Plays: Lady Frederick, The Explorer, A Man of Honour. W. Somerset Maugham

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THE SECOND ACT

       Table of Contents

      The scene is the same as in Act I. Admiral Carlisle is sleeping in an armchair with a handkerchief over his face. Rose is sitting on a grandfather's chair, and Gerald is leaning over the back.

      Rose.

      Isn't papa a perfectly adorable chaperon?

      [The Admiral snores.

      Gerald.

      Perfectly.

      [A pause.

      Rose.

      I've started fifteen topics of conversation in the last quarter of an hour, Gerald.

      Gerald.

      [Smiling.] Have you?

      Rose.

      You always agree with me, and there's an end of it. So I have to rack my brains again.

      Gerald.

      All you say is so very wise and sensible. Of course I agree.

      Rose.

      I wonder if you'll think me sensible and wise in ten years.

      Gerald.

      I'm quite sure I shall.

      Rose.

      Why, then, I'm afraid we shan't cultivate any great brilliancy of repartee.

      Gerald.

      Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever.

      Rose.

      Oh, don't say that. When a man's in love, he at once makes a pedestal of the Ten Commandments and stands on the top of them with his arms akimbo. When a woman's in love she doesn't care two straws for Thou Shalt and Thou Shalt Not.

      Gerald.

      When a woman's in love she can put her heart on the slide of a microscope and examine how it beats. When a man's in love, what do you think he cares for science and philosophy and all the rest of it!

      Rose.

      When a man's in love he can only write sonnets to the moon. When a woman's in love she can still cook his dinner and darn her own stockings.

      Gerald.

      I wish you wouldn't cap all my observations.

      [She lifts up her face, and he kisses her lips.

      Rose.

      I'm beginning to think you're rather nice, you know.

      Gerald.

      That's reassuring, at all events.

      Rose.

      But no one could accuse you of being a scintillating talker.

      Gerald.

      Have you ever watched the lovers in the Park sitting on the benches hour after hour without saying a word?

      Rose.

      Why?

      Gerald.

      Because I've always thought that they must be bored to the verge of tears. Now I know they're only happy.

      Rose.

      You're certainly my soldier, so I suppose I'm your nursery-maid.

      Gerald.

      You know, when I was at Trinity College, Dublin——

      Rose.

      [Interrupting.] Were you there? I thought you went to Oxford.

      Gerald.

      No, why?

      Rose.

      Only all my people go to Magdalen.

      Gerald.

      Yes.

      Rose.

      And I've decided that if I ever have a son he shall go there too.

      [The Admiral starts and pulls the handkerchief off his face. The others do not notice him. He is aghast and astounded at the conversation. Lady Frederick comes in later and stands smiling as she listens.

      Gerald.

      My darling, you know I hate to thwart you in any way, but I've quite made up my mind that my son shall go to Dublin as I did.

      Rose.

      I'm awfully sorry, Gerald, but the boy must be educated like a gentleman.

      Gerald.

      There I quite agree, Rose, but first of all he's an Irishman, and it's right that he should be educated in Ireland.

      Rose.

      Darling Gerald, a mother's love is naturally the safest guide in these things.

      Gerald.

      Dearest Rose, a father's wisdom is always the most reliable.

      Lady Frederick.

      Pardon my interfering, but—aren't you just a little previous?

      Admiral.

      [Bursting СКАЧАТЬ