a woman of no importance-第7部分

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LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　So　that　is　our　son；　Rachel！　　Well；　I　am　very　proud　of　him。　　He　in　a　Harford；　every　inch　of　him。　　By　the　way；　why　Arbuthnot；　Rachel？

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　One　name　is　as　good　as　another；　when　one　has　no　right　to　any　name。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　I　suppose　so　…　but　why　Gerald？

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　After　a　man　whose　heart　I　broke　…　after　my　father。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　Well；　Rachel；　what　in　over　is　over。　　All　I　have　got　to　say　now　in　that　I　am　very；　very　much　pleased　with　our　boy。　The　world　will　know　him　merely　as　my　private　secretary；　but　to　me　he　will　be　something　very　near；　and　very　dear。　　It　is　a　curious　thing；　Rachel；　my　life　seemed　to　be　quite　complete。　　It　was　not　so。　It　lacked　something；　it　lacked　a　son。　　I　have　found　my　son　now；　I　am　glad　I　have　found　him。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　You　have　no　right　to　claim　him；　or　the　smallest　part　of　him。　　The　boy　is　entirely　mine；　and　shall　remain　mine。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　My　dear　Rachel；　you　have　had　him　to　yourself　for　over　twenty　years。　　Why　not　let　me　have　him　for　a　little　now？　　He　is　quite　as　much　mine　as　yours。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　Are　you　talking　of　the　child　you　abandoned？　　Of　the　child　who；　as　far　as　you　are　concerned；　might　have　died　of　hunger　and　of　want？

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　You　forget；　Rachel；　it　was　you　who　left　me。　　It　was　not　I　who　left　you。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　left　you　because　you　refused　to　give　the　child　a　name。　　Before　my　son　was　born；　I　implored　you　to　marry　me。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　I　had　no　expectations　then。　　And　besides；　Rachel；　I　wasn't　much　older　than　you　were。　　I　was　only　twenty…two。　I　was　twenty…one；　I　believe；　when　the　whole　thing　began　in　your　father's　garden。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　When　a　man　is　old　enough　to　do　wrong　he　should　be　old　enough　to　do　right　also。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　My　dear　Rachel；　intellectual　generalities　are　always　interesting；　but　generalities　in　morals　mean　absolutely　nothing。　　As　for　saying　I　left　our　child　to　starve；　that；　of　course；　is　untrue　and　silly。　　My　mother　offered　you　six　hundred　a　year。　　But　you　wouldn't　take　anything。　　You　simply　disappeared；　and　carried　the　child　away　with　you。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　wouldn't　have　accepted　a　penny　from　her。　　Your　father　was　different。　　He　told　you；　in　my　presence；　when　we　were　in　Paris；　that　it　was　your　duty　to　marry　me。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　Oh；　duty　is　what　one　expects　from　others；　it　is　not　what　one　does　oneself。　　Of　course；　I　was　influenced　by　my　mother。　　Every　man　is　when　he　is　young。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　am　glad　to　hear　you　say　so。　　Gerald　shall　certainly　not　go　away　with　you。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　What　nonsense；　Rachel！

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　Do　you　think　I　would　allow　my　son　…

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　OUR　son。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　My　son　＇LORD　ILLINGWORTH　shrugs　his　shoulders＇　…　to　go　away　with　the　man　who　spoiled　my　youth；　who　ruined　my　life；　who　has　tainted　every　moment　of　my　days？　　You　don't　realise　what　my　past　has　been　in　suffering　and　in　shame。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　My　dear　Rachel；　I　must　candidly　say　that　I　think　Gerald's　future　considerably　more　important　than　your　past。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　Gerald　cannot　separate　his　future　from　my　past。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　That　is　exactly　what　he　should　do。　　That　is　exactly　what　you　should　help　him　to　do。　　What　a　typical　woman　you　are！　　You　talk　sentimentally；　and　you　are　thoroughly　selfish　the　whole　time。　　But　don't　let　us　have　a　scene。　　Rachel；　I　want　you　to　look　at　this　matter　from　the　common…sense　point　of　view；　from　the　point　of　view　of　what　is　best　for　our　son；　leaving　you　and　me　out　of　the　question。　　What　is　our　son　at　present？　　An　underpaid　clerk　in　a　small　Provincial　Bank　in　a　third…rate　English　town。　　If　you　imagine　he　is　quite　happy　in　such　a　position；　you　are　mistaken。　　He　is　thoroughly　discontented。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　He　was　not　discontented　till　he　met　you。　　You　have　made　him　so。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　Of　course；　I　made　him　so。　　Discontent　is　the　first　step　in　the　progress　of　a　man　or　a　nation。　　But　I　did　not　leave　him　with　a　mere　longing　for　things　he　could　not　get。　　No；　I　made　him　a　charming　offer。　　He　jumped　at　it；　I　need　hardly　say。　Any　young　man　would。　　And　now；　simply　because　it　turns　out　that　I　am　the　boy's　own　father　and　he　my　own　son；　you　propose　practically　to　ruin　his　career。　　That　is　to　say；　if　I　were　a　perfect　stranger；　you　would　allow　Gerald　to　go　away　with　me；　but　as　he　is　my　own　flesh　and　blood　you　won't。　　How　utterly　illogical　you　are！

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　will　not　allow　him　to　go。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　How　can　you　prevent　it？　　What　excuse　can　you　give　to　him　for　making　him　decline　such　an　offer　as　mine？　　I　won't　tell　him　in　what　relations　I　stand　to　him；　I　need　hardly　say。　　But　you　daren't　tell　him。　　You　know　that。　　Look　how　you　have　brought　him　up。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　have　brought　him　up　to　be　a　good　man。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　Quite　so。　　And　what　is　the　result？　　You　have　educated　him　to　be　your　judge　if　he　ever　finds　you　out。　　And　a　bitter；　an　unjust　judge　he　will　be　to　you。　　Don't　be　deceived；　Rachel。　　Children　begin　by　loving　their　parents。　　After　a　time　they　judge　them。　　Rarely；　if　ever；　do　they　forgive　them。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　George；　don't　take　my　son　away　from　me。　　I　have　had　twenty　years　of　sorrow；　and　I　have　only　had　one　thing　to　love　me；　only　one　thing　to　love。　　You　have　had　a　life　of　joy；　and　pleasure；　and　success。　　You　have　been　quite　happy；　you　have　never　thought　of　us。　　There　was　no　reason；　according　to　your　views　of　life；　why　you　should　have　remembered　us　at　all。　　Your　meeting　us　was　a　mere　accident；　a　horrible　accident。　　Forget　it。　　Don't　come　now；　and　rob　me　of　。　。　。　of　all　I　have　in　the　whole　world。　　You　are　so　rich　in　other　things。　　Leave　me　the　little　vineyard　of　my　life；　leave　me　the　walled…in　garden　and　the　well　of　water；　the　ewe…lamb　God　sent　me；　in　pity　or　in　wrath；　oh！　leave　me　that。　　George；　don't　take　Gerald　from　me。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　Rachel；　at　the　present　moment　you　are　not　necessary　to　Gerald's　career；　I　am。　　There　is　nothing　more　to　be　said　on　the　subject。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　will　not　let　him　go。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　Here　is　Gerald。　　He　has　a　right　to　decide　for　himself。

＇Enter　GERALD。＇

GERALD。　　Well；　dear　mother；　I　hope　you　have　settled　it　all　with　Lord　Illingworth？

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　have　not；　Gerald。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　Your　mother　seems　not　to　like　your　coming　with　me；　for　some　reason。

GERALD。　　Why；　mother？

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　thought　you　were　quite　happy　here　with　me；　Gerald。　　I　didn't　know　you　were　so　anxious　to　leave　me。

GERALD。　　Mother；　how　can　you　talk　like　that？　　Of　course　I　have　been　quite　happy　with　you。　　But　a　man　can't　stay　always　with　his　mother。　No　chap　does。　　I　want　to　make　myself　a　position；　to　do　something。　I　thought　you　would　have　been　proud　to　see　me　Lord　Illingworth's　secretary。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　do　not　think　you　would　be　suitable　as　a　private　secretary　to　Lord　Illingworth。　　You　have　no　qualifications。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　I　don't　wish　to　seem　to　interfere　for　a　moment；　Mrs。　Arbuthnot；　but　as　far　as　your　last　objection　is　concerned；　I　surely　am　the　best　judge。　　And　I　can　only　tell　you　that　your　son　has　all　the　qualifications　I　had　hoped　for。　　He　has　more；　in　fact；　than　I　had　even　thought　of。　　Far　more。　　＇MRS。　ARBUTHNOT　remains　silent。＇　　Have　you　any　other　reason；　Mrs。　Arbuthnot；　why　you　don't　wish　your　son　to　accept　this　post？

GERALD。　　Have　you；　mother？　　Do　answer。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　If　you　have；　Mrs。　Arbuthnot；　pray；　pray　say　it。　We　are　quite　by　ourselves　here。　　Whatever　it　is；　I　need　not　say　I　will　not　repeat　it。

GERALD。　　Mother？

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　If　you　would　like　to　be　alone　with　your　son；　I　will　leave　you。　　You　may　have　some　other　reason　you　don't　wish　me　to　hear。

MRS。　ARBUTHNOT。　　I　have　no　other　reason。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　Then；　my　dear　boy；　we　may　look　on　the　thing　as　settled。　　Come；　you　and　I　will　smoke　a　cigarette　on　the　terrace　together。　　And　Mrs。　Arbuthnot；　pray　let　me　tell　you；　that　I　think　you　have　acted　very；　very　wisely。

＇Exit　with　GERALD。　　MRS。　ARBUTHNOT　is　left　alone。　　She　stands　immobile　with　a　look　of　unutterable　sorrow　on　her　face。＇

ACT　DROP



THIRD　ACT



SCENE


The　Picture　Gallery　at　Hunstanton。　　Door　at　back　leading　on　to　terrace。

＇LORD　ILLINGWORTH　and　GERALD；　R。C。　　LORD　ILLINGWORTH　lolling　on　a　sofa。　　GERALD　in　a　chair。＇

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　Thoroughly　sensible　woman；　your　mother；　Gerald。　I　knew　she　would　come　round　in　the　end。

GERALD。　　My　mother　is　awfully　conscientious；　Lord　Illingworth；　and　I　know　she　doesn't　think　I　am　educated　enough　to　be　your　secretary。　She　is　perfectly　right；　too。　　I　was　fearfully　idle　when　I　was　at　school；　and　I　couldn't　pass　an　examination　now　to　save　my　life。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　My　dear　Gerald；　examinations　are　of　no　value　whatsoever。　　If　a　man　is　a　gentleman；　he　knows　quite　enough；　and　if　he　is　not　a　gentleman；　whatever　he　knows　is　bad　for　him。

GERALD。　　But　I　am　so　ignorant　of　the　world；　Lord　Illingworth。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　Don't　be　afraid；　Gerald。　　Remember　that　you've　got　on　your　side　the　most　wonderful　thing　in　the　world　…　youth！　There　is　nothing　like　youth。　　The　middle…aged　are　mortgaged　to　Life。　　The　old　are　in　life's　lumber…room。　　But　youth　is　the　Lord　of　Life。　　Youth　has　a　kingdom　waiting　for　it。　　Every　one　is　born　a　king；　and　most　people　die　in　exile；　like　most　kings。　　To　win　back　my　youth；　Gerald；　there　is　nothing　I　wouldn't　do　…　except　take　exercise；　get　up　early；　or　be　a　useful　member　of　the　community。

GERALD。　　But　you　don't　call　yourself　old；　Lord　Illingworth？

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　I　am　old　enough　to　be　your　father；　Gerald。

GERALD。　　I　don't　remember　my　father；　he　died　years　ago。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　So　Lady　Hunstanton　told　me。

GERALD。　　It　is　very　curious；　my　mother　never　talks　to　me　about　my　father。　　I　sometimes　think　she　must　have　married　beneath　her。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　＇Winces　slightly。＇　　Really？　　＇Goes　over　and　puts　his　hand　on　GERALD'S　shoulder。＇　　You　have　missed　not　having　a　father；　I　suppose；　Gerald？

GERALD。　　Oh；　no；　my　mother　has　been　so　good　to　me。　　No　one　ever　had　such　a　mother　as　I　have　had。

LORD　ILLINGWORTH。　　I　am　quite　sure　of　that。　　Still　I　should　imagine　that　most　mothers　don't　quite　understand　their　sons。　　Don't　realise；　I　mean；　that　a　son　has　ambitions；　a　desire　to　see　life；　to