the master of mrs. chilvers-第5章
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it doesn't count。
GEOFFREY ＇He turns on her。＇ Why not youif there must be a
fight？ Or would it be against your principles？
ELIZABETH Not in the least。
GEOFFREY Ah！
ELIZABETH I would offer myself as a substitute。 Only it might
seem like coming between husband and wife。
GEOFFREY ＇He turns away with a grunt of disgust。＇
PHOEBE It's awfully rough on you； Geoffrey。 I can see it from
your point of view。 But one can't help remembering the things that
you yourself have said。
GEOFFREY I know； I know。 I've been going up and down the country；
excusing even your excesses on the ground that no movement can
force its way to the front without treading on innumerable toes。
For me； now； to cry halt merely because it happens to be my own
toes that are in the way would beridiculousabsurdwould be
monstrous。 ＇Nobody contradicts him。＇ You are perfectly justified…
…if this case means what you say it doesin putting up a candidate
against me for East Poplar。 Only； naturally； it cannot be Annys。
＇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； t
