登陆注册
5243200000018

第18章 THE THIRD ACT(4)

MRS. MOUNTCALM-VILLIERS Well, if it's really -PHOEBE [To the others.] Shall see you again. [She winks. Then to MRS. MOUNTCALM-VILLIERS.] We mustn't keep them waiting. They are giving us a whole page.

[PHOEBE takes MRS. MOUNTCALM-VILLIERS out. ELIZABETH has followed to the door; she closes it. ANNYS has reseated herself, facing the fire.]

ELIZABETH When did you see your husband last?

ANNYS Not since--Tuesday, wasn't it, that we went round to his rooms. Why?

ELIZABETH I'm thinking about Manchester. What was it he said to you?

ANNYS Oh, we were, both of us, a little over-excited, I suppose.

He has--[she hesitates, finally answers]--he has always been so eager for children.

ELIZABETH Yes. So many men are; not having to bear the pain and inconvenience themselves.

ANNYS Oh, well, they have to provide for them when they do come.

That's fair enough division, I su- [Suddenly she turns fiercely.]

Why do you talk like that? As if we women were cowards. Do you think if God sent me a child I should grudge Him the price!

ELIZABETH Do you want Him to?

ANNYS I don't know; prayed Him to, once.

ELIZABETH [She lays her hand upon her.] It isn't a few more mothers that the world has need of. It is the women whom God has appointed--to whom He has given freedom, that they may champion the cause of the mothers, helpless by reason of their motherhood.

[A moment. GEOFFREY enters.]

GEOFFREY Good evening.

ANNYS [Rises; a smile struggles for possession. But he only shakes hands, and it dies away.]

ELIZABETH Good evening.

[They shake hands.]

GEOFFREY You are not interested in the counting?

ANNYS The room is rather crowded. Mamma thought I would be better out here. How have you been?

GEOFFREY Oh, all right. It's going to be a very near thing, they tell me.

ANNYS Yes, I shall be glad when it's over.

GEOFFREY It's always a trying time. What are you going to do, if you win?

[LADY MOGTON looks in.]

LADY MOGTON [Seeing GEOFFREY.] Oh, good evening.

GEOFFREY Good evening.

LADY MOGTON Chilvers, 2,960--Annys Chilvers, 2,874.

[She disappears--closes door.]

ANNYS Perhaps I'm not going to win. [She goes to him, smiling.]

I hope you'll win. I would so much rather you won.

GEOFFREY Very kind of you. I'm afraid that won't make it a certainty.

ANNYS [His answer has hardened her again.] How can I? It would not be fair. Without your consent I should never have entered upon it. It was understood that the seat, in any case, would be yours.

GEOFFREY I would rather you considered yourself quite free. In warfare it doesn't pay to be "fair" to one's enemy.

ANNYS [Still hardening.] Besides, there is no need. There will be other opportunities. I can contest some other constituency. If I win, claim the seat for that.

[A moment.]

GEOFFREY So this is only the beginning? You have decided to devote yourself to a political career?

ANNYS Why not?

GEOFFREY If I were to ask you to abandon it, to come back to your place at my side--helping me, strengthening me?

ANNYS You mean you would have me abandon my own task--merge myself in you?

GEOFFREY Be my wife.

ANNYS It would not be right. I, too, have my work.

GEOFFREY If it takes you away from me?

ANNYS Why need it take me away from you? Why cannot we work together for common ends, each in our own way?

GEOFFREY We talked like that before we tried it. Marriage is not a partnership; it is a leadership.

ANNYS [She looks at him.] You mean--an ownership.

GEOFFREY Perhaps you're right. I didn't make it. I'm only--beginning to understand it.

ANNYS And I too. It is not what I want.

GEOFFREY You mean its duties have become irksome to you.

ANNYS I mean I want to be the judge myself of what are my duties.

GEOFFREY I no longer count. You will go your way without me?

ANNYS I must go the way I think right.

GEOFFREY [He flings away.] If you win to-night you will do well to make the most of it. Take my advice and claim the seat.

ANNYS [Looks at him puzzled.]

ELIZABETH Why?

GEOFFREY Because [with a short, ugly laugh] the Lord only knows when you'll get another opportunity.

ELIZABETH You are going to stop us?

GEOFFREY To stop women from going to the poll. The Bill will be introduced on Monday. Carried through all its stages the same week.

ELIZABETH You think it will pass?

GEOFFREY The Whips assure me that it will.

ANNYS But they cannot, they dare not, without your assent. The--[The light breaks in upon her.] Who is bringing it in?

GEOFFREY I am.

ANNYS [Is going to speak.]

GEOFFREY [He stops her.] Oh, I'm prepared for all that--ridicule, abuse. "Chilvers's Bill for the Better Regulation of Mrs.

Chilvers," they'll call it. I can hear their laughter. Yours won't be among it.

ANNYS But, Geoffrey! What is the meaning? Merely to spite me, are you going to betray a cause that you have professed belief in--that you have fought for?

GEOFFREY Yes--if it is going to take you away from me. I want you. No, I don't want a friend--"a fellow-worker"--some interesting rival in well doing. I can get all that outside my home. I want a wife. I want the woman I love to belong to me--to be mine. I am not troubling about being up to date; I'm talking what I feel--what every male creature must have felt since the protoplasmic cell developed instincts. I want a woman to love--a woman to work for--a woman to fight for--a woman to be a slave to.

But mine--mine, and nothing else. All the rest [he makes a gesture] is talk.

同类推荐
  • Bob Son of Battle

    Bob Son of Battle

    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。
  • 卫济宝书

    卫济宝书

    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。
  • 溪蛮丛笑

    溪蛮丛笑

    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。
  • 道德经注

    道德经注

    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。
  • 佛顶尊胜陀罗尼

    佛顶尊胜陀罗尼

    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
  • 中国原生文明启示录(中):文明爆炸

    中国原生文明启示录(中):文明爆炸

    《中国原生文明启示录》是长篇史诗性力作《大秦帝国》作者孙皓晖最新史论作品。首次提出中国原生文明的概念,重新书写中国前3000文明史,细致梳理了秦帝国之前中国历史的七大历史性跨越,总结出中国民族五大生存经验。
  • 青龙闹九州

    青龙闹九州

    他原本是玉皇大帝殿中一条小青龙,多情好色,不修淸规,大臣们送他外号:“情龙”;因犯“色”戒,被贬下凡九百年;且看这条小青龙是如何闹翻人间!
  • 重生之王爷追妻忙

    重生之王爷追妻忙

    她,月凌雪,月府的嫡长女,风华正茂,却被灰尘蒙了双眼,妹妹陷害,夫君信之,棍仗胎儿,受尽侮辱含恨而死。一朝重生,誓不与人为善,继母伪善,妹妹陷害,渣男阴谋再现。她美眸含笑,双手染毒,将她们打入万丈深渊。但是谁来告诉她,她身边这个天真无邪的小傻瓜,什么时候变成了一只腹黑的狐狸?
  • 无限之穿越异类生命

    无限之穿越异类生命

    变过巨蟒,做过金刚,化身哥斯拉,揍过奥特曼……穿越到一个妖魔鬼怪肆意横行的世界,身为普通人的许靖,他唯一能依靠的,就是诸天万界穿越异类系统。
  • 孔子大讲堂

    孔子大讲堂

    半部《论语》治天下,在孔子的思想体系里,“仁”为其核心,“忠恕之道”是仁在现实社会生活中的实际运用。《论语》对中国社会文化发展产生无可置疑的作用,自古至今,无论在士人当中还是在老百姓中间,《论语》一书都是作为一名中国人不可不读的经典。
  • 最强正义

    最强正义

    天才忍者宇智波止水死后重生到了海贼王的世界里。这一世他会为了那些受到威胁而没有自保能力的人而战!为了正义而战!
  • 不可不知的成功方法全集

    不可不知的成功方法全集

    在人生的道路上,不知要经历多少的坎坷。每一次的成功,也许都要经历唐僧取经般的九九八十一难。如果我们的生命真有无限长的话,即使把所有的路都走一遍都无所谓,但事实是生命有限,人生苦短,人生真正能够做事的时间不过是短短的几十年。鉴于此,我们编著了这套《不可不知丛书》,作为读者朋友面对现实生活的一面旗帜,来感召和激励人生,共同朝着美好的未来前进。
  • 老学究语

    老学究语

    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。
  • 知音相聚:西方音乐那些人和事

    知音相聚:西方音乐那些人和事

    连纯慧这本《知音相聚:西方音乐那些人和事》以音乐人的视角解读西方音乐,尤其是欧洲古典和浪漫音乐的独特魅力。让众多的爱乐者近距离感受西方音乐人聚集于一本书所产生的共鸣。作者连纯慧让读者随音乐家的人生故事而翻腾起伏,共享音乐里你我也会经历的无常人生,并进一步阐述音乐名作的意境及其创作背后的艰难心路历程,从中我们可以体会到音乐所揭示的人性与音符交织的艺术热情。
  • 豪门婚劫之复仇新娘

    豪门婚劫之复仇新娘

    我爱的人为了我举行瞩目的婚礼,新娘不是我。那时的我正躺在陌生人的床上与之纠缠,眼看着自己堕落。幕少城说因为太爱我,所以不能接受我,我一巴掌甩在他脸上。男人:虚伪。我的父亲不要我,我的男朋友抛弃我,我的买主践踏我。我依旧乐观的活着,因为我相信人在做,天在看。秦子昊说他不爱我,但是迷恋我的身体,我一脚踹在他身下。男人:肮脏。当支撑我的信念倒塌时,当真相血淋淋的摆在我面前时,我所有的坚强瞬间崩溃。我要把那些将我拒之门外的所谓豪门搅得天翻地覆。“幕少城,我明天举行婚礼,希望你能参加。”我平淡无奇的说完,递上了鲜艳的请帖。他跪在我面前求我不要结婚,我踢开他,笑着转身离开。躺在血泊里,我紧紧捂着小腹,“秦子昊,我肚子里的孩子其实是你的,你亲手杀了我们的孩子。”说完我张狂的笑,我看到秦子昊的脸由青变白。爱的起点,恨是终点;性的起点,是否会有终点?【卷一:今日种种,似水无痕】【卷二:明夕何夕,君已陌路】五年后:秦子昊领着一个粉妆玉琢的小男孩站在我面前,“陈筱雅,这是我儿子,三岁了。”男孩笑着叫我‘阿姨’。街头偶遇幕少城,他正在为他身边的女孩拉上外衣的拉链,笑着向我介绍说:“我老婆,我们结婚两年了。”蓦然回首,物是人非,还有谁在原地等我?【本文基调悲伤,但不是悲剧。】纯属虚构、禁止模仿◆◆◆◆推荐新文《失婚》“宏正集团总裁深夜幽会嫩模”“宏正集团总裁车中拥吻女星”“宏正集团总裁与某高校校花酒店开房”层出不穷的花边新闻让他们的婚姻亮起了红灯。她一直想无视,身边的人却逼着她去直视。结婚三年,他是个称职的丈夫,每晚按时回家,对她有求必应,珠宝首饰从未间断。她总想,倘若生活就这样持续下去,或许也是一种平静的幸福。只是最近发生的事仿佛已经脱离了原先的轨道。他开始周游在风流的国度,艳事不断,频频上报。这一切来得太过突然,她完全招架不住。嫁给雷煜城三年,三年的风平浪静之后终究还是迎来了暴风骤雨。离开,让事情变得更简单。遗忘,是无法改变的一种宿命。苏静柔:如果时间可以倒转,我好想回到儿时,那时你还是我的煜城哥哥。雷煜城:我以为埋藏在心底的是最爱,原来时间早已冲淡了一切。是她教会我这个道理,然而明白时,她已永远离开,只是那清脆的‘煜城哥哥’总不经意间回荡在耳际。