Part 20

GINGER. A letter from her ladyship. (She picks up from the desk and hands him the letter SIGSBY had thrown there.) Her ladyship thought you ought to be consulted.

GEOFFREY. (He reads the short letter with a gathering frown—hands it across to ST. HERBERT.)

ST. HERBERT. (Having read, he passes it back in silence.)

GEOFFREY. (To GINGER.) Do you know the contents of this letter?

GINGER. The matter has been discussed among us—informally.

GEOFFREY. Tell Lady Mogton I’ll—talk to her myself on the subject.

GINGER. Thank you. (She collects her etceteras.) Good afternoon.

GEOFFREY. (Shortly.) Good afternoon.

GINGER. (She bows graciously to ST. HERBERT, who responds. Goes out.)

GEOFFREY. The devil of it is that it’s the truth.

ST. HERBERT. Somebody was bound to say it, sooner or later!

GEOFFREY. Yes, but one’s own wife! This is a confoundedly awkward situation.

ST. HERBERT. (He comes to him, stands looking down at him.) Did it never occur to you, when you were advocating equal political rights for women, that awkward situations might arise?

GEOFFREY. (He leans back in his chair.) Do you remember Tommy the Terrier, as they used to call him in the House—was always preaching Socialism?

ST. HERBERT. Quite the most amusing man I ever met!

GEOFFREY. And not afraid of being honest. Do you remember his answer when somebody asked him what he would do if Socialism, by any chance, really became established in England? He had just married an American heiress. He said he should emigrate. I am still convinced that woman is entitled to equal political rights with man. I didn’t think it was coming in my time. There are points in the problem remaining to be settled before we can arrive at a working solution. This is one of them. (He takes up the letter and reads.) “Are you prepared to have as your representative a person who for six months out of every year may be incapacitated from serving you?” It’s easy enough to say I oughtn’t to allow my supporters to drag in the personal element. I like it even less myself. But what’s the answer?

(JAWBONES enters with a tray.)

JAWBONES. (Places tray on table.) Tea’s coming in a minute, sir. (He is clearing away.)

GEOFFREY. Never mind all that. (He hands him a slip.) Take this to the printers. Tell them I must have a proof to-night.

JAWBONES. Yes, sir.

(Finds his cap and goes out.)

ST. HERBERT. The answer, I should say, would be that the majority of women will continue to find something better to do. The women who will throw themselves into politics will be the unattached women, the childless women. (In an instant he sees his mistake, but it is too late.)

GEOFFREY. (He rises, crosses to the desk, throws into a waste-paper-basket a piece of crumpled paper that was in his hand; then turns. The personal note has entered into the discussion.) The women who want to be childless—what about them?

ST. HERBERT. (He shrugs his shoulders.) Are there any such?

GEOFFREY. There are women who talk openly of woman’s share in the general scheme being a “burden” on her—an “incubus.”

ST. HERBERT. A handful of cranks. To the normal woman motherhood has always been the one supreme desire.

GEOFFREY. Because children crowned her with honour. The barren woman was despised. All that is changing. This movement is adding impulse to it.

ST. HERBERT. Movements do not alter instincts.