Delphi Collected Works of W. Somerset Maugham (Illustrated)

by William Somerset Maugham

  Daisy. You silly old woman. Harry’s not a Chinaman and he wouldn’t call in a Chinese doctor.

  Lee Tai. [With a smile.] China is a very old and a highly civilized country, Daisy. When anyone is in your way, it’s not very difficult to get rid of him.

  Daisy. [Scornfully.] And do you think I’d let poor Harry be murdered so that I might be free to listen to your generous proposals? You must think I’m a fool if you expect me to risk my neck for that.

  Lee Tai. You don’t take any risk, Daisy. You know nothing.

  Amah. Lee Tai velly clever man, Daisy.

  Daisy. I thought so once. Lee Tai, you’re a damned fool. Get out.

  Lee Tai. Freedom is a very good thing, Daisy.

  Daisy. What should I do with it?

  Lee Tai. Wouldn’t you like to be free now? [She looks at him sharply. She wonders if it can possibly be that he suspects her passion for George Conway. He meets her glance steadily.] One day Sen Shi Ming was sitting with his wife looking at a Tang bronze that he had just bought when he heard someone in the street crying for help. Sen Shi was a very brave man and he snatched up a revolver and ran out. Sen Shi forgot that he had cheated his brother out of a house in Hatamen Street or he would have been more prudent. Sen Shi was found by the watchman an hour later with a dagger in his heart. Who killed cock-robin?

  Amah. Hi, hi. Sen Shi velly silly man.

  Lee Tai. His brother knew that. They had grown up together. If I heard cries for help outside my house late in the night, I should ask myself who had a grudge against me, and I should make sure the door was bolted. But white men are very brave. White men don’t know the Chinese customs. Would you be very sorry if an accident happened to your excellent husband?

  Daisy. I wonder what you take me for?

  Lee Tai. Why do you pretend to me, Daisy? Do you think I don’t know you?

  Daisy. The door is a little on the left of you, Lee Tai. Would you give yourself the trouble of walking through it?

  Lee Tai. [With a smile.] I go, but I come back. Perhaps you’ll change your mind.

  [He ties up his bundle and is about to go. Harry enters.

  Daisy. Oh, Harry, you’re back very soon!

  Harry. Yes, the pony went lame. Fortunately I hadn’t gone far before I noticed it. Who’s this?

  Daisy. It’s a curio-dealer. He has nothing I want. I was just sending him away.

  [Lee Tai takes up his bundle and goes out.

  Harry. [Noticing the orchids.] Someone been sending you flowers?

  Daisy. George.

  Harry. Rather nice of him. [To the Amah.] Run along, amah, I want to talk to missy.

  Amah. All light.

  Harry. And don’t let me catch you listening round the corner.

  Amah. My no listen. What for I listen?

  Harry. Run along — chop-chop.

  Amah. Can do. [She goes out.]

  Harry. [With a laugh.] I couldn’t give you a greater proof of my affection than consenting to have that old woman around all the time.

  Daisy. I don’t know why you dislike her. She’s devoted to me.

  Harry. That’s the only reason I put up with her. She gives me the creeps. I have the impression that she watches every movement I make.

  Daisy. Oh, what nonsense!

  Harry. And I’ve caught her eavesdropping.

  Daisy. Was it amah that you wanted to talk to me about?

  Harry. No, I’ve got something to tell you. How would you like to leave Peking?

  Daisy. [With a start, suddenly off her guard.] Not at all.

  Harry. I’m afraid it’s awfully dull for you here, darling.

  Daisy. I don’t find it so.

  Harry. You’re so dear and sweet. Are you sure you don’t say that on my account?

  Daisy. I’m very fond of Peking.

  Harry. We’ve been married a year now. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, darling, but it’s no good beating about the bush, and I think it’s better to be frank.

  Daisy. Surely you can say anything you like to me without hesitation.

  Harry. Things have been a little awkward in a way. The women I used to know before we married left cards on you —

  Daisy. Having taken the precaution to discover that I should be out.

  Harry. And you returned those cards and that was the end of it. I asked George what he thought about my taking you to the club to play tennis and he said he thought we’d better not risk it. The result is that you don’t know a soul.

  Daisy. Have I complained?

  Harry. You’ve been most awfully decent about it, but I hate to think of your spending day after day entirely by yourself. It can’t be good for you to be so much alone.

  Daisy. I might have known Mrs. Chuan. She’s a white woman.

  Harry. Oh, my dear, she was — heaven knows what she was! She’s married to a Chinaman. It’s horrible. She’s outside the pale.

  Daisy. And there’s Bertha Raymond. She’s very nice, even though she is a Eurasian.

  Harry. I’m sure she’s very nice, but we couldn’t very well have the Raymonds here and refuse to go to them. Her brother is one of the clerks in my office. I don’t want to seem an awful snob....

  Daisy. You needn’t hesitate to say anything about the Eurasians. You can’t hate and despise them more than I do.

  Harry. I don’t hate and despise them. I think that’s odious. But sometimes they’re not very tactful. I don’t know that I much want one of my clerks to come and slap me on the back in the office and call me old chap.

  Daisy. Of course not.

  Harry. The fact is we’ve been trying to do an impossible thing. It’s no good kicking against the pricks. What with the legations and one thing and another Peking’s hopeless. We’d far better clear out.

  Daisy. But if I don’t mind why should you?

  Harry. Well, it’s not very nice for me either. It’s for my sake just as much as for yours that I’d be glad to go elsewhere. Of course everybody at the club knows I’m married. Some of them ignore it altogether. I don’t mind that so much. Some of them ask after you with an exaggerated cordiality which is rather offensive. And every now and then some fool begins to slang the Eurasians and everybody kicks him under the table. Then he remembers about me and goes scarlet. By God, it’s hell.

  Daisy. [Sulkily.] I don’t want to leave Peking. I’m very happy here.

  Harry. Well, darling, I’ve applied for a transfer.

  Daisy. [With sudden indignation.] Without saying a word to me?

  Harry. I thought you’d be glad. I didn’t want to say anything till it was settled.

  Daisy. Do you think I am a child to have everything arranged for me without a word? [Trying to control herself.] After all, you’d never see George. Surely you don’t want to lose sight of your only real friend.

  Harry. I’ve talked it over with George and he thinks it’s the best thing to do.

  Daisy. Did he advise you to go?

  Harry. Strongly.

  Daisy. [Violently.] I won’t do it. I won’t leave Peking.

  Harry. Why should his advice make the difference?

  Daisy. Why? [She is confused for a moment, but quickly recovers herself.] I won’t let George Conway — or anybody else — decide where I’m to go.

  Harry. Don’t be unreasonable, darling.

  Daisy. I won’t go. I tell you I won’t go.

  Harry. Well, I’m afraid you must now. It’s all settled. The transfer is decided.

  Daisy. [Bursting into tears.] Oh, Harry, don’t take me away from here. I can’t bear it. I want to stay here.

  Harry. Oh, darling, how can you be so silly! You’ll have a much better time at one of the outports. You see, there are so few white people there that they can’t afford to put on frills. They’ll be jolly glad to know us both. We shall lead a normal life and be like everybody else.

  Daisy. [Sulkily.] Where do you want to go?

  Harry. I’ve been put in charge of our place at Chung-king.

  Daisy
. [Starting up with a cry.] Chung-king! Of course you’d choose Chung-king.

  Harry. Why, what’s wrong with it? Do you know it?

  Daisy. No — oh, what am I talking about? I’m all confused. Yes, I was there once when I was a girl. It’s a hateful place.

  Harry. Oh, nonsense! The consul’s got a charming wife, and there are quite a nice lot of people there.

  Daisy. [Distracted.] Oh, what shall I do? I’m so unhappy. If you cared for me at all you wouldn’t treat me so cruelly. You’re ashamed of me. You want to hide me. Why should I bury myself in a hole two thousand miles up the river? I won’t go! I won’t go! I won’t go! [She bursts into a storm of hysterical weeping.]

  Harry. [Trying to take her in his arms.] Oh, Daisy, for God’s sake don’t cry. You know I’m not ashamed of you. I love you more than ever. I love you with all my heart.

  Daisy. [Drawing away from him.] Don’t touch me. Leave me alone. I hate you.

  Harry. Don’t say that, Daisy. It hurts me frightfully.

  Daisy. Oh, go away, go away!

  Harry. [Seeking to reason with her.] I can’t leave you like this.

  Daisy. Go, go, go, go, go! I don’t want to see you! Oh, God, what shall I do?

  [She flings herself doom on the steps, weeping hysterically. Harry, much distressed, looks at her in perplexity. The Amah comes in.

  Amah. You make missy cly. You velly bad man.

  Harry. What the devil do you want?

  Amah. [Going up to Daisy and stroking her head.] What thing he talkee my poor little flower? Maskee. He belong velly bad man.

  Harry. Shut up, you old ... I won’t have you talk like that. I’ve put up with a good deal from you, but if you try to make mischief between Daisy and me, by God, I’ll throw you out into the street with my own hands.

  Amah. What thing you do my Daisy? Don’t cly, Daisy.

  Harry. Darling, don’t be unreasonable.

  Daisy. Go away, don’t come near me. I hate you.

  Harry. How can you say anything so unkind?

  Daisy. Send him away. [She begins to sob again more violently.]

  Amah. You go away. You no can see she no wanchee you. You come back bimeby. My sabe talk to little flower.

  [Harry hesitates for a moment. He is harassed by the scene. Then he makes up his mind the best thing is to leave Daisy with the Amah. He goes out. Daisy raises her head cautiously.

  Daisy. Has he gone?

  Amah. Yes. He go drink whisky soda.

  Daisy. Do you know what he wants?

  Amah. What for he tell me no listen? So fashion I sabe he say something I wanchee hear. He wanchee you leave Peking.

  Daisy. I won’t go.

  Amah. Harry velly silly man. He alla same pig. You pull thisa way, he pull thata way. If Harry say you go from Peking — you go.

  Daisy. Never, never, never!

  Amah. You go away from Peking you never see George anymore.

  Daisy. I should die. Oh, I want him! I want him to love me. I want him to hurt me. I want.... [In her passion she has dug her hands hard into the Amah.]

  Amah. [Pushing away Daisy’s hands.] Oh!

  Daisy. He loves me. That’s the only thing that matters. All the rest....

  Amah. Harry wanchee you go Chung-king. Missionary ladies like see you again, Daisy. Perhaps they ask you how you like living along Lee Tai Cheng. Perhaps somebody tell Harry.

  Daisy. The fool. Of all the places in China he must hit upon Chung-king.

  Amah. You know Harry. If he say go Chung-king, he go. You cly, he velly solly, he all same go.

  Daisy. Oh, I know his obstinacy. When he’s once made up his mind — [Contemptuously.] — he prides himself on his firmness. Oh, what shall I do?

  Amah. I think more better something happen to Harry.

  Daisy. No, no, no!

  Amah. What you flightened for? You no do anything. I tell Lee Tai more better something happen to Harry. I say you not velly sorry if Harry die.

  Daisy. [Putting her hands over her ears.] Be quiet! I won’t listen to you.

  Amah. [Roughly tearing her hands away.] Don’t you be such a big fool, Daisy. You go to Chung-king and Harry know everything. Maybe he kill you.

  Daisy. What do I care?

  Amah. You go to Chung-king, you never see George no more. George, he love my little Daisy. When Harry gone — George, he come say....

  Daisy. Oh, don’t tempt me, it’s horrible!

  Amah. He put his arms round you and you feel such a little small thing, you hear his heart beat quick, quick against your heart. And he throw back your head and he kiss you. And you think you die, little flower.

  Daisy. Oh, I love him, I love him!

  Amah. Hi, hi.

  Daisy. [Thinking of the scene with George.] He would hardly look at me and his hands were trembling. He was as white as a sheet.

  Amah. [Persuasively.] I tell you, Daisy. You no say yes, you no say no. I ask Buddha.

  Daisy. [Frightened.] What for?

  Amah. If Buddha say yes, I talk with Lee Tai; if Buddha say no, I do nothing. Then you go to Chung-king and you never see George any more.

  [The Amah goes up the temple steps and flings open the great doors. Daisy watches her with an agony of horror, expectation, and dread. The Amah lights some joss-sticks on the altar, and strikes a deep-toned gong. Harry comes in, followed by Lee Tai with his bundle.

  Harry. [Anxious to make his peace.] Daisy, I found this fellow hanging about in the courtyard. I thought I’d like to buy you a Manchu dress that he’s got.

  Daisy. [After a moment’s reflection, with a change of tone.] That’s very nice of you, Harry.

  Harry. It’s a real beauty. You’ll look stunning in it.

  Lee Tai. [Showing the dress, speaking in Pidgin English.] Firs class dless. He belong Manchu plincess. Manchus no got money. No got money, no can chow. Manchus sell velly cheap. You takee, Missy.

  [Daisy and Lee Tai exchange glances. Daisy is grave and tragic, whereas Lee Tai has an ironical glint in his eyes. Meanwhile the Amah has been bowing before the altar. She goes down on her knees and knocks her head on the ground.

  Harry. What in God’s Name is amah doing?

  Daisy. She’s asking Buddha a question.

  Harry. What question?

  Daisy. [With a shadow of a smile.] How should I know?

  Harry. What’s the idea?

  Daisy. Haven’t you ever seen the Chinese do it? You see those pieces of wood she’s holding in her hands. She’s holding them out to the Buddha so that he may see them and she’s telling him that he must answer the question. [Meanwhile the Amah, muttering in a low tone, is seen doing what Daisy describes.] The Buddha smells the incense of the burning joss-sticks, and he’s pleased and he listens to what she says.

  Harry. [Smiling.] Don’t be so absurd, Daisy. One might almost think you believed all this nonsense. Why, you’re quite pale.

  Daisy. Then she gets up. The pieces of wood are flat on one side and round on the other. She’ll lift them above her head and she’ll drop them in front of the Buddha. If they fall with the round side uppermost it means yes. [Daisy has been growing more and more excited as the ceremony proceeds. Now the Amah steps back a little and she raises her arms. Daisy gives a shriek and starts to run forward.] No! no! Stop!

  Harry. [Instinctively seizing her arms.] Daisy!

  [At the same moment the Amah has let the pieces of wood fall. She looks at them for an instant and then turns round.

  Amah. Buddha talkee, can do.

  Daisy. [To Harry.] Why did you stop me?

  Harry. Daisy, how can you be so superstitious? What is the result?

  Daisy. Amah asked Buddha a question and the answer is yes. [She puts her hand to her heart for an instant, then looking at Harry she smiles.] I’m sorry I was silly and unreasonable just now, Harry.

  END OF SCENE III

  SCENE IV

  The sitting-room in the Andersons’ apartments. At the back are two double doors. The lower part of them is so
lid, but above they are cut in an intricate trellis. The ceiling is raftered, painted red and decorated with dim, gold dragons; the walls are whitewashed. On them hang Chinese pictures on rolls. Between the doors is a little image of the domestic god, and under it a tiny oil lamp is burning. The furniture is partly Chinese and partly European. There is an English writing-table, but the occasional tables, richly carved, are Chinese. There is a Chinese pallet-bed, covered with bamboo matting, and there is an English Chesterfield. There are a couple of Philippine rattan chairs and one or two of Cantonese blackwood. On the floor is a Chinese carpet. A Ming tile here and there gives a vivid note of colour. It is a summer night and the doors are wide open. Through them you see one of the courtyards of the temple.

  The Amah is seated in one of the blackwood chairs by the side of a table. She has her water-pipe. She puts a pinch of tobacco in and then going to the lamp under the image lights a taper. She seats herself again and lights her pipe. She smokes quietly.

  Daisy comes in. She wears an evening dress somewhat too splendid for dinner with only her husband and a friend.

  Amah. B. A. T. fellow, when he go?

  Daisy. You know his name. Why don’t you call him by it? I think he’s going almost at once.

  Amah. What for he go so soon?

  Daisy. That’s his business, isn’t it? As a matter of fact his sister is arriving from England, and he has to go to meet her.

  Amah. More better he go soon.

  Daisy. Why do you smoke your pipe here? You know Harry doesn’t like it.

  Amah. Harry one big fool, I think. When you go to Chung-king?

  Daisy. Harry hasn’t said a word about it since.

  Amah. You got key that desk?

  Daisy. No. Harry keeps all his private papers there.

  [The Amah goes up to the desk and tries one of the drawers. It is locked and she cannot open it.

  Amah. What Harry do now?

  Daisy. He and Mr. Knox are drinking their port.

  [The Amah takes out a skeleton key out of her pocket and inserts it in the lock. She turns the key.

  Amah. Velly bad lock. I think him made in Germany. Hi, hi. [She opens the drawer and takes out a revolver. She hands it to Daisy.] Lee Tai say, you take out cartridges.