Delphi Collected Works of W. Somerset Maugham (Illustrated)
Page 389
Norah.
[Frigidly.] What makes you think that?
Taylor.
Why, when you come back in the kitchen you was as white as a sheet. You wanted to say you’d changed your mind, but your darned pride wouldn’t let you.
Norah.
I wouldn’t have stayed on in that house for anything in the world.
Taylor.
And this morning, when I called for you at the Y.W.C.A., you wanted to say you wouldn’t marry me. You tried to speak the words, but they wouldn’t come. When you shook hands with me your hand was like ice.
Norah.
I was nervous for a moment. After all, one isn’t married every day of one’s life, is one?
Taylor.
If I hadn’t shown you the licence and the ring, I guess you wouldn’t have done it. You hadn’t the nerve to back out of it then.
Norah.
I hadn’t slept a wink all night. I kept on turning it over in my mind. I was frightened at what I’d done. But I didn’t know a soul in Winnipeg. I hadn’t anywhere to go. I had four dollars in my pocket. I had to go through with it.
Taylor.
You took pretty good stock of me in the train on the way here, I guess.
Norah.
[Recovering herself.] What makes you think so?
Taylor.
Well, I felt you was looking at me a good deal. It wasn’t hard to see that you was turning me over in your mind. What conclusion did you come to?
Norah.
You see, I lived all those years with an old lady. I know very little about men.
Taylor.
I guessed that.
Norah.
I came to the conclusion that you were a decent fellow. I thought you would be kind to me.
Taylor.
Bouquets are just flying around. Have you got anything more to say to me?
Norah.
No.
Taylor.
Then just get me my pouch, will you? I guess it’s in the pocket of my coat.
[She hesitates a moment, looks at him, then gets it.]
Norah.
Here you are.
Taylor.
[With his tongue in his cheek.] I thought you was going to tell me I could darned well get it myself.
Norah.
I don’t very much like being ordered about.
Taylor.
You never paid much attention to me till to-day, I reckon.
Norah.
I was always polite to you.
Taylor.
Very. But I was the hired man, and you never let me forget it. You thought yourself a darned sight better than me because you could play the piano and speak French. But we ain’t got a piano, and there ain’t anyone as speaks French nearer than Winnipeg.
Norah.
What are you driving at?
Taylor.
Parlour tricks ain’t much good on the prairie. They’re like dollar bills up in Hudson Bay. Tobacco’s the only thing you can trade with an Esquimaux. You can’t cook very well, you don’t know how to milk a cow — why, you can’t even harness a horse.
Norah.
Are you regretting your bargain already?
Taylor.
No, I guess I can teach you. But if I was you I wouldn’t put on any frills. We shall get along O.K., I guess, when we’ve shaken down.
Norah.
You’ll find I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.
Taylor.
[Ignoring the remark.] When two people live together in a shack there’s got to be a deal of give and take on both sides. As long as you do what I tell you you’ll be all right.
Norah.
[With a smile.] It’s unfortunate that when anyone tells me to do a thing I have an irresistible desire not to do it.
Taylor.
I guess I tumbled to that. You must get over it.
Norah.
You’ve talked to me once or twice in a way I don’t like. I think we shall get on better if you ask me to do things.
Taylor.
Don’t forget that I can make you do them.
Norah.
[Amused.] How?
Taylor.
Well, I’m stronger than you are.
Norah.
A man can hardly use force in his dealings with a woman.
Taylor.
Oh?
Norah.
You seem surprised.
Taylor.
What’s going to prevent him?
Norah.
[With a little laugh.] Don’t be so silly.
[He gives her a look and then smiles quietly to himself.]
Taylor.
Well, I’m going to unpack my grip. [Pointing to the tea-things.] Wash up them things.
Norah.
[With a slight shrug of the shoulders.] I’ll wash them up in the morning.
Taylor.
Wash ’em up now, my girl. You’ll find the only way to keep things clean is to wash ’em the moment you’ve done with them.
[Norah looks at him with a slight smile on her face, but does not move.]
Taylor.
Did you hear what I said?
Norah.
I did.
Taylor.
Why don’t you do as I tell you?
Norah.
[Smiling.] Because I don’t choose.
Taylor.
You ain’t taken long to try it out.
Norah.
They say there’s no time like the present.
Taylor.
Are you going to wash up them things?
Norah.
No.
[He looks at her for a moment, then gets up, pours water into a pail and puts a ragged dishcloth on the table.]
Taylor.
Are you going to wash up them things?
Norah.
No.
Taylor.
D’you want me to make you?
Norah.
How can you do that?
Taylor.
I’ll show you.
Norah.
I’ll just get out these rugs, shall I? I expect it gets very cold towards morning.
[She gets up and goes over to a holdall and begins unstrapping it.]
Taylor.
Norah.
Norah.
Yes.
Taylor.
Come here.
Norah.
Why?
Taylor.
Because I tell you.
[She looks at him, but does not move. He goes over to her and is about to seize her wrist.]
Norah.
You daren’t touch me.
Taylor.
Who told you that?
Norah.
Have you forgotten that I’m a woman?
Taylor.
No, I haven’t. That’s why I’m going to make you do as I tell you. If you was a man I mightn’t be able to. Come now.
[He makes a movement to take her by the arm, but she slips away from him and quickly boxes his ears. He stops.]
Taylor.
That was a darned silly thing to do.
Norah.
What did you expect?
Taylor.
I expected you was cleverer than to hit me. You see, when it comes to — to muscle, I guess I’ve got the bulge on you.
Norah.
I’m not frightened of you.
Taylor.
Now come and wash up these things.
Norah.
I won’t.
Taylor.
Come on.
[He takes her wrists and tries to drag her to the table. She struggles with him, but cannot release herself. She kicks him as he drags her to the table.]
Norah.
Let me go.
Taylor.
Come on now, my girl. What’s the good of making a darned fuss about it?
Norah.
You brute, how dare you touch me! You’ll never force me to do anything. Let go! Let go!
Let go!
[As they reach the table she bends down and bites him. Instinctively he releases her.]
Taylor.
Gee, what sharp teeth you’ve got.
Norah.
You cad! You cad!
Taylor.
[Looking at his hand.] I never thought you’d bite. That ain’t much like a lady.
Norah.
You filthy cad to hit a woman.
Taylor.
Gee, I didn’t hit you. You smacked my face and kicked my shins, and you bit my hand. And then you say I hit you.
Norah.
[With all her passion.] You beast! I hate you.
Taylor.
I don’t care about that so long as you wash them cups.
Norah.
Look.
[With a sudden sweep of the arm she brushes them off the table, and they fall on the floor and break.]
Taylor.
That’s a pity. We’re terribly short of crockery. We shall have to drink our tea out of tins now.
Norah.
I said I wouldn’t wash them and I haven’t washed them.
Taylor.
They don’t need it now, I guess.
Norah.
I think I’ve won.
Taylor.
[With a smile.] Sure. Now take the broom and sweep up all the darned mess you’ve made.
Norah.
I won’t.
Taylor.
Look here, my girl, I guess I’ve had about enough of your nonsense. You do as you’re told and look sharp about it.
Norah.
You can kill me if you like.
Taylor.
What’s the good of that? Women are scarce in Manitoba.... Here’s the broom.
Norah.
If you want that mess swept up you can sweep it up yourself.
Taylor.
You make me tired. [He puts the broom into her hands, but she flings it violently away.] Look here, if you don’t clean up that mess at once, I’ll give you the biggest hiding you’ve ever had in your life.
Norah.
[Scornfully.] You?
Taylor.
[Nodding his head.] Yours truly. I’ve done with larking now.
[He turns up the sleeves of his sweater. Suddenly she bursts into loud cries.]
Norah.
Help! Help! Help!
Taylor.
What’s the good of that? There ain’t no one within a mile of us. Listen.
[For a moment they are both silent as they listen to the silence of the prairie.]
Norah.
If you touch me I’ll have you up for cruelty. There are laws to protect me.
Taylor.
I don’t care a curse for the laws. I know I’m going to be master here. And if I tell you to do a thing you’ve darned well got to do it because I can make you. Now stop fooling. Pick up that crockery and get the broom.
Norah.
I won’t.
[He strides up and is just about to catch hold of her when she shrinks back. She sees he is in earnest. She is terrified by his look.]
Norah.
No, don’t. Don’t hurt me.
Taylor.
[He stops and looks at her.] I guess there’s only one law here, and that’s the law of the strongest. I don’t know nothing about cities. Perhaps men and women are equal there. But on the prairie a man’s master because he’s bigger and stronger than a woman.
Norah.
Frank.
Taylor.
Blast you, don’t talk!
[Norah pauses, struggling between her pride and her fear. She will not look at her husband. She feels that he is getting impatient. At last, slowly, she bends down and picks up the teapot, the cups and saucers, and puts them on the table. Then she sinks into the chair and bursts into tears. He watches her with a slight smile on his face, but not unkindly.]
Norah.
Oh, I’m so unhappy.
Taylor.
[Without any anger in his voice.] Come on, my girl, don’t shirk the rest of it.
[She looks up and sees the mess of spilt tea on the floor. She gets up slowly, keeping her face away from him, and picks up the broom. She sweeps up. When she has finished she puts the broom in the corner. He watches her all the time. Then she takes up her hat and coat and starts to put them on.]
Taylor.
What are you doing?
Norah.
I’ve done what you made me do. Now I’m going.
Taylor.
Where?
Norah.
What do I care so long as I get away?
Taylor.
You ain’t under the impression that there’s a first-class hotel round the corner, are you? because there ain’t.
Norah.
I’ll go to the Sharps.
Taylor.
I guess they’re in bed and asleep by now.
Norah.
I can wake them.
Taylor.
You’d never find your way. It’s pitch dark.
Norah.
I’ll sleep out of doors, then.
Taylor.
On the prairie? Why, you’d freeze to death.
Norah.
What does it matter to you whether I live or die?
Taylor.
It matters a great deal. Women are scarce in Manitoba.
Norah.
Are you going to prevent me from going?
Taylor.
Sure.
[He stands in front of the door and faces her.]
Norah.
You can’t keep me here against my will. If I don’t go to-night, I can go to-morrow.
Taylor.
To-morrow’s a long way off.
[She gives a start and looks at him with staring, terrified eyes, her throat is dry with terror.]
Norah.
Frank. What d’you mean?
Taylor.
I don’t know what silly fancies you had in your head. When I married you I intended that you should be a proper wife to me.
Norah.
But ... but.... [She can hardly speak.] But you understood. [He does not answer. At last she collects herself. She tries to talk calmly and reasonably.] I’m sorry for the way I behaved, Frank. It was childish of me to struggle with you. You irritated me by the way you spoke.
Taylor.
Oh, I don’t mind. I don’t know much about women and I guess they’re queer. We had to fix things up sometime and I guess there was no harm in getting it over right now.
Norah.
You’ve beaten me all along the line and I’m in your power. Have mercy on me.
Taylor.
I guess you won’t have much cause to complain.
Norah.
I married you in a fit of temper. It was very stupid of me. I’m very sorry that I — that I’ve been all this trouble to you. Won’t you let me go?
Taylor.
No, I can’t do that.
Norah.
I’m no good to you. You’ve told me that I’m useless. I can’t do any of the things that you want a wife to do. You can’t be so hard-hearted as to make me pay with all my life for one moment’s madness.
Taylor.
What good would it do if I let you go? Will you go to Gertie and ask her to take you back again? You’ve got too much pride for that.
Norah.
I don’t think I’ve got much pride left.
Taylor.
Don’t you think you’d better give it a try?
Norah.
All the life was so strange to me. In England they think it’s so different from what it really is. I thought I should have a horse to ride. I expected dances and tennis parties. And when I came out I was so out of it. I felt in the way. And yesterday they drove me frantic so that I felt I couldn’t stay another moment in that house. It was only an impulse. I made a mistake. I didn’t know what I was doing. You can’t have the heart to take advantage of it.
Taylor.
I kn
ew you was making a mistake, but that was your look out. When I sell a man a horse he can look it over for himself, but I ain’t obliged to tell him its faults.
Norah.
D’you mean to say that after I’ve begged you almost on my knees to let me go you’ll force me to stay?
Taylor.
Sure.
Norah.
Oh, I’m so unhappy.
Taylor.
Perhaps you won’t be when you get used to it.
Norah.
[Desperately.] Oh, why did I ever walk into this trap?
Taylor.
Come, my girl, let us let bygones be bygones and give me a kiss.
[She looks at him for a moment.]
Norah.
I’m not in love with you.
Taylor.
I guessed that.
Norah.
And you’re not in love with me.
Taylor.
You’re a woman and I’m a man.
Norah.
D’you want me to tell you in so many words that you’re physically repellent to me? The thought of letting you kiss me horrifies and disgusts me.
Taylor.
[Good-humouredly.] Thank you.
Norah.
Look at your hands. It gives me goose-flesh when you touch me.
Taylor.
Cutting down trees, diggin’, looking after horses, don’t leave them very white and smooth.
Norah.
Let me go. Let me go.
[Taylor changes his manner, which has been quite good-humoured, and speaks more sharply and with a certain stern force.]
Taylor.
See here, my girl — you was educated like a lady and spent your life doing nothing — a lady’s companion, wasn’t you — taking a little dawg out for a walk of a morning and combing out his pretty little coat? And you look upon yourself as a darned sight better than me. I never had no schooling, and it’s a hell of a job for me to write a letter, but since I was so high I’ve earned my living. I guess I’ve been all over this country. I’ve been a trapper and I’ve worked on the railroad, and for two years I’ve been a freighter. I guess I’ve done pretty near everything but serve in a store. Now you just get busy and forget all the nonsense you’ve got in your head. You’re nothing but an ignorant woman and I’m your master. I’m going to do what I like with you, and if you don’t submit willingly, by God I’ll take you as the trappers in the old days used to take the squaws.
[He steps towards her, and she, escaping from him, seizes his gun, which is lying against the wall. She lifts it and aims at him.]
Norah.
If you move I’ll kill you.
Taylor.
[Stopping suddenly.] You daren’t.
Norah.
Unless you open the door and let me go I’ll shoot you. I’ll shoot you.
Taylor.
[Advancing one step.] Shoot, then.
[She pulls the trigger. A click is heard, but nothing more.]