He. I wont say: Keek into the draw-well, Janet, Janet. Only wait a little, darling, and you shall be stocked with russet gowns and everything else.
She. And when the frocks wear out youll get me new onesand everything else?
He. Assuredly.
She. I wonder!
He. Look here, Sweetheart, I didnt spend two days and two nights in the train to hear you wonder. I thought wed settled all that at Shaifazehat.
She. (dreamily). At Shaifazehat? Does the Station go on still? That was ages and ages ago. It must be crumbling to pieces. All except the Amirtollah kutcha road. I dont believe that could crumble till the Day of Judgment.
He. You think so? What is the mood now?
She. I cant tell. How cold it is! Let us get on quickly.
He. Better walk a little. Stop your jhampanies and get out. Whats the matter with you this evening, dear?
She. Nothing. You must grow accustomed to my ways. If Im boring you I can go home. Heres Captain Congleton coming, I daresay hell be willing to escort me.
He. Goose! Between us, too! Damn Captain Congleton.
She. Chivalrous Knight. Is it your habit to swear much in talking? It jars a little, and you might swear at me.
He. My angel! I didnt know what I was saying; and you changed so quickly that I couldnt follow. Ill apologise in dust and ashes.
She. Therell be enough of those later onGood-night, Captain Congleton. Going to the singing - quadrilles already? What dances am I giving you next week? No! You must have written them down wrong. Five and Seven, I said. If youve made a mistake, I certainly dont intend to suffer for it. You must alter your programme.
He. I thought you told me that you had not been going out much this season?
She. Quite true, but when I do I dance with Captain Congleton. He dances very nicely.
He. And sit out with him, I suppose?
She. Yes. Have you any objection? Shall I stand under the chandelier in future?
He. What does he talk to you about?
She. What do men talk about when they sit out?
He. Ugh! Dont! Well, now Im up, you must dispense with the fascinating Congleton for a while. I dont like him.
She (after a pause). Do you know what you have said?
He Cant say that I do exactly. Im not in the best of tempers.
She So I see,and feel. My true and faithful lover, where is your eternal constancy, unalterable trust, and reverent devotion? I remember those phrases; you seem to have forgotten them. I mention a mans name
He. A good deal more than that.
She. Well, speak to him about a danceperhaps the last dance that I shall ever dance in my life before I,before I go away; and you at once distrust and insult me.
He. I never said a word.
She. How much did you imply? Guy, is this amount of confidence to be our stock to start the new life on?
He. No, of course not. I didnt mean that. On my word and honour, I didnt. Let it pass, dear. Please let it pass.
She. This onceyesand a second time, and again and again, all through the years when I shall be unable to resent it. You want too much, my Lancelot, and,you know too much.
He. How do you mean?
She. That is a part of the punishment. There cannot be perfect trust between us.
He. In Heavens name, why not?
She. Hush! The Other Place is quite enough. Ask yourself.
He. I dont follow.
She. You trust me so implicitly that when I look at another manNever mind. Guy, have you ever made love to a girla good girl?
He. Something of the sort. Centuries agoin the Dark Ages, before I ever met you, dear.
She. Tell me what you said to her.
He. What does a man say to a girl? Ive forgotten.
She. I remember. He tells her that he trusts her and worships the ground she walks on, and that hell love and honour and protect her till her dying day; and so she marries in that belief. At least, I speak of one girl who was not protected.
He. Well, and then?
She. And then, Guy, and then, that girl needs ten times the love and trust and honouryes, honourthat was enough when she was only a mere wife ififthe other life she chooses to lead is to be made even bearable. Do you understand?
He. Even bearable! Itll be Paradise.
She. Ah! Can you give me all Ive asked fornot now, nor a few months later, but when you begin to think of what you might have done if you had kept your own appointment and your caste herewhen you begin to look upon me as a drag and a burden? I shall want it most then, Guy, for there will be no one in the wide world but you.
He. Youre a little over-tired to-night, Sweetheart, and youre taking a stage view of the situation. After the necessary business in the Courts, the road is clear to
She. The holy state of matrimony! Ha! ha! ha!
He. Ssh! Dont laugh in that horrible way!
She. IIc-c-c-cant help it! Isnt it too absurd! Ah! Ha! ha! ha! Guy, stop me quick or I shalll-l-laugh till we get to the Church.
He. For goodness sake, stop! Dont make an exhibition of yourself. What is the matter with you?
She. N-nothing. Im better now.
He. Thats all right. One moment, dear. Theres a little wisp of hair got loose from behind your right ear and its straggling over your cheek. So!
She. Thankoo. Im fraid my hats on one side, too.
He. What do you wear these huge dagger bonnet-skewers for? Theyre big enough to kill a man with.
She. Oh! dont kill me, though. Youre sticking it into my head! Let me do it. You men are so clumsy.
He. Have you had many opportunities of comparing usin this sort of work?
She. Guy, what is my name?
He. Eh! I dont follow.
She. Heres my card-case. Can you read?
He. Yes. Well?
She. Well, that answers your question. You know the others mans name. Am I sufficiently humbled, or would you like to ask me if there is any one else?
He. I see now. My darling, I never meant that for an instant. I was only joking. There! Lucky theres no one on the road. Theyd be scandalised.
She. Theyll be more scandalised before the end.
He. Do-ont! I dont like you to talk in that way.
She. Unreasonable man! Who asked me to face the situation and accept it?Tell me, do I look like Mrs. Penner? Do I look like a naughty woman! Swear I dont! Give me your word of honour, my honourable friend, that Im not like Mrs. Buzgago. Thats the way she stands, with her hands clasped at the back of her head. Dyou like that?
He. Dont be affected.
She. Im not. Im Mrs. Buzgago. Listen!
Thats the way she rolls her rs. Am I like her?
He. No, but I object when you go on like an actress and sing stuff of that kind. Where in the world did you pick up the Chanson du Colonel? It isnt a drawing-room song. It isnt proper.
She. Mrs. Buzgago taught it me. She is both drawing-room and proper, and in another month shell shut her drawing-room to me, and thank God she isnt as improper as I am. Oh, Guy, Guy! I wish I was like some women and had no scruples aboutWhat is it Keene says?Wearing a corpses hair and being false to the bread they eat.
He. I am only a man of limited intelligence, and, just now, very bewildered. When you have quite finished flashing through all your moods tell me, and Ill try to understand the last one.
She. Moods, Guy! I havent any. Im sixteen years old and youre just twenty, and youve been waiting for two hours outside the school in the cold. And now Ive met you, and now were walking home together. Does that suit you, My Imperial Majesty?
He. No. We arent children. Why cant you be rational?
She. He asks me that when Im going to commit suicide for his sake, and, andI dont want to be French and rave about my mother, but have I ever told you that I have a mother, and a brother who was my pet before I married? Hes married now. Cant you imagine the pleasure that the news of the elopement will give him? Have you any people at Home, Guy, to be pleased with your performances?
He. One or two. One cant make omelets without breaking eggs.
She (slowly). I dont see the necessity
He. Hah! What do you mean?
She. Shall I speak the truth?
He Under the circumstances, perhaps it would be as well.
She. Guy, Im afraid.
He I thought wed settled all that. What of?
She. Of you.
He. Oh, damn it all! The old business! This is toobad!
She. Of you.
He. And what now?
She. What do you think of me?
He. Beside the question altogether. What do you intend to do?
She. I darent risk it. Im afraid. If I could only cheat
He. ÀA la Buzgago? No, thanks. Thats the one point on which I have any notion of Honour. I wont eat his salt and steal too. Ill loot openly or not at all.
She. I never meant anything else.
He. Then, why in the world do you pretend not to be willing to come?
She. Its not pretence, Guy. I am afraid.
He. Please explain.
She. It cant last, Guy. It cant last. Youll get angry, and then youll swear, and then youll get jealous, and then youll mistrust meyou do nowand you yourself will be the best reason for doubting. And Iwhat shall I do? I shall be no better than Mrs. Buzgago found outno better than any one. And youll know that. Oh, Guy, cant you see?
He I see that you are desperately unreasonable, little woman.
She. There! The moment I begin to object, you get angry. What will you do when I am only your propertystolen property? It cant be, Guy. It cant be! I thought it could, but it cant. Youll get tired of me.
He I tell you I shall not. Wont anything make you understand that?
She. There, cant you see? If you speak to me like that now, youll call me horrible names later, if I dont do everything as you like. And if you were cruel to me, Guy, where should I go? where should I go? I cant trust you. Oh! I cant trust you!
He. I suppose I ought to say that I can trust you. Ive ample reason.
She. Please dont, dear. It hurts as much as if you hit me.
He. It isnt exactly pleasant for me.
She. I cant help it. I wish I were dead! I cant trust you, and I dont trust myself. Oh, Guy, let it die away and be forgotten!
He. Too late now. I dont understand you I wontand I cant trust myself to talk this evening. May I call to-morrow?
She. Yes. No! Oh, give me time! The day after. I get into my rickshaw here and meet Him at Pelitis. You ride.
He. Ill go on to Pelitis too. I think I want a drink. My worlds knocked about my ears and the stars are falling. Who are those brutes howling in the Old Library?
She. Theyre rehearsing the singing-quadrilles for the Fancy Ball. Cant you hear Mrs. Buzgagos voice? She has a solo. Its quite a new idea. Listen!
Mrs. Buzgago (in the Old Library, con molt. exp.).
Captain Congleton, Im going to alter that to flirt. It sounds better.
He. No, Ive changed my mind about the drink. Good-night, little lady. I shall see you to-morrow?
She. Yees. Good-night, Guy. Dont be angry with me.
He. Angry! You know I trust you absolutely. Good-night andGod bless you!
(Three seconds later. Alone.) Hmm! Id give something to discover whether theres another man at the back of all this.