by Unknown
Bless me! (GOES AND LOOKS AT mrs ommaney.) Well, I have no desire to waken her, but what I have to say must be said. Margaret, this woman has deceived us —
PAUL (sternly). Not so loud. (He continues looking at MRS.
OMMANEY.)
LADY JANET (LOWERING HER VOICE). The woman of this house — she is working at the postoffice —
MARGARET.! KNOW.
LADY JANET. She has just told me all about our Mrs. Ommaney. She is not a widow.
MARGARET. But, auntie, we have begun to suspect that ourselves. Her husband and she —
LADY JANET. Husband! He was not her husband.
(PAUL turns and looks at LADY JANET. MARGARET is bewildered.)
MARGARET. They are not married? It can’t be true.
LADY JANET. She admitted it herself to Mrs. Geddes.
MARGARET. Some things she said just now — so strange —
Paul! (LOOKING AT BEDROOM DOOR) It can’t be true.
LADY JANET. She does not even make the pretence of wearing a wedding ring.
(MARGARET LOOKS AT mrs ommaney’s LEFT HAND — THEN SHRINKS BACK.)
MARGARET. Paul, let us go.
PAUL. Have you no pity for her now, Margaret?
MARGARET. No.
LADY JANET. She has been here before. Can he be a man of these parts? I should like to know.
PAUL. It is no business of ours.
MARGARET. Yes, we might compel him to marry her. And, auntie, you can find out. She told me that the locket she is wearing contains his portrait.
LADY JANET. Aha! (Going towards MRS. OMMANEY.)
PAUL. You would not —
LADY JANET. Oh, yes, I would.
PAUL. Margaret — a sleeping woman!
LADY JANET (unfastens locket). Now we shall see.
(PAUL and LADY JANET are on opposite sides of the sleeping figure. MARGARET’S head is bowed and she does not look up. PAUL is staring at LADY JANET who opens locket leisurely. She sees who it is and gazes with horror.)
MARGARET (without raising head). Do you know him?
LADY JANET (after looking fiercely at PAUL, slips locket into her pocket). No, I never saw him before.
MARGARET. Auntie, she can’t stay here. Think of simple Jenny.
LADY JANET (HARSHLY). I shall see to that.
PAUL (LOOKING AT HER). I shall see to that.
LADY JANET. No.
PAUL (determinedly). Yes.
LADY JANET (SIGNIFICANTLY). Your part is with your wife. Goodbye, Margaret.
MARGARET. Paul, take me home.
(She is now looking with repugnance at MRS. OMMANEY.
LADY JANET signs to PAUL to go. He shakes his head determinedly. Their voices and actions are very subdued as there is greater reason than ever that they should not waken the sleeper.)
LADY JANET (yielding). He will see you into the carriage, dear, and then perhaps you won’t mind going home alone. I — I want his advice about what should be done.
MARGARET (in a low voice). Very well.
(EXEUNT MARGARET AND PAUL.)
LADY JANET (IN BURST OF EMOTION). Margaret! My innocent little Margaret! Oh, woman, woman!
(Enter JENNY from bedroom.)
JENNY. Miss Marga — (CURTSEYING) My lady!
LADY JANET. Mrs. Digby has gone. Had you anything to say to her?
JENNY. Just that baby was sleeping.
LADY JANET. Ah, I had forgotten. Your mother told me about her. Is she in there?
JENNY. Yes, my lady! (GOING TOWARDS ENTRANCE.)
LADY JANET. Stop! Does Mr. Digby know there is a child?
JENNY. I’m no sure. (EXIT jenny.)
LADY JANET (TO HERSELF). Does he know?
(Enter PAUL.)
PAUL (after they have looked in silence at each other).! DID not DESERT HER. I am NOT SEEKING to DEFEND MYSELF.! HAD PROMISED HER NEVER TO MARRY, BUT! DID not DESERT HER, (LADY JANET is immovable.)
She will probably be herself again when she wakes, so the girl told Margaret. When she wakes, she will find me here —
ALONE. We must have it out together, what she means to do. And I must do my duty by her — first by Margaret, but also by her.
LADY JANET (CONTINUING TO LOOK FIXEDLY AT HIM). Only by those two? Then you do not know!
PAUL. Know what? You must trust me and leave me alone with her. Take Jenny away also. We must have the house to ourselves.
LADY JANET. I trust you and I will go — and take Jenny — but there will still be a third person in the house.
(PAUL is puzzled.)
Your child.
(PAUL stands rigid, LADY JANET points to bedroom. He goes into bedroom. She remains motionless leaning on her staff. After a pause PAUL comes out.)
PAUL (very sorrowful). I did not know — I never thought —
LADY JANET. Men never do.
(She goes out slowly at entrance and is seen taking JENNY with her. Outer door is heard shutting. There is a great stillness, PAUL is stricken but quiet. He goes to side of sofa. His overcoat is on chair. He places it carefully over MRS. OMMANEY, then sits down on chair near fire by her side.)
ACT III
The curtain is lowered only for a moment between Acts II and III to indicate the passing of time. When it rises Mrs. Ommaney is still asleep on sofa and Paul still sitting by her side. Dusk has come on and their figures are only dimly discernible. The fire has burned low. In the stillness the waves are heard breaking on the beach. Paul rises and strikes a match. By its light he looks first at Mrs. Ommaney’s face and then at the clock which shows that two hours have elapsed. He shuts window and pulls curtains, then gropes his way out by the light of the match.
(The pulling of the curtains has made MRS. OMMANEY stir and open her eyes, unnoticed by him. When he has gone she speaks languidly without getting up.)
MRS. OMMANEY. Is that you, Jenny? Have I been asleep?
(SITTING UP AND YAWNING.) Are you there? How dark —
(Rising bewildered) Why — what — (Disturbed) Something has happened! (A match is heard being struck; she goes towards entrance.) Jenny!
(A light comes along passage and she retreats backwards as it approaches. Enter PAUL carrying a lamp.)
You!
(PAUL looks anxiously at her.)
Why do you look at me so?
PAUL. Thank God! (Puts down lamp and sinks into chair.)
MRS. OMMANEY. When did you come here? Let me think.
(Presses her hands to her temples.) Ah! (Flings open bedroom door.) Come out! (Seizes lamp and enters bedroom, returns.) Where is she? Your wife!
PAUL. She is gone. We are alone in the house, you and I — and our child.
MRS OMMANEY. So you know about HER! Where is your Margaret? She was there a moment ago.
paul. Nearly two hours ago. You have been — asleep.
MRS OMMANEY. Sleeping? While she — I don’t remember your coming in.
PAUL. You were — excited.
MRS. OMMANEY (pressing her temples again and beginning to understand). Excited? Not — not that! (Entreatingly.)
PAUL (painfully). The girl Jenny says it happened before.
MRS. OMMANEY. Again, again! (Covers her face with her hands.)
PAUL (goes to her pityingly). Kate!
MRS OMMANEY (DEFIANTLY). Don’t try to get round me. You promised me never to marry. You have broken your promise.
(IN A HARD VOICE, WITHOUT LOOKING UP) Tell me what happened.
(PAUL sits down beside her, and the whole act is played very quietly.)
PAUL. I came FOR my WIFE.! DID NOT KNOW THAT you WERE IN the HOUSE.
MRS OMMANEY. I remember. I was waiting to give you a wedding gift! (SHE LOOKS GRIMLY AT BEDROOM.)
PAUL. What wedding gift? You don’t mean —
MRS OMMANEY. Yes, I do! You broke your promise. Go on.
PAUL. You had got into that excited state before I came, but we persuaded you to sleep, and then my wife went away.
MRS OMMANEY. Does she know?
&nb
sp; PAUL. Not everything. Her aunt came in. Jenny’s mother had told her all she knew of you, and she repeated it to Margaret mrs ommaney. But you — do they know that you were the man?
PAUL. You HAD TOLD MY WIFE THAT your LOCKET CONTAINED his portrait —
MRS OMMANEY (FEELING FOR LOCKET). Ah, it is gone. Well?
PAUL. Lady Janet opened it — and saw.
MRS OMMANEY. And your wife — your wife?
PAUL. My wife does not know. Lady Janet kept it from her.
MRS OMMANEY. Then why are you here alone?
PAUL. Margaret would not remain after —
MRS OMMANEY. After she knew what sort of woman I was! Recoiled from me, did she? Hid her pretty eyes in horror, eh? That is what her ‘sympathy’ is worth, and it nearly took me in. There was a moment when I hesitated, and almost —
(LAUGHS SHRILLY) But I am glad she was pitiless.
PAUL. She is so innocent — if you knew how a man worships innocence in a woman.
MRS OMMANEY. In one woman, but not in others!
PAUL (bows his head). Kate, I believe your letter, I never questioned it. I have learned only to-day why you left me, and the generosity of it crushes me in the dust.
MRS OMMANEY. How did you learn?
PAUL. You told me yourself, before you fell asleep. At least believe this, that had I understood I would not have let you go.
MRS OMMANEY. I know. But oh, you were glad to be free! Can you deny it?
(PAUL cannot answer.)
Your heart leapt within you, did it not I PAUL. I was distraught with grief and shame.
MRS. ommaney. But joy came in the morning!
PAUL. You said you were going home — I thought of following you.
MRS. OMMANEY (BITINGLY). Did you go?
PAUL. You asked me in the letter not to do so.
MRS. ommaney. How obedient a man can be sometimes! But you would not have found me at my father’s. I remained in London. I went back to the dressmaking that I should never have left.
PAUL. Kate, I make no pretence. I was too willing to believe you. But for you I had no feeling save pity. It was myself I loathed and the life I was leading.
MRS OMMANEY. The life and I were one. And yet until we met I had been a good woman. I had sat to other painters before I knew you; I had been a popular enough model. I was a harum-scarum, I suppose, but no harm had come of it.
PAUL. You were a good woman — till we met. That is my condemnation.
MRS OMMANEY. And you had been a good man. That is mine. Funny, isn’t it?
(PAUL makes a movement of dissent.)
Yes, you had. They called you the hermit; your Spartan virtue was the talk of the studios.
PAUL. I lived too much in my art, and my solitary thoughts. I shrank from men’s free talk of women, and yet when I left them it was to brood of the things they spoke of; theirs was a healthier life than mine. ‘ It is not good for man that he be alone.’ And then you came into my life, and you rang through it like a peal of bells in a lonely house. At first I only meant to be your friend. Ah, Kate, those Bohemian days, when you and I were only comrades.
MRS. OMMANEY. The dear old studio fire!
PAUL. How poor I was.
MRS. OMMANEY. How happy we were!
PAUL. Ah, but Kate!
MRS. OMMANEY. Yes, it was soon over.
PAUL. The end came. Our friends were looking on and smiling, Kate. They called me a lucky dog. At first I could have struck them, for they did not disguise their meaning; but they had put the idea into my head, and it flourished there and grew apace.
MRS. OMMANEY (PASSIONATELY). It was not only that? Speak, you loved me!
PAUL. You took possession of every chamber of my mind. There was no one in the world to me but you.
MRS. OMMANEY. That was enough for me. I was willing to let all else go. I was up to date. Up to date!
PAUL. We thought it such a fine thing to defy the conventions.
MRS. OMMANEY. I gloried in the risk. When a woman loves, the more she must venture the better pleased she is. And, Paul, we were happy at first, you loved me —
PAUL. I was deliriously happy at first, but soon —
MRS. OMMANEY. You awakened — and it was all over! Did you know her in those days?
PAUL. Not till after you left me. What I felt was a sense of shame — I hated myself — I could not work — I saw I had given away my manhood.
MRS. OMMANEY. I gave it you back again — a little tarnished.
PAUL. I have tried to cleanse it.
MRS. OMMANEY. And in the meantime I have borne a child!
PAUL (BOWED). Kate, when you left me, did you know of her?
MRS. OMMANEY. I knew! Now do you understand why I could not go back to my father? At least I have hidden it from him.
PAUL. Why did YOU NOT TELL ME? If I had KNOWN — !
MRS OMMANEY. Why did you not ask? (HE HAS NO ANSWER.)
Yes, I took away that secret with me also. I was not to be generous by halves.
(PAUL opens bedroom door and stands looking in. MRS.
OMMANEY is bitterly sarcastic.)
Pity she didn’t die, isn’t it? But she is very healthy; hard on you that, isn’t it? But they are often carried off in the measles; she might get run over in the street, too; there’s always a chance!
(PAUL looks at her and then exits into bedroom, MRS.
OMMANEY remains in parlour.)
This is a gentleman come to see you, baby; don’t be frightened, he won’t touch you. Don’t stretch out your little hand to him, he won’t take it. Don’t offer your mouth to him, he won’t kiss it. He may kiss other babies yet, but not you.
(Suddenly a gratified look comes into her face, and she sinks in chair, PAUL comes out.)
You kissed her!
(He is very remorseful — door is heard opening — and they both rise, PAUL goes to window.)
PAUL. It is Lady Janet come back.
(Enter LADY JANET.)
LADY JANET (to PAUL, after looking from one to other). Well?
(paul HAS NO ANSWER.)
MRS OMMANEY. You have something of mine, I understand?
(lady janet HANDS HER THE LOCKET.)
MRS OMMANEY (OPENS IT). Where is the portrait?
LADY JANET. I destroyed it. (TO PAUL) Is it arranged?
MRS OMMANEY. We were coming to that.
LADY JANET. How much?
PAUL (STERNLY). Lady Janet, for shame!
MRS OMMANEY. Pooh, I don’t mind her! (WITH SHRINKING DISDAIN) What can she know about women! What can the virtuous spinster know? I have borne a child; I am a woman. What are you who dare interfere with a woman — you childless thing!
PAUL. Kate!
LADY JANET (WITH EMOTION). It is true, it is true.
(EXIT LADY JANET, SORROWFULLY.)
MRS. OMMANEY. She said, ‘Is it arranged?’ Paul, you broke your promise — what are you to do?
PAUL. Anything, anything! Kate, you and our child shall be well provided for.
(mrs ommaney turns away.) You must take it. Oh, it is so pitifully little I can do.
MRS. OMMANEY (EAGERLY, BUT HALF AFRAID). It need not be pitifully little, Paul, if — (HESITATES) — I shall do whatever you ask of me, live where you please, go into the country far from her, be so patient. Paul, I need never again be as you have seen me to-day. Only my wild craving for you brought it on. It turned my brain. There shall be no more of that. I will be so contented; so happy; you will say I am my old self again — when you come to see me.
PAUL (STARTLED). But I can’t do that! Everything else.
MRS. OMMANEY. Only now and again — she will never know.
PAUL. Kate, do you know what you are proposing to me?
MRS. OMMANEY. You will do it — speak! PAUL. No!
MRS. OMMANEY (CHANGING FROM ENTREATY TO PASSION). But you shall! It is the price of my silence!