the master of mrs. chilvers-第8章

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forget。　　＇He　has　spread　the　paper　on　a　corner　of　the　table。　　He　has
in　his　hand　his　fountain…pen。＇

ANNYS　　＇With　a　smile。＇　　I　am　not　likely　to　forget；　but　if　you　wish
it＇She　approaches　the　table。＇

GEOFFREY　　＇He　interposes。　　His　voice　is　very　low；　almost　a
whisper。＇　　My　wife　will　not　sign。

ANNYS　　＇She　also　speaks　low；　but　there　is　no　yielding　in　her
voice。＇　　I　am　not　only　your　wife。　　I　have　a　duty　also　to　others。

GEOFFREY　　It　is　for　you　to　choose。　　＇He　leaves　the　way　open　to
her。＇

＇The　silence　can　almost　be　felt。　　She　moves　to　the　table；　takes　up
the　paper。　　It　contains　but　a　few　lines　of　writing。　　Having　read
it；　she　holds　out　her　hand　for　the　pen。　　PEEKIN　puts　it　in　her
hand。　　With　a　firm　hand　she　signs；　folds　the　paper；　and　returns　it
to　him。　　She　remains　standing　by　the　table。　　With　the　removal　of
the　tension　there　comes　a　rustle；　a　breaking　of　the　silence。＇

MISS　RICKETTS　　＇She　seizes　ANNYS's　hand；　hanging　listlessly　by　her
side；　and；　stooping；　kisses　it。＇

MISS　BORLASSE　　That　is　all；　isn't　it？

PEEKIN　　We　thank　you；　Mrs。　Chilvers。　　Good　afternoon。

ANNYS　　＇The　natural　reaction　is　asserting　itself。　　She　pulls
herself　together　sufficiently　to　murmur　her　answer。＇　　Good
afternoon。

MRS。　PEEKIN　　＇The　DEPUTATION　is　moving　away；　she　takes　from　her
waist　a　small　bunch　of　flowers；　and；　turning；　places　them　in
ANNYS'S　hand。＇

ANNYS　　＇She　smiles；　remains　standing　silent；　the　flowers　in　her
hand。＇

＇〃Good　afternoons〃　are　exchanged　with　some　of　the　others。
Finally：＇

PEEKIN　　Good　afternoon；　Mr。　Chilvers。

GEOFFREY　　＇Who　has　moved　away。＇　　Good　afternoon。

＇The　DEPUTATION　joins　SIGSBY　by　the　door。　　He　leads　them　out。＇

ELIZABETH　　＇To　PHOEBE。＇　　Are　you　going　my　way？

PHOEBE　　＇She　glances　round　at　ANNYS。＇　　Yes；　I'll　come　with　you。

ST。　HERBERT　　I　will　put　you　into　a　bus；　if　you　will　let　me。　　We
don't　sport　many　cabs　in　East　Poplar。　　＇He　is　helping　ELIZABETH
with　her　cloak。＇

ELIZABETH　　Thank　you。

LAMB　　I've　got　to　go　up　West。　　＇To　GEOFFREY。＇　　Will　you　be　at　the
House　this　evening？

GEOFFREY　　＇He　is　standing　by　the　desk　pretending　to　look　at　some
papers＇。　　I　shall　look　in　about　ten　o'clock。

LAMB　　One　or　two　things　I　want　to　say　to　you。　　Goodbye　for　the
present。

GEOFFREY　　Goodbye！

PHOEBE　　Goodbye；　old　man。　　＇She　stretches　out　her　hand。＇

GEOFFREY　　Goodbye。　　＇She　shakes　hands　with　a　smile；　exchanges　a
casual　〃goodbye〃　with　ELIZABETH。＇

＇They　go　towards　the　door。＇

＇SIGSBY　re…enters。＇

SIGSBY　　＇To　LAMB。＇　　Are　you　going？

LAMB　　Yes。　　I'll　see　you　to…morrow　morning。　　About　ten　o'clock。

SIGSBY　　I　shall　be　here。　　＇He　exchanges　a　〃good　afternoon〃　with　the
others。＇

＇They　go　out。　　SIGSBY　crosses　and　goes　into　the　other　room。＇

ANNYS　　＇She　has　let　fall　the　flowers　on　the　table。　　She　crosses　to
where　GEOFFREY　still　stands　by　the　desk；　his　back　towards　her。　　She
stretches　out　her　hand；　touches　him。　　He　does　not　move。＇　　Geoffrey！

＇But　still　he　takes　no　notice。＇

I　am　so　sorry。　　We　must　talk　it　over　quietlyat　home。

GEOFFREY　　＇He　turns。＇　　Home！　　I　have　no　home。　　I　have　neither
children　nor　wife。　　I　KEEP　a　political　opponent。

＇ANNYS　starts　back　with　a　cry。　　He　crosses　in　front　of　her　and
seats　himself　at　the　table。　　The　flowers　are　lying　there；　he　throws
them　into　the　waste…paper　basket。＇

ANNYS　　＇She　puts　on　her　cloak；　moves　towards　the　door。　　Half…way
she　pauses；　makes　a　movement　towards　him。　　But　he　will　not　see。
Then　a　hard　look　comes　into　her　eyes；　and　without　another　word　she
goes　out；　leaving　the　door　open。＇

＇SIGSBY　is　heard　moving　in　the　other　room。＇

GEOFFREY　　＇He　is　writing。＇　　Sigsby。

SIGSBY　　Hallo！

GEOFFREY　　That　poster　I　told　young　Gordon　I　wouldn't　sanction；　〃The
Woman　spouting　politics；　the　Man　returning　to　a　slattern's　home。〃

＇SIGSBY　enters。＇

SIGSBY　　I　have　countermanded　them。

GEOFFREY　　Countermand　them　again。　　We　shall　want　a　thousand。

SIGSBY　　＇Can　hardly　believe　his　ears。＇

GEOFFREY　　＇With　a　gesture　round　the　room。＇　　All　of　them。　　〃A　Man
for　Men！〃　　〃Save　the　Children！〃　　〃Guard　your　Homes！〃　　All　the
damned　collection。　　Order　as　many　as　you　want。

SIGSBY　　＇His　excitement　rising。＇　　I　can　go　ahead。　　You　mean　it？

GEOFFREY　　＇He　looks　at　him。＇　　It's　got　to　be　a　fight！　　＇A　moment。
He　returns　to　his　writing。＇　　Telephone　Hake　that　I　shall　be　dining
at　the　Reform　Club。

CURTAIN。



THE　THIRD　ACT



SCENE：…　A　room　in　the　Town　Hall；　Poplar。　　A　high；　bare；　cold　room；
unfurnished　except　for　cane…bottomed　chairs　ranged　against　the
walls。　　French　windows　right　give　on　to　a　balcony　overlooking　the
street。　　Door　in　back　opens　upon　a　stone　passage。　　A　larger　door
opens　into　another　room；　through　which　one　passes　to　reach　the　room
in　which　the　counting　of　the　votes　is　taking　place。　　A　fire　burns
or　rather　tries　to　burn。　　The　room　is　lighted　from　the　centre　of
the　ceiling　by　an　electric　sun。　　A　row　of　hat…pegs　is　on　the　wall
between　the　two　doors。　　The　time　is　about　9　p。m。

＇People　entering　from　the　street　wear　coats　or　cloaks；　&c。；　the
season　being　early　spring。　　If　passing　through　or　staying　in　the
room；　they　take　off　their　outdoor　things　and　hang　them　up；　putting
them　on　again　before　going　out。＇

＇JAWBONES　is　coaxing　the　reluctant　fire　by　using　a　newspaper　as　a
blower。　　He　curses　steadily　under　his　breath。　　The　door　opens。
GINGER　enters；　she　is　dressed　in　cheap　furs。＇

JAWBONES　　Shut　the　door；　can't　yer！

GINGER　　Don't　yer　want　a　draught？

JAWBONES　　No；　I　don't。　　Not　any　more　than　I've　got。

GINGER　　＇She　shuts　the　door。＇　　'Ave　they　begun　counting　the　votes？

JAWBONES　　Been　at　it　for　the　last　three…quarters　of　an　hour。

GINGER　　Who's　going　to　win？

JAWBONES　　One　of　'em。

＇LADY　MOGTON　has　entered。　　She　has　come　from　the　room　where　they
are　counting　the　votes。＇

Shut　that　door！　　＇He　glances　over　his　shoulder；　sees　his　mistake。＇
Beg　pardon！　　＇To　himself。＇　　Thought　'twas　the　other　fool！

LADY　MOGTON　　＇She　shuts　the　door。　　To　GINGER。＇　　Have　you　seen　Mrs。
Chilvers？

GINGER　　Not　since　the　afternoon；　your　ladyship。

LADY　MOGTON　　She　is　coming；　I　suppose？

GINGER　　I　think　so；　your　ladyship。

LADY　MOGTON　　It's　very　cold　in　here；　Gordon。

JAWBONES　　Yes；　my　lady。　　Not　what　I　call　a　cosy　room。

LADY　MOGTON　　＇To　GINGER。＇　　Jump　into　a　cab。　　See　if　you　can　find
her。　　Perhaps　she　has　been　detained　at　one　of　the　committee…rooms。
Tell　her　she　ought　to　be　here。

GINGER　　Yes；　your　ladyship。　　＇She　crosses；　opens　door。＇

JAWBONES　　Shut　the　door。

GINGER　　Oh；　shut　…

＇She　finds　herself　face　to　face　with　a　MESSENGER　carrying　a　ballot…
box。＇

I　beg　yer　pardon！　　＇She　goes　out；　closes　door。＇

LADY　MOGTON　　＇To　the　MESSENGER。＇　　Is　that　the　last？

MESSENGER　　Generally　is。　　Isle　of　Dogs！

＇He　goes　into　the　other　room。＇

LADY　MOGTON　　＇To　JAWBONES。＇　　Do　you　know　where　Mr。　Chilvers　is？

＇There　comes　a　bloodthirsty　yell　from　the　crowd　outside。＇

JAWBONES　　Not　unless　that's　'im。　　＇He　finishes　for　the　time　being
with　the　fire。　　Rises。＇

＇JANET　enters。＇

LADY　MOGTON　　Was　that　you　they　were　yelling　at？

JANET　　No；　it's　Mr。　Sigsby。

＇Another　yell　is　heard。　　Out　of　it　a　shrill　female　voice〃Mind　'is
fice；　yer　spoiling　it！〃＇

The　Woman's　Laundry　Union　have　taken　such　a　strong　dislike　to　him。

＇A　final　yell。　　Then　a　voice：　　〃That's　taken　some　of　the　starch　out
of　him！〃　followed　by　a　shriek　of　laughter。＇

JAWBONES　　'E　only　suggested　as　'ow　there　was　enough　old　washerwomen
in　Parliament　as　it　was。

LADY　MOGTON　　A　most　unnecessary　remark。　　It　will　teach　him　…

＇SIGSBY　enters；　damaged。　　His　appearance　is　comic。　　LADY　MOGTON
makes　no　effort　to　repress　a　grim　smile。＇

SIGSBY　　Funny；　ain't　it？

LADY　MOGTON　　I　am　sorry。

SIGSBY　　＇He　snarls。＇　　〃The　Mother's　Hand　shall　Help　Us！〃　　One　of
your　posters；　I　think。

LADY　MOGTON　　You　shouldn't　have　insulted　themcalling　them　old
washerwomen！

SIGSBY　　Insult！　　Can't　one　indulge　in　a　harmless　jeu　d'esprit＇he
pronounces　it　according　to　his　own　ideas＇without　having　one's
clothes　torn　off　one's　back？　　＇Fiercely。＇　　What　do　you　mean　by　it
disgracing　your　sex？

LADY　MOGTON　　Are　you　addressing　me？

SIGSBY　　All　of　you。　　Upsetting　the　foundations　upon　which　society
has　been　rearedthe　natural　and　lawful　subjection　of　the　woman　to
the　man。　　Why　don't　you　read　St。　Paul？

LADY　MOGTON　　St。　Paul　was　addressing　Christians。　　When　men　behave
like　Christians　there　will　be　no　need　of　Votes　for　Women。　　You　read
St。　Paul　on　men。　　＇To　JANET。＇　　I　shall　want　you！

＇She　goes　out；　followed　by　JANET。＇

＇SIGSBY　gives　vent　to　a　gesture。＇

JAWBONES　　Getting　saucy；　ain't　they？

SIGSBY　　Over…indulgence。　　That's　what　the　modern　woman　is　suffering
from。　　Gets　an　idea　on　Monday　that　she'd　like　the　whole　world
altered；　if　it　isn't　done　by　Saturday；　raises　hell！　　Where's　the
guv'nor？

JAWBONES　　Hasn't　been　here。

SIGSBY　　＇Hands　JAWBONES　his　damaged　hat。＇　　See　if　they　can　do
anything　to　that。　　If　not；　get　me　a　new　one。　　＇He　forks　out　a
sovereign。＇　　Sure　to　be　some　shops　open　in　the　High　Street。　　＇LAMB
and　ST。　HERBERT　enter。＇

LAMB　　Hallo！　have　they　been　mauling　you？

SIGSBY　　＇He　snatches　the　damaged　hat　from　JAWBONES；　to　hand　it　back
the　next　moment；　holds　it　out。＇　　Woman's　contribution　to　politics。
Get　me　a　collar　at　the　same　timesixteen　and　a　half。

＇JAWBONES　takes　his　cap　and　goes　out。　　The　men　hang　up　their
overcoats。＇

SIGSBY　　Where's　it　all　going　to　end？　　That's　what　I　want　to　know！

ST。　HERBERT　　Where　most　things　end。　　In　the　millennium；　according
to　its　advocates。　　In　the　ruin　of　the　country；　according　to　its
opponents。　　In　mild　surprise　on　the　part　of　the　next　generation
that　ever　there　was　any　fuss　about　it。

SIGSBY　　In　amazement；　you　mean；　that　their　fathers　were　so　blind　as
not　to　see　where　it　was　leading。　　My　boy；　this　is　going　to　alter
the　whole　relationship　between　the　sexes！

ST。　HERBERT　　Is　it　so　perfect　as　it　is？

＇A　silence。＇

Might　it　not　be　established　on　a　more　workable；　a　more　enduring
basis　if　woman　were　allowed　a　share　in　the　shaping　of　it？

＇Some　woman　in　the　crowd　starts　the　refrain；　〃We'll　hang　old
Asquith　on　a　sour　apple　tree。〃　　It　is　taken　up　with　quiet
earnestness　by　others。＇

SIGSBY　　Shaping　it！　　Nice　sort　of　shape　it　will　be　by　the　time　that
lot　＇with　a　gesture；　including　the　crowd；　LADY　MOGTON　&　Co。＇　　have
done　knocking　it　about。　　Wouldn't　be　any　next　generation　to　be
surprised　at　anything　if　some　of　them　had　their　way。

ST。　HERBERT　　The　housebreakers　come　firstnot　a　class　of　work
demanding　much　intelligence；　the　builders　come　later。　　Have　you
seen　Chilvers？

LAMB　　I　left　him　at　the　House。　　He　couldn't　get　away。

SIGSBY　　There's　your　object…lesson　for　you。　　We　don't　need　to　go
far。　　A　man's　whole　career　ruined　by　the　wife　he　nourishes。

ST。　HERBERT　　How　do　you　mean；　〃ruined？〃

SIGSBY　　So　it　is。　　If　she　wins　the　election　and　claims　the　seat。
Do　you　think　the　Cabinet　will　want　him？　　Their　latest　addition
compelled　to　appeal　to　the　House　of　Commons　to　fight　for　him
against　his　own　womenfolk。　　＇Grunts。＇　　He'll　be　the　laughing…stock
of　the　whole　country。

ST。　HERBERT　　Do　you　know　for　certain　that　they　mean　to　claim　the
seat？

SIGSBY　　〃Wait　and　see〃　is　their　answer。

LAMB　　Hasn't　Chilvers　any　idea？

SIGSBY　　Can't　get　him　to　talk。　　Don't　thin