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A Project Gutenberg of Australia eBookTitle:      The Fight for Barbara (1912)Author:     D. H. LawrenceeBook No.:  0400851h.htmlEdition:    1Language:   EnglishCharacter set encoding:     HTML--Latin-1(ISO-8859-1)--8 bitDate first posted:          December 2004Date most recently updated: December 2004This eBook was produced by: Don Lainson dlainson@sympatico.caProject Gutenberg of Australia eBooks are created from printed editionswhich are in the public domain in Australia, unless a copyright noticeis included. We do NOT keep any eBooks in compliance with a particularpaper edition.Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check thecopyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing thisfile.This eBook is made available at no cost and with almost no restrictionswhatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the termsof the Project Gutenberg of Australia License which may be viewed online athttp://gutenberg.net.au/licence.htmlTo contact Project Gutenberg of Australia go to http://gutenberg.net.au

8.30 in the morning. The kitchen of an Italian villa--a bigopen fire-place of stone, with a little charcoalgrate--fornello--on either side--cupboards, table, rush-bottomchairs with high backs--many bright copper pans of all sizeshanging up. The door-bell rings in the kitchen--rings hard--aftera minute a door is heard to bang.

Enter WESSON,in dressing-gown and pyjamas: a youngman of about twenty-six, with thick hair ruffled from sleep. Hecrosses and goes through door R. Sounds of voices. Re-enterWESSON,followed by Italian maid-servant, FRANCESCA,young, fair, pretty--wears a black lace scarf over her head.She carries a saucepan full of milk. On the table stand asoup-tureen and an enamel jug.

FRANCESCA:Questa? (Puts her hand on thejug.)

WESSON: No, in the other. (She pours the milk into thetureen.)

FRANCESCA (smiling): Abondante misura!

WESSON: What's that?Come?

FRANCESCA:Abondante misura latte!

WESSON: Oh--full measure.Si!--running over!

FRANCESCA: Ranning ova. (Both laugh.)

WESSON: Right you are--you're learning English.

FRANCESCA:Come?

WESSON:Vous apprenez anglais--voi--inglese!

FRANCESCA:O--non--niente inglese!

WESSON: Nothing English? Oh yes!Er--fa tempocattivo!

FRANCESCA:Tempo cattivo--si.

WESSON: Rotten weather--

FRANCESCA:Come?

WESSON: It's all the same. (She puts the lid on hersaucepan and turns away.) Er--what day is it?--er--giornoche giorno?

FRANCESCA:Oggi? Domenica.

WESSON:Domenica!--dimanche--Sonntag--Sunday.

FRANCESCA:Come?

WESSON: Sunday!

FRANCESCA: Sendy!

WESSON: That's it. (Both laugh--she blushes and turnsaway--bows.)

FRANCESCA:Buon giorno, Signore.

WESSON:Buon giorno.

Exit FRANCESCAR. He drinks some milk, wipes hismouth and begins to whistle: "Put me among the girls!"--takessome branches of olive and ilex from a box near the fire--putsthem in the fireplace. As he is so doing, enterLeft--BARBARA--age about twenty-six--fair--rather a fineyoung woman, holding her blue silk dressing-gown about her. Shestands in the doorway L., holding up her finger.

BARBARA: Yes, you may well whistle that!I heard you,Giacometti.

WESSON (turning round): And did it fetch you out ofbed?

BARBARA: Yes, it did. I heard your dulcet tones.

WESSON: They were no dulcetter than usual.

BARBARA: And, pray, what right had they to beasdulcet!--(draws herself up)--to a little servant-maid,indeed!

WESSON: She's awfully nice, and quite a lady.

BARBARA: Yes--yes--I know you! She's pretty, is she?

WESSON: Awfully pretty! (Lighting the heap of branches inthe fire.) These matches are the stinking devil.

BARBARA: Aren't they! I tried to light a cigarette with them,and I thought I should have died!

WESSON: You should have waited till the sulphur had burnedaway (laughing). And the pretty maid had got a mantilla onthis morning.

BARBARA: Ah! I suppose the poor thing had been to church.

WESSON: It took my breath away when I opened the door, and Isaid "Oh!"

BARBARA:Giacomo!

WESSON: Do call me Jimmy--I hate to be Italianized!--and sheblushed like fury.

BARBARA: Poor thing! Really, Giacometti, really, you areimpossible.

WESSON: What for?

BARBARA: Fancy saying "Oh!" to the young maid! Remember,you're a gentleman in her eyes.

WESSON: And what's wrong with saying "Oh!" when she's got afascinating mantilla on? I can't say delicate things inItalian--and--"Oh!"--who can't say "Oh!"--after all, what isthere in it?

BARBARA: What could have been more expressive! Think of thepoor thing, how embarrassed she must feel.

The fire blazes up in the big chimney.

Oh, how beautiful! Now that makes meperfectly happy.Howgorgeous! How adorable! No, but, Wesson, I don't likeit.

WESSON: What's that, the fire?

BARBARA: No, the little servant-maid. And you made her feelso uncomfortable.

WESSON: I didn't.

BARBARA: You must have done! Think--to her, at any rate,you're a gentleman.

WESSON: A thundering lot of a gentleman, when she finds melighting the fire and grinding the coffee--

BARBARA: Yes, but no doubt she thinks that's aneccentricity.

WESSON: There's a lot of eccentricity about living on ahundred-and-twenty a year, the pair of us.

BARBARA: And you must remember how fearfully poor theseItalians are--

WESSON: It's enough for me how fearfully poor we areourselves--you in your silk dressing-gown! It'll be some timebefore you get such a one out of our purse.

BARBARA: Well, it doesn't matter--youare a gentlemanhere. Look, this flat is quite grand.

WESSON: It will be when you have to clean it.

BARBARA:I don't mind cleaning it; don't be horrid!This adorable fire! But you won't do it, will you?

WESSON: What?

BARBARA: Say "Oh!" to the little maid. It's not nice,really.

WESSON: Well, you see, it popped out when I saw the mantilla.I s'll be used to it another time.

BARBARA: And you won't say it?

WESSON: I won't say "Oh!"; oh dear, oh no, never no more, Iwon't. (Sings.)

BARBARA (kissing him): Dear!

WESSON (kissing her): What d'yer want?

BARBARA: I love you.

WESSON: So you ought.

BARBARA: Why ought I?

WESSON (at the fire): There you are, you see, that'show to set a fornello going.

BARBARA (teasing): Oh--oh, is it? And now you're goingto make coffee l'ltalienne, aren't you? Oh, you wonderfulperson!

WESSON: I am.

Gets the coffee-mill from cupboard--grinds coffee on thetable, singing:

Johnny used to grind the coffee-mill,
Mix the sugar with the sand;
But he got run in and all through mixing
His master's money with his own.

BARBARA: What is that beautiful and classic song?

WESSONsings it again.

BARBARA (laughing): Oh, you common, common brat!Anybody could tell your father was a coal-miner.

WESSON: A butty collier--and I wish yours had beenditto--you'd ha' been more use. Think of me, Lord of Creation,getting the breakfast ready. (She takes his head between herhands, and ruffles his hair.) While you stand messingabout.

BARBARA: Oh, your lovely hair!--it makes waves just like theApollo Belvedere.

WESSON: And come again to-morrer.

BARBARA: Don't--don't laugh at yourself--or at me when I sayit's nice hair. Itis, Giacomo, it's really beautiful.

WESSON: I know; it's the Apollo Belvedere, and my beautifulnose is Antinous, and my lovely chin is Endymion--clear out.

BARBARA: You are horrid to yourself! Why won't you let me sayyou're nice?

WESSON: Because the water's boiling.

BARBARA: You're not a bit nice.

WESSON: Mind!--my water's boiling! (Breaks away--makingcoffee in a brass jug.) If this was Pimlico or Bloomsbury,and this was a London kitchen, you wouldn't love me, wouldyou?

BARBARA: If you could do anything so horrid as to stifle me ina poor part of London, I would not love you--I would hate you forever. Think of me!

WESSON: But because we come careering to Italy, and the pansare of copper and brass, you adore me, don't you?

BARBARA: Yes--on the whole.

WESSON: That is, for the first month or two. We've been heresix weeks.

BARBARA: Think of it--Giacomo mio, it seems like six minutes--it frightens me.

WESSON (hesitating): It doesn't seem three months sincewe left England, does it?

BARBARA: I can't believe we're here yet. Giacomo, Giacomo, whyis it so new, every day? Giacomo, why is it always more? It'salways more, isn't it?

WESSON (putting his arms round her): You're a Judy!(Kisses her.)

BARBARA: Do you love me?

WESSON: Not a bit.

BARBARA: Not a teenty bit?

WESSON: Not a seroddy atom. (Laughs--tightens her in hisarms--kisses her.)

BARBARA: You're acommon thing!

WESSON: Am I no gentleman, as Frederick said?

BARBARA: No, no one could ever accuse you of being agentleman.

WESSON: Am I a lout?

BARBARA: Oh--did it call him a lout!

WESSON: Am I a clodhopper?

BARBARA: Now--that makes me happy! That Frederick should callyou a clodhopper--no, that is too much joy!

WESSON: Have they called me any more names?

BARBARA: You forget the clumsy clown--

WESSON: That your papa would have kicked downstairs--think ofthe poor old winded baronet--

BARBARA: Who's had his Selma all his life! And then saysyou're a degraded scoundrel for running away with me.

WESSON: Yes--his rotten old cheek.

BARBARA: He's a failure, too, you know--Papa's a failure! Whyare all people failures?

WESSON: Couldn't say.

BARBARA: It's because their women have been so rotten to them.Mama treated my father badly, she did, just because of hisSelma.

WESSON: You'd letme have a Selma, wouldn't you?

BARBARA: What!I'd show you--I'll show you if you tryany of your little games on me. But poor Papa--everything he hasdone has gone wrong--his money--he had no son--

WESSON: So there'll be no fifth baronet--how sad--what anawful loss to society!

BARBARA: And here am I, his favourite daughter, have run awaywith the son of a coal-miner, from my good and lovinghusband.

WESSON: The right worthy Frederick Tressider, doctor ofmedicine. Gentleman of means. Worth a dozen of me.

BARBARA: Oh, how I hated his wooden face!

WESSON: Well, you knocked spots off it pretty roughly.

BARBARA: How common, how inexpressibly common your languageis.

WESSON: There goes the milk. (Dashes to the fire.) Areyou going to have bregger in the kitchen, or in the bedroom?

BARBARA: We'll have it here for once. Should we--because ofthis lovely fire--put some more sticks on.

WESSON: Put 'em on yourself--or, wait a minute--want eggs, ordon't you?

BARBARA: Yes, let's have eggs.

WESSON: You're a lazy little devil.

BARBARA: Think--think how I worked yesterday!

WESSON: Yes--it nearly killed you, didn't it!

Silence for a moment.

BARBARA: Poor Frederick. Hedoes love me! If I'd seenit before I'd left him--I don't think I could have done it. Whydid he always hide it from me?

WESSON: He didn't. You merely never saw it.

BARBARA: Oh, but it never came out!

WESSON: What did youwant him to do! He loved you rightenough; you merely didn't love him--and there it stands.

BARBARA: But--I knew he was in love with me--but--why could Ineverfeel his love? Why could I never feel itwarmme?

WESSON: Because you never wanted to. You were non-conductiveto this particular form of love, that's all.

BARBARA: Think, I was married to him for three years, and Iwas no nearer to him than I am to that fornello.

WESSON: Poor devil--it wasn't his fault.

BARBARA: Yes, I have treated him badly.

WESSON: You might have done worse by staying with him.

BARBARA: But think--how he adored me! Why did it never seemanything to me, his love? But think, Giacomo, how he mustsuffer--such a highly esteemed man, and so proud andsensitive--

WESSON: And we'd only known each other three weeks.

BARBARA: Oh, Giacomo; it makes me tremble! Do you think weshall bring it off?

WESSON: We shall--if we make up our minds to. But if you keepfootling with the idea of Frederick, and your people, andduty--then we shan't.

BARBARA: But, Giacomo--they loved me so.

WESSON: So do I.

BARBARA: Yes, but they needed me more. And I belonged to them!And they say love wears off--and if it does!

WESSON: You were saying only a minute since it was alwaysmore.

BARBARA: Giacomo, I'm frightened.

WESSON: What of?

BARBARA: Of everything--and sometimes I wonder--don't be crossif I say it, will you?

WESSON: Say what you like.

BARBARA: Sometimes I wonder--it seems horrid--I wonder if Ican trust you.

WESSON: Why?

BARBARA: You are so queer--and I am so all alone--and if youweren't good to me--

WESSON: I think you needn't be mean--

BARBARA: But look--you seem to want to take me away fromeverything and everybody. I feel as if you wanted to swallow me,and take my will away. You won't do it, will you, Giacomo?

WESSON: You're fatter than I am--ask a cat not to swallow acamel.

BARBARA: But do you think Frederick will divorce me?

WESSON: You'll have to insist on it.

BARBARA: No--I can't--it seems so cruel. I can't, dear. He'sso cut up. You know, he says he can't publicly accuse me.

WESSON: If he'd hate you and have done with it, it would beeasier. Or if he loved you, he would offer you divorce. But no,he messes about between one thing and another, andsentimentalizes.

BARBARA: But he does love me, Giacomo.

WESSON: And a fat lot of use it is to you. But he sees youdon't clearly want a divorce and so he hangs on. Now he talksabout your going to live with your mother, and repenting, thenhe'll have you back. But you like to leave a loophole by whichyou could creep out and go back, don't you? Ah, you do.

BARBARA: No--no--don't say it--don't say it. Only I'mfrightened.

WESSON: You know your people have given out you've gone into aconvent in France, for a little while, because you had gotreligious ideas or something like that. And I know they thinkyou'll come crawling back at last--and Frederick is waiting foryou--he's waiting--and you like to have it so--you do.

BARBARA (putting her arms round his neck): No, it's nottrue, Giacometti, it's not true. Ido love you, don'tI?

WESSON: You only don't want to belong to me.

BARBARA: But I do belong to you.

WESSON: You don't--you tamper with the idea of Frederick.

BARBARA: He'd never do to me what you want to do.

WESSON: What?

BARBARA: Humble me, and make me nothing--and then swallow me.And it'swrong. It'swrong for you to want toswallow me. I am myself--and you ought to leave me free.

WESSON: Well, so I do.

BARBARA: You don't. All the time you're at me. Oh, and I hateyou so sometimes, Giacomo. Now you're cross with me.

WESSON: I should think the eggs are done.

BARBARA (seating herself): I'm hungry, Giacomo--areyou?

WESSON: No--it makes me sick, the way you're always bleedingmy self-respect.

BARBARA:I! I! Why it's I who've given you yourself-respect. Think of the crumpled up, despairing, hatingcreature that came into Mrs Kelly's drawing-room--and now look atyourself.

WESSON: But youwon't love me--you want to keep upperhand.

BARBARA (laughing with scorn): There you are quitemistaken.I want there to beno upper hand. I onlywant both of us to be free to be ourselves--and you seem as ifyoucan't have it--you want to bully me, you want to bullyme inside.

WESSON: All right--eat your breakfast then.

BARBARA: And it makes me feel as if I want to run--I want torun from you.

WESSON: Back to Frederick.

BARBARA: Yes--poor Frederick--he never made me feel like this.I was always a free woman with him.

WESSON: And mightily you regretted it.

BARBARA: No--no! Not that! Your idea of marriage is like theold savages: hit a woman on the head and run off with her.

WESSON: Very well.

The bell rings noisily.

There's the butcher.

Goes out door R--voices--re-enter WESSON.

What do you want?

BARBARA: I don't know--what do we?

WESSON: I!--

He turns round. The butcher, a handsome young fellow ofabout twenty, has followed him and stands in the doorway.

BARBARA: Oh!--Buon giorno!

BUTCHER: Buon giorno, signora.

BARBARA: Piove?

BUTCHER: Si.

BARBARA: Ah!--e il lago--?

BUTCHER: È burrascoso.

BARBARA: Ah--tempo cattivo per voi.

The butcher laughs.

WESSON: What do you want?

BARBARA: Er--ha vitello?

BUTCHER: Si--Si--quanto?

BARBARA: How much do we want?

WESSON: Mezzo chilo.

BARBARA: Mezzo chilo.

BUTCHER (touching his hood): Grazia--buon giorno.

The door is heard to close.

BARBARA: Oh, I like him, I like him--you said he wasn'tnice.

WESSON: He's not--look at the way he comes in.

BARBARA: I like it. It's so decided, at any rate. I hateEnglish people for the way they always hang fire.

WESSON: Do you?

BARBARA: Yes! I like him as he stands there--he looks like awild young bull or something, peering out of his hood.

WESSON: And you flirt with him.

BARBARA:Wesson!

WESSON: I know it's a great insult to say so. But heisgood-looking--and see the way you stretch out your arm, and showyour throat.

BARBARA: But Wesson, howcan you. I simply spoke tohim. And when you think of yourself with the servant maid--

WESSON: I only laugh--you sort of show yourself.

BARBARA: Well, really, this is too much!

WESSON: True, whether or not. And you're always doing it. Youalways want men to think I don'tkeep you. You write toyour mother like that, you write to Frederick like that--alwaysas if I didn't keep you, as if you were rather undecided, youwould make up your mind to walk away from me in a little while,probably.

BARBARA: Howcan you be so false? It would serve youright if Idid leave you.

WESSON: I know that, you've said it before.

BARBARA: Really--no one but a common man would say I flirtedwith that butcher--

WESSON: Well, Iam common--what's the odds? You'velived with me for three months.

BARBARA: That doesn't say I shall live with you for ever.

WESSON: You can go the minute you want to go.

BARBARA: Ha, could I! It's easy for you to talk. You'd see,when it came to it, how you would let me go.

WESSON: I wouldn't try to stop you, if you really, reallywanted to leave me. But you've got to convince me of thatfirst.

BARBARA: You think there's not another like you, don'tyou?

WESSON: For you, there isn't.

BARBARA: I'm not so sure.

WESSON: I am! But try, only try. Only try, and make yourmistake. But it'll be too late, once you've done it.

BARBARA: Pooh! you needn't think you'll threaten me.

WESSON: I only tell you. Can I give you anything?

BARBARA: The honey.

He rises and gets it from the cupboard.

WESSON: I wait on you, yet I want to bully you.

BARBARA: Yes, it's subtler than that.

WESSON: If you let me wait on you, you leave yourself in myhands.

BARBARA: Not a bit of it--not a bit of it! Do you think itmakes any difference to me? Frederick would have waited on me onhis knees.

WESSON: Then it's time somebody taught you you're not as greatas you think. You imagine you're the one and only phoenix.

BARBARA (laughing): And I am, aren't I, Giacometti? SayI am.

WESSON: I say you're a pecky, scratchy one, at that rate.

BARBARA: No--no! Say I'm nice--say I'm ever so nice.

WESSON: On rare occasions.

BARBARA: Always--say always.

WESSON: It wouldn't be true.

BARBARA: Yes--yes, it would, Giacomo. See, I'm ever so nice,aren't I? I'm ever so nice! Look at my nice arms, how they loveyou.

WESSON: Better than you do.

BARBARA: No--not better than I do. Come and kiss them. Comeand give them a little kiss.

WESSON (going and kissing her arms): You're cruel, ifyou're nothing else.

BARBARA: No, I'm not. Say I'm not. Kiss me!

WESSON,laughing shakily, kisses her--A voice is heardoutside. "La posta."

WESSON: Oh, Lord, there's the postman--he's the serpent in myEden.

VOICE: La posta!

WESSONgoes to the door, re-enters with letters.

WESSON (tearing open an envelope): The serpent's lefthis venom.

BARBARA (making a frightened face): Is itFrederick?

WESSON: And your mother.

BARBARA: Oh dear! Gia, I can't stand it.

WESSON: Why not?

BARBARA: I can't stand it--I can't--poor Frederick. If he wasill, Giacomo?

WESSON: He'd have to get better.

BARBARA: He might die.

WESSON: He wouldn't be such a fool. What's up in yourletter?

BARBARA (wiping her eyes): It seems so cruel!

WESSON: Your father's ill.

BARBARA (starting and snatching the letter from hishand): Papa!

She reads, crying quietly. WESSONsits waiting--hehas read Frederick's letter.

BARBARA (looking up): Is hevery ill,Giacomo?

WESSON: No.

BARBARA: They'll say it's me.

WESSON: Let 'em. It's the whisky, as a matter of fact.

BARBARA: Look how cruel mama is, "Your father is very ill, buthe does not wish to see you while you continue your present modeof life. The doctor says he is to be spared all strain andanxiety."

WESSON: And they're thinking of going to Harrogate, so he'snot at death's door.

BARBARA: And look at Frederick's letter--"Ever since you drovea spike into my brain, on February the 24th, I have been mad." Doyou think heis mad, Giacomo?

WESSON: A bit, perhaps--but so were you when you lived withhim--going clean cracked.

BARBARA: He won't commit suicide, will he?

WESSON: No--no more than I shall.

BARBARA (reading): "There are some nights when I neversleep at all--I try to work, but my brain has gone."(Shudders.)

WESSON: Itis vile--but I can't help it. Think of thehell if you went back to him.

BARBARA (reading--laughs): "Do not speak of Wesson. Ido not wish to hear of his existence, or to know that he exists.Only, if ever he crosses my path, I will crush him like abeetle." How strong his feelings are!

WESSON: His words, you mean.

BARBARA: No, heis passionate--you don't know. And hecan hate.

WESSON: He can sound like it.

BARBARA: But if he came here and killed you?

WESSON: I should offer myself to the knife, of course. I mustpractise being "daggerous" in readiness. (Puts a pointedkitchen knife between his teeth.) So!

BARBARA: Oh, you are lovely! (Laughs.) Let me kiss you.(He takes the knife from between his teeth--she kisseshim.) Oh, the way he submits! Doesn't he like it, then?

WESSON: He likes it all right--but he's sick of thistragedy.

BARBARA: Are you tired of me, Giacomo?

WESSON: Tired of the mess we're in, that's all.

BARBARA: Do you want to be rid of me?

WESSON: I want to be sure of you.

BARBARA: Well, and you are. Do you think Frederick will everlet me go?

WESSON: You must insist on his divorcing you.

BARBARA: But I daren't, Giacomo, I daren't.

WESSON: You'd rather remain as we are?

BARBARA: No--no! Only he seems something so sure--youknow--like when he said: "You have dishonoured our marriage vow,but I never will."

WESSON: That's as he pleases.

BARBARA: But it's rather fine.

WESSON: He is fine, in a thousand ways where I'm not. But younever loved him.

BARBARA: No--I never loved him. Poor Frederick, it doesn'tseem fair, does it?

WESSON: It does not. You were rottenly unfair to him.

BARBARA: In what way?

WESSON: Holding him cheap. Holding his love for you lightly,when it was the biggest thing about him.

BARBARA:Why did it never seem so much to me, till I'dleft him?

WESSON: You hated him. While he could keep you, he felt aman--but you didn't mean to be kept--you tortured him--you foughtagainst him--you undermined him--you were killing him.

BARBARA: Oh no--oh no! I never hated him. I did a lot forhim.

WESSON: You, perhaps, had plenty of good-will towards him--butyou tortured him like hell. You, with your kindness, are one ofthe cruellest things going.

BARBARA: Howcan you say so, Giacomo! Am I cruel toyou?

WESSON: You are.

BARBARA (laughing): It seems to me only funny when yousay I'm cruel--I, who wouldn't hurt a fly.

WESSON: Then I wish I was a fly, and not a man.

BARBARA: Aw, did it be a man!--did it be a little man introusers, then, did it!

WESSON: It did!--I think they're getting a bit impatient, yourpeople. You'll see they'll combine forces just now to get youback.

BARBARA: Even if they did, I'd be gone again in threeweeks.

WESSON: But if they got hold of the right handle, they'd getyou back and keep you.

BARBARA: What handle?

WESSON: Oh, I dunno. Your pity, your self-sacrifice, yourdesire to be straight.

BARBARA: Self-sacrifice! There's a lot of self-sacrifice aboutme. (Laughs.) They'd find I don't work well withthat handle.

WESSON: You don't know yourself.You keep themdangling.

BARBARA: Why do you hate me?

WESSON: Go to hell.

BARBARA (plaintive): Are you cross with me? But youare! (very plaintive). Why are you crosswith me, Giacomo, when I love you?

WESSON: You--you only love yourself.

BARBARA: No, Giacometti, no, I don't. See how loving I am,really--see how unselfish I am--

WESSON: So unselfish you'd rob Peter to pay Paul, then go backto Peter to console him.

BARBARA: You're horrid to me.

WESSON: And you are worse to me.

BARBARA: But I'm not.

WESSON: Hm.

BARBARA (mocking him): "Hm!"--what common grunts! Kissme (pleading): Don't you want to kiss me?

WESSON: No.

BARBARA (sadly): Aw!

WESSON (turning and taking her in his arms): You're abaggage.

BARBARA: Do youwant to kiss me? (She drawsback.)

WESSON: Resigned, I kiss the rod.

BARBARA: And am I the rod? Oh, Giacomo, think ofme asa rod.

WESSON:You see if Frederick and your mother aren't upto some little trick just now.

BARBARA: I'm frightened, Giacomo.

WESSON: Then you're frightened of yourself, of your ownhesitating, half-and-half,neither-fish-flesh-fowl--nor--good-red-herring self.

Evening, several days after the first act. The dining-roomof the same villa--a rather large room, with piano, writing-deskand old furniture. In the big bay window, which looks over agarden on to the lake, is a large couch. BARBARA islyingon the couch. WESSON,without his collar and tie, sitsbeside her.

WESSON: You've got a nice chin.

BARBARA: Frederick used to adore it.

WESSON: Then he'd no business to.

BARBARA (putting her arms round his neck): Dear!

WESSON: Don't you wish there'd never been any Frederick--oranybody else--

BARBARA: Well,you haven't much room to talk; look whata mess your women had got you into.

WESSON: But don't you wish we could have come straight to eachother, and been married simply, before we'd knocked about?

BARBARA: I don't trust marriage.

WESSON: Because you were stupid and married wrong--that's notthe fault of marriage.

BARBARA: No--but I don't trust it.

WESSON: Folk are such fools, they should marry the rightpeople.

BARBARA: Even when the right people aremarried, theygo wrong.

WESSON: No--I don't believe it--and I don't believe you loveme--and whether you do or not, Ido love you.

BARBARA: Because you've decided to.

WESSON: Yes, because I know. I may hate you, I may rageagainst you, I may sneer at you--very well! It doesn't alter thefact that I love you.

BARBARA: It seems to me so queer, to make up your mind thatyou love anybody.

WESSON: You poke holes in me--well, I'll patch 'em up--I won'tgive in.

BARBARA: Oh--oh--the dear! He's on his nice little high horse,is he? Oh!--he should be on the roundabouts, on his woodenprancer!

WESSON: Or on a round-about chicken.

BARBARA: And he looks so pathetic on his chicken--the dear.(Kisses him.)

WESSON: Will you stick to me, Barbara?

BARBARA: Oh, did it want to be stuck to? It shall then--Oh,it's nice hair!

WESSON: Till death do us part--

BARBARA: Aw, is it talking about death, is it--aw!

WESSON: It's ten-past-six. What train did your mother say--thefive-to-six?

BARBARA (starting): No, half-past seven.

WESSON: The six train has just gone.

BARBARA: Are you frightened?

WESSON: No--no--I'm not frightened. Only we're rather raw,really, about the business. It seems funny that we're ascandal.

BARBARA: Doesn't it!

WESSON: I'll go and look if I can see anybody, shall I?

BARBARA: Yes! Kiss me first. (He kisses her.)

Exit WESSON. BARBARAsits up straightening her hair.She is in Bavarian peasant dress, with bare arms and throat.WESSONcomes running in.

WESSON: I don't think it's she--but thereis awoman--

BARBARA: Good gracious--and look at us! (She flies out--hervoice is heard, excited): yes--it's she. Quick!

WESSON: Well, I must get my collar on first.

In a great flurry, he ties his tie, then runs out. Thestage is empty. Then voices are heard.

VOICE OF BARBARA: Poor Mama!

They both laugh--there is silence. The door-bell ringsloudly. BARBARArushes in and stands near the door.WESSONis heard outside.

VOICE OF WESSON: Oh, how do you do! This is earlier than wethought.

VOICE OF LADY CHARLCOTE: How do you do, Mr Wesson?

Enter LADY CHARLCOTE--about sixty--white hair,shortish, stout, rather handsome--looks resentful--uglilydressed.

BARBARA: Oh--Mama!

Runs forward, laughing shakily--does not kiss--takes hermother's hand--then stands embarrassed.

LADY CHARLCOTE (looking round): Yes--

BARBARA: Take your things off--

LADY CHARLCOTE: But I mustn't stay--I mustn't stay. (Takingoff her gloves--nervous.) I want to say to you, Mr Wesson, whydon't you do something for Barbara?

WESSON (astonished): But I do.

LADY CHARLCOTE: But you don't. A married woman, and you keepher here with you as she is. It is wrong, quite wrong.

WESSON: But you don't know--you don't understand.

LADY CHARLCOTE: Yes, yes, I do understand. It is you who don'tunderstand. What right have you to do it? Barbara has a husbandin England, a good honest gentleman, who is going mad because ofher. She is here, but she can go back.

BARBARA: But, Mama, what I do, I do of myself. (She iscrocheting nervously.)

LADY CHARLCOTE: Yes. (Turning to WESSON.) You have notgot even enough money to keep her. She has to have money from hersister, from her friends. She is the daughter of a high-born andhighly cultured gentleman.

BARBARA: But if I choose to do it, Mama, it is my ownaffair.

LADY CHARLCOTE: No, it isn't. Think of your father--think ofFrederick. (Turning to WESSON.) And do you expect to buildup happiness on the ruins of this life? You cannot. Think of yourfuture. You can do nothing with my daughter. You can't put her inher own station, you can't even give her an honest name. Is sheto live with you, and take money from her husband and herfriends?

WESSON: She needn't take any money from anybody.

LADY CHARLCOTE: And you say you will live here. You try it forsix months, Mr Wesson, and you will wish yourself dead, you willfind it so dull. And Barbara is to be the servant, and she is tohave no friends, no, not a friend in the world, but is to liveburied here among these common Italians. Another man's weddingring and engagement ring on her finger at this minute. The verybills of her last dresses left for her husband to pay.

BARBARA: But, Mama, I'm not a horse that is to be kept. Youdon't consider me.

LADY CHARLCOTE: Yes, it is you I consider. How can any man sayhe loves you, when he brings you into this shame. Where will youlive?

WESSON: But if there were a divorce--

LADY CHARLCOTE (to him): You think only of yourself.Think of her father. He is getting old now. Where will he go,that he can hold his head up. It is a shame that will kill him.It will kill everybody. (Beginning to cry--looking in herhandbag for a hanky.) We are old, and hoped to live at lastin peace. Haven't we had trouble enough in our lives? And how canI sleep at night, thinking of my daughter, and what is to becomeof her. Her father does not want to see her again.(Cries.) There is no rest, and no peace. Her husbandcomes, and it nearly kills me to see the state he is in. Awoman--what is to become of her, what is to become of her. Andyou keep her here.

WESSON: No--I don't keep her.

LADY CHARLCOTE: Yes, you keep her here--the daughter of ahighly cultured gentleman, as your mistress. It is impossible.And her husband is so good. He will have her back in spite ofall, and everything can be hushed up--

BARBARA: I don't want things to be hushed up. What I do I wantto be done openly--

LADY CHARLCOTE: Don't be a fool--you can't live on ideas.

WESSON: No--I don't want people to talk--

LADY CHARLCOTE: But theywill talk. Sir William and Ihave come out here because they've started--and his heart so bad!We expect to be considered by our children, but they turn on us.It's not natural that we should have all this trouble now, whenwe're not expecting it. Everything begins to look comfortable,and Barbara so well settled, when this happens. As her mother, asa woman older than yourself, I'vegot to tell you it'swrong, absolutely wrong, and can only end in sorrow. You will seein a few years' time where you will be. It is my duty to warnyou. And you must let Barbara go back with me.

WESSONshakes his head--BARBARAcrochetsnervously--there is silence.

BARBARA: Has Papa come with you, then?

LADY CHARLCOTE: Yes--we're staying a month with Laura inGardone.

WESSON (rising): Let me give you something to eat.

LADY CHARLCOTE: No--no--I must be going at once. I must begoing. It's such a long way to the station.

WESSON: Excuse me.

Exit WESSON.

BARBARA (quietly): How does Frederick look?

LADY CHARLCOTE: Oh, poor fellow! If you saw him, you couldnever do it.

BARBARA (bending her head over her work): Is heill?

LADY CHARLCOTE: Ill!--poor fellow! He is three parts mad! Andhe loves you, Barbara, he loves you! How can you throw away thelove of a man like that?

BARBARA: Does he really wantme, or does he want hisreputation--or rather mine.

LADY CHARLCOTE: Poor fellow--such a position to leave him in.And has he ever been anything but good to you? You have hadeverything you wanted--

BARBARA: I haven't. Hehas been good to me--I wish hehadn't, it would have been easier. He has been good to me, andhe's given me everything he could. But I haven't had what Iwanted, no, and he couldn't give it me.

LADY CHARLCOTE: And do you mean that this man can?

BARBARAcrochets in silence--they wait for eachother.

BARBARA: Will it kill him?

LADY CHARLCOTE: I tell him, at this rate he won't livelong.

Enter WESSONwith a tray, wine, biscuits, bread andbutter.

WESSON: Will you have a glass of wine--it's "vin de pays", butit's--at any rate, it's all right for me, though I'm noconnoisseur.

LADY CHARLCOTE: No, thank you.

WESSON: Could I make you a cup of tea?

LADY CHARLCOTE: Oh no, thank you very much.

BARBARA: Is Papa in Gardone?

LADY CHARLCOTE: In Brescia--but he doesn't want to see you.Oh, thank you--But he expects you to come back in a proper stateof mind--I think it's all you can do, to make the best of it now.Thisis impossible. (Neither of them answers.) Andwe are staying at the Monte Baldo. You will write to me,Barbara.

BARBARA: Yes. Good-bye, Mama. (They shake hands.)

LADY CHARLCOTE: Good-bye. (To WESSON): Oh, don't youtrouble to come out.

WESSON: I think it is no good for Barbara to go back toFrederick. It would only be misery for them both. Theycan't--

Exit talking. BARBARAremains alone. Her hands fallin her lap, and she broods. There is sound of acarriage--re-enter WESSON--he flings his cap on the table.When BARBARAhears him coming she picks up her crocheting.When he enters she looks up with a laugh.

BARBARA: Poor Mama--always full of commonsense. She was alwaysa good one at showing the sensible side of the affair. But didn'tit seem common to you--like any of the women of the common peopleyou've told me about?

WESSON: Just. Only it's natural. At any rate she wasn'tlofty.

BARBARA: Oh no--Mama would never have been that. She wouldhave said just the same to a Grand Duke.

WESSON: She wouldn't--look at the money business. Youdon't need any of their money--wecan live on whatI earn.

BARBARA: AndI don't mind making your bed. I wouldn'tdo it for any man--no, I wouldn't. But I don't mind.

WESSON: If I can't give you much money, well, I give youeverything I've got.

BARBARA: Yes, it was mean of her, bringing that up--it's likekicking a man when he's down.

WESSON: But I suppose anybody would do it. She doesn't seemsuperior, that's one thing. But I hate them! Why can't they leaveus alone! What do I care what the old Mrs Baronet says.

BARBARA (laughing): You looked as if you didn'tcare--the way you sat in that chair. (Imitates him, halfcrouching.)

WESSON: Well--that coming all at once--

BARBARA: When we'd been so happy--yes, itwas a bitoverwhelming!

WESSON: I thought the heavens had opened and the last daycome.

BARBARA: You looked it--the way you sat crumpled up in thatchair. (Laughs.)

WESSON: What could I do?

BARBARA (laughing): You looked so frightened, socrumpled up! I expected you every minute to wither away intonothing. (Laughs uncontrollably) I thought there'd benothing left of you (interrupted by her laughter).You--you seemed to get less and less--till--(helpless withlaughter) I thought you'd be gone. (laughing) I wasfrightened--I wanted to get hold of your coat-tails(laugh) to keep you.

WESSON: Well, what could Ido?

BARBARA: I thought you were going to creep under that desk.(Shaking and helpless with laughter, she points to the holeunder the writing desk, by which he sits.) I thought you weregoing to crawl inside like a dog into a kennel (helplesslaughter) and pop your head out, and look sideways at her,and say "Yap--yap" in a little, frightened voice--then rushinside.

WESSON: Well--if she'd been a man, I might have shouted--butwhat else could I do?

BARBARA: You looked so crumpled up, with your little tailbetween your legs. (Laughs.) Youdid want to getinto that corner. (Laughs helplessly--then rises.) Mind,let me show you. (Laughing, she almost falls to the floor,then creeps inside the space under the desk--pokes out herhead--falls face forward on the floor with laughter--lifts up herface, peering sideways.) Yap--yapyap! Yap!--the little dog!(She shrieks with laughter--he giggles from time to time--sherises again.)

WESSON: No--I wasn't as bad as that.

BARBARA (shrieking): You were, you were! I thought Ishould have died. And every minute I had visions of youcollapsing under the desk and barking at Mama. (Laughing.)Poor Mama, what would she have done if you had?

WESSON: I wish I had.

BARBARA: I wish you had, I wish you had! (Drying hereyes.) But no, you sat there getting less and less. You cango so little, like a dying pig.

WESSON: Well,you were impressed, you know youwere.

BARBARA: I wasn't--I wanted to scream. Why didn't you suddenlyget up and flap your arms like a cockerel and crow?

WESSON: But what good would it have done?

BARBARA: It would have been so beautiful. Or you might havegot astride on a chair and gone riding round the room,shouting.

WESSON: I might have done a lot of things.

BARBARA: Oh, you might, and you did nothing but crumple up!What a pity! (Beginning to laugh again.) You lookedanything but a hero that time.

WESSON: I didn't feel a hero. And if I'd crowed like a cock Ishouldn't have looked a hero.

BARBARA: Mama little thought what havoc she'd work in ourlittle ménage. (Laughing.) But why do you take it soseriously?

WESSON: I don't take it seriously, but I reckon it's ratherrotten of her. We thought she was coming friendlily, to help. . .. What will you eat?

BARBARA: I don't mind a bit.

WESSON (drinking wine): Drink?

BARBARA: Thank you. (She drinks a little.)

WESSON: I told her the only thing possible was a divorce.

BARBARA: You know what a muddler she is. She blows with everywind.

WESSON: I don't care how she blows, so long as we can get thatdivorce.

BARBARA: If she goes and gets Frederick's back up now, Godknows when you'll get it, I tell you.

WESSON: I don't care--they can all go to hell! But until youstand up in front of me and say, "I want definitely to go back toFrederick--you're no good to me", I shall tell them to go toblazes.

BARBARA: It looks as if you'll tell them a lot. Poor littledog, is his tail coming up again? Come here and be kissed.

WESSON: I don't want to be kissed. Will you eat now?

BARBARA: Just as you like.

WESSON: A tray is ready.

Goes out--returns immediately with the supper tray.

BARBARA: Poor Frederick--it does twist my inside to thinkabout him.

WESSON: And a lot of good may it do you.

BARBARA: Do you think he really might go mad?

WESSON: Not unless he's weak-minded to start with.

BARBARA: Well, he isn't--his mind is stronger than yours, ifit came to it.

WESSON (rather ashamed): I know he's not--and he won'tgo mad.

BARBARA: But he loves me so. (Plaintively.)

WESSON: He should have more sense, then, for you don't lovehim.

BARBARA: But I do, Giacomo.

WESSON: Very well, youdo, then.

BARBARA: And I can't bear him to suffer.

WESSON: You made him suffer worse underneath, twisting yourspear in his secret wound, before you left him, than you do nowthat it's open. He can doctor an open wound. A secret one driveshim mad.

BARBARA: But I didn't torture him. I was a joy to him. Andthink of it, Giacomo, I was the only joy he'd ever had in hislife.

WESSON: And the only sorrow.

BARBARA: Why do you want to say horrid things about me?

WESSON: I don't.

BARBARA: But you do! Look, you say I tortured Frederick.

WESSON: So you did. So you torture me.

BARBARA: But how?--tell mehow, Giacomo.

WESSON: You needn't laugh at me when I'm feeling a fool.

BARBARA: You hate me, Giacomo.

WESSON: Does it please you?

BARBARA: Why should it please me? Whyshould it pleaseme, Giacomo?

WESSON: It appears to. You seem to exult.

BARBARA: I exult because you wither away when Mama scolds you!I assure you I don't exult in your heroic appearancethen.

WESSON: I don't ask you to.

BARBARA: What does he want then--does he want me to fall athis feet and worship him, does he then? (She does so--goes onher knees at his feet, puts her forehead to the ground--raises itup and down--in a consoling, mocking voice.)La--di-da--di-da!--did it want to be worshipped?

WESSON (seizing her by the arm): Get up, youlunatic.

BARBARA: But don't you like to be worshipped?

WESSON (gripping her arm): Get up.

She risesslowly--he grips both her arms.

You love! You love onlyyourself!

BARBARA (putting her tongue out at him):Tra--la-la--la!

WESSON: Yes.

BARBARA: Tra--la-la--la! (He remains holding her--she says,almost pleading): Let me go.

WESSON: I won't.

BARBARA: I'll make you.

WESSON: Try!

BARBARA: Iwill!

WESSON: Try! (A moment of silence.)

BARBARA (subduedly): You hurt my arms.

WESSON (through his teeth): And why shouldn't I?

BARBARA: Don't be horrid.

WESSONputs his arms round her, fastens her close.

WESSON: Oh, you're not faithful to me!

His voice is like a cry. He reaches forward, his mouth toher throat.

BARBARA (thickly): I am.

Morning, the next day. BARBARAin walking-outdress, WESSONin an old jacket.

BARBARA: What time did the man say Mama would be here?

WESSON: I understood she would come for you in a carriage atten o'clock.

BARBARA: And did she really say you mustn't come?

WESSON: She said she wished to drive alone with you.

BARBARA: Put your coat on and come, too.

WESSON: No--perhaps she wants to talk to you, and to have youto herself a bit. It's natural. You needn't do anything that youdon't want to do.

BARBARA: Whyshould she ask me for a drive withoutyou? It's like her impudence--Iwon't go!

WESSON: Yes, you'd better.

BARBARA: You'd say I'd better do any miserable thing theyliked to ask me.

WESSON: Alright.

BARBARA: Why don't you say Ioughtn't to go for a drivewith Mama without you?

WESSON: Because I don't care--your mother can use all herpersuasions and reasons till she's sick of it.

BARBARA: But why should she?

WESSON: It's probably the shortest way, if we stick toourselves all through.

BARBARA: A fine lot of sticking to yourselfyou do,don't you? Think of the shrivelling creature whom Mama scoldedyesterday.

WESSON: Iwas true to myself, then--and to you.

BARBARA: Were you--were you! Then I'll have another kind offidelity, thank you.

WESSON: You won't. And now you'd better go.

BARBARA: Go!

WESSON: For your drive. You'll find Lady Charlcote before youget to the Piazza.

BARBARA: And if I don't choose to?

WESSON (shrugging): You'll please yourself.

BARBARA: Tra--la-la--la!

WESSON: I wish you'd go.

BARBARA: Why do you wish I'd go? I will, then.

Exit--the door is heard to bang. WESSONwatchesher.

WESSON: There goes the carriage, and the old lady. I shouldlike to murder the twopence-ha'penny lot of them, with theirgrizzling and whining and chuffing. If they'd leave us alone weshould be alright--damn them! Miserable bits of shouters! Mymother was worth a million of 'em, for they've none of 'em thebackbone of a flea--She doesn'twant to stick to me--shedoesn'twant to love me--she won'tlet herself loveme. She wants to save some rotten rag of independence--she'safraid to let herself go and to belong to me.

He goes to the sideboard, drinks wine, looks at a book,throws it down, plays a dozen chords on the piano, gets up,drinks more wine, sits down to write, and remains perfectlystill, as if transfixed--all the time he has moved quietly--thedoor-bell rings--he does not hear--it rings louder--he starts upand goes to the door--is heard saying, "How do you do? Will youcome in?" Enter SIR WILLIAM CHARLCOTE--short, stout, agentleman--grey bristling moustache.

WESSON: Will you sit down?

SIR WILLIAM (taking a seat near the door): Thankyou.

WESSON (offering cigarettes in a threepenny packet):Excuse the packet.

SIR WILLIAM: Thank you, I have some of my own.

WESSONthrows the packet on the table and sits on thecouch.

WESSON: It's a nice day.

SIR WILLIAM: Yes. (Clearing his throat.) I called tohear from yourself an account of what you intend to do.

WESSON (knitting his fingers): I intend to do nothingbut what I am doing.

SIR WILLIAM: And what is that?

WESSON: Living here--working--

SIR WILLIAM: And keeping my daughter under the presentconditions?

WESSON: Barbara stays as long as she will. I am here for herwhile she wants me.

SIR WILLIAM: But you have no right to be here for her towant.

WESSON: But I say, while ever she wants me, I am here forher.

SIR WILLIAM: Don't you see that is cowardly and base.

WESSON: Is it the morality of it you want to discuss?

SIR WILLIAM: Yes--yes--it is theright of it. You mayperhaps think I have no room to talk. That is like your damnedimpudence.

WESSON: But that's not the point.

SIR WILLIAM: A man has a right to any woman whom he can get,so long as she's not a married woman. Go with all the unmarriedwomen you like. But touch a married woman, and you are ascoundrel.

WESSON: So!

SIR WILLIAM: It destroys the whole family system, and strikesat the whole of society. A man who does it is as much a criminalas a thief, a burglar, or even a murderer. You see my point?

WESSON: Your point of view.

SIR WILLIAM: You see so much. Then you see what you are doing:a criminal act against the State, against the rights of manaltogether, against Dr Tressider, and against my daughter.

WESSON: So!

SIR WILLIAM: And seeingthat, only an--only a criminalby conviction can continue in what he is doing--a fellow whodeserves to be locked up.

WESSON: If life went according to deserts.

SIR WILLIAM: If you intend to behave in the least like a man,you will clear out of this place--

WESSON: I've got the house on a six months' lease.

SIR WILLIAM: I will pay the lease.

WESSON: It is paid--but I like the place, and prefer tostay.

SIR WILLIAM: That is, you will continue to keep my daughterin--in--in this shame and scandal--

WESSON: She chooses to stay.

SIR WILLIAM: If plain reasoning will not convince you, we musttry other methods.

WESSON: Very well.

SIR WILLIAM: You--whom I thought to be doing a service byasking you to my house--

The bell rings.

WESSON (rising): Excuse me a moment.

Exit--voices--enter BARBARA,followed by LADYCHARLCOTEand WESSON.

BARBARA: Papa!

SIR WILLIAM: I came to speak with this man.

BARBARA: But why behind my back?

SIR WILLIAM: I will come when I like. I will not have women,and especially women like you, about me when I have anything tosay.

BARBARA: Nor more will I have men like you interfering with myaffairs behind my back, Papa!

LADY CHARLCOTE: For shame, Barbara.

BARBARA (turning, flashing): What right has he to comebullying Wesson behind my back.I came away with him--itwasI who suggested he should come to Italy with me when Iwas coming to see Laura. So when you have anything to say, Papa,say it to me--if you dare.

SIR WILLIAM: Dare! Dare!

BARBARA: Whom are you talking to, Papa--and you of all people!I did not love Frederick, and I won't live with him--sothere--and you may go.

SIR WILLIAM (picking up his hat): I never want to seeyou again.

LADY CHARLCOTE: Barbara, you should respect your father.

BARBARA: Mama--you--you--then let him respectme, andthe man I live with.

Exit SIR WILLIAM.

LADY CHARLCOTE: What has he said?

WESSON: It does not matter.

LADY CHARLCOTE: Well--now you must make the best of your ownaffairs--for you've cut off all your own people from you,Barbara.

BARBARA: I havenot cut myself off--it's you who haveleft me in the lurch. I was miserable with Frederick. I felt Icouldn't stand it.You would have helped me to have hadlovers, Mama. But because I come away decently and openly you allturn on me.

LADY CHARLCOTE: You know it is impossible--

BARBARA: Very well, I willbe impossible!

LADY CHARLCOTE: I shall never leave you in the lurch.(Crying.) You are my daughter, whatever happens.

Exit--WESSONhurries to the door after her--it isheard to close--he returns.

BARBARA: Why do you let them trample on you?Why do youplay the poor worm? It drives memad!

WESSON: But you don't want me to insult your father.

BARBARA: But why do you let yourself be bullied and treatedlike dirt?

WESSON: I don't.

BARBARA: You do--you do--and Ihate you for it.

WESSON: Very well. (She sits down on the couch, twistingher handkerchief. He seats himself beside her and takes herhand.) Never mind, they'll get over it.

BARBARA: Papa won't--and I have loved him so.

WESSON: He will.

BARBARA: He won't! Oh, but I hate him--a mean funker! But healways was a funker. He had his Selma on the sly, and when Mamafound him out--it positively broke him. What did he say toyou?

WESSON: He explained his point of view, which seems to meperfectly logical.

BARBARA: And I suppose you agreed with him?

WESSON: No; I didn't agree with him--only I understood.

BARBARA: And you cringed to him, I know you did.

WESSON: I don't think so.

BARBARA: And now they've left me.

WESSON: Never mind--they can slam at us, but we can standit.

BARBARA: But it's so horrible--and I have to fight for you, asif you weren't a man.

WESSON: I don't think you have any need.

BARBARA: Yes, but I have--and all the burden falls on me--youdon't take your share.

WESSON: Surely I do! Never mind, I know it's horrid for you.But you will stick to me, won't you?

BARBARA: I didn't think it would be so hard--I have to fightyou, and them, and everybody. Not a soul in the world gives methe tiniest bit of help.

WESSON: That's only because you feel rotten. I love you,Barbara.

BARBARA: Doesn't it make you hate me, all this horridness?

WESSON: Why should it? I don't care what comes, so that we geta little closer.

BARBARA: But it's worth it, isn't it, Giacomo?--say I'm worthit.

WESSON (putting his arms round her and kissing her):You're the only thing in life and in the world that I've got--youare.

BARBARA: Are you sure?

WESSON: I've got my work, which isn't life. Then there'snothing else but you--not a thing--and if you leave me--well,I've done.

BARBARA: How do you mean, done?

WESSON: Only my effort at life. I shall feel as if I had mademy big effort--put all my money down--and lost. The only thingremaining would be to go on and make the best of it.

BARBARA: I suppose that's how Frederick feels.

WESSON: I suppose it is--if only he would get a grip on andtry to make the best of it.

BARBARA: But it's not so easy.

WESSON: No, it isn't, poor devil. But if he's got to do it, hemay as well.

BARBARA: Oh, do you love me enough, Giacomo?

WESSON: I love you enough for whatever you want me for.

BARBARA: Sure?

WESSON: Sure! The question is, do you lovemeenough?

BARBARA: I love you better than you love me.

WESSON: Take your hat off, I can't kiss you.

BARBARA (obediently removing her hat): Mama told mePapa was coming--I was furious, it seemed such a mean dodge. Theyare mean, though, and sordid. Did he say horrid things toyou?

WESSON: He said he'd thrash me.

BARBARA (laughing): Fancy little Papa!

WESSON: Are you miserable? Are you sorry you're done out ofyour drive?

BARBARA: No, I'm thankful to be back with you. Ifonlythey left us in peace, we could be so happy.

WESSON: They seem to grudge it us, don't they?

BARBARA: Yes! And Mama says perhaps Frederick's coming.

WESSON: At any rate we s'll have had 'em all, then.

BARBARA: But I couldn't bear to see him, Giacomo!

WESSON: Then don't see him.

BARBARA: But he might do something mad.

WESSON: Let him.

BARBARA: No--I couldn't bear it. I couldn't bear it ifanything happened to him.

WESSON: Whyshould anything happen to him?

BARBARA: And what would he do if he saw me? Would he go quitemad?

WESSON: You're not such a magical person as all that.

BARBARA: But you don't know him.

WESSON: Quite sufficiently.

BARBARA: Isn't it funny--when I was first engaged to him, andwas reading Othello, I thought what a good Othello he'd make,better than the real one.

WESSON: You feel sure he'll slay you, poor Desdemona.

BARBARA (laughing): Yes--he's so Othelloish.

WESSON: And you so Desdemoniacal, aren't you?

BARBARA (laughing): What does that mean?

WESSON: It means you sit sighing by a sycamore tree, you poorsoul.

BARBARA (kissing him): O, I love you!

WESSON: Do you?

Evening of the same day, WESSONsits alone, writing.Enter BARBARA,resplendent in an evening dress, withornament in her hair. She stands in the doorway, looking acrossat herself in a mirror.

BARBARA: You've never seen me in this before. (He looksup--puts his pen between his teeth--shepreensherself.)

WESSON (aftera moment): I hate it.

BARBARA (hurt): But why?--I look nice. Don't I looknice?

WESSON: I hate it--I hate it--you belong to those others init.

BARBARA: But how nasty of you, Giacometti! It's only thedress--the woman is just the same.

WESSON: She's not. She's according to her frock, which isFrederick's. You put it on for Frederick, not for me.

BARBARA: I didn't. I want you to see how grand I can look.Don't you really think I look nice?

WESSON: No--I'd rather see you in your kitchen pinafore.

BARBARA: See how you want to drag me down. But you've got anevening suit. (Laughing): Does it really hurt you?(Sits down and begins to play a dance on the piano--it is the"Blue Danube"--she breaks off.) It's the dearest dress I everhad.

WESSON: Take it off, Barbara.

BARBARA (slowing down--she is very quiet): Yes.

Rises--exit slowly. He sits chewing his pen--in a momentshe rushes back, lays her hands on his shoulder.

BARBARA: There's Frederick!

WESSON: Rubbish!--Where?

BARBARA: At the gate--with Mama--I saw them from the bedroomwindow.

LADY CHARLCOTE'Svoice is heard calling "Barbara!"

BARBARA: Quick! I'll call to them from the windowI'mcoming--I will--(Moves to the window.)

WESSON: What's the good? Let them go away again.

BARBARA: I'll call now--

WESSON: Damn!

He moves grudgingly to the door.

BARBARAstands with her hands clasped over her bare breast,terrified--listening. The gate is heard to bangopen--voices--enter FREDERICK,alone--a haggard, handsomeman of forty, brown moustache, dark brown eyes, greying at thetemples. He hesitates at the door.

FREDERICK (ironically): May I come in?

BARBARA (frightened): What do you want?

FREDERICK: Merely permission to speak to you.

BARBARA: You know you may speak to me.

They hesitate--enter WESSON,followed by LADYCHARLCOTE.

WESSON: Barbara, do you want me to go with Lady Charlcote tothe Hotel Cervo for half an hour?

BARBARA: I don't know. (Sinks on to the couch.)

WESSON: You musttell me to go.

DR TRESSIDERlooks at him sideways and shows his teeth, butdoes not speak--BARBARAwatches the two men interror.

BARBARA: Perhaps you'd better go--Mama can stay with me.

LADY CHARLCOTE: I think Frederick has the right to speak toyou alone, Barbara.

BARBARA (almost whispering): But why--?

FREDERICK: Are you afraid that I may abduct you?

LADY CHARLCOTE: No, Frederick, I don't think it is fair toleave her alone with you.

FREDERICK (nastily): Don't you? Perhaps it isn'tsafe--

LADY CHARLCOTE: You might not be responsible for what youdid.

FREDERICK: So the only place for me is the lunatic asylum.

BARBARA: If you are like that, Frederick, I don't know whatyou can want to speak to me at all for.

FREDERICK: Itis a question for surprise.

BARBARA: I'd much rather youdid treat me as dirt, andleft me alone.

WESSON: Will you sit down, Lady Charlcote?

FREDERICK (to WESSON): Will you please take yourselfaway, while I speak to my wife?

BARBARA: Yes, go, Wesson.

LADY CHARLCOTE: I would go for a few minutes, Mr Wesson. Itcan't do you any harm. Things will settle themselves then.

WESSON (to BARBARA): Must I?

BARBARA: Only to the--to one of the other rooms.

WESSON: I'll go to the bedroom, then.

Exit sullenly.

FREDERICK (taking a seat): I'm glad you look so well,Barbara.

LADY CHARLCOTE: You won't do any good that way, Frederick.

FREDERICK (turning slowly to her): Perhaps you'll tellme what to say!

LADY CHARLCOTE: You needn't behave like a fool, at anyrate.

BARBARA: I'm afraid you've been ill, Frederick.

FREDERICK: Yes--I am ill! I am glad to see you are sowell.

BARBARA: Don't, Frederick--what is the good of this--what isthe good of it? Let us make the best we can now--

FREDERICK: Exactly!

BARBARA: Then the only sane thing would be to say what youcame to say and let us get it over.

FREDERICK: I came for your instructions, of course.

BARBARA: It seems rather stupid, don't you think?

FREDERICK: I've no doubt I always was stupid--a trustingfool--

BARBARA: You know it wasn't like that. Do you really wish tospeak to me?

FREDERICK: Yes, I think I can honestly say I do. It, no doubt,surprises you.

BARBARA: Then for God's sake don't torture me any longer.

FREDERICK: Itwould be a pity! But what I have to say Ihave to say to my wife, not to the world at large, or even to mymother-in-law, or your paramour.

BARBARA: Perhaps youhad better leave us alone,Mama.

FREDERICK: Hadn't you better consider again, Barbara? Wouldn'tthat be giving me too much encouragement? I might take a liberty.I might even ask you to gallivant with me, like a seductivefootman, or dustman. (There is silence.)

LADY CHARLCOTE: I can go into another room. (Making signsto BARBARA.) Where can I go, Barbara?

BARBARArises--they go out together--FREDERICKlooksround--gnaws the ends of his moustache. Re-enterBARBARA--she leaves the door open--he glances, sees it, butmakes no remark.

BARBARA (taking her former seat): Mama is in mybedroom.

FREDERICK: Anything to say to me?

BARBARA: Don't be horrid with me, Frederick. Iknow Ideserve it--

FREDERICK: I'll try not to be. (He sits devouring her withhis eyes.)You're in full-dress to-night, madam! Was it agreat occasion?

BARBARA: No--I put it on--it's the first time.

FREDERICK: You look the thing in it. I turned up to see you onyour mettle, by good luck.

BARBARA: Don't.

FREDERICK: Beautiful good luck. War-paint, I suppose!

BARBARA: You told me once you'd never be hard on a woman.

FREDERICK: I'm sorry if I'm hard on you--thatwould beunjust!

BARBARA: Don't talk like that--Frederick.

FREDERICK: What shall we talk about--you or me?

BARBARA: Tell me about yourself--

FREDERICK: Ha!--how I suffered, you mean?

BARBARA: I know it's been awful for you.

FREDERICK: Do you really--I shouldn't have thought it.

BARBARA: Oh, but I do! It's nearly driven me crackedsometimes.

FREDERICK: Ha! It was kind of you.

BARBARA (going forward impulsively and putting her hand onhis knee): Don't--

FREDERICK: I won't--but tell me what--I must--

BARBARA: Don't be like this--I can't bear it.

FREDERICK: You might tell me what you can bear.

BARBARA: Why can't you cast me off--why can't you find someother woman--there's Annabel, who adores you--or LizzieBurroughs--

FREDERICK: You think they'd make good successors to you?

BARBARA: You might love them better than me--you might! See, Iwas not faithful to you.

FREDERICK (laughing): I wouldn't rub it in, if I wereyou.

BARBARA (frightened): But I'm not!

FREDERICK: So you think I might do well to marry again?

BARBARA: I thought--I can't bear--to think of you beinglonely.

FREDERICK: And you'd give me a wedding present, I dare say,and give the woman advice how to fool me.

BARBARA: No--no--I won't let you say these things--

FREDERICK: I dare say. You were wasted on me, weren't you?

BARBARA: You weregood to me--but you never understoodme--

FREDERICK: I'm sorry! I understood you wanted a decent life,and I worked hard for you. I understood you wanted someamusement--you did exactly as you liked--you had everything Ihad--and had your own way. I was faithful to you from the day Isaw you--and before that. You might have called me a modelhusband. I suppose that was my fault.

BARBARA (crying): No--it wasn't your fault to be a goodhusband--that's why I love you still--in a way--you were so goodto me--but--you weren't near to me--

FREDERICK: I think I was as near as ever you'd let mecome.

BARBARA: No--no--can't you remember--when we were firstmarried--I thought marriage would be a jolly thing--I thought Icould have lovely games with the man. Can you remember, when Iclimbed to the top of the cupboard, in Lucerne? I thought you'dlook for me, and laugh, and fetch me down. No, you wereterrified. You daren't even come in the room. You stood in thedoor looking frightened to death. And I climbed down. And that'show it always was. I had to climb down.

FREDERICK: And so you left me?

BARBARA: Yes! I couldn't live with you.

FREDERICK: Because I didn't drag you by the ankle from thecupboard tops!

BARBARA: Yes--that's it.

FREDERICK: And how long did it take you to find this out?

BARBARA: You know very well that I was only introduced toWesson about a month before--you knew all about it.

FREDERICK: And may I inquire after the predecessors of thisclown?

BARBARA: Yourself.

FREDERICK: I enjoy that honour alone, do I--with the miserableclown--

BARBARA: You were not going to speak of him.

FREDERICK: And pray, when did you find out then that I hadnot--not found the realyou.

BARBARA: The first night of our marriage--when I stood on thatbalcony and wanted to drown myself--and you were asleep.

FREDERICK: And afterwards--I suppose you forgot it?

BARBARA: Sometimes. You were good to me--and I didn't thinkthen therecould be anything else.

FREDERICK: Than what?

BARBARA: Than going on as I was--as your wife.

FREDERICK: And you never loved me?

BARBARA: Sometimes--when you were so nice to me--

FREDERICK: Out of gratitude, as it were, and feeling youought to love me.

BARBARA: I always felt I ought to love you.

FREDERICK: But could never bring it off. Ha!--thank you forthe try, at any rate.

BARBARA: And of course sometimes I hated you.

FREDERICK: Naturally.

BARBARA: And now it's over.

FREDERICK: As you say--it's over.

There is a long silence.

FREDERICK (in a sudden outburst): Woman, do you knowI've given my life to you? Do you know, everything I did,everything I thought, everywhere I went, was for you? I haveworked till I reeled, I was so tired. I have been yourslave--

BARBARA: That's it--I didn't want you to be my slave--

FREDERICK: I--I--I have done everything. How often have Iasked you, "What do you want of me?" Why didn't you tell me then?Why didn't you say? Why have you deceived me all this while,letting me think you loved me?

BARBARA: I didn't deceive you; (crying) I didn't knowmyself.

FREDERICK: How many times have you had your arms round myneck, and said, "Do you love me?"--I might well answer,"Malheureusement." What was that but deceit--

BARBARA: It wasn't lying to you, Frederick--youdidlove me, and I wanted you to love me--

FREDERICK: What right had you to want me to love you, when youcared not a couple of straws about me?

BARBARA: Idid want you to love me--you were all Ihad--

FREDERICK: Until another came along, and then you threw mylove away like a piece of dirty paper wrapping.

BARBARA: No--no--I didn't!

FREDERICK: What else have you done? You have thrown me awaylike a bit of paper off a parcel. You got all the goods out ofthe packet, and threw me away--I gave you everything, my life,everything, and it is not worth the stump of a cigarette, when itcomes to--I tell you, this is the end of me. I could work then,but now my brain has gone.

BARBARA: No, Frederick, no--you will work again.

FREDERICK: I tell you I can no more work now than you can rowa boat when you have lost the oars. I am done for--as a man yousee me here a ruin. Some nights I sleep, some nights I neverclose my eyes. I force myself to keep sane. But in the end mybrain will go--and then I shall make an end--

BARBARA (going over to him, kneeling with her hand on hisknee, crying): No--no, Frederick--no--no!

FREDERICK: Then I shall go to Wood Norton--do you remember,where I saw you first--a girl of eighteen with a sash? I shall goto that pine wood where the little grove of larches is, and Ishall make an end.

BARBARA (her head on his knee--weeping): Oh, what can Ido--what can I do?

FREDERICK: I've no doubt it all sounds very melodramatic--butit's the truth for me. Then your work will be finished. I haveloved you. I would have spilt my blood on every paving stone inBromley for you, if you had wanted me to--

BARBARA: But I didn't want you to. I wanted you to come nearto me and make me yours and you be mine. But you went onworshipping me instead of loving me--kissing my feet instead ofhelping me. You put me on a pedestal, and I was miserable.

FREDERICK: And you never loved me all the time!

BARBARA: I did love you--I did love you!

FREDERICK (his fists clenched--shuddering): I couldstrangle you!

BARBARA (terrified): Don't--don't--I shall scream!(She gets up afraid and draws back. He gets hold of one of herarms.)

FREDERICK: You devil--you devil--you devil! But you belong tome, do you hear?--you belong to me!

BARBARA (pushing him away): Don't--don't--let me go--Ishall call Mama--oh--

He releases her--she flings herself face down on thesofa--he sits crouching, glaring. Silence for some time.

FREDERICK: Well, have you been there long enough?

BARBARA (sitting up): Yes--long enough to know that itnever was any good, and it never would be any good.

FREDERICK: "It never was any good, and never would be anygood"--what?

BARBARA: You and me.

FREDERICK: You and me! Do you mean to tell me that my life hasbeen a lie and a falsity?

BARBARA: Why?

FREDERICK:You were my life--you--and you say it wasnever any good between us.

BARBARA: But you had your work. Think, if you had to choosebetween me and your work.

FREDERICK: You might as well ask an apple-tree to choosebetween enjoying the sunshine and growing its own apples: the onedepends on the other and is the result of the other.

BARBARA: No, Frederick. Why, look how happy you could be withyour work when I was miserable.

FREDERICK: But you had no reason to be. I gave you everythingyou asked for. What did you want?

BARBARA: I suppose I wanted something you could not give.

FREDERICK (glaring at her--after a silence, suddenly):I had a good mind to murder you.

BARBARA (frightened): Why?

FREDERICK: I had a good mind to murder you as you sitthere.

BARBARA (frightened): See--see how you loved me!

FREDERICK: How I loved you! Yes--you see! You see how Iloved you, you callous devil! Haven't I loved you with everybreath I've fetched--haven't I?

BARBARA: But what was the good of loving me if you had all thefun out of it? It didn't seem anything to me because I didn'trealize--I didn't know--

FREDERICK: You didn'tlove me!

BARBARA: No--well--you should have seen that I did. It doesn'tdo me any good, if a mandies for love of me, unless thereis some answer in me, so that it lives in me.

FREDERICK: I ought to have killed myself rather than marryyou.

BARBARA: But I couldn't help that, could I?

FREDERICK: No, you could help nothing. You could only throw meaway like waste-paper that had wrapped up a few years of yourlife.

BARBARA: I'm sorry, Frederick. I'll do what I can; I will,really.

FREDERICK:What will you do?

BARBARA: Don't you trust me?

FREDERICK: Trust you, yes! You can go on doing as you likewith me.

BARBARA: There you are, you see, resigned. Resigned from thevery start--resigned to lose. You are, and you always were.

FREDERICK: Very well, you little devil--it seems you weredetermined--

BARBARA: What?

FREDERICK: To destroy me.

BARBARA (going and putting her arms round his neck):No--no, Frederick. I'd do an awful lot for you--I really would--Ihave loved you.

FREDERICK: What, for example?

BARBARA: I'd help you with the people in Chislehurst--come andlive for a time in the same house.

FREDERICK (holding her by the arms and looking in hereyes): Will you give up this man and come back to me?

BARBARA: Oh--what's the good of promising, Frederick--I mightonly break it again. Don't force me.

FREDERICK: Will you try? Will you tryme again forthree months?

BARBARA: Come and live with you again?

FREDERICK: Yes.

BARBARA: As your wife?

FREDERICK: Yes.

BARBARA: Altogether as your wife?

FREDERICK: Yes--or even--at first--

BARBARA (piteously): I don't know, Frederick.

FREDERICK: Will you think about it?

BARBARA: But I don't know! What is the good of thinking aboutit? But I don't know, Frederick.

FREDERICK: You can make up your mind.

BARBARA: But I can't--I can't--it pulls both ways. I don'tknow, Frederick.

FREDERICK: Will you know better to-morrow--will you come,then, and tell me--will you?

BARBARA: But I shan't know any better to-morrow. It's now! AndI can't tell. Don't make me decide, Frederick!

FREDERICK: What?

BARBARA: Which way. Don't make me decide! (She goes andsits on the couch, hiding her face in a cushion.)

FREDERICK (suddenly flings his arms on the table andsobs): Oh, good God--I can't bear it!

BARBARA (looks at him, goes and puts her hand on hisshoulder): Don't, Frederick--don't! Iwill make up mymind, I will!

FREDERICK (his face muffled): I can't stand it.

BARBARA: No, dear. (He sobs--she touches his hair.)Don't! Don't! You shall--I will do--what I can.

FREDERICK (his face still hidden): It will kill me,Barbara.

BARBARA: No, dear--no, it won't. I must think of something. Iwill tell you to-morrow. I will come and tell you--

FREDERICK (his face still hidden): What?

BARBARA: I don't know, dear--but I will see--I will come. Lookat me--look at me. (He lifts his face.) Dear! (He foldsher in his arms--she puts her head back as he kisses her.)There's Mama!He listens--hears a sound, snatches his hat anddashes out--BARBARAturns to the piano--straightens herhair--stands waiting. Enter LADY CHARLCOTE.

LADY CHARLCOTE: Has Frederick gone?

BARBARA: Yes.

Enter WESSON.

LADY CHARLCOTE: What have you decided?

BARBARA: I don't know.

LADY CHARLCOTE: That's no answer. Have you decidednothing?

BARBARA: No.

LADY CHARLCOTE: I hope he won't go and jump in the lake.

BARBARA: I said I'd see him to-morrow.

LADY CHARLCOTE: Then he won't be such a fool. How did hebehave?

BARBARA: Oh, don't talk about it, Mama!

LADY CHARLCOTE: And are you coming to the Monte Baldo tomorrowthen?

BARBARA: Yes.

LADY CHARLCOTE: What time?

BARBARA: In the morning--about eleven.

LADY CHARLCOTE: And you'll bring him your answer then?

BARBARA: Yes.

LADY CHARLCOTE: Well, you must decide for the best foryourself. Only don't go and make a double mess of it, that'sall.

BARBARA: How do you mean, a double mess?

LADY CHARLCOTE: You'll have to stick to one or the other now,at any rate--so you'd better stick to the one you can live with,and not to the one you can do without--for if you get the wrongone, you might as well drown two people then instead of one.

BARBARA: I don't know--I shall know to-morrow, Mama. Goodnight.

LADY CHARLCOTE (kissing her--crying): Well--all you cando now is to make the bed for yourself. Good night! Oh, don'ttrouble to come out, Mr Wesson, don't.

WESSONfollows her. Exit both. BARBARAsits down andbegins to play a waltz on the piano. Re-enter WESSON.

WESSON: Frederick wasn't far off--he hadn't drownedhimself.

BARBARAgoes on playing.

WESSON: I don't particularly want to hear that piano,Barbara.

BARBARA: Don't you? (Plays a few more bars, thenstops.) Whatdo you want?

WESSON: So you are going to see him to-morrow.

BARBARA: I am.

WESSON: What for?

BARBARA (hesitating): To tell him I'll go back tohim.

She remains with her back to WESSON--he sits at thetable. There is dead silence.

WESSON: Did you tell him that tonight?

BARBARA: No.

WESSON: Why not?

BARBARA: Because I didn't want to.

WESSON: Did you give him hopes of that answer?

BARBARA: I don't know.

WESSON: You do! Tell me.

BARBARA: I say I don't know.

WESSON: Then you're lying. I don't believe you intended totell him that. I believe you say it to make me wild.

BARBARA: I don't.

WESSON: Then go now.

BARBARA: I said I'd go to-morrow.

WESSON: If you're going back to Frederick in the morning,you're not going to spend a night under this roof--hear that?

BARBARA: Why not? I've spent a good many nights under thisroof--what does one more or less matter?

WESSON: While you've been with me here I considered you as awoman who wanted to stick to me as a wife--and as anything else Idon't want you.

BARBARA: Very much as a wife you considered me at first--youwere as unsure of us as ever I was.

WESSON: That was at the very first.

BARBARA: Was it--was it?

WESSON: Whether or not--that's what I say now.

BARBARA: "Whether or not!"--youwould say that. At anyrate, Frederick wouldn't say "whether or not".

WESSON: And you want to go back to him?

BARBARA: All men are alike. They don't care what a womanwants. They try to get hold of what they want themselves, as ifit were a pipe. As for the woman, she's not considered--andso--that's where you make your mistake, gentlemen.

WESSON: Want? Whatdo you want?

BARBARA: That's for you to find out.

WESSON: What you want is some of the conceit knocking out ofyou.

BARBARA: You do it, Mr Tuppeny-ha'penny.

WESSON: If Frederick hadn't been such a damn fool he'd havetaken you down a peg or two. Now, you think yourself so blightedhigh and mighty that nobody's good enough to dangle afteryou.

BARBARA: Only a little puppy-dog that barks at my skirts.

WESSON: Very well, then the little puppy-dogwill bark.Are you going to see Frederick in the morning?

BARBARA: Yes.

WESSON: And are you going to tell him, then, that you're goingback to him?

BARBARA: I don't know.

WESSON: You must know then, because if you are, you're notgoing to stop the night in this house.

BARBARA: Pooh! What do I care about your house?

WESSON: You know it was reallyyou who wanted it, andwhose it is.

BARBARA: As ifI care for this house--I'd leave it anyminute. I'll leave it now.

WESSON: If you're going to go back to Frederick,leaveit now. I ask you to.

BARBARA: Oh, very well--that is soon done.

She goes out quickly.

Ten minutes later. WESSON issmoking. EnterBARBARA,dressed, with her hat on.

BARBARA: Here I am, then!

WESSON: Are you going straight to Gardone, to the MonteBaldo?

BARBARA: No--I'm going to the Hotel Cervo.

WESSON: But you can't--she knows us, the landlady--and thinkswe're man and wife. You can't make that mess. If you're going, gostraight to Frederick to-night--I'll see you there.

BARBARA: I'mnot going to Frederick to-night--I'm notgoing to Gardone--I'm going to the Hotel Cervo.

WESSON: How much money have you got?

BARBARA: None.

WESSON: Then I won't give you any.

BARBARA: Don't you trouble--I wouldn't take any of yourmoney.

WESSON: Have you got your night-things in the handbag?

BARBARA: Yes.

WESSON: Some soap--some hankies?

BARBARA: No--forgotten 'em.

WESSON: You would.

Exit--comes running back in a moment, puts the things inher bag.

BARBARA: Thank you.

WESSON: And your box I'll pack to-morrow. The things you saidwere mine I shall put in.

BARBARA: You needn't.

WESSON: I shall. I've never given you anything, so you'venothing to return.

BARBARA: No--you were always stingy.

WESSON: Very well--Frederick isn't.

BARBARA: I suppose it's having been brought up so poor, youcan't help it.

WESSON: We won't discuss me now, nor my bringing-up.

BARBARA: Oh, alright!

WESSON: I consider I owe you, of money you had, about elevenpounds. I'll be stingy and keep one of them. Here's ten out ofthe forty we'd got.

BARBARA: I shan't have them.

WESSON: You can't go without any money.

BARBARA: Yes, I can.

WESSON: No, you can't. If you don't have these ten pounds,I'll post them to Frederick to you.

BARBARA: Alright.

WESSON (feeling in his pocket): Well, have ten lire, atany rate.

BARBARA: No, I won't have anything.

WESSON: You ought to be murdered for your obstinacy.

BARBARA: Not twice in one night.

WESSON: Very well, then--I will come with you down thevillage, since you're frightened of the men.

BARBARA: You needn't--I'm not frightened.

WESSON: No--you're too damned high and mighty to possess asingle one of the human virtues or vices, you are! (Asilence.) Do you want to go, really?

BARBARA: Yes.

WESSON: Liar!--Liar!--you are showing off! (Snatches thehandbag and flings it into the kitchen.) Fool's idiotictheatrical game. Take that hat off.

BARBARA: You're giving your orders.

WESSON: Alright. (Seizes the hat, flings it through thedoor.)

BARBARA (flashing): What are you doing?

WESSON: Stopping you being a fool. Take your coat off.

BARBARA: I shall take my coat off when I please. Indeed, youneedn't show off, for the minute I want to walk out of this houseI shall walk out, and you nor anybody else will prevent me.

WESSON (taking up his position with his back to thedoor): Alright--you want to walk out now, and see!

BARBARA: If I want to--

WESSON: Want to, then--

BARBARA (with a laugh of scorn): Ha--you stopme! (Marches up to him with her breast high. He standsimmovable.) Come out! (He shakes his head.) Comeout!

WESSON: I told you I wouldn't.

BARBARA: Won't you?

Seizes him. He grapples with her. They struggle. He forcesher backward, flings her with a smash on to the couch.

WESSON: You shan't! (Goes and locks the door--stands at aloss.)

BARBARA (recovering): It's very heroic--but I goto-morrow, whether or not.

WESSON: You'll pass the night in this room then. (He sitsdown--there is silence for some minutes--at last he looks up,speaks falteringly.) Youdon't want to leave me, doyou, Barbara? (No answer.) Youdon't want to?(Silence.) Well, whether you think you do or not, I shallnever believe you want to leave me, not really--so there! (Asilence.)

BARBARA: A woman couldn't want to leave such a wonder as you,you think.

WESSON: You can't want to leaveme.

BARBARA: Why not?

WESSON (sulkily): Because I don't believe you can.(There is a silence.)

BARBARA (with difficulty): A sort of faithperformance!

He looks at her steadily, rises, goes and sits besideher.

WESSON: Barbican!

BARBARA (dropping her head on his shoulder with a cry):It's so hard on him, Giacomo.

WESSON (putting his arms round her): Never mind, he'llsuffer at first, then he'll get better.

BARBARA (crying): He won't.

WESSON: He will--he shall--he shall! And you'll see he will.He'll be alright in the end. You were too big a mouthful for himto swallow, and he was choking.

BARBARA: But I make him suffer so.

WESSON (kissing and kissing her): No--it's my fault.You don't want to leave me, do you?

BARBARA: I don't know what to do.

WESSON: Stay with me, Barbican, my darling, and we'll managethat he's alright.

BARBARA: It's not fair when a man goes loving you so much whenyou don't love him--it makes you feel as if you'd have to go backto him.

WESSON: You can't go back to him--it would be wrong. His loveisn't living for you.

BARBARA: It isn't, is it, Giacomo?

WESSON: No--kiss me, Barbara, will you? (She kisseshim.) I love you, Barbara.

BARBARA: Do you really love me?

WESSON: Malheureusement.

BARBARA: He says that.

WESSON: And I don't mean it. I'm glad I love you, even if youtorture me into hell.

BARBARA: But do you love me an awful lot?

WESSON: More than enough.

BARBARA: Really?

WESSON: Truly.

BARBARA: But if he dies, I shall torment the life out ofyou.

WESSON: You'll do that anyway.

BARBARA (looking up--taking his face between herhands): Shall I?--No!--Say no--say I am a joy to you.

WESSON: You are a living joy to me, you are--especially thisevening.

BARBARA (laughs): No--but am I really?

WESSON: Yes.

BARBARA: Kiss me--kiss me--and love me--love me a fearfullot--love me a fearful lot.

WESSON: I do. And to-morrow you'll just say to Frederick, "Ican't come back--divorce me if you love me." You'll say it, won'tyou? (kissing her.)

BARBARA: Yes.

WESSON: If it kills him--it won't kill him--but you'll sayit?

BARBARA (hiding her face): Must I, Giacomo?

WESSON: Yes.

BARBARA: Then I s'll have to--oh dear! But you'll loveme--love me a lot. (She clings to him wildly.)

WESSON: I do--and I will.

BARBARA: Love me a fearful lot!

THE END

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