MISS RICKETTS [A slight, fair, middle-aged woman, with a nervous hesitating manner.] Of course, only if the mother wishes it.

GEOFFREY [The proposal staggers him. But the next moment it inspires him with mingled anger and amus.e.m.e.nt.] My dear, good people, have you stopped for one moment to consider what the result of your proposal would be?

PEEKIN For one thing, Mr. Chilvers, the adding to the populace of healthy children in place of the stunted and diseased abortions that is all that these poor women, out of their scanty earnings, can afford to present to the State.

GEOFFREY Humph! That incidentally it would undermine the whole inst.i.tution of marriage, let loose the flood-gates that at present hold immorality in check, doesn't appear to trouble you. That the law must be altered to press less heavily upon the woman--that the man must be made an equal sharer in the penalty--all that goes without saying. The remedy you propose would be a thousand times worse than the disease.

ANNYS And meanwhile? Until you have devised this scheme [there is a note of contempt in her voice] under which escape for the man will be impossible?

GEOFFREY The evil must continue. As other evils have to until the true remedy is found.

PEEKIN [He has hurriedly consulted with the others. All have risen--he turns to GEOFFREY.] You will not support our demand?

GEOFFREY Support it! Do you mean that you cannot yourselves see that you are holding out an indemnity to every profligate, male and female, throughout the land--that you would be handicapping, in the struggle for existence, every honest man and woman desirous of bringing up their children in honour and in love? Your suggestion is monstrous!

PEEKIN [The little man is not without his dignity.] We apologise, Mr. Chilvers, for having taken up your time.

GEOFFREY I am sorry the matter was one offering so little chance of agreement.

PEEKIN We will make only one slight further trespa.s.s on your kindness. Mrs. Chilvers, if one may judge, would seem to be more in sympathy with our views. Might we--it would be a saving of time and shoe leather [he smiles]--might we take this opportunity of laying our case before her?

GEOFFREY It would be useless.

[A short silence. ANNYS, with ELIZABETH and PHOEBE a little behind her, stands right. LAMB, SIGSBY, and ST. HERBERT are behind GEOFFREY centre. The DEPUTATION is left.]

HOPPER Do we gather that in this election you speak for both candidates?

GEOFFREY In matters of common decency, yes. My wife does not a.s.sociate herself with movements for the encouragement of vice.

[There is another moment's silence.]

ANNYS But, Geoffrey, dear--we should not be encouraging the evil.

We should still seek to find the man, to punish him. The woman would still suffer -

GEOFFREY My dear Annys, this is neither the time nor place for you and me to argue out the matter. I must ask you to trust to my judgment.

ANNYS I can understand your refusing, but why do you object to my -

GEOFFREY Because I do not choose for my wife's name to be linked with a movement that I regard as criminal. I forbid it.

[It was the moment that was bound to come. The man's instincts, training, have involuntarily a.s.serted themselves. Shall the woman yield? If so, then down goes the whole movement--her claim to freedom of judgment, of action, in all things. All watch the struggle with breathless interest.]

ANNYS [She speaks very slowly, very quietly, but with a new note in her voice.] I am sorry, but I have given much thought to this matter, and--I do not agree with you.

MRS. PEEKIN You will help us?

ANNYS I will do what I can.

PEEKIN [He takes from his pocket a folded paper.] It is always so much more satisfactory when these things are in writing.

Candidates, with the best intentions in the world, are apt to forget. [He has spread the paper on a corner of the table. He has in his hand his fountain-pen.]

ANNYS [With a smile.] I am not likely to forget, but if you wish it--[She approaches the table.]

GEOFFREY [He interposes. His voice is very low, almost a whisper.] My wife will not sign.

ANNYS [She also speaks low, but there is no yielding in her voice.] I am not only your wife. I have a duty also to others.

GEOFFREY It is for you to choose. [He leaves the way open to her.]

[The silence can almost be felt. She moves to the table, takes up the paper. It contains but a few lines of writing. Having read it, she holds out her hand for the pen. PEEKIN puts it in her hand. With a firm hand she signs, folds the paper, and returns it to him. She remains standing by the table. With the removal of the tension there comes a rustle, a breaking of the silence.]

MISS RICKETTS [She seizes ANNYS's hand, hanging listlessly by her side, and, stooping, kisses it.]

MISS BORLa.s.sE That is all, isn't it?

PEEKIN We thank you, Mrs. Chilvers. Good afternoon.

ANNYS [The natural reaction is a.s.serting itself. She pulls herself together sufficiently to murmur her answer.] Good afternoon.

MRS. PEEKIN [The DEPUTATION is moving away; she takes from her waist a small bunch of flowers, and, turning, places them in ANNYS'S hand.]

ANNYS [She smiles, remains standing silent, the flowers in her hand.]

["Good afternoons" are exchanged with some of the others.

Finally:]

PEEKIN Good afternoon, Mr. Chilvers.

GEOFFREY [Who has moved away.] Good afternoon.

[The DEPUTATION joins SIGSBY by the door. He leads them out.]

ELIZABETH [To PHOEBE.] Are you going my way?

PHOEBE [She glances round at ANNYS.] Yes, I'll come with you.

ST. HERBERT I will put you into a bus, if you will let me. We don't sport many cabs in East Poplar. [He is helping ELIZABETH with her cloak.]

ELIZABETH Thank you.

LAMB I've got to go up West. [To GEOFFREY.] Will you be at the House this evening?

GEOFFREY [He is standing by the desk pretending to look at some papers]. I shall look in about ten o'clock.

LAMB One or two things I want to say to you. Goodbye for the present.

GEOFFREY Goodbye!