ST. HERBERT[To SIGSBY.]What do you think they'll do, supposing by any chance Mrs. Chilvers should head the poll?
SIGSBYHow do you mean--"what'll they do?" ST. HERBERTDo you think they'll claim the seat?
SIGSBYClaim the seat!What do you think they're out for--their health?Get another six months' advertisement, if they don't get anythingelse.Meanwhile what's our position--just at the beginning of our ministerial career?
GEOFFREYThey will not claim the seat. SIGSBYHow do you know? GEOFFREYI know my wife.
LAMB[After a moment's silence.]Quite sure you do? GEOFFREY[Turns.]
LAMB Ever seen a sheep fighting mad? I have. Damned sight worse than the old ram.
GEOFFREYShe doesn't fight the ram.
LAMB [He makes a sweeping movement that takes in the room, the election--all things.] What's all this? We thought woman hadn't got the fighting instinct--that we "knew her." My boy, we're in the infants' class.
SIGSBY If you want to be his Majesty's Under-Secretary for Home Affairs, you take my tip, guv'nor, you'll win this election.
GEOFFREY What more can I do than I'm doing? How can I countenance this sort of thing? [He indicates the posters.] Declare myself dead against the whole movement?
LAMBYou'll do it later.May as well do it soon. GEOFFREYWhy must I do it?
LAMBBecause you're beginning to find out what it means. [A pause.The door is open.ANNYS is standing there.] ANNYSDare we venture into the enemy's camp?
[She enters, laughing, followed by ELIZABETH and PHOEBE. ANNYS is somewhat changed from the grave, dreamy ANNYS of a short week ago. She is brimming over with vitality--excitement. There is a decisiveness, an egoism, about her that seems new to her. The women's skirts make a flutter. A breeze seems to have entered. ANNYS runs to her husband. For the moment the election fades away. They are all smiles, tenderness for one another.]
ANNYS Don't tell, will you? Mamma would be so shocked. Do you know you haven't been near me for three days?
GEOFFREYUmph!I like that.Where were you last night?
ANNYS Last night? In the neighbourhood of Leicester Square till three o'clock. Oh, Geoff, there's such a lot wants altering!
[She turns to greet the others.]
GEOFFREY Your ruining your health won't do it. You're looking fagged to death.
ANNYS [She shakes hands with SIGSBY.] How are you? [To LAMB.] I'm so glad you're helping him. [She turns again to GEOFFREY.] Pure imagination, dearest. I never felt better in my life.
GEOFFREY Umph! Look at all those lines underneath your eyes. [He shakes hands with ELIZABETH.] How do you do? [To PHOEBE.] How are you?
ANNYS [She comes back to him--makes to smooth the lines from his forehead.] Look at all those, there. We'll run away together for a holiday, when it's all over. What are you doing this evening?
SIGSBY You promised to speak at a Smoker to-night; the Bow and Bromley Buffaloes.
ANNYS Oh, bother the Buffaloes. Take me out to dinner. I am free after seven.
[MRS. CHINN has entered--is arranging the table for tea. ANNYS goes to her.]
How are you, Mrs. Chinn?
MRS. CHINN [She wipes her hand on her apron before taking ANNYS'S proffered hand.]
GEOFFREY [To SIGSBY.] I can turn up there later in the evening. [He joins the others for a moment--talks with them.]
MRS. CHINN [Now shaking hands.] Quite well, thank you, ma'am. [She has cast a keen, motherly glance at ANNYS.] I hope you're taking care of yourself, ma'am.
ANNYS Of course I am. We Politicians owe it to our Party. [Laughs.] How are they getting on here, without me?
MRS. CHINN Well, ma'am, from what I can see, I think Mr. Chilvers is trusting a little too much to his merits. Shall I bring some more cups and saucers, sir?
GEOFFREYAh! yes![To ANNYS.]You'll have some tea? ANNYSStrong, please, Mrs. Chinn.
[MRS. CHINN goes out.]
[Laughs.]Yes, I know it's bad for me.[She puts a hand over his mouth.]
PHOEBEOld Mother Chinn is quite right, you know, Geoff. You're not putting up a good fight.
GEOFFREY[A slight irritability begins to show itself.]I frankly confess that I am not used to fighting women.
ELIZABETHYes.It was easier, no doubt, when we took it lying down.
ANNYSYou promised, if I brought you, that you would be good. GEOFFREYI wish it had been you.
PHOEBEYes, but we don't!
[As she and ELIZABETH move away.]
Did you have a row with the doctor when you were born?
[To which ELIZABETH replies, though the words reach only PHOEBE: "I might have, if I had known that my mother was doing all the work, while he was pocketing the fee!"]
LAMBYou see, Mrs. Chilvers, our difficulty is that there is nothing to be said against you--except one thing.
ANNYSWhat's that? LAMBThat you're a woman.
ANNYS[Smiling.]Isn't that enough?
SIGSBYQuite enough, Mrs. Chilvers, if the guv'nor would only sayit.
ANNYS[To GEOFFREY.]Why don't you?I'll promise not todeny it.
[The others drift apart. They group themselves near to the window. They talk together--grow evidently interested and excited.]
GEOFFREY I have just had a letter from your--Election Agent, expressing indignation with one of my supporters for merely having hinted at the fact.
ANNYSI don't understand.
GEOFFREY [He takes from the table the letter and hands it to her in silence. He seats himself on the settee and watches her.]
ANNYS [She seats herself on a chair just opposite to him; reads the letter through in silence.] In my case it does not apply.
GEOFFREYHow do you know?
ANNYS [The atmosphere has grown suddenly oppressive.] Oh, I-- I think we might find some other reason than that. [She hands him back the letter.]
GEOFFREY It's the only one of any importance. It embraces all the others. Shall woman be mother--or politician? [He puts the letter in his pocket.]
ANNYSWhy cannot she be both?
GEOFFREY [He is looking at her searchingly.] Because if she is the one, she doesn't want to be the other.
[A silence.]
ANNYS You are wrong. It is the mother instinct that makes us politicians. We want to take care of the world.
GEOFFREY Exactly. You think man's job more interesting than your own.