登陆注册
5243200000014

第14章 THE SECOND ACT(7)

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 ELIZABETHwith 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 quietly--at 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.

同类推荐
  • 林黛玉笔记

    林黛玉笔记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 无锡县志

    无锡县志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 文殊师利问菩萨署经

    文殊师利问菩萨署经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 归心

    归心

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金锁流珠引

    金锁流珠引

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 神秘的钱包

    神秘的钱包

    小胡同饭馆的员工两男两女。两个男的是掌勺的二来子和采购的胡小开;两个女的是半个老板宫小北,迎宾小姐会儿。二来子跟会儿好,胡小开跟宫小北好。他们四个人住同一个村子,现在又在一起打工,关系相当不错。只是胡小开追宫小北,会儿追二来子,这样一来,就有点“不一样”了。不过,这两对儿的关系都还悬着,哪个也没最后定,因此四个人的友谊仍然不错。明显定不下来的是二来子和会儿这一对。会儿一心要“纠正”二来子抻脖子、扬下巴的毛病,二来子不乐意。
  • 维摩经抄

    维摩经抄

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 医疗损害赔偿

    医疗损害赔偿

    近年来,患者与医疗机构之间的医疗纠纷不断增多,医疗损害赔偿纠纷日渐成为法学研究和司法实践中的热点问题。如何正确地处理各类医疗纠纷,维护广大患者的合法权益,受到社会各界的普遍关注。由于《侵权责任法》的颁布实施,改变了施行已久的医疗侵权纠纷二元化处理模式,医疗侵权责任不再按照是否构成医疗事故进行区分,而被《侵权责任法》统称为医疗损害责任。
  • 天降狂妃:腹黑太子,逆天宠

    天降狂妃:腹黑太子,逆天宠

    二十一世纪的惊世天才,白日,她是中西医双料圣手的神医,夜幕降临,脱下单调的白大褂,流窜寰宇大厦之间,不论距离多远,只要她轻扣扳机,鲜活的生命顷刻毙命。一朝穿越,成了人人口中唾弃的废物,呵?那是你们不知道姐的厉害,开医馆,养灵兽,造飞船,她的生活要多惬意就有多惬意,只是这个每天半夜爬床的家伙,你几个意思啊?爬床也算了,竟然还往她肚子里塞了个包子,看着眼前这个软萌萌的家伙,她坚硬的心瞬间软的一塌糊涂!笑而倾天下,怒而覆天下,他的忧乐喜悲,全因她牵动!若是天命如此,便是倾覆寰宇又如何?
  • 小小王妃驯王爷

    小小王妃驯王爷

    强推新文《小小娇妻驯将军》:穿成小商人之女?罢了!还有婚约?罢了!可,可是……夫婿竟大了12岁?哦买噶!!什么?这老牛还嫌她没身份,没能力,竟要接她提前进府教养?!唉,无奈娘家气弱,压不住王爷表哥。乖乖入府任人宰割,时刻接受着以夫为天的真理教导!然,一切皆隐忍,风流决不准,若享齐人福,先把奴家休!于是,小小王妃,开始一场驯夫大战,王爷,乖乖交出真心,缴械投降吧,小娘子来也!其实这是正剧,不是小白文。男主有担当,有责任心,有城府,有英俊有权势还有深沉。女主冷静睿智,享受宠爱也能保持清醒,感受到男主要背叛时,也决然作出走出宠爱放弃权势的决定。一场双方父母情愿的亲事,成就相差十二岁的英俊夫婿和少妻。夫婿正当青春,少妻桃蕊二八。现代少女穿越成古代是小门小户的少女真姐儿,成为一个商贾家庭的嫡长女。王爷和商人女的亲事,腹黑能干的王爷不悦。退亲,不成,成亲,妻子没有身份。为免成亲后被人笑话,腹黑王爷提前接走妻子,养在自己身边捏长捏短。古代的规矩容不得真姐儿反抗,而表哥也是宠爱的。宠爱让真姐儿喜欢,对于教训真姐儿是默默忍耐,无力颠覆整个古代社会制度的真姐儿在十六岁,嫁给安平王,被封安平王妃。没有宅斗,王爷先是为母亲而宠爱妻子,后是真心宠爱妻子家国、王位、荣华、亲情、爱情、友情……尽情演绎着自己的风华。风流王爷一朝醒悟,为红颜甘为孺子牛!春日共赏花,月夜共饮酒。戎马倥偬,花前月下,宫闱深深中,品尝至死不渝,一生一世一双人的爱情。
  • 我国高等体育职业技术院校办学模式研究

    我国高等体育职业技术院校办学模式研究

    当前,我国体育高等职业教育面临着良好的发展机遇。教育部于2005年召开了全国职业教育工作会,下发了《国务院关于大力发展职业教育的决定》,就大力发展职业教育的有关事宜作出了明确要求和规定。胡锦涛总书记在十七大报告中明确提出:“优化教育结构,促进义务教育均衡发展,加快普及高中阶段教育,大力发展职业教育,提高高等教育质量。”国家高度重视职业教育,对加大体育高等职业教育的探索步伐,加快提高体育高等职业教育的办学水平提供了难得的机遇。
  • 羽翼落地

    羽翼落地

    作品简介:这是一个关于天使的故事…………
  • 娘子不傻

    娘子不傻

    【傻傻娘子版:】①:她又笨又迟钝,史上第一位被绣球砸到失忆的新娘王妃这个从天而降的古怪小丫头,从此赖定了这个冷酷王爷!冷酷王爷水倾漠:琴棋书画,全都不会,诗词歌赋,一样不通,可她偏偏就是天真的可爱……似乎,他好像真的喜欢上她了②:“爹爹……衣...衣...好...好...好看!”她一个字一个字的捏住自己的衣袖,一脸傻笑着看着眼前的人,她一脸的痴傻的表情,让神医一脸心疼的表情!温柔神医王子谦:她结巴白痴什么都不懂,绝对的痴傻儿!在山崖下捡到了这个女子,他的一颗心就被她牵动了...这样的女子怎么可能是水王妃?怎么可能是魅冽呢?唉!!!那是高楼啦!不要爬!不要爬!要掉下来了!这个女人怎么可能是传说中人见人怕的魅冽!她不怕人都不错了。☆☆☆☆☆“什么?她消失了?!”三个人同时冲着眼前的家丁大吼。“这……这……是刻在何小姐门上的纸条。”翻开纸张:游戏……开始了……署名:魅冽……【恶魔魅冽版:】“杂种?”她嘴角带着邪笑看着眼前的男人。“对!你就是个杂种,无父无母的杂种。”他大胆的走上前嘲讽的说道。“啊,原来无父无母就是杂种呀?你那也是咯!”她轻笑道。“我有父母的,才不像你!”“那我让你变成杂种便是。”她眼眸一冷,那天,她杀了他全家上下六十五口人,唯独留下了他这个“杂种”,她就是喜爱看着别人脸上露出那满是仇恨的眼神。“速速露出你的武器吧。”眼前这个想要挑战她的男人,手持一把剑,道。“我的武器?我的武器可是出手必嗜人命的,你确定要我用武器吗?”她抿唇一笑,带着残酷的杀意。“自然……”话音未落,她的身影鬼魅般的划过眼前这个男人的身后,脖子上的血滴顺着流下……不知她何时拔出的剑,又何时将剑入鞘,台下的人们只知道,刚刚倒下去的男人,是江湖上数一数二的剑尊,而就被她秒杀了,可见他们的希望已经破灭了。鲜血漫天,血染衣衫,而她却勾起最魅惑的笑意,染血的脸上妖娆千变,唯独那双眸,冰冷无情,她魅冽,就是处于地狱深处的恶魔……【正文简介:】她……究竟是不是血域的主人?她不知道,他不知道,他们更不知道。一个凭空出现的地下宫陵一个穿越千年的神奇秘密因任务而穿越千年的盗墓者却意外的丧失了记忆。对于她,对于她的任务,对于那三个男人,她该如何面对?一个冷酷残忍的嗜血恶魔一个古林精怪的傻傻娘子究竟谁才是拯救世界的关键?
  • 英雄联盟之无敌是多么寂寞

    英雄联盟之无敌是多么寂寞

    林凡,因为学业舍弃了最爱,也是最为擅长的英雄联盟。但当其走进大学宿舍,却发现……
  • 老年生活咨询手册

    老年生活咨询手册

    全书共分八个部分:政策咨询、权益保障、养生益寿、运动健身、家庭保健、防病抗衰、休闲娱乐、老龄知识,本书既有生活常识、技能、窍门方面内容,又有修身养性、延年益寿内容,涉及老年生活的方方面面。本书尽量做到覆盖面广、内容翔实、集知识性、趣味性、实用性为一体,力求使老年朋友喜爱,并有所收获。考虑到老年朋友人特殊阅读需求,本书采用大号字排版,努力做到文字短(每条大都在三四百字左右)、实用性强(一书在手,便可获得简便易行的技能、通俗易懂的知识和自我保护的武器)、价位低、便于随身携带等特点。