＇　　Some　of　those　factory　girls　been　up　to　their
larks　again。

GEOFFREY　　Umph！　　What's　it　about　this　time？

JAWBONES　　They've　took　objection　to　one　of　our　posters。

GEOFFREY　　What；　another！　　＇To　ST。　HERBERT。＇　　Woman　has　disappointed
me　as　a　fighter。　　She's　willing　enough　to　strike。　　If　you　hit　back；
she's　surprised　and　grieved。

ST。　HERBERT　　She's　come　to　the　game　rather　late。

GEOFFREY　　She　might　have　learned　the　rules。　　＇To　JAWBONES。＇　　Which
particular　one　is　it　that　has　failed　to　meet　with　their　approval？

JAWBONES　　It's　rather　a　good　one；　sir；　from　our　point　of　view：
〃Why　she　left　her　'appy　'ome。〃

GEOFFREY　　I　don't　seem　to　remember　it。　　Have　I　seen　it？

JAWBONES　　I　don't　think　you　'ave；　sir。　　It　was　Mr。　Sigsby's　idea。
On　the　left；　the　ruined　'ome；　baby　crying　it's　little　'eart　out
eldest　child　lying　on　the　floor；　scaldedupset　the　tea…kettle　over
itselfyoungest　boy　in　flamesbeen　playing　with　the　matches；
nobody　there　to　stop　'im。　　At　the　open　door　the　father；　returning
from　work。　　Nothing　ready　for　'im。　　On　the　other　side'ER；　on　a
tub；　spouting　politics。

GEOFFREY　　＇To　ST。　HERBERT。＇　　Sounds　rather　good。

JAWBONES　　Wait　a　minute。　　There　was　a　copy　somewhere　abouta
proof。　　＇He　is　searching　for　it　on　the　deskfinds　it。＇　　Yus；　'ere
'tis。　　＇To　GINGER。＇　　Catch　'old。

＇JAWBONES　and　GINGER　hold　it　displayed。＇　　That's　the　one；　sir。

ST。　HERBERT　　Why　is　the　working　man；　for　pictorial　purposes；　always
a　carpenter？

GINGER　　It's　the　skirt　we　object　to。

GEOFFREY　　The　skirt！　　What's　wrong　with　the　skirt？

GINGER　　Well；　it's　only　been　out　of　fashion　for　the　last　three
years；　that's　all。

GEOFFREY　　Oh！　　I　see。　　＇To　ST。　HERBERT。＇　　We've　been　hitting　them
below　the　belt。　　What　do　you　think　I　ought　to　do　about　it？

ST。　HERBERT　　What　would　you　have　thought　yourself；　three　weeks　ago？

GEOFFREY　　You　and　I　have　been　friends　ever　since　we　were　boys。　　You
rather　like　me；　don't　you？

ST。　HERBERT　　＇Puzzled。＇　　Yes。

GEOFFREY　　If　I　were　to　suddenly　hit　you　on　the　nose；　what　would
happen？

ST。　HERBERT　　I　understand。　　Woman　has　suddenly　started　hitting　man
on　the　nose。　　Her　excuse　being　that　she　really　couldn't　keep　her
hands　off　him　any　longer。

JAWBONES　　＇He　has　pinned　the　poster　to　the　wall。＇　　They　begun　it。
To　'ear　them　talk；　you'd　think　as　man　ha