Transcriber's note.

Transcriber's note.Minor punctuation inconsistencies have been silently repaired. Alistof other changes made, can be found at the end of the book.VOTES FOR WOMENA PLAY IN THREE ACTSBYELIZABETH ROBINSMILLS & BOON, LIMITED49 WHITCOMB STREETLONDON W. C.1909COURT THEATRE PLAYBILLVOTES FOR WOMEN!A Dramatic Tract in Three ActsBy ELIZABETH ROBINSLord John WynnstayMr. ATHOL FORDEThe Hon. Geoffrey StonorMr. AUBREY SMITHMr. St. John GreatorexMr. E. HOLMAN CLARKMr. Richard FarnboroughMr. P. CLAYTON GREENEMr. Freddy TunbridgeMr. PERCY MARMONTMr. Allen TrentMr. LEWIS CASSON[1]Mr. WalkerMr. EDMUND GWENNLady John WynnstayMiss MAUD MILTONMrs. HeriotMiss FRANCES IVORMiss Vida LeveringMiss WYNNE-MATTHISON[1]Miss Beatrice DunbartonMiss JEANMacKINLAYMrs. Freddy TunbridgeMiss GERTRUDE BURNETTMiss Ernestine BluntMiss DOROTHY MINTOA Working WomanMiss AGNES THOMASAct I.Wynnstay House in Hertfordshire.Act II.Trafalgar Square, London.Act III.Eaton Square, London.The Entire Action of the Play takes place between Sunday noon and six o'clock in the evening of the same day.[1]In the text these characters have been altered to Mr.Pilcherand MissJeanDunbarton.CASTLord John WynnstayLady John WynnstayHis wifeMrs. HeriotSister of Lady JohnMiss Jean DunbartonNiece to Lady John and Mrs. HeriotThe Hon. Geoffrey StonorUnionist M.P. affianced to Jean DunbartonMr. St. John GreatorexLiberal M.P.The Hon. Richard FarnboroughMr. Freddy TunbridgeMrs. Freddy TunbridgeMr. Allen TrentMiss Ernestine BluntA SuffragetteMr. PilcherA working manA Working WomanandMiss Vida LeveringPersons in the Crowd: Servants in the Two Houses.ACT IWynnstay House in HertfordshireACT IITrafalgar Square, LondonACT IIIEaton Square(Entire Action of Play takes place between Sunday noon and six o'clock in the evening of the same day.)ACT I.The Hall of Wynnstay House.stage directionsTwelve o'clock Sunday morning at end of June.Action takes place between twelve and six same day.VOTES FOR WOMENACT IHall of Wynnstay House.Twelve o'clock, Sunday morning, end of June. With the rising of the Curtain, enter theButler.As he is going, with majestic port, to answer the doorL.,enter briskly from the garden, by lower French window,Lady John Wynnstay,flushed, and flapping a garden hat to fan herself. She is a pink-cheeked woman of fifty-four, who has plainly been a beauty, keeps her complexion, but is "gone to fat."Lady John.Has Miss Levering come down yet?Butler(pausingC.). I haven't seen her, m'lady.Lady John(almost sharply asButlerturnsL.). I won't have her disturbed if she's resting. (To herself as she goes to writing-table.) She certainly needs it.Butler.Yes, m'lady.Lady John(sitting at writing-table, her back to front door). But I want her to know the moment she comes down that the new plans arrived by the morning post.Butler(pausing nearly at the door). Plans, m'la——Lady John.She'll understand. There they are.(Glancing at the clock.) It's very important she should have them in time to look over before she goes——(Butleropens the doorL.)(Over her shoulder.) Is that Miss Levering?Butler.No, m'lady. Mr. Farnborough.[ExitButler.(Enter theHon. R. Farnborough.He is twenty-six; reddish hair, high-coloured, sanguine, self-important.)Farnborough.I'm afraid I'm scandalously early. It didn't take me nearly as long to motor over as Lord John said.Lady John(shaking hands). I'm afraid my husband is no authority on motoring—and he's not home yet from church.Farn.It's the greatest luck findingyou. I thought Miss Levering was the only person under this roof who was ever allowed to observe Sunday as a real Day of Rest.Lady John.If you've come to see Miss Levering——Farn.Is she here? I give you my word I didn't know it.Lady John(unconvinced). Oh?Farn.Does she come every week-end?Lady John.Whenever we can get her to. But we've only known her a couple of months.Farn.And I have only known her three weeks! Lady John, I've come to ask you to help me.Lady John(quickly). With Miss Levering? I can't do it!Farn.No, no—all that's no good. She only laughs.Lady John(relieved). Ah!—she looks upon you as a boy.Farn(firing up). Such rot! What do you think she said to me in London the other day?Lady John.That she was four years older than you?Farn.Oh, I knew that. No. She said she knew she was all the charming things I'd been saying, but there was only one way to prove it—and that was to marry some one young enough to be her son. She'd noticed that was what themostattractive women did—and she named names.Lady John(laughing).Youwere too old!Farn.(nods). Her future husband, she said, was probably just entering Eton.Lady John.Just like her!Farn.(waving the subject away). No. I wanted to see you about the Secretaryship.Lady John.You didn't get it, then?Farn.No. It's the grief of my life.Lady John.Oh, if you don't get one you'll get another.Farn.But thereisonly one.Lady John.Only one vacancy?Farn.Only one man I'd give my ears to work for.Lady John(smiling). I remember.Farn.(quickly). Do I always talk about Stonor? Well, it's a habit people have got into.Lady John.I forget, do you know Mr. Stonor personally, or (smiling) are you just dazzled from afar?Farn.Oh, I know him. The trouble is he doesn't know me. If he did he'd realise he can't be sure of winning his election without my valuable services.Lady John.Geoffrey Stonor's re-election is always a foregone conclusion.Farn.That the great man shares that opinion is precisely his weak point. (Smiling.) His only one.Lady John.You think because the Liberals swept the country the last time——Farn.How can we be sure any Conservative seat is safe after——(AsLady Johnsmiles and turns to her papers.)Forgive me, I know you're not interested in politicsquapolitics. But this concerns Geoffrey Stonor.Lady John.And you count on my being interested in him like all the rest of my sex.Farn.(leans forward). Lady John, I've heard the news.Lady John.What news?Farn.That your little niece—the Scotch heiress—is going to become Mrs. Geoffrey Stonor.Lady John.Who told you that?Farn.Please don't mind my knowing.Lady John(visibly perturbed). She had set her heart upon having a few days with just her family in the secret, before the flood of congratulations breaks loose.Farn.Oh, that's all right. I always hear things before other people.Lady John.Well, I must ask you to be good enough to be very circumspect. I wouldn't have my niece think that I——Farn.Oh, of course not.Lady John.She will be here in an hour.Farn.(jumping up delighted). What? To-day? The future Mrs. Stonor!Lady John(harassed). Yes. Unfortunately we had one or two people already asked for the week-end——Farn.And I go and invite myself to luncheon! Lady John, you can buy me off. I'll promise to remove myself in five minutes if you'll——Lady John.No, the penalty is you shall stay and keep the others amused between church and luncheon, and so leave me free. (Takes up the plan.) Onlyremember——Farn.Wild horses won't get a hint out of me! I only mentioned it to you because—since we've come back to live in this part of the world you've been so awfully kind—I thought, I hoped maybe you—you'd put in a word for me.Lady John.With——?Farn.With your nephew that is to be. Though I'mnotthe slavish satellite people make out, you can't doubt——Lady John.Oh, I don't doubt. But you know Mr. Stonor inspires a similar enthusiasm in a good many young——Farn.They haven't studied the situation as I have. They don't know what's at stake. They don't go to that hole Dutfield as I did just to hear his Friday speech.Lady John.Ah! But you were rewarded. Jean—my niece—wrote me it was "glorious."Farn.(judicially). Well, you know,Iwas disappointed. He's too content just to criticise, just to make his delicate pungent fun of the men who are grappling—very inadequately, of course—stillgrapplingwith the big questions. There's a carrying power (gets up and faces an imaginary audience)—some of Stonor's friends ought to point it out—there's a driving power in the poorest constructive policy that makes the most brilliant criticism look barren.Lady John(with good-humoured malice). Who told you that?Farn.You think there's nothing in it becauseIsay it. But now that he's coming into the family, Lord John or somebody really ought to point out—Stonor's overdoing his rôle of magnificent security!Lady John.I don't see even Lord John offering to instruct Mr. Stonor.Farn.Believe me, that's just Stonor's danger! Nobody saying a word, everybody hoping he's on the point of adopting some definite line, something strong and original that's going to fire the public imagination and bring the Tories back into power.Lady John.So he will.Farn.(hotly). Not if he disappoints meetings—goes calmly up to town—and leaves the field to the Liberals.Lady John.When did he do anything like that?Farn.Yesterday! (With a harassed air.) And now that he's got this other preoccupation——Lady John.You mean——Farn.Yes, your niece—that spoilt child of Fortune. Of course! (Stopping suddenly.) She kept him from the meeting last night. Well! (sits down) if that's the effect she's going to have it's pretty serious!Lady John(smiling).Youare!Farn.I can assure you the election agent's more so. He's simply tearing his hair.Lady John(more gravely and coming nearer). How do you know?Farn.He told me so himself—yesterday. I scraped acquaintance with the agent just to see if—if——Lady John.It's not only here that you manœuvre for that Secretaryship!Farn.(confidentially). You can never tell when your chance might come! That election chap's promised to keep me posted.(The door flies open andJean Dunbartonrushes in.)Jean.Aunt Ellen—here I——Lady John(astonished). My dear child!(They embrace. EnterLord Johnfrom the garden—a benevolent, silver-haired despot of sixty-two.)Lord John.I thought that was you running up the avenue.(Jeangreets her uncle warmly, but all the time she and her aunt talk together. "How did you get here so early?" "I knew you'd be surprised—wasn't it clever of me to manage it? I don't deserve all the credit." "But there isn't any train between——" "Yes, wait till I tell you." "You walked in the broiling sun——" "No, no." "You must be dead. Why didn't you telegraph? I ordered the carriage to meet the 1.10. Didn't you say the 1.10? Yes, I'm sure you did—here's your letter.")Lord J.(has shaken hands withFarnboroughand speaks through the torrent). Now they'll tell each other for ten minutes that she's an hour earlier than we expected.(Lord JohnleadsFarnboroughtowards the garden.)Farn.The Freddy Tunbridges saidtheywere coming to you this week.Lord J.Yes, they're dawdling through the park with the Church Brigade.Farn.Oh! (With a glance back atJean.) I'll go and meet them.[ExitFarnborough.Lord J.(as he turns back). That discreet young man will get on.Lady John(toJean). Buthowdid you get here?Jean(breathless). "He" motored me down.Lady John.Geoffrey Stonor? (Jeannods.) Why, where is he, then?Jean.He dropped me at the end of the avenue and went on to see a supporter about something.Lord J.You let him go off like that without——Lady John(takingJean'stwo hands). Just tell me, my child, is it all right?Jean.My engagement? (Radiantly.) Yes, absolutely.Lady John.Geoffrey Stonor isn't going to be—a little too old for you?Jean(laughing). Bless me, am I such a chicken?Lady John.Twenty-four used not to be so young—but it's become so.Jean.Yes, we don't grow up so quick. (Gaily.) But on the other hand westayup longer.Lord J.You've got what's vulgarly called "looks," my dear, and that will help tokeepyou up!Jean(smiling). I know what Uncle John's thinking. But I'm not the only girl who's been left "what's vulgarly called" money.Lord J.You're the only one of our immediate circle who's been left so beautifully much.Jean.Ah, but remember Geoffrey could—everybodyknowshe could have married any one in England.Lady John(faintly ironic). I'm afraid everybody does know it—not excepting Mr. Stonor.Lord J.Well, how spoilt is the great man?Jean.Not the least little bit in the world. You'll see! He so wants to know my best-beloved relations better. (Another embrace.) An orphan has so few belongings, she has to make the most of them.Lord J.(smiling). Let us hope he'll approve of us on more intimate acquaintance.Jean(firmly). He will. He's an angel. Why, he gets on with my grandfather!Lady John.Doeshe? (Teasing.) You mean to say Mr. Geoffrey Stonor isn't just a tiny bit—"superior" about Dissenters.Jean(stoutly). Not half as much as Uncle John and all the rest of you! My grandfather's been ill again, you know, and rather difficult—bless him! (Radiantly.) But Geoffrey——(Clasps her hands.)Lady John.He must have powers of persuasion!—to get that old Covenanter to let you come in an abhorred motor-car—on Sunday, too!Jean(half whispering). Grandfather didn't know!Lady John.Didn't know?Jean.I honestly meant to come by train. Geoffrey met me on my way to the station. We had the most glorious run. Oh, Aunt Ellen, we're so happy! (Embracing her.) I've so looked forward to having you to myself the whole day just to talk to you about——Lord J.(turning away with affected displeasure). Oh, very well——Jean(catches him affectionately by the arm).You'dfind it dreffly dull to hear me talk about Geoffrey the whole blessed day!Lady John.Well, till luncheon, my dear, youmustn't mind if I——(ToLord John,as she goes to writing-table.) Miss Levering wasn't only tired last night, she was ill.Lord J.I thought she looked very white.Jean.Who is Miss——You don't mean to say there are other people?Lady John.One or two. Your uncle's responsible for asking that old cynic, St. John Greatorex, and I——Jean(gravely). Mr. Greatorex—he's a Radical, isn't he?Lord J.(laughing).Jean!Beginning to "think in parties"!Lady John.It's very natural now that she should——Jean.I only meant it was odd he should be here. Naturally at my grandfather's——Lord J.It's all right, my child. Of course we expect now that you'll begin to think like Geoffrey Stonor, and to feel like Geoffrey Stonor, and to talk like Geoffrey Stonor. And quite proper too.Jean(smiling). Well, if I do think with my husband and feel with him—as, of course, I shall—it will surprise me if I ever find myself talking a tenth as well——(Following her uncle to the French window.)You should have heard him at Dutfield——(Stopping short, delighted.) Oh! The Freddy Tunbridges. What? Not Aunt Lydia! Oh-h!(Looking back reproachfully atLady John,who makes a discreet motion "I couldn't help it.")(Enter theTunbridges.Mr. Freddy,of no profession and of independent means. Well-groomed, pleasant-looking; of fewwords. A "nice man" who likes "nice women" and has married one of them.Mrs. Freddyis thirty. An attractive figure, delicate face, intelligent grey eyes, over-sensitive mouth, and naturally curling dust-coloured hair.)Mrs. Freddy.What a delightful surprise!Jean(shaking hands warmly). I'm so glad. How d'ye do, Mr. Freddy?(EnterLady John'ssister,Mrs. Heriot—smart, pompous, fifty—followed byFarnborough.)Mrs. Heriot.My dear Jean! My darling child!Jean.How do you do, aunt?Mrs. H.(sotto voce).Iwasn't surprised. I always prophesied——Jean.Sh!Please!Farn.We haven't met since you were in short skirts. I'm Dick Farnborough.Jean.Oh, I remember.(They shake hands.)Mrs. F.(looking round). Not down yet—the Elusive One?Jean.Who is the Elusive One?Mrs. F.Lady John's new friend.Lord J.(toJean). Oh, I forgot you hadn't seen Miss Levering; such a nice creature! (ToMrs. Freddy.)—don't you think?Mrs. F.Of course I do. You're lucky to get her to come so often. She won't go to other people.Lady John.She knows she can rest here.Freddy(who has joinedLady Johnnear the writing-table). What does she do to tire her?Lady John.She's been helping my sister and me with a scheme of ours.Mrs. H.She certainly knows how to inveigle money out of the men.Lady John.It would sound less equivocal, Lydia, if you added that the money is to build baths in our Shelter for Homeless Women.Mrs. F.Homeless women?Lady John.Yes, in the most insanitary part of Soho.Freddy.Oh—a—really.Farn.It doesn't sound quite in Miss Levering's line!Lady John.My dear boy, you know as little about what's in a woman's line as most men.Freddy(laughing). Oh, I say!Lord J.(indulgently toMr. FreddyandFarnborough). Philanthropy in a woman like Miss Levering is a form of restlessness. But she's anicecreature; all she needs is to get some "nice" fella to marry her.Mrs. F.(laughing as she hangs on her husband's arm). Yes, a woman needs a balance wheel—if only to keep her from flying back to town on a hot day like this.Lord J.Who's proposing anything so——Mrs. F.The Elusive One.Lord J.Not Miss——Mrs. F.Yes, before luncheon![ExitFarnboroughto garden.Lady John.She must be in London by this afternoon, she says.Lord J.What for in the name of——Lady John.Well,thatI didn't ask her. But (consults watch) I think I'll just go up and see if she's changed her plans.[ExitLady John.Lord J.Oh, she must bemadeto. Such a nice creature! All she needs——(Voices outside. Enter fussily, talking and gesticulating,St. John Greatorex,followed byMiss LeveringandFarnborough.Greatorexis sixty, wealthy, a county magnate, and Liberal M.P. He is square, thick-set, square-bearded. His shining bald pate has two strands of coal-black hair trained across his crown from left ear to right and securely pasted there. He has small, twinkling eyes and a reputation for telling good stories after dinner when ladies have left the room. He is carrying a little book forMiss Levering.She (parasol over shoulder), an attractive, essentially feminine, and rather "smart" woman of thirty-two, with a somewhat foreign grace; the kind of whom men and women alike say, "What's her story? Why doesn't she marry?")Greatorex.I protest! Good Lord! what are the women of this country coming to? Iprotestagainst Miss Levering being carried off to discuss anything so revolting. Bless my soul! what can a woman like youknowabout it?Miss Levering(smiling). Little enough. Good morning.Great.(relieved). I should think so indeed!Lord J.(aside). You aren't serious about going——Great.(waggishly breaking in). We were so happy out there in the summer-house, weren't we?Miss L.Ideally.Great.And to be haled out to talk about PublicSanitationforsooth!(Hurries afterMiss Leveringas she advances to speak to theFreddys,&c.)Why, God bless my soul, do you realise that'sdrains?Miss L.I'm dreadfully afraid it is! (Holds out her hand for the small bookGreatorexis carrying.)(GreatorexreturnsMiss Levering'sbook open; he has been keeping the place with his finger. She opens it and shuts her handkerchief in.)Great.And we in the act of discussing Italian literature! Perhaps you'll tell me that isn't a more savoury topic for a lady.Miss L.But for the tramp population less conducive to savouriness, don't you think, than—baths?Great.No, I can't understand this morbid interest in vagrants.You'remuch too—leave it to the others.Jean.What others?Great.(with smiling impertinence). Oh, the sort of woman who smells of indiarubber. The typical English spinster. (ToMiss Levering.)Youknow—Italy's full of her. She never goes anywhere without a mackintosh and a collapsible bath—rubber. When you look at her, it's borne in upon you that she doesn't only smell of rubber.She'srubber too.Lord J.(laughing). This is my niece, Miss Jean Dunbarton, Miss Levering.Jean.How do you do? (They shake hands.)Great.(toJean). I'm sureyouagree with me.Jean.About Miss Levering being too——Great.For that sort of thing—muchtoo——Miss L.What a pity you've exhausted the more eloquent adjectives.Great.But I haven't!Miss L.Well, you can't say to me as you did to Mrs. Freddy: "You're too young and too happily married—and too——"(Glances round smiling atMrs. Freddy,who, oblivious, is laughing and talking to her husband andMrs. Heriot.)Jean.For what was Mrs. Freddy too happily married and all the rest?Miss L.(lightly). Mr. Greatorex was repudiating the horrid rumour that Mrs. Freddy had been speaking in public; about Women's Trade Unions—wasn't that what you said, Mrs. Heriot?Lord J.(chuckling). Yes, it isn't made up as carefully as your aunt's parties usually are. Here we've got Greatorex (takes his arm) who hates political women, and we've got in that mild and inoffensive-looking little lady——(Motion over his shoulder towardsMrs. Freddy.)Great.(shrinking down stage in comic terror). You don't mean she'sreally——Jean(simultaneously and gaily rising). Oh, and you've got me!Lord J.(with genial affection). My dear child, he doesn't hate the charming wives and sweethearts who help to win seats.(Jeanmakes her uncle a discreet little signal of warning.)Miss L.Mr. Greatorex objects only to the unsexed creatures who—a——Lord J.(hastily to cover up his slip). Yes, yes, who want to act independently of men.Miss L.Vote, and do silly things of that sort.Lord J.(with enthusiasm). Exactly.Mrs. H.It will be a long time before we hear any more ofthatnonsense.Jean.You mean that rowdy scene in the House of Commons?Mrs. H.Yes. No decent woman will be able to say "Suffrage" without blushing for another generation, thank Heaven!Miss L.(smiling). Oh? I understood that so little I almost imagined people were more stirred up about it than they'd ever been before.Great.(with a quizzical affectation of gallantry). Not people like you.Miss L.(teasingly). How do you know?Great.(with a start). God bless my soul!Lord J.She's saying that only to get a rise out of you.Great.Ah, yes, your frocks aren't serious enough.Miss L.I'm told it's an exploded notion that the Suffrage women are all dowdy and dull.Great.Don't you believe it!Miss L.Well, of course we know you've been an authority on the subject for—let's see, how many years is it you've kept the House in roars whenever Woman's Rights are mentioned?Great.(flattered but not entirely comfortable). Oh, as long as I've known anything about politics there have been a few discontented old maids and hungry widows——Miss L."A few!" That's really rather forbearing of you, Mr. Greatorex. I'm afraid the number ofthe discontented and the hungry was 96,000—among the mill operatives alone. (Hastily.) At least the papers said so, didn't they?Great.Oh, don't ask me; that kind of woman doesn't interest me, I'm afraid. Only I am able to point out to the people who lose their heads and seem inclined to treat the phenomenon seriously that there's absolutely nothing new in it. There have been women for the last forty years who haven't had anything more pressing to do than petition Parliament.Miss L.(reflectively). And that's as far as they've got.Lord J.(turning on his heel). It's as far as they'll ever get.(Meets the group upR.coming down.)Miss L.(chaffingGreatorex). Let me see, wasn't a deputation sent to you not long ago? (SitsC.)Great.H'm! (Irritably.) Yes, yes.Miss L.(as though she has just recalled the circumstances). Oh, yes, I remember. I thought at the time, in my modest way, it was nothing short of heroic of them to go asking audience of their arch opponent.Great.(stoutly). It didn't come off.Miss L.(innocently). Oh! I thought they insisted on bearding the lion in his den.Great.Of course I wasn't going to be bothered with a lot of——Miss L.You don't mean you refused to go out and face them!Great.(with a comic look of terror). I wouldn't have done it for worlds. But a friend of mine went and had a look at 'em.Miss L.(smiling). Well, did he get back alive?Great.Yes, but he advised me not to go. "You're quite right," he said. "Don't you think of bothering," he said. "I've looked over the lot," he said, "and there isn't a week-ender among 'em."Jean(gaily precipitates herself into the conversation). You remember Mrs. Freddy's friend who came to tea here in the winter? (ToGreatorex.) He was a member of Parliament too—quite a little young one—he said women would never be respected till they had the vote!(Greatorexsnorts, the other men smile and all the women exceptMrs. Heriot.)Mrs. H.(sniffing). I remember telling him that he was too young to know what he was talking about.Lord J.Yes, I'm afraid you all sat on the poor gentleman.Lady John(entering). Oh,thereyou are!(GreetsMiss Levering.)Jean.It was such fun. He was flat as a pancake when we'd done with him. Aunt Ellen told him with her most distinguished air she didn't want to be "respected."Mrs. F.(with a little laugh of remonstrance). MydearLady John!Farn.Quite right! Awful idea to think you'rerespected!Miss L.(smiling). Simply revolting.Lady John(at writing-table). Now, you frivolous people, go away. We've only got a few minutes to talk over the terms of the late Mr. Soper's munificence before the carriage comes for Miss Levering——Mrs. F.(toFarnborough). Did you know she'dgot that old horror to give Lady John £8,000 for her charity before he died?Mrs. F.Who got him to?Lady John.Miss Levering. He wouldn't do it for me, but she brought him round.Freddy.Yes. Bah-ee Jove! I expect so.Mrs. F.(turning enthusiastically to her husband). Isn't she wonderful?Lord J.(aside). Nice creature. All she needs is——(Mr.andMrs. FreddyandFarnboroughstroll off to the garden.Lady Johnon far side of the writing-table.Mrs. Heriotat the top.JeanandLord John,L.)Great.(on divanC.,aside toMiss Levering). Too "wonderful" to waste your time on the wrong people.Miss L.I shall waste less of my time after this.Great.I'm relieved to hear it. I can't see you wheedling money for shelters and rot of that sort out of retired grocers.Miss L.You see, you call it rot. We couldn't have got £8,000 out ofyou.Great.(very low). I'm not sure.(Miss Leveringlooks at him.)Great.If I gave you that much—for your little projects—what would you give me?Miss L.(speaking quietly). Soper didn't ask that.Great.(horrified). Soper! I should think not!Lord J.(turning toMiss Levering). Soper? You two still talking Soper? How flattered the old beggar'd be!Lord J.(lower). Did you hear what Mrs. Heriot said about him? "So kind; so munificent—sovulgar, poor soul, we couldn't know him in London—but we shall meet him in heaven."(GreatorexandLord Johngo off laughing.)Lady John(to Miss Levering). Sit over there, my dear. (Indicating chair in front of writing-table.) You needn't stay, Jean. This won't interest you.Miss L.(in the tone of one agreeing). It's only an effort to meet the greatest evil in the world?Jean(pausing as she's following the others). What do you call the greatest evil in the world? (Looks pass betweenMrs. HeriotandLady John.)Miss L.(without emphasis). The helplessness of women.(Jeanstands still.)Lady John(rising and putting her arm about the girl's shoulder). Jean, darling, I know you can think of nothing but (aside)him—so just go and——Jean(brightly). Indeed, indeed, I can think of everything better than I ever did before. He has lit up everything for me—made everything vivider, more—more significant.Miss L.(turning round). Who has?Jean.Oh, yes, I don't care about other things less but a thousand times more.Lady John.Youarein love.Miss L.Oh, that's it! (Smiling atJean.) I congratulate you.Lady John(returning to the outspread plan). Well—this, you see, obviates the difficulty you raised.Miss L.Yes, quite.Mrs. H.But it's going to cost a great deal more.Miss L.It's worth it.Mrs. H.We'll have nothing left for the organ at St. Pilgrim's.Lady John.My dear Lydia, we're putting the organ aside.Mrs. H.(with asperity). We can't afford to "put aside" the elevating effect of music.Lady John.What we must make for, first, is the cheap and humanely conducted lodging-house.Mrs. H.There are several of those already, but poor St. Pilgrim's——Miss L.There are none for the poorest women.Lady John.No, even the excellent Soper was for multiplying Rowton Houses. You can never get men to realise—you can't always get women——Miss L.It's the work least able to wait.Mrs. H.I don't agree with you, and I happen to have spent a great deal of my life in works of charity.Miss L.Ah, then you'll be interested in the girl I saw dying in a Tramp Ward a little while ago.Gladher cough was worse—only she mustn't die before her father. Two reasons. Nobody but her to keep the old man out of the workhouse—and "father is so proud." If she died first, he would starve; worst of all he might hear what had happened up in London to his girl.Mrs. H.She didn't say, I suppose, how she happened to fall so low.Miss L.Yes, she had been in service. She lost the train back one Sunday night and was too terrified of her employer to dare ring him up after hours. The wrong person found her crying on the platform.Mrs. H.She should have gone to one of the Friendly Societies.Miss L.At eleven at night?Mrs. H.And there are the Rescue Leagues. I myself have been connected with one for twenty years——Miss L.(reflectively). "Twenty years!" Always arriving "after the train's gone"—after the girl and the Wrong Person have got to the journey's end.(Mrs. Heriot'seyes flash.)Jean.Where is she now?Lady John.Never mind.Miss L.Two nights ago she was waiting at a street corner in the rain.Mrs. H.Near a public-house, I suppose.Miss L.Yes, a sort of "public-house." She was plainly dying—she was told she shouldn't be out in the rain. "I mustn't go in yet," she said. "Thisis what he gave me," and she began to cry. In her hand were two pennies silvered over to look like half-crowns.Mrs. H.I don't believe that story. It's just the sort of thing some sensation-monger trumps up—now, who tells you such——Miss L.Several credible people. I didn't believe them till——Jean.Till——?Miss L.Till last week I saw for myself.Lady John.Saw?Where?Miss L.In a low lodging-house not a hundred yards from the church you want a new organ for.Mrs. H.How didyouhappen to be there?Miss L.I was on a pilgrimage.Jean.A pilgrimage?Miss L.Into the Underworld.Lady John.Youwent?Jean.Howcouldyou?Miss L.I put on an old gown and a tawdry hat——(Turns toLady John.) You'll never know how many things are hidden from a woman in good clothes. The bold, free look of a man at a woman he believes to be destitute—you mustfeelthat look on you before you can understand—a good half of history.Mrs. H.(rises). Jean!——Jean.But where did you go—dressed like that?Miss L.Down among the homeless women—on a wet night looking for shelter.Lady John(hastily). No wonder you've been ill.Jean(under breath). And it's like that?Miss L.No.Jean.No?Miss L.It's so much worse I dare not tell about it—even if you weren't here I couldn't.Mrs. H.(toJean). You needn't suppose, darling, that those wretched creatures feel it as we would.Miss L.The girls who need shelter and work aren't all serving-maids.Mrs. H.(with an involuntary flash). We know that all the women who—make mistakesaren't.Miss L.(steadily). That is why every woman ought to take an interest in this—every girl too.JeanLady John}(simultaneously){Yes—oh,yes!No. This is a matter for us older——Mrs. H.(with an air of sly challenge). Or for a person who has some special knowledge. (Significantly.)Wecan't pretend to have access to such sources of information as Miss Levering.Miss L.(meetingMrs. Heriot'seye steadily). Yes, for I can give you access. As you seem to think, I have some first-hand knowledge about homeless girls.Lady John(cheerfully turning it aside). Well, my dear, it will all come in convenient. (Tapping the plan.)Miss L.It once happened to me to take offence at an ugly thing that was going on under my father's roof. Oh,yearsago! I was an impulsive girl. I turned my back on my father's house——Lady John(forJean'sbenefit). That was ill-advised.Mrs. H.Of course, if a girl doesthat——Miss L.That was what all my relations said (with a glance atJean), and I couldn't explain.Jean.Not to your mother?Miss L.She was dead. I went to London to a small hotel and tried to find employment. I wandered about all day and every day from agency to agency. I was supposed to be educated. I'd been brought up partly in Paris; I could play several instruments, and sing little songs in four different tongues. (Slight pause.)Jean.Did nobody want you to teach French or sing the little songs?Miss L.The heads of schools thought me too young. There were people ready to listen to my singing, but the terms—they were too hard. Soon my money was gone. I began to pawn my trinkets.Theywent.Jean.And still no work?Miss L.No; but by that time I had some real education—an unpaid hotel bill, and not a shilling in the world. (Slight pause.) Some girls think it hardship to have to earn their living. The horror is not to be allowed to——Jean.(bending forward). What happened?Lady John(rises). My dear (toMiss Levering), have your things been sent down? Are you quite ready?Miss L.Yes, all but my hat.Jean.Well?Miss L.Well, by chance I met a friend of my family.Jean.That was lucky.Miss L.I thought so. He was nearly ten years older than I. He said he wanted to help me. (Pause.)Jean.And didn't he?(Lady Johnlays her hand onMiss Levering'sshoulder.)Miss L.Perhaps after all he did. (With sudden change of tone.) Why do I waste time over myself? I belonged to the little class of armed women. My body wasn't born weak, and my spirit wasn't broken by thehabitof slavery. But, as Mrs. Heriot was kind enough to hint, I do know something about the possible fate of homeless girls. I found there were pleasant parks, museums, free libraries in our great rich London—and not one single place where destitute women can be sure of work that isn't killing or food that isn't worse than prison fare. That's why women ought not to sleep o' nights till this Shelter stands spreading out wide arms.Jean.No, no——Mrs. H.(gathering up her gloves, fan, prayer-book, &c.). Even when it's built—you'll see! Many of those creatures will prefer the life they lead. Theylikeit.Miss L.A woman told me—one of the sort thatknows—told me many of them "like it" so much that they are indifferent to the risk of being sent to prison. "It gives them a rest," she said.Lady John.A rest!(Miss Leveringglances at the clock as she rises to go upstairs.)(Lady JohnandMrs. Heriotbend their heads over the plan, covertly talking.)

Transcriber's note.Minor punctuation inconsistencies have been silently repaired. Alistof other changes made, can be found at the end of the book.

Minor punctuation inconsistencies have been silently repaired. Alistof other changes made, can be found at the end of the book.

VOTES FOR WOMENA PLAY IN THREE ACTSBYELIZABETH ROBINSMILLS & BOON, LIMITED49 WHITCOMB STREETLONDON W. C.1909

A PLAY IN THREE ACTS

ELIZABETH ROBINS

MILLS & BOON, LIMITED49 WHITCOMB STREETLONDON W. C.1909

COURT THEATRE PLAYBILLVOTES FOR WOMEN!A Dramatic Tract in Three ActsBy ELIZABETH ROBINSLord John WynnstayMr. ATHOL FORDEThe Hon. Geoffrey StonorMr. AUBREY SMITHMr. St. John GreatorexMr. E. HOLMAN CLARKMr. Richard FarnboroughMr. P. CLAYTON GREENEMr. Freddy TunbridgeMr. PERCY MARMONTMr. Allen TrentMr. LEWIS CASSON[1]Mr. WalkerMr. EDMUND GWENNLady John WynnstayMiss MAUD MILTONMrs. HeriotMiss FRANCES IVORMiss Vida LeveringMiss WYNNE-MATTHISON[1]Miss Beatrice DunbartonMiss JEANMacKINLAYMrs. Freddy TunbridgeMiss GERTRUDE BURNETTMiss Ernestine BluntMiss DOROTHY MINTOA Working WomanMiss AGNES THOMASAct I.Wynnstay House in Hertfordshire.Act II.Trafalgar Square, London.Act III.Eaton Square, London.The Entire Action of the Play takes place between Sunday noon and six o'clock in the evening of the same day.[1]In the text these characters have been altered to Mr.Pilcherand MissJeanDunbarton.

COURT THEATRE PLAYBILL

VOTES FOR WOMEN!

A Dramatic Tract in Three Acts

By ELIZABETH ROBINS

Act I.Wynnstay House in Hertfordshire.

Act II.Trafalgar Square, London.

Act III.Eaton Square, London.

The Entire Action of the Play takes place between Sunday noon and six o'clock in the evening of the same day.

[1]In the text these characters have been altered to Mr.Pilcherand MissJeanDunbarton.

CASTLord John WynnstayLady John WynnstayHis wifeMrs. HeriotSister of Lady JohnMiss Jean DunbartonNiece to Lady John and Mrs. HeriotThe Hon. Geoffrey StonorUnionist M.P. affianced to Jean DunbartonMr. St. John GreatorexLiberal M.P.The Hon. Richard FarnboroughMr. Freddy TunbridgeMrs. Freddy TunbridgeMr. Allen TrentMiss Ernestine BluntA SuffragetteMr. PilcherA working manA Working WomanandMiss Vida LeveringPersons in the Crowd: Servants in the Two Houses.

CAST

ACT IWynnstay House in HertfordshireACT IITrafalgar Square, LondonACT IIIEaton Square(Entire Action of Play takes place between Sunday noon and six o'clock in the evening of the same day.)

ACT I

Wynnstay House in Hertfordshire

ACT II

Trafalgar Square, London

ACT III

Eaton Square

(Entire Action of Play takes place between Sunday noon and six o'clock in the evening of the same day.)

ACT I.The Hall of Wynnstay House.stage directionsTwelve o'clock Sunday morning at end of June.Action takes place between twelve and six same day.

ACT I.

The Hall of Wynnstay House.

stage directions

Twelve o'clock Sunday morning at end of June.

Action takes place between twelve and six same day.

VOTES FOR WOMEN

Hall of Wynnstay House.

Twelve o'clock, Sunday morning, end of June. With the rising of the Curtain, enter theButler.As he is going, with majestic port, to answer the doorL.,enter briskly from the garden, by lower French window,Lady John Wynnstay,flushed, and flapping a garden hat to fan herself. She is a pink-cheeked woman of fifty-four, who has plainly been a beauty, keeps her complexion, but is "gone to fat."

Lady John.Has Miss Levering come down yet?

Butler(pausingC.). I haven't seen her, m'lady.

Lady John(almost sharply asButlerturnsL.). I won't have her disturbed if she's resting. (To herself as she goes to writing-table.) She certainly needs it.

Butler.Yes, m'lady.

Lady John(sitting at writing-table, her back to front door). But I want her to know the moment she comes down that the new plans arrived by the morning post.

Butler(pausing nearly at the door). Plans, m'la——

Lady John.She'll understand. There they are.(Glancing at the clock.) It's very important she should have them in time to look over before she goes——

(Butleropens the doorL.)

(Over her shoulder.) Is that Miss Levering?

Butler.No, m'lady. Mr. Farnborough.

[ExitButler.(Enter theHon. R. Farnborough.He is twenty-six; reddish hair, high-coloured, sanguine, self-important.)

[ExitButler.

(Enter theHon. R. Farnborough.He is twenty-six; reddish hair, high-coloured, sanguine, self-important.)

Farnborough.I'm afraid I'm scandalously early. It didn't take me nearly as long to motor over as Lord John said.

Lady John(shaking hands). I'm afraid my husband is no authority on motoring—and he's not home yet from church.

Farn.It's the greatest luck findingyou. I thought Miss Levering was the only person under this roof who was ever allowed to observe Sunday as a real Day of Rest.

Lady John.If you've come to see Miss Levering——

Farn.Is she here? I give you my word I didn't know it.

Lady John(unconvinced). Oh?

Farn.Does she come every week-end?

Lady John.Whenever we can get her to. But we've only known her a couple of months.

Farn.And I have only known her three weeks! Lady John, I've come to ask you to help me.

Lady John(quickly). With Miss Levering? I can't do it!

Farn.No, no—all that's no good. She only laughs.

Lady John(relieved). Ah!—she looks upon you as a boy.

Farn(firing up). Such rot! What do you think she said to me in London the other day?

Lady John.That she was four years older than you?

Farn.Oh, I knew that. No. She said she knew she was all the charming things I'd been saying, but there was only one way to prove it—and that was to marry some one young enough to be her son. She'd noticed that was what themostattractive women did—and she named names.

Lady John(laughing).Youwere too old!

Farn.(nods). Her future husband, she said, was probably just entering Eton.

Lady John.Just like her!

Farn.(waving the subject away). No. I wanted to see you about the Secretaryship.

Lady John.You didn't get it, then?

Farn.No. It's the grief of my life.

Lady John.Oh, if you don't get one you'll get another.

Farn.But thereisonly one.

Lady John.Only one vacancy?

Farn.Only one man I'd give my ears to work for.

Lady John(smiling). I remember.

Farn.(quickly). Do I always talk about Stonor? Well, it's a habit people have got into.

Lady John.I forget, do you know Mr. Stonor personally, or (smiling) are you just dazzled from afar?

Farn.Oh, I know him. The trouble is he doesn't know me. If he did he'd realise he can't be sure of winning his election without my valuable services.

Lady John.Geoffrey Stonor's re-election is always a foregone conclusion.

Farn.That the great man shares that opinion is precisely his weak point. (Smiling.) His only one.

Lady John.You think because the Liberals swept the country the last time——

Farn.How can we be sure any Conservative seat is safe after——

(AsLady Johnsmiles and turns to her papers.)

Forgive me, I know you're not interested in politicsquapolitics. But this concerns Geoffrey Stonor.

Lady John.And you count on my being interested in him like all the rest of my sex.

Farn.(leans forward). Lady John, I've heard the news.

Lady John.What news?

Farn.That your little niece—the Scotch heiress—is going to become Mrs. Geoffrey Stonor.

Lady John.Who told you that?

Farn.Please don't mind my knowing.

Lady John(visibly perturbed). She had set her heart upon having a few days with just her family in the secret, before the flood of congratulations breaks loose.

Farn.Oh, that's all right. I always hear things before other people.

Lady John.Well, I must ask you to be good enough to be very circumspect. I wouldn't have my niece think that I——

Farn.Oh, of course not.

Lady John.She will be here in an hour.

Farn.(jumping up delighted). What? To-day? The future Mrs. Stonor!

Lady John(harassed). Yes. Unfortunately we had one or two people already asked for the week-end——

Farn.And I go and invite myself to luncheon! Lady John, you can buy me off. I'll promise to remove myself in five minutes if you'll——

Lady John.No, the penalty is you shall stay and keep the others amused between church and luncheon, and so leave me free. (Takes up the plan.) Onlyremember——

Farn.Wild horses won't get a hint out of me! I only mentioned it to you because—since we've come back to live in this part of the world you've been so awfully kind—I thought, I hoped maybe you—you'd put in a word for me.

Lady John.With——?

Farn.With your nephew that is to be. Though I'mnotthe slavish satellite people make out, you can't doubt——

Lady John.Oh, I don't doubt. But you know Mr. Stonor inspires a similar enthusiasm in a good many young——

Farn.They haven't studied the situation as I have. They don't know what's at stake. They don't go to that hole Dutfield as I did just to hear his Friday speech.

Lady John.Ah! But you were rewarded. Jean—my niece—wrote me it was "glorious."

Farn.(judicially). Well, you know,Iwas disappointed. He's too content just to criticise, just to make his delicate pungent fun of the men who are grappling—very inadequately, of course—stillgrapplingwith the big questions. There's a carrying power (gets up and faces an imaginary audience)—some of Stonor's friends ought to point it out—there's a driving power in the poorest constructive policy that makes the most brilliant criticism look barren.

Lady John(with good-humoured malice). Who told you that?

Farn.You think there's nothing in it becauseIsay it. But now that he's coming into the family, Lord John or somebody really ought to point out—Stonor's overdoing his rôle of magnificent security!

Lady John.I don't see even Lord John offering to instruct Mr. Stonor.

Farn.Believe me, that's just Stonor's danger! Nobody saying a word, everybody hoping he's on the point of adopting some definite line, something strong and original that's going to fire the public imagination and bring the Tories back into power.

Lady John.So he will.

Farn.(hotly). Not if he disappoints meetings—goes calmly up to town—and leaves the field to the Liberals.

Lady John.When did he do anything like that?

Farn.Yesterday! (With a harassed air.) And now that he's got this other preoccupation——

Lady John.You mean——

Farn.Yes, your niece—that spoilt child of Fortune. Of course! (Stopping suddenly.) She kept him from the meeting last night. Well! (sits down) if that's the effect she's going to have it's pretty serious!

Lady John(smiling).Youare!

Farn.I can assure you the election agent's more so. He's simply tearing his hair.

Lady John(more gravely and coming nearer). How do you know?

Farn.He told me so himself—yesterday. I scraped acquaintance with the agent just to see if—if——

Lady John.It's not only here that you manœuvre for that Secretaryship!

Farn.(confidentially). You can never tell when your chance might come! That election chap's promised to keep me posted.

(The door flies open andJean Dunbartonrushes in.)

Jean.Aunt Ellen—here I——

Lady John(astonished). My dear child!

(They embrace. EnterLord Johnfrom the garden—a benevolent, silver-haired despot of sixty-two.)

Lord John.I thought that was you running up the avenue.

(Jeangreets her uncle warmly, but all the time she and her aunt talk together. "How did you get here so early?" "I knew you'd be surprised—wasn't it clever of me to manage it? I don't deserve all the credit." "But there isn't any train between——" "Yes, wait till I tell you." "You walked in the broiling sun——" "No, no." "You must be dead. Why didn't you telegraph? I ordered the carriage to meet the 1.10. Didn't you say the 1.10? Yes, I'm sure you did—here's your letter.")

Lord J.(has shaken hands withFarnboroughand speaks through the torrent). Now they'll tell each other for ten minutes that she's an hour earlier than we expected.

(Lord JohnleadsFarnboroughtowards the garden.)

Farn.The Freddy Tunbridges saidtheywere coming to you this week.

Lord J.Yes, they're dawdling through the park with the Church Brigade.

Farn.Oh! (With a glance back atJean.) I'll go and meet them.

[ExitFarnborough.

Lord J.(as he turns back). That discreet young man will get on.

Lady John(toJean). Buthowdid you get here?

Jean(breathless). "He" motored me down.

Lady John.Geoffrey Stonor? (Jeannods.) Why, where is he, then?

Jean.He dropped me at the end of the avenue and went on to see a supporter about something.

Lord J.You let him go off like that without——

Lady John(takingJean'stwo hands). Just tell me, my child, is it all right?

Jean.My engagement? (Radiantly.) Yes, absolutely.

Lady John.Geoffrey Stonor isn't going to be—a little too old for you?

Jean(laughing). Bless me, am I such a chicken?

Lady John.Twenty-four used not to be so young—but it's become so.

Jean.Yes, we don't grow up so quick. (Gaily.) But on the other hand westayup longer.

Lord J.You've got what's vulgarly called "looks," my dear, and that will help tokeepyou up!

Jean(smiling). I know what Uncle John's thinking. But I'm not the only girl who's been left "what's vulgarly called" money.

Lord J.You're the only one of our immediate circle who's been left so beautifully much.

Jean.Ah, but remember Geoffrey could—everybodyknowshe could have married any one in England.

Lady John(faintly ironic). I'm afraid everybody does know it—not excepting Mr. Stonor.

Lord J.Well, how spoilt is the great man?

Jean.Not the least little bit in the world. You'll see! He so wants to know my best-beloved relations better. (Another embrace.) An orphan has so few belongings, she has to make the most of them.

Lord J.(smiling). Let us hope he'll approve of us on more intimate acquaintance.

Jean(firmly). He will. He's an angel. Why, he gets on with my grandfather!

Lady John.Doeshe? (Teasing.) You mean to say Mr. Geoffrey Stonor isn't just a tiny bit—"superior" about Dissenters.

Jean(stoutly). Not half as much as Uncle John and all the rest of you! My grandfather's been ill again, you know, and rather difficult—bless him! (Radiantly.) But Geoffrey——(Clasps her hands.)

Lady John.He must have powers of persuasion!—to get that old Covenanter to let you come in an abhorred motor-car—on Sunday, too!

Jean(half whispering). Grandfather didn't know!

Lady John.Didn't know?

Jean.I honestly meant to come by train. Geoffrey met me on my way to the station. We had the most glorious run. Oh, Aunt Ellen, we're so happy! (Embracing her.) I've so looked forward to having you to myself the whole day just to talk to you about——

Lord J.(turning away with affected displeasure). Oh, very well——

Jean(catches him affectionately by the arm).You'dfind it dreffly dull to hear me talk about Geoffrey the whole blessed day!

Lady John.Well, till luncheon, my dear, youmustn't mind if I——(ToLord John,as she goes to writing-table.) Miss Levering wasn't only tired last night, she was ill.

Lord J.I thought she looked very white.

Jean.Who is Miss——You don't mean to say there are other people?

Lady John.One or two. Your uncle's responsible for asking that old cynic, St. John Greatorex, and I——

Jean(gravely). Mr. Greatorex—he's a Radical, isn't he?

Lord J.(laughing).Jean!Beginning to "think in parties"!

Lady John.It's very natural now that she should——

Jean.I only meant it was odd he should be here. Naturally at my grandfather's——

Lord J.It's all right, my child. Of course we expect now that you'll begin to think like Geoffrey Stonor, and to feel like Geoffrey Stonor, and to talk like Geoffrey Stonor. And quite proper too.

Jean(smiling). Well, if I do think with my husband and feel with him—as, of course, I shall—it will surprise me if I ever find myself talking a tenth as well——

(Following her uncle to the French window.)

You should have heard him at Dutfield——(Stopping short, delighted.) Oh! The Freddy Tunbridges. What? Not Aunt Lydia! Oh-h!

(Looking back reproachfully atLady John,who makes a discreet motion "I couldn't help it.")

(Enter theTunbridges.Mr. Freddy,of no profession and of independent means. Well-groomed, pleasant-looking; of fewwords. A "nice man" who likes "nice women" and has married one of them.Mrs. Freddyis thirty. An attractive figure, delicate face, intelligent grey eyes, over-sensitive mouth, and naturally curling dust-coloured hair.)

Mrs. Freddy.What a delightful surprise!

Jean(shaking hands warmly). I'm so glad. How d'ye do, Mr. Freddy?

(EnterLady John'ssister,Mrs. Heriot—smart, pompous, fifty—followed byFarnborough.)

Mrs. Heriot.My dear Jean! My darling child!

Jean.How do you do, aunt?

Mrs. H.(sotto voce).Iwasn't surprised. I always prophesied——

Jean.Sh!Please!

Farn.We haven't met since you were in short skirts. I'm Dick Farnborough.

Jean.Oh, I remember.

(They shake hands.)

Mrs. F.(looking round). Not down yet—the Elusive One?

Jean.Who is the Elusive One?

Mrs. F.Lady John's new friend.

Lord J.(toJean). Oh, I forgot you hadn't seen Miss Levering; such a nice creature! (ToMrs. Freddy.)—don't you think?

Mrs. F.Of course I do. You're lucky to get her to come so often. She won't go to other people.

Lady John.She knows she can rest here.

Freddy(who has joinedLady Johnnear the writing-table). What does she do to tire her?

Lady John.She's been helping my sister and me with a scheme of ours.

Mrs. H.She certainly knows how to inveigle money out of the men.

Lady John.It would sound less equivocal, Lydia, if you added that the money is to build baths in our Shelter for Homeless Women.

Mrs. F.Homeless women?

Lady John.Yes, in the most insanitary part of Soho.

Freddy.Oh—a—really.

Farn.It doesn't sound quite in Miss Levering's line!

Lady John.My dear boy, you know as little about what's in a woman's line as most men.

Freddy(laughing). Oh, I say!

Lord J.(indulgently toMr. FreddyandFarnborough). Philanthropy in a woman like Miss Levering is a form of restlessness. But she's anicecreature; all she needs is to get some "nice" fella to marry her.

Mrs. F.(laughing as she hangs on her husband's arm). Yes, a woman needs a balance wheel—if only to keep her from flying back to town on a hot day like this.

Lord J.Who's proposing anything so——

Mrs. F.The Elusive One.

Lord J.Not Miss——

Mrs. F.Yes, before luncheon!

[ExitFarnboroughto garden.

Lady John.She must be in London by this afternoon, she says.

Lord J.What for in the name of——

Lady John.Well,thatI didn't ask her. But (consults watch) I think I'll just go up and see if she's changed her plans.

[ExitLady John.

Lord J.Oh, she must bemadeto. Such a nice creature! All she needs——

(Voices outside. Enter fussily, talking and gesticulating,St. John Greatorex,followed byMiss LeveringandFarnborough.Greatorexis sixty, wealthy, a county magnate, and Liberal M.P. He is square, thick-set, square-bearded. His shining bald pate has two strands of coal-black hair trained across his crown from left ear to right and securely pasted there. He has small, twinkling eyes and a reputation for telling good stories after dinner when ladies have left the room. He is carrying a little book forMiss Levering.She (parasol over shoulder), an attractive, essentially feminine, and rather "smart" woman of thirty-two, with a somewhat foreign grace; the kind of whom men and women alike say, "What's her story? Why doesn't she marry?")

Greatorex.I protest! Good Lord! what are the women of this country coming to? Iprotestagainst Miss Levering being carried off to discuss anything so revolting. Bless my soul! what can a woman like youknowabout it?

Miss Levering(smiling). Little enough. Good morning.

Great.(relieved). I should think so indeed!

Lord J.(aside). You aren't serious about going——

Great.(waggishly breaking in). We were so happy out there in the summer-house, weren't we?

Miss L.Ideally.

Great.And to be haled out to talk about PublicSanitationforsooth!

(Hurries afterMiss Leveringas she advances to speak to theFreddys,&c.)

Why, God bless my soul, do you realise that'sdrains?

Miss L.I'm dreadfully afraid it is! (Holds out her hand for the small bookGreatorexis carrying.)

(GreatorexreturnsMiss Levering'sbook open; he has been keeping the place with his finger. She opens it and shuts her handkerchief in.)

Great.And we in the act of discussing Italian literature! Perhaps you'll tell me that isn't a more savoury topic for a lady.

Miss L.But for the tramp population less conducive to savouriness, don't you think, than—baths?

Great.No, I can't understand this morbid interest in vagrants.You'remuch too—leave it to the others.

Jean.What others?

Great.(with smiling impertinence). Oh, the sort of woman who smells of indiarubber. The typical English spinster. (ToMiss Levering.)Youknow—Italy's full of her. She never goes anywhere without a mackintosh and a collapsible bath—rubber. When you look at her, it's borne in upon you that she doesn't only smell of rubber.She'srubber too.

Lord J.(laughing). This is my niece, Miss Jean Dunbarton, Miss Levering.

Jean.How do you do? (They shake hands.)

Great.(toJean). I'm sureyouagree with me.

Jean.About Miss Levering being too——

Great.For that sort of thing—muchtoo——

Miss L.What a pity you've exhausted the more eloquent adjectives.

Great.But I haven't!

Miss L.Well, you can't say to me as you did to Mrs. Freddy: "You're too young and too happily married—and too——"

(Glances round smiling atMrs. Freddy,who, oblivious, is laughing and talking to her husband andMrs. Heriot.)

Jean.For what was Mrs. Freddy too happily married and all the rest?

Miss L.(lightly). Mr. Greatorex was repudiating the horrid rumour that Mrs. Freddy had been speaking in public; about Women's Trade Unions—wasn't that what you said, Mrs. Heriot?

Lord J.(chuckling). Yes, it isn't made up as carefully as your aunt's parties usually are. Here we've got Greatorex (takes his arm) who hates political women, and we've got in that mild and inoffensive-looking little lady——

(Motion over his shoulder towardsMrs. Freddy.)

Great.(shrinking down stage in comic terror). You don't mean she'sreally——

Jean(simultaneously and gaily rising). Oh, and you've got me!

Lord J.(with genial affection). My dear child, he doesn't hate the charming wives and sweethearts who help to win seats.

(Jeanmakes her uncle a discreet little signal of warning.)

Miss L.Mr. Greatorex objects only to the unsexed creatures who—a——

Lord J.(hastily to cover up his slip). Yes, yes, who want to act independently of men.

Miss L.Vote, and do silly things of that sort.

Lord J.(with enthusiasm). Exactly.

Mrs. H.It will be a long time before we hear any more ofthatnonsense.

Jean.You mean that rowdy scene in the House of Commons?

Mrs. H.Yes. No decent woman will be able to say "Suffrage" without blushing for another generation, thank Heaven!

Miss L.(smiling). Oh? I understood that so little I almost imagined people were more stirred up about it than they'd ever been before.

Great.(with a quizzical affectation of gallantry). Not people like you.

Miss L.(teasingly). How do you know?

Great.(with a start). God bless my soul!

Lord J.She's saying that only to get a rise out of you.

Great.Ah, yes, your frocks aren't serious enough.

Miss L.I'm told it's an exploded notion that the Suffrage women are all dowdy and dull.

Great.Don't you believe it!

Miss L.Well, of course we know you've been an authority on the subject for—let's see, how many years is it you've kept the House in roars whenever Woman's Rights are mentioned?

Great.(flattered but not entirely comfortable). Oh, as long as I've known anything about politics there have been a few discontented old maids and hungry widows——

Miss L."A few!" That's really rather forbearing of you, Mr. Greatorex. I'm afraid the number ofthe discontented and the hungry was 96,000—among the mill operatives alone. (Hastily.) At least the papers said so, didn't they?

Great.Oh, don't ask me; that kind of woman doesn't interest me, I'm afraid. Only I am able to point out to the people who lose their heads and seem inclined to treat the phenomenon seriously that there's absolutely nothing new in it. There have been women for the last forty years who haven't had anything more pressing to do than petition Parliament.

Miss L.(reflectively). And that's as far as they've got.

Lord J.(turning on his heel). It's as far as they'll ever get.

(Meets the group upR.coming down.)

Miss L.(chaffingGreatorex). Let me see, wasn't a deputation sent to you not long ago? (SitsC.)

Great.H'm! (Irritably.) Yes, yes.

Miss L.(as though she has just recalled the circumstances). Oh, yes, I remember. I thought at the time, in my modest way, it was nothing short of heroic of them to go asking audience of their arch opponent.

Great.(stoutly). It didn't come off.

Miss L.(innocently). Oh! I thought they insisted on bearding the lion in his den.

Great.Of course I wasn't going to be bothered with a lot of——

Miss L.You don't mean you refused to go out and face them!

Great.(with a comic look of terror). I wouldn't have done it for worlds. But a friend of mine went and had a look at 'em.

Miss L.(smiling). Well, did he get back alive?

Great.Yes, but he advised me not to go. "You're quite right," he said. "Don't you think of bothering," he said. "I've looked over the lot," he said, "and there isn't a week-ender among 'em."

Jean(gaily precipitates herself into the conversation). You remember Mrs. Freddy's friend who came to tea here in the winter? (ToGreatorex.) He was a member of Parliament too—quite a little young one—he said women would never be respected till they had the vote!

(Greatorexsnorts, the other men smile and all the women exceptMrs. Heriot.)

Mrs. H.(sniffing). I remember telling him that he was too young to know what he was talking about.

Lord J.Yes, I'm afraid you all sat on the poor gentleman.

Lady John(entering). Oh,thereyou are!

(GreetsMiss Levering.)

Jean.It was such fun. He was flat as a pancake when we'd done with him. Aunt Ellen told him with her most distinguished air she didn't want to be "respected."

Mrs. F.(with a little laugh of remonstrance). MydearLady John!

Farn.Quite right! Awful idea to think you'rerespected!

Miss L.(smiling). Simply revolting.

Lady John(at writing-table). Now, you frivolous people, go away. We've only got a few minutes to talk over the terms of the late Mr. Soper's munificence before the carriage comes for Miss Levering——

Mrs. F.(toFarnborough). Did you know she'dgot that old horror to give Lady John £8,000 for her charity before he died?

Mrs. F.Who got him to?

Lady John.Miss Levering. He wouldn't do it for me, but she brought him round.

Freddy.Yes. Bah-ee Jove! I expect so.

Mrs. F.(turning enthusiastically to her husband). Isn't she wonderful?

Lord J.(aside). Nice creature. All she needs is——

(Mr.andMrs. FreddyandFarnboroughstroll off to the garden.Lady Johnon far side of the writing-table.Mrs. Heriotat the top.JeanandLord John,L.)

Great.(on divanC.,aside toMiss Levering). Too "wonderful" to waste your time on the wrong people.

Miss L.I shall waste less of my time after this.

Great.I'm relieved to hear it. I can't see you wheedling money for shelters and rot of that sort out of retired grocers.

Miss L.You see, you call it rot. We couldn't have got £8,000 out ofyou.

Great.(very low). I'm not sure.

(Miss Leveringlooks at him.)

Great.If I gave you that much—for your little projects—what would you give me?

Miss L.(speaking quietly). Soper didn't ask that.

Great.(horrified). Soper! I should think not!

Lord J.(turning toMiss Levering). Soper? You two still talking Soper? How flattered the old beggar'd be!

Lord J.(lower). Did you hear what Mrs. Heriot said about him? "So kind; so munificent—sovulgar, poor soul, we couldn't know him in London—but we shall meet him in heaven."

(GreatorexandLord Johngo off laughing.)

Lady John(to Miss Levering). Sit over there, my dear. (Indicating chair in front of writing-table.) You needn't stay, Jean. This won't interest you.

Miss L.(in the tone of one agreeing). It's only an effort to meet the greatest evil in the world?

Jean(pausing as she's following the others). What do you call the greatest evil in the world? (Looks pass betweenMrs. HeriotandLady John.)

Miss L.(without emphasis). The helplessness of women.

(Jeanstands still.)

Lady John(rising and putting her arm about the girl's shoulder). Jean, darling, I know you can think of nothing but (aside)him—so just go and——

Jean(brightly). Indeed, indeed, I can think of everything better than I ever did before. He has lit up everything for me—made everything vivider, more—more significant.

Miss L.(turning round). Who has?

Jean.Oh, yes, I don't care about other things less but a thousand times more.

Lady John.Youarein love.

Miss L.Oh, that's it! (Smiling atJean.) I congratulate you.

Lady John(returning to the outspread plan). Well—this, you see, obviates the difficulty you raised.

Miss L.Yes, quite.

Mrs. H.But it's going to cost a great deal more.

Miss L.It's worth it.

Mrs. H.We'll have nothing left for the organ at St. Pilgrim's.

Lady John.My dear Lydia, we're putting the organ aside.

Mrs. H.(with asperity). We can't afford to "put aside" the elevating effect of music.

Lady John.What we must make for, first, is the cheap and humanely conducted lodging-house.

Mrs. H.There are several of those already, but poor St. Pilgrim's——

Miss L.There are none for the poorest women.

Lady John.No, even the excellent Soper was for multiplying Rowton Houses. You can never get men to realise—you can't always get women——

Miss L.It's the work least able to wait.

Mrs. H.I don't agree with you, and I happen to have spent a great deal of my life in works of charity.

Miss L.Ah, then you'll be interested in the girl I saw dying in a Tramp Ward a little while ago.Gladher cough was worse—only she mustn't die before her father. Two reasons. Nobody but her to keep the old man out of the workhouse—and "father is so proud." If she died first, he would starve; worst of all he might hear what had happened up in London to his girl.

Mrs. H.She didn't say, I suppose, how she happened to fall so low.

Miss L.Yes, she had been in service. She lost the train back one Sunday night and was too terrified of her employer to dare ring him up after hours. The wrong person found her crying on the platform.

Mrs. H.She should have gone to one of the Friendly Societies.

Miss L.At eleven at night?

Mrs. H.And there are the Rescue Leagues. I myself have been connected with one for twenty years——

Miss L.(reflectively). "Twenty years!" Always arriving "after the train's gone"—after the girl and the Wrong Person have got to the journey's end.

(Mrs. Heriot'seyes flash.)

Jean.Where is she now?

Lady John.Never mind.

Miss L.Two nights ago she was waiting at a street corner in the rain.

Mrs. H.Near a public-house, I suppose.

Miss L.Yes, a sort of "public-house." She was plainly dying—she was told she shouldn't be out in the rain. "I mustn't go in yet," she said. "Thisis what he gave me," and she began to cry. In her hand were two pennies silvered over to look like half-crowns.

Mrs. H.I don't believe that story. It's just the sort of thing some sensation-monger trumps up—now, who tells you such——

Miss L.Several credible people. I didn't believe them till——

Jean.Till——?

Miss L.Till last week I saw for myself.

Lady John.Saw?Where?

Miss L.In a low lodging-house not a hundred yards from the church you want a new organ for.

Mrs. H.How didyouhappen to be there?

Miss L.I was on a pilgrimage.

Jean.A pilgrimage?

Miss L.Into the Underworld.

Lady John.Youwent?

Jean.Howcouldyou?

Miss L.I put on an old gown and a tawdry hat——(Turns toLady John.) You'll never know how many things are hidden from a woman in good clothes. The bold, free look of a man at a woman he believes to be destitute—you mustfeelthat look on you before you can understand—a good half of history.

Mrs. H.(rises). Jean!——

Jean.But where did you go—dressed like that?

Miss L.Down among the homeless women—on a wet night looking for shelter.

Lady John(hastily). No wonder you've been ill.

Jean(under breath). And it's like that?

Miss L.No.

Jean.No?

Miss L.It's so much worse I dare not tell about it—even if you weren't here I couldn't.

Mrs. H.(toJean). You needn't suppose, darling, that those wretched creatures feel it as we would.

Miss L.The girls who need shelter and work aren't all serving-maids.

Mrs. H.(with an involuntary flash). We know that all the women who—make mistakesaren't.

Miss L.(steadily). That is why every woman ought to take an interest in this—every girl too.

JeanLady John}(simultaneously){Yes—oh,yes!No. This is a matter for us older——

Mrs. H.(with an air of sly challenge). Or for a person who has some special knowledge. (Significantly.)Wecan't pretend to have access to such sources of information as Miss Levering.

Miss L.(meetingMrs. Heriot'seye steadily). Yes, for I can give you access. As you seem to think, I have some first-hand knowledge about homeless girls.

Lady John(cheerfully turning it aside). Well, my dear, it will all come in convenient. (Tapping the plan.)

Miss L.It once happened to me to take offence at an ugly thing that was going on under my father's roof. Oh,yearsago! I was an impulsive girl. I turned my back on my father's house——

Lady John(forJean'sbenefit). That was ill-advised.

Mrs. H.Of course, if a girl doesthat——

Miss L.That was what all my relations said (with a glance atJean), and I couldn't explain.

Jean.Not to your mother?

Miss L.She was dead. I went to London to a small hotel and tried to find employment. I wandered about all day and every day from agency to agency. I was supposed to be educated. I'd been brought up partly in Paris; I could play several instruments, and sing little songs in four different tongues. (Slight pause.)

Jean.Did nobody want you to teach French or sing the little songs?

Miss L.The heads of schools thought me too young. There were people ready to listen to my singing, but the terms—they were too hard. Soon my money was gone. I began to pawn my trinkets.Theywent.

Jean.And still no work?

Miss L.No; but by that time I had some real education—an unpaid hotel bill, and not a shilling in the world. (Slight pause.) Some girls think it hardship to have to earn their living. The horror is not to be allowed to——

Jean.(bending forward). What happened?

Lady John(rises). My dear (toMiss Levering), have your things been sent down? Are you quite ready?

Miss L.Yes, all but my hat.

Jean.Well?

Miss L.Well, by chance I met a friend of my family.

Jean.That was lucky.

Miss L.I thought so. He was nearly ten years older than I. He said he wanted to help me. (Pause.)

Jean.And didn't he?

(Lady Johnlays her hand onMiss Levering'sshoulder.)

Miss L.Perhaps after all he did. (With sudden change of tone.) Why do I waste time over myself? I belonged to the little class of armed women. My body wasn't born weak, and my spirit wasn't broken by thehabitof slavery. But, as Mrs. Heriot was kind enough to hint, I do know something about the possible fate of homeless girls. I found there were pleasant parks, museums, free libraries in our great rich London—and not one single place where destitute women can be sure of work that isn't killing or food that isn't worse than prison fare. That's why women ought not to sleep o' nights till this Shelter stands spreading out wide arms.

Jean.No, no——

Mrs. H.(gathering up her gloves, fan, prayer-book, &c.). Even when it's built—you'll see! Many of those creatures will prefer the life they lead. Theylikeit.

Miss L.A woman told me—one of the sort thatknows—told me many of them "like it" so much that they are indifferent to the risk of being sent to prison. "It gives them a rest," she said.

Lady John.A rest!

(Miss Leveringglances at the clock as she rises to go upstairs.)(Lady JohnandMrs. Heriotbend their heads over the plan, covertly talking.)

(Miss Leveringglances at the clock as she rises to go upstairs.)

(Lady JohnandMrs. Heriotbend their heads over the plan, covertly talking.)

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