Complete Works of George Moore

by George Moore

  MILLICENT.

  Do you really think that — that there is no soul in Southhaven? (KIRWAN gets up to go.) But why are you going? You have not answered my question.

  KIRWAN.

  I feel I’m in a harsh humour. I always go when I feel it coming upon me.

  DEAN.

  But where are you going? When shall I see you again? There are many things I must see you about.

  KIRWAN.

  You’ll find me at my lodgings. I must go; I have some pressing work to finish by this evening.

  DEAN.

  Why not write in my study? You’ll find everything you require, and no one will disturb you.

  KIRWAN.

  It will save time; thank you. — [Exit.

  MI LUCENT.

  He grows stranger and stranger. But, Jasper, you don’t think there is no soul in Southhaven, and that I am like Southhaven, a mere prosperity, mere materialism?

  DEAN.

  Kirwan doesn’t really identify you with Southhaven. He speaks like that because here only general ideas interest us.

  MILLICENT.

  Maybe the soul is freer here, in this forlorn country which you love so intensely.

  DEAN.

  Kirwan’s heart is here, among the mountains.

  MILLICENT.

  At least he’s in earnest, and so few are that.

  DEAN.

  Yes, yes, that is just it; you’ll get to like him; while he’s here the atmosphere is purer, brighter.

  MILLICENT.

  And while you’re talking to me you’ll be thinking of how soon you’ll be able to get back to him.

  DEAN.

  No, Millicent, no. You see the worst of Kirwan in the first meetings. When I met him the first time he was harsh to me.

  MILLICENT.

  A sort of ugly dog which you end by getting fond of — when he has left off biting you.

  DEAN.

  Yes, there is something of that in Kirwan. But can’t you see the sweetness of his nature showing through? Oh, Millicent, I shall be sorry if you don’t come to like Kirwan. He is everything here — the past and the future. He has taught me everything — to feel the past like a divine present. And the gods —

  MILLICENT.

  What do you mean by the gods?

  DEAN.

  Our ancient ideals which have never died.

  MILLICENT.

  We shall find new ideals: the ideals of the future are ours.

  DEAN.

  There are no new ideals, and the old ideals will suffice when you understand them. My country shall become your country, my race your race. It is the land underfoot that makes the Celt. Soon you will feel the fascination of this dim, remote land steal over you. When these tiresome politics are over we’ll visit together the historical places, the sacred places.

  MILLICENT.

  Yes, we’ll do all these things; but now you must listen to something more prosaic. I came to tell you that I’m expecting my uncle Hardman this afternoon.

  DEAN.

  Coming to-day?

  MILLICENT.

  You don’t seem pleased.

  DEAN.

  You see, our business with Southhaven, our claims against Southhaven, make it difficult for me to meet him. Oh, I daresay it will make no difference. What has brought him over?

  MILLICENT.

  Your aunt said —

  DEAN.

  Aunt Caroline still interfering in my life.

  MILLICENT.

  I half agreed, Jasper, that she should send the telegram; in any case I take the entire responsibility. I’m sure it would be well for you to hear what my uncle Hardman has to say before you commit yourself any further in this agitation.

  DEAN.

  When you talk like that, Millicent, you remind me too closely of my aunt Caroline. No, Millicent, no; forgive me. But I’ve been worried all my life about the necessity of always acting with my class, and of considering private interests before public ones. Aunt Caroline’s notion of public life is private advancement.

  MILLICENT.

  I don’t say I agree with her, but what is your ideal now? What do you desire most?

  DEAN.

  To become one with the instinct of the race.

  MILLICENT.

  Perhaps, Jasper, you are more fitted for public life than for married life.

  DEAN.

  It is strange you should say that.

  MILLICENT.

  Why is it strange?

  DEAN.

  Because Kirwan says that by nature I’m a family man. I wonder? I never thought of marrying any particular woman until I saw you. But I always thought of married life as the only life — life within the family circle.

  MILLICENT.

  Oh, you thought that?

  DEAN.

  Yes, why?

  MILLICENT.

  Only that I don’t think that family life is Kirwan’s idea of life.

  DEAN.

  True, he never married. I daresay you are right, though I should be puzzled to say why.

  MILLICENT.

  Kirwan is no doubt a very clever man, but he is a monomaniac, he hates women; he has no conception of private life; he has spent his life in hotels and public meetings. But are you prepared to do the same? If you are, you had better not marry.

  DEAN.

  This jealousy of Kirwan is — is unexpected, and quite unreasonable.

  MILLICENT.

  No, it is not unreasonable; and nothing in this world concerns me more intimately, and I should be a weak fool indeed if I were to let it pass. You are a man of original mind and talent, Jasper, but you let yourself be absorbed by this man; and the strange thing is that it is your pleasure to allow him to absorb you.

  DEAN.

  I should have been nothing without Kirwan.

  MILLICENT.

  Every scholar thinks the same of his schoolmaster.

  DEAN.

  Maybe you’re right. I hadn’t thought of that. I suppose so. Admiration of the schoolmaster is inherent in us all.

  MILLICENT.

  But in a few years we wear through his ideas, and then he seems paltry enough.

  DEAN.

  And then we get another schoolmaster unless we close our education, and I suppose it is every one’s ambition not to do that. But, Millicent, how does my interest in Kirwan’s ideas affect you?

  MILLICENT.

  You deliberately put on his soul, and though you will put it off sooner or later, something of it will sink in, will become part of you.

  DEAN.

  And then?

  MILLICENT.

  Then you will see me with Kirwan’s eyes, and that I do not wish — I do not intend. I recognise Kirwan as my enemy. His challenge was clear and direct.

  DEAN.

  His challenge!

  MILLICENT.

  Yes; his challenge was very explicit, and he has taught you hatred of my town, of the south, and he has induced you to embark in a lifelong adventure against both.

  DEAN.

  But political questions —

  MILLICENT.

  Do not concern women. That no doubt is Kirwan’s theory. There is nothing on God’s earth that does not concern women. Our concern may be different from yours, but it is equal. Kirwan is limiting your life to this place. Dear, I want a wider sphere for your talent.

  DEAN.

  But to succeed in Southhaven would mean nothing to me. We are nothing outside of our own race and the traditions and the destiny of the race.

  MILLICENT.

  Those are Kirwan’s ideas.

  DEAN.

  It does not matter whose ideas they are. Are they true?

  MILLICENT.

  They are true to him. Are you sure that they are true to you? And if this agitation be pursued we shall have to live here always. I daresay that social life means little to you, or you may have grown tired of it, and when you are tired of public affairs you would like a family circle wherein to renew your ene
rgies. But what should I be here? You see, you ask me to give up my pursuits, my friends, my life, everything. And what shall I get in exchange?

  DEAN.

  It is impossible for me to answer that question.

  MILLICENT.

  I did not put the question to embarrass you. The answer is your love. But your love, much as I covet it, is not sufficient. I want your life, Jasper. I want to share it. I cannot consent to be either a sensuality, a housekeeper, or both. Do you understand?

  DEAN.

  Yes, I understand.

  MILLICENT.

  What I say is reasonable, I know I’m right. My heart tells me that I am, and my heart now is the heart of every woman in the world. I will make sacrifice for you, Jasper. “Thy people shall be my people,” but I will not yield any part of my right to share your life. I will be no fly on the wheel: you must choose between me and Kirwan. I will share you no more with him than with another woman. It would be worse, for he absorbs the best part of you.

  DEAN.

  Do you mean that I’m to give up my friend?

  MILLICENT.

  No, I’m not so unreasonable as that. I only want your friend to take his proper place in your life, that is all.

  DEAN.

  I hardly know you to-day, Millicent.

  MILLICENT.

  How am I different?

  DEAN.

  It is like coming across a hard and unyielding streak in a beautiful piece of satinwood. (She goes up the stage.)

  DEAN.

  Are you going? — (She goes to him and puts her hands on his shoulders.)

  MILLICENT.

  Jasper, we shall always be united.

  DEAN.

  Yes, we shall always be united. I know it.

  (Miss CAROLINE DEAN enters.)

  CAROLINE.

  I’m interrupting an agreeable conversation.

  DEAN.

  Well, perhaps you are, Aunt Caroline.

  CAROLINE.

  Then I’ll go away again.

  DEAN.

  No, stay. I’ve some business with Kirwan. He is writing in my study. I’ll go to him. — [Exit o. P.

  CAROLINE.

  I came to tell you that your uncle may now arrive at any moment. Did you tell Jasper that I had telegraphed to Mr. Hardman?

  MILLICENT.

  Yes.

  CAROLINE.

  Was he very angry?

  MILLICENT.

  No — well, rather, but I told him that I acquiesced.

  CAROLINE.

  Your hands were on his shoulders, but I could see you were divided.

  MILLICENT.

  I told him that if I was not to share his life that I did not care to marry him.

  CAROLINE.

  And did you tell him he would alienate himself from all respectable people? Did you say that he would lose all your friends? Did you mention that?

  MILLICENT.

  I told him everything. Now I am merely a joy in his life which he would not willingly be without, but I am no longer his chief interest in life, and I know why.

  CAROLINE.

  You mean Kirwan?

  MILLICENT.

  I want Jasper to be himself; I am ambitious for him; I do not think he will be himself as long as he stays here.

  CAROLINE.

  You would take Kirwan’s place?

  MILLICENT.

  I would prevent Kirwan from taking mine. Jasper is a leader of men and —

  CAROLINE.

  There I think you’re mistaken. The natural centre of Jasper’s life is marriage, and if Kirwan succeeds in turning him from marriage he is ruined.

  MILLICENT.

  I think he is a leader of men, but I want him to bear forth his own ideas and not Kirwan’s.

  CAROLINE.

  You will never induce him to give up Kirwan.

  MILLICENT.

  Then I will give him up.

  CAROLINE.

  Better induce him to give up this agitation.

  MILLICENT.

  I care little about the agitation. I am thinking of my share in his life, that is the problem before me.

  CAROLINE.

  But in winning him away from this agitation you will win him from Kirwan. Kirwan’s interest in Jasper is merely a political one, only his country interests him. He has no friend.

  MILLICENT.

  But I have no reason to urge why he should abandon his present politics — no sufficient reason. I am helpless.

  (A bell is heard.)

  CAROLINE.

  Very likely that is Mr. Hardman (runs to window). Yes, the boat is in; I see them wheeling the mails into the post-office.

  (Enter MAID.)

  MAID.

  Mr. George Hardman.

  (Enter HARDMAN. Exit MAID.)

  MILLICENT.

  Oh, how do you do, uncle? This is Miss Caroline Dean.

  HARDMAN.

  I received your telegram last night, Miss Dean. Millicent knows all about it, of course.

  MILLICENT.

  Miss Dean consulted me before sending it. I could see that she was very anxious.

  HARDMAN.

  Well, I came at once.

  CAROLINE.

  I hope you don’t think that we exaggerated the importance of this agitation?

  HARDMAN.

  It doesn’t matter if you did. To-day was comparatively a free day and I was glad of an excuse to get away; the trip will do me good.

  CAROLINE.

  I felt that no one would bring such knowledge of the world to bear on this matter as you.

  HARDMAN.

  It is serious. But there’s nothing so difficult in this world that it can’t be arranged by practical men, as my worthy friend Alderman Lawrence would say CAROLINE.

  It was a great sorrow to me to find Jasper allying himself to all the needy adventurers of our town.

  MILLICENT.

  They are not all needy adventurers. Several of your own family and Alderman Foley —

  CAROLINE.

  Alderman Foley will regret the support he is giving to this agitation.

  HARDMAN.

  I see that at least on one important particular you are not agreed. I must see Jasper, I must see the others and find out exactly how the matter stands. (Pause.)

  (Enter MAID)

  MAID.

  A gentleman who wishes to see Mr. Dean, miss (Enter MACNEE.)

  CAROLINE.

  Good Heavens!

  MILLICENT.

  Mr. Dean is in the study.

  (The MAID crosses the stage with MACNEE, and opens study door. Exit MACNEE. MAID crosses the stage, and exit.)

  CAROLINE.

  These people are constantly about the house now. (Pause.) I’m sure you would like lunch, Mr. Hardman?

  HARDMAN.

  I started early in the morning, and a sea breeze awakes the appetite.

  CAROLINE.

  Then I’ll go and see if I cannot get them to bring up lunch at once. — [Exit.

  HARDMAN.

  Now tell me, Millicent, what it is all about, why did Miss Dean telegraph to me? Did she do so at your suggestion?

  MILLICENT.

  Yes, I could see that she was alarmed at the part Jasper is taking in politics. That is one reason.

  HARDMAN.

  And then?

  MILLICENT.

  There is another reason, though I was then only vaguely conscious of it; since I have discovered it.

  HARDMAN.

  Surely not that Jasper is changed towards you?

  MILLICENT.

  Now Jasper looks at life from a different side, so he has changed towards me.

  HARDMAN.

  He has not said that he is.

  MILLICENT.

  No, nor do I suppose that he knows that he is.

  HARDMAN.

  This does not sound very serious.

  MILLICENT.

  But it is; a woman knows everything that concerns her. Jasper is quite different. He
seems to have receded from actual life, he seems to live only in abstractions.

  HARDMAN.

  Very solid kind of abstractions — an action at law to extort a large sum of money.

  MILLICENT.

  He has fallen under the influence of Kirwan, and he sees and hears at present with Kirwan’s eyes and ears. So I really have ceased to care to marry Jasper. I was telling Miss Dean so when you came in.

  HARDMAN.

  Who is this man Kirwan?

  MILLICENT.

  Jasper is but his mouthpiece, I can tell you no more. I’m very unhappy.

  HARDMAN.

  My dear Millicent... Where is this man?

  MILLICENT.

  (Recovering herself quickly.) He is in there, in the study with Jasper. Let us talk of something else. I told Jasper that I had heard you say there is nothing in this claim. Is that so?

  HARDMAN.

  Well, it is just one of those vexations — but, putting aside the public question for a moment, it occurs to me that a large part of your money is invested in house property in Southhaven, and the extra rate that would have to be levied to meet this claim would reduce your income considerably. You have money too invested in our line of steamers.

  MILLICENT.

  I wonder if it ever occurred to Jasper that one of the results of this agitation would be to reduce my income?

  HARDMAN (walking up the stage).

  No man in his senses would put himself at the head of an agitation, the first result of which would be to reduce his wife’s income. (Returning to MILLICENT.) YOU will speak to him on this subject, you will tell him what I say?

  MILLICENT.

  Of course.

  HARDMAN.

  I knew we should find a way out of the difficulty.

  MILLICENT.

  Now I feel happier; before all was dark and vague. At last I begin to see my way. Thank you, uncle. How clever you are!

  (Enter MAID.)

  MAID.

  Lunch is ready, sir.

  (Immediately after enter Miss CAROLINE DEAN. Exit MAID.)

  CAROLINE.

  I hope that you and Millicent together will be able to persuade Jasper.

  HARDMAN.

  Not a doubt of it, not a doubt of it, Miss Dean. The whole thing might be described as a wild-goose chase, and I am hungry enough to eat the wild goose if you have nothing else.

  CAROLINE.

  But what has happened? You looked so serious when you arrived.

  HARDMAN.

  I think it will be impossible for Jasper to remain at the head of this agitation.

  CAROLINE.

  Oh! What makes you think that?

  (He walks R., between MILLICENT and CAROLINE.)