a woman of no importance-第11部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　be　guided　by　others　in　this　matter。　　Lord　Illingworth　has　made　you　the　most　flattering　offer；　and　travelling　with　him　you　would　see　the　world　…　as　much　of　it；　at　least；　as　one　should　look　at　…　under　the

best　auspices　possible；　and　stay　with　all　the　right　people；　which　is　so　important　at　this　solemn　moment　in　your　career。

GERALD。　　I　don't　want　to　see　the　world：　I've　seen　enough　of　it。

MRS。　ALLONBY。　　I　hope　you　don't　think　you　have　exhausted　life；　Mr。　Arbuthnot。　　When　a　man　says　that；　one　knows　that　life　has　exhausted　him。

GERALD。　　I　don't　wish　to　leave　my　mother。

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　Now；　Gerald；　that　is　pure　laziness　on　your　part。　Not　leave　your　mother！　　If　I　were　your　mother　I　would　insist　on　your　going。

＇Enter　ALICE　L。C。＇

ALICE。　　Mrs。　Arbuthnot's　compliments；　my　lady；　but　she　has　a　bad　headache；　and　cannot　see　any　one　this　morning。　　＇Exit　R。C。＇

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　＇Rising。＇　　A　bad　headache！　　I　am　so　sorry！　Perhaps　you'll　bring　her　up　to　Hunstanton　this　afternoon；　if　she　is　better；　Gerald。

GERALD。　　I　am　afraid　not　this　afternoon；　Lady　Hunstanton。

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　Well；　to…morrow；　then。　　Ah；　if　you　had　a　father；　Gerald；　he　wouldn't　let　you　waste　your　life　here。　　He　would　send　you　off　with　Lord　Illingworth　at　once。　　But　mothers　are　so　weak。　They　give　up　to　their　sons　in　everything。　　We　are　all　heart；　all　heart。　　Come；　dear；　I　must　call　at　the　rectory　and　inquire　for　Mrs。　Daubeny；　who；　I　am　afraid；　is　far　from　well。　　It　is　wonderful　how　the　Archdeacon　bears　up；　quite　wonderful。　　He　is　the　most　sympathetic　of　husbands。　　Quite　a　model。　　Good…bye；　Gerald；　give　my　fondest　love　to　your　mother。

MRS。　ALLONBY。　　Good…bye；　Mr。　Arbuthnot。

GERALD。　　Good…bye。

＇Exit　LADY　HUNSTANTON　and　MRS。　ALLONBY。　　GERALD　sits　down　and　reads　over　his　letter。＇

GERALD。　　What　name　can　I　sign？　　I；　who　have　no　right　to　any　name。　＇Signs　name；　puts　letter　into　envelope；　addresses　it；　and　is　about　to　seal　it；　when　door　L。C。　opens　and　MRS。　ARBUTHNOT　enters。　　GERALD　lays　down　sealing…wax。　　Mother　and　son　look　at　each　other。＇

LADY　HUNSTANTON。　　＇Through　French　window　at　the　back。＇　　Good…bye　again；　Gerald。　　We　are　taking　the　short　cut　across　your　pretty　garden。　　Now；　remember　my　advice　to　you　…　start　at　once　with　Lord　Illingworth。

MRS。　ALLONBY。　　AU　REVOIR；　Mr。　Arbuthnot。　　Mind　you　bring　me　back　something　nice　from　your　travels　…　not　an　Indian　shawl　…　on　no　account　an　Indian　shawl。

＇Exeunt。＇

GERALD。　　Mother；　I　have　just　written　to　him。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　To　whom？

GERALD。　　To　my　father。　　I　have　written　to　tell　him　to　come　here　at　four　o'clock　this　afternoon。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　He　shall　not　come　here。　　He　shall　not　cross　the　threshold　of　my　house。

GERALD。　　He　must　come。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　Gerald；　if　you　are　going　away　with　Lord　Illingworth；　go　at　once。　　Go　before　it　kills　me：　but　don't　ask　me　to　meet　him。

GERALD。　　Mother；　you　don't　understand。　　Nothing　in　the　world　would　induce　me　to　go　away　with　Lord　Illingworth；　or　to　leave　you。　Surely　you　know　me　well　enough　for　that。　　No：　I　have　written　to　him　to　say　…

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　What　can　you　have　to　say　to　him？

GERALD。　　Can't　you　guess；　mother；　what　I　have　written　in　this　letter？

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　No。

GERALD。　　Mother；　surely　you　can。　　Think；　think　what　must　be　done；　now；　at　once；　within　the　next　few　days。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　There　is　nothing　to　be　done。

GERALD。　　I　have　written　to　Lord　Illingworth　to　tell　him　that　he　must　marry　you。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　Marry　me？

GERALD。　　Mother；　I　will　force　him　to　do　it。　　The　wrong　that　has　been　done　you　must　be　repaired。　　Atonement　must　be　made。　　Justice　may　be　slow；　mother；　but　it　comes　in　the　end。　　In　a　few　days　you　shall　be　Lord　Illingworth's　lawful　wife。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　But；　Gerald　…

GERALD。　　I　will　insist　upon　his　doing　it。　　I　will　make　him　do　it：　he　will　not　dare　to　refuse。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　But；　Gerald；　it　is　I　who　refuse。　　I　will　not　marry　Lord　Illingworth。

GERALD。　　Not　marry　him？　　Mother！

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　will　not　marry　him。

GERALD。　　But　you　don't　understand：　it　is　for　your　sake　I　am　talking；　not　for　mine。　　This　marriage；　this　necessary　marriage；　this　marriage　which　for　obvious　reasons　must　inevitably　take　place；　will　not　help　me；　will　not　give　me　a　name　that　will　be　really；　rightly　mine　to　bear。　　But　surely　it　will　be　something　for　you；　that　you；　my　mother；　should；　however　late；　become　the　wife　of　the　man　who　is　my　father。　　Will　not　that　be　something？

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　will　not　marry　him。

GERALD。　　Mother；　you　must。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　will　not。　　You　talk　of　atonement　for　a　wrong　done。　　What　atonement　can　be　made　to　me？　　There　is　no　atonement　possible。　　I　am　disgraced：　he　is　not。　　That　is　all。　　It　is　the　usual　history　of　a　man　and　a　woman　as　it　usually　happens；　as　it　always　happens。　　And　the　ending　is　the　ordinary　ending。　　The　woman　suffers。　　The　man　goes　free。

GERALD。　　I　don't　know　if　that　is　the　ordinary　ending；　mother：　I　hope　it　is　not。　　But　your　life；　at　any　rate；　shall　not　end　like　that。　　The　man　shall　make　whatever　reparation　is　possible。　　It　is　not　enough。　　It　does　not　wipe　out　the　past；　I　know　that。　　But　at　least　it　makes　the　future　better；　better　for　you；　mother。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　refuse　to　marry　Lord　Illingworth。

GERALD。　　If　he　came　to　you　himself　and　asked　you　to　be　his　wife　you　would　give　him　a　different　answer。　　Remember；　he　is　my　father。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　If　he　came　himself；　which　he　will　not　do；　my　answer　would　be　the　same。　　Remember　I　am　your　mother。

GERALD。　　Mother；　you　make　it　terribly　difficult　for　me　by　talking　like　that；　and　I　can't　understand　why　you　won't　look　at　this　matter　from　the　right；　from　the　only　proper　standpoint。　　It　is　to　take　away　the　bitterness　out　of　your　life；　to　take　away　the　shadow　that　lies　on　your　name；　that　this　marriage　must　take　place。　　There　is　no　alternative：　and　after　the　marriage　you　and　I　can　go　away　together。　But　the　marriage　must　take　place　first。　　It　is　a　duty　that　you　owe；　not　merely　to　yourself；　but　to　all　other　women　…　yes：　to　all　the　other　women　in　the　world；　lest　he　betray　more。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　owe　nothing　to　other　women。　　There　is　not　one　of　them　to　help　me。　　There　is　not　one　woman　in　the　world　to　whom　I　could　go　for　pity；　if　I　would　take　it；　or　for　sympathy；　if　I　could　win　it。　　Women　are　hard　on　each　other。　　That　girl；　last　night；　good　though　she　is；　fled　from　the　room　as　though　I　were　a　tainted　thing。　She　was　right。　　I　am　a　tainted　thing。　　But　my　wrongs　are　my　own；　and　I　will　bear　them　alone。　　I　must　bear　them　alone。　　What　have　women　who　have　not　sinned　to　do　with　me；　or　I　with　them？　　We　do　not　understand　each　other。

＇Enter　HESTER　behind。＇

GERALD。　　I　implore　you　to　do　what　I　ask　you。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　What　son　has　ever　asked　of　his　mother　to　make　so　hideous　a　sacrifice？　　None。

GERALD。　　What　mother　has　ever　refused　to　marry　the　father　of　her　own　child？　　None。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　Let　me　be　the　first；　then。　　I　will　not　do　it。

GERALD。　　Mother；　you　believe　in　religion；　and　you　brought　me　up　to　believe　in　it　also。　　Well；　surely　your　religion；　the　religion　that　you　taught　me　when　I　was　a　boy；　mother；　must　tell　you　that　I　am　right。　　You　know　it；　you　feel　it。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　do　not　know　it。　　I　do　not　feel　it；　nor　will　I　ever　stand　before　God's　altar　and　ask　God's　blessing　on　so　hideous　a　mockery　as　a　marriage　between　me　and　George　Harford。　　I　will　not　say　the　words　the　Church　bids　us　to　say。　　I　will　not　say　them。　　I　dare　not。　　How　could　I　swear　to　love　the　man　I　loathe；　to　honour　him　who　wrought　you　dishonour；　to　obey　him　who；　in　his　mastery；　made　me　to　sin？　　No：　marriage　is　a　sacrament　for　those　who　love　each　other。　　It　is　not　for　such　as　him；　or　such　as　me。　　Gerald；　to　save　you　from　the　world's　sneers　and　taunts　I　have　lied　to　the　world。　　For　twenty　years　I　have　lied　to　the　world。　　I　could　not　tell　the　world　the　truth。　　Who　can；　ever？　　But　not　for　my　own　sake　will　I　lie　to　God；　and　in　God's　presence。　　No；　Gerald；　no　ceremony；　Church…hallowed　or　State…made；　shall　ever　bind　me　to　George　Harford。　　It　may　be　that　I　am　too　bound　to　him　already；　who；　robbing　me；　yet　left　me　richer；　so　that　in　the　mire　of　my　life　I　found　the　pearl　of　price；　or　what　I　thought　would　be　so。

GERALD。　　I　don't　understand　you　now。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　Men　don't　understand　what　mothers　are。　　I　am　no　different　from　other　women　except　in　the　wrong　done　me　and　the　wrong　I　did；　and　my　very　heavy　punishments　and　great　disgrace。　　And　yet；　to　bear　you　I　had　to　look　on　death。　　To　nurture　you　I　had　to　wrestle　with　it。　　Death　fought　with　me　for　you。　　All　women　have　to　fight　with　death　to　keep　their　children。　　Death；　being　childless；　wants　our　children　from　us。　　Gerald；　when　you　were　naked　I　clothed　you；　when　you　were　hungry　I　gave　you　food。　　Night　and　day　all　that　long　winter　I　tended　you。　　No　office　is　too　mean；　no　care　too　lowly　for　the　thing　we　women　love　…　and　oh！　how　I　loved　YOU。　　Not　Hannah；　Samuel　more。　　And　you　needed　love；　for　you　were　weakly；　and　only　love　could　have　kept　you　alive。　　Only　love　can　keep　any　one　alive。　And　boys　are　careless　often　and　without　thinking　give　pain；　and　we　always　fancy　that　when　they　come　to　man's　estate　and　know　us　better　they　will　repay　us。　　But　it　is　not　so。　　The　world　draws　them　from　our　side；　and　they　make　friends　with　whom　they　are　happier　than　they　are　with　us；　and　have　amusements　from　which　we　are　barred；　and　interests　that　are　not　ours：　and　they　are　unjust　to　us　often；　for　when　they　find　life　bitter　they　blame　us　for　it；　and　when　they　find　it　sweet　we　do　not　taste　its　sweetness　with　them　。　。　。　You　made　many　friends　and　went　into　their　houses　and　were　glad　with　them；　and　I；　knowing　my　secret；　did　not　dare　to　follow；　but　stayed　at　home　and　closed　the　door；　shut　out　the　sun　and　sat　in　darkness。　What　should　I　have　done　in　honest　households？　　My　past　was　ever　with　me。　。　。　。　And　you　thought　I　didn't　care　for　the　pleasant　things　of　life。　　I　tell　you　I　longed　for　them；　but　did　not　dare　to　touch　them；　feeling　I　had　no　right。　　You　thought　I　was　happier　working　amongst　the　poor。　　That　was　my　mission；　you　imagined。　　It　was　not；　but　where　else　was　I　to　go？　　The　sick　do　not　ask　if　the　hand　that　smooths　their　pillow　is　pure；　nor　the　dying　care　if　the　lips　that　touch　their　brow　have　known　the　kiss　of　sin。　　It　w