the master of mrs. chilvers-第7章

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expressing　indignation　with　one　of　my　supporters　for　merely　having
hinted　at　the　fact。

ANNYS　　I　don't　understand。

GEOFFREY　　＇He　takes　from　the　table　the　letter　and　hands　it　to　her
in　silence。　　He　seats　himself　on　the　settee　and　watches　her。＇

ANNYS　　＇She　seats　herself　on　a　chair　just　opposite　to　him；　reads
the　letter　through　in　silence。＇　　In　my　case　it　does　not　apply。

GEOFFREY　　How　do　you　know？

ANNYS　　＇The　atmosphere　has　grown　suddenly　oppressive。＇　　Oh；　II
think　we　might　find　some　other　reason　than　that。　　＇She　hands　him
back　the　letter。＇

GEOFFREY　　It's　the　only　one　of　any　importance。　　It　embraces　all　the
others。　　Shall　woman　be　motheror　politician？　　＇He　puts　the　letter
in　his　pocket。＇

ANNYS　　Why　cannot　she　be　both？

GEOFFREY　　＇He　is　looking　at　her　searchingly。＇　　Because　if　she　is
the　one；　she　doesn't　want　to　be　the　other。

＇A　silence。＇

ANNYS　　You　are　wrong。　　It　is　the　mother　instinct　that　makes　us
politicians。　　We　want　to　take　care　of　the　world。

GEOFFREY　　Exactly。　　You　think　man's　job　more　interesting　than　your
own。

ANNYS　　＇After　a　moment。＇　　Who　told　you　that　it　was　a　man's　job？

GEOFFREY　　Well。　　＇He　shrugs　his　shoulders。＇　　We　can't　do　yours。

ANNYS　　Can't　we　help　each　other？

GEOFFREY　　As；　for　instance；　in　this　election！　　＇He　gives　a　short
laugh。＇

ANNYS　　Of　course；　this　is　an　exceptional　case。

GEOFFREY　　It's　an　epitome　of　the　whole　question。　　You　are　trying　to
take　my　job　away　from　me。　　To　the　neglect　of　your　own。

ANNYS　　＇After　another　moment's　silence。＇　　Haven't　I　always　tried　to
do　my　duty？

GEOFFREY　　I　have　thought　so。

ANNYS　　Oh；　my　dear；　we　mustn't　quarrel。　　You　will　win　this
election。　　I　want　you　to　win　it。　　Next　time　we　must　fight　side　by
side　again。

GEOFFREY　　Don't　you　see？　　Fighting　you　means　fighting　the　whole
movement。　　＇He　indicates　the　posters　pinned　to　the　walls。＇　　That
sort　of　thing。

ANNYS　　＇After　a　brief　inspection。＇　　Not　that　way。　　＇Shaking　her
head。＇　　It　would　break　my　heart　for　you　to　turn　against　us。　　Win
because　you　are　the　better　man。　　＇Smiling。＇　　I　want　you　to　be　the
better　man。

GEOFFREY　　I　would　rather　be　your　husband。

ANNYS　　＇Smiling。＇　　Isn't　that　the　same　thing？

GEOFFREY　　No。　　I　want　a　wife。

ANNYS　　What　precisely　do　you　mean　by　〃wife〃？

GEOFFREY　　It's　an　old…established　word。

＇MRS。　CHINN　has　entered　to　complete　the　tea　arrangements。　　She　is
arranging　the　table。＇

MRS。　CHINN　　There's　a　deputation　downstairs；　sir；　just　come　for
you。

GEOFFREY　　What　are　they？

MRS。　CHINN　　It's　one　of　those　societies　for　the　reform　of
something。　　They　said　you　were　expecting　them。

SIGSBY　　＇Breaking　away　from　the　group　by　the　window。＇　　Quite　right。
＇Looks　at　his　watch。＇　　Five　o'clock；　I'll　bring　them　up。

GEOFFREY　　Happen　to　know　what　it　is　they　want　to　reform？

SIGSBY　　＇By　door。＇　　Laws　relating　to　the　physical　relationship
between　the　sexes；　I　think。

GEOFFREY　　Oh；　only　that！

SIGSBY　　Something　of　the　sort。

＇He　goes　out。　　MRS。　CHINN　also　by　the　other　door。＇

GEOFFREY　　＇Rising。＇　　Will　you　pour　out？

ANNYS　　＇She　has　been　thinking。　　She　comes　back　to　the　present。＇　　We
shan't　be　in　your　way？

GEOFFREY　　Oh；　no。　　It　will　make　it　easier　to　get　rid　of　them。

＇ANNYS　changes　her　chair。　　The　others　gather　round。　　The　service
and　drinking　of　tea　proceeds　in　the　usual　course。＇

＇To　ELIZABETH。＇　　You'll　take　some　tea？

ELIZABETH　　Thank　you。

GEOFFREY　　You　must　be　enjoying　yourself　just　now。

ELIZABETH　　＇Makes　a　moue。＇　　They　insist　on　my　being　agreeable。

ANNYS　　It's　so　good　for　her。　　Teaches　her　self…control。

LAMB　　I　gather　from　Mrs。　Spender；　that　in　the　perfect　world　there
will　be　no　men　at　all。

ELIZABETH　　Oh；　yes；　they　will　be　there。　　But　in　their　proper　place。

ST。　HERBERT　　That's　why　you　didn't　notice　them。

＇The　DEPUTATION　reaches　the　door。　　The　sound　of　voices　is　heard。＇

PHOEBE　　She's　getting　on　very　well。　　If　she　isn't　careful；　she'll
end　up　by　being　a　flirt。

＇The　DEPUTATION　enters；　guided　by　SIGSBY。　　Its　number　is　five；　two
men　and　three　women。　　Eventually　they　group　themselvessome
standing；　some　sittingeach　side　of　GEOFFREY。　　The　others　gather
round　ANNYS；　who　keeps　her　seat　at　the　opposite　side　of　the　table。＇

SIGSBY　　＇Talking　as　he　enters。＇　　Exactly　what　I've　always
maintained。

HOPPER　　It　would　make　the　husband　quite　an　interesting　person。

SIGSBY　　＇Cheerfully。＇　　That's　the　idea。　　Here　we　are；　guv'nor。
This　is　Mr。　Chilvers。

＇GEOFFREY　bows；　the　DEPUTATION　also。　　SIGSBY　introduces　a
remarkably　boyish…looking　man；　dressed　in　knickerbockers。＇

SIGSBY　　This　is　Mr。　Peekin；　who　has　kindly　consented　to　act　as
spokesman。　　＇To　the　DEPUTATION；　generally。＇　　Will　you　have　some
tea？

MISS　BORLASSE　　＇A　thick…set；　masculine…featured　lady；　with　short
hair　and　heavy　eyebrows。　　Her　deep；　decisive　tone　settles　the
question。＇　　Thank　you。　　We　have　so　little　time。

MR。　PEEKIN　　We　propose；　Mr。　Chilvers；　to　come　to　the　point　at　once。
＇He　is　all　smiles；　caressing　gestures。＇

GEOFFREY　　Excellent。

PEEKIN　　If　I　left　a　baby　at　your　door；　what　would　you　do　with　it？

GEOFFREY　　＇For　a　moment　he　is　taken　aback；　recovers　himself。＇　　Are
you　thinking　of　doing　so？

PEEKIN　　It's　not　impossible。

GEOFFREY　　Well；　it　sounds　perhaps　inhospitable；　but　do　you　know　I
really　think　I　should　ask　you　to　take　it　away　again。

PEEKIN　　Yes；　but　by　the　time　you　find　it　there；　I　shall　have
disappearedskedaddled。

HOPPER　　Good。　　＇He　rubs　his　hands。　　Smiles　at　the　others。＇

GEOFFREY　　In　that　case　I　warn　you　that　I　shall　hand　it　over　to　the
police。

PEEKIN　　＇He　turns　to　the　others。＇　　I　don't　myself　see　what　else　Mr。
Chilvers　could　be　expected　to　do。

MISS　BORLASSE　　He'd　be　a　fool　not　to。

GEOFFREY　　Thank　you。　　So　far　we　seem　to　be　in　agreement。　　And　now
may　I　ask　to　what　all　this　is　leading？

PEEKIN　　＇He　changes　from　the　debonnair　to　the　dramatic。＇　　How　many
men；　Mr。　Chilvers；　leave　their　babies　every　year　at　the　door　of
poverty…stricken　women？　　What　are　they　expected　to　do　with　them？

＇A　moment。　　The　DEPUTATION　murmur　approval。＇

GEOFFREY　　I　see。　　But　is　there　no　difference　between　the　two　doors？
I　am　not　an　accomplice。

PEEKIN　　An　accomplice！　　Is　the　ignorant　servant…girlfirst　lured
into　the　public…house；　cajoled；　tricked；　deceived　by　false
promisesthe　half…starved　shop…girl　in　the　hands　of　the　practised
libertineis　she　an　accomplice？

MRS。　PEEKIN　　＇A　dowdily…dressed；　untidy　woman；　but　the　face　is
sweet　and　tender。＇　　Ah；　Mr。　Chilvers；　if　you　could　only　hear　the
stories　that　I　have　heard　from　dying　lips。

GEOFFREY　　Very　pitiful；　my　dear　lady。　　And；　alas；　only　too　old。
But　there　are　others。　　It　would　not　be　fair　to　blame　always　the
man。

ANNYS　　＇Unnoticed；　drawn　by　the　subject；　she　has　risen　and　come
down。＇　　Perhaps　not。　　But　the　punishment　always　falls　on　the　woman。
Is　THAT　quite　fair？

GEOFFREY　　＇He　is　irritated　at　ANNYS'S　incursion　into　the
discussion。＇　　My　dear　Annys；　that　is　Nature's　law；　not　man's。　　All
man　can　do　is　to　mitigate　it。

PEEKIN　　That　is　all　we　ask。　　The　suffering；　the　shame；　must　always
be　the　woman's。　　Surely　that　is　sufficient。

GEOFFREY　　What　do　you　propose？

MISS　BORLASSE　　＇In　her　deep；　fierce　tones。＇　　That　all　children　born
out　of　wedlock　should　be　a　charge　upon　the　rates。

MISS　RICKETTS　　＇A　slight；　fair；　middle…aged　woman；　with　a　nervous
hesitating　manner。＇　　Of　course；　only　if　the　mother　wishes　it。

GEOFFREY　　＇The　proposal　staggers　him。　　But　the　next　moment　it
inspires　him　with　mingled　anger　and　amusement。＇　　My　dear；　good
people；　have　you　stopped　for　one　moment　to　consider　what　the　result
of　your　proposal　would　be？

PEEKIN　　For　one　thing；　Mr。　Chilvers；　the　adding　to　the　populace　of
healthy　children　in　place　of　the　stunted　and　diseased　abortions
that　is　all　that　these　poor　women；　out　of　their　scanty　earnings；
can　afford　to　present　to　the　State。

GEOFFREY　　Humph！　　That　incidentally　it　would　undermine　the　whole
institution　of　marriage；　let　loose　the　flood…gates　that　at　present
hold　immorality　in　check；　doesn't　appear　to　trouble　you。　　That　the
law　must　be　altered　to　press　less　heavily　upon　the　womanthat　the
man　must　be　made　an　equal　sharer　in　the　penaltyall　that　goes
without　saying。　　The　remedy　you　propose　would　be　a　thousand　times
worse　than　the　disease。

ANNYS　　And　meanwhile？　　Until　you　have　devised　this　scheme　＇there　is
a　note　of　contempt　in　her　voice＇　under　which　escape　for　the　man
will　be　impossible？

GEOFFREY　　The　evil　must　continue。　　As　other　evils　have　to　until　the
true　remedy　is　found。

PEEKIN　　＇He　has　hurriedly　consulted　with　the　others。　　All　have
risenhe　turns　to　GEOFFREY。＇　　You　will　not　support　our　demand？

GEOFFREY　　Support　it！　　Do　you　mean　that　you　cannot　yourselves　see
that　you　are　holding　out　an　indemnity　to　every　profligate；　male　and
female；　throughout　the　landthat　you　would　be　handicapping；　in　the
struggle　for　existence；　every　honest　man　and　woman　desirous　of
bringing　up　their　children　in　honour　and　in　love？　　Your　suggestion
is　monstrous！

PEEKIN　　＇The　little　man　is　not　without　his　dignity。＇　　We　apologise；
Mr。　Chilvers；　for　having　taken　up　your　time。

GEOFFREY　　I　am　sorry　the　matter　was　one　offering　so　little　chance
of　agreement。

PEEKIN　　We　will　make　only　one　slight　further　trespass　on　your
kindness。　　Mrs。　Chilvers；　if　one　may　judge；　would　seem　to　be　more
in　sympathy　with　our　views。　　Might　weit　would　be　a　saving　of　time
and　shoe　leather　＇he　smiles＇might　we　take　this　opportunity　of
laying　our　case　before　her？

GEOFFREY　　It　would　be　useless。

＇A　short　silence。　　ANNYS；　with　ELIZABETH　and　PHOEBE　a　little　behind
her；　stands　right。　　LAMB；　SIGSBY；　and　ST。　HERBERT　are　behind
GEOFFREY　centre。　　The　DEPUTATION　is　left。＇

HOPPER　　Do　we　gather　that　in　this　election　you　speak　for　both
candidates？

GEOFFREY　　In　matters　of　common　decency；　yes。　　My　wife　does　not
associate　herself　with　movements　for　the　encouragement　of　vice。

＇There　is　another　moment's　silence。＇

ANNYS　　But；　Geoffrey；　dearwe　should　not　be　encouraging　the　evil。
We　should　still　seek　to　find　the　man；　to　punish　him。　　The　woman
would　still　suffer　…

GEOFFREY　　My　dear　Annys；　this　is　neither　the　time　nor　place　for　you
and　me　to　argue　out　the　matter。　　I　must　ask　you　to　trust　to　my
judgment。

ANNYS　　I　can　understand　your　refusing；　but　why　do　you　object　to　my
…

GEOFFREY　　Because　I　do　not　choose　for　my　wife's　name　to　be　linked
with　a　movement　that　I　regard　as　criminal。　　I　forbid　it。

＇It　was　the　moment　that　was　bound　to　come。　　The　man's　instincts；
training；　have　involuntarily　asserted　themselves。　　Shall　the　woman
yield？　　If　so；　then　down　goes　the　whole　movementher　claim　to
freedom　of　judgment；　of　action；　in　all　things。　　All　watch　the
struggle　with　breathless　interest。＇

ANNYS　　＇She　speaks　very　slowly；　very　quietly；　but　with　a　new　note
in　her　voice。＇　　I　am　sorry；　but　I　have　given　much　thought　to　this
matter；　andI　do　not　agree　with　you。

MRS。　PEEKIN　　You　will　help　us？

ANNYS　　I　will　do　what　I　can。

PEEKIN　　＇He　takes　from　his　pocket　a　folded　paper。＇　　It　is　always　so
much　more　satisfactory　when　these　things　are　in　writing。
Candidates；　with　the　best　intentions　in　the　world；　are　apt　to
forget。　　＇He　has　spread　the　paper　on　a　corner　of　the　table。　　He　has
in　his　hand　his　fountain…pen。＇