LADY MOGTON. Where are you going?
ANNYS. (_She turns_; _there are tears in her eyes_. _The question seems
to recall her to herself_.) Nowhere. I am so sorry. I can’t help it.
It seems to me to mean so much. It gives us the right to go before the
people—to plead to them, not for ourselves, for them. (_Again she seems
to lose consciousness of those at the table_, _of the room_.) To the men
we will say: “Will you not trust us? Is it harm we have ever done you?
Have we not suffered for you and with you? Were we not sent into the
world to be your helpmeet? Are not the children ours as well as yours?
Shall we not work together to shape the world where they must dwell? Is
it only the mother-voice that shall not be heard in your councils? Is it
only the mother-hand that shall not help to guide?” To the women we will
say: “Tell them—tell them it is from no love of ourselves that we come
from our sheltered homes into the street. It is to give, not to get—to
mingle with the sterner judgments of men the deeper truths that God,
through pain, has taught to women—to mingle with man’s justice woman’s
pity, till there shall arise the perfect law—not made of man nor woman,
but of both, each bringing what the other lacks.” And they will listen
to us. Till now it has seemed to them that we were clamouring only for
selfish ends. They have not understood. We shall speak to them of
common purposes, use the language of fellow-citizens. They will see that
we are worthy of the place we claim. They will welcome us as helpers in
a common cause. They—
(_She turns_—_the present comes back to her_.)
LADY MOGTON. (_After a pause_.) The business (_she dwells severely on
the word_) before the meeting—
ANNYS. (_She resents herself meekly_. _Apologising generally_.) I
_must_ learn to control myself.
LADY MOGTON. (_Who has waited_.) —is McCaw versus Potts. Its bearing
upon the movement for the extension of the franchise to women. My own
view I venture to submit in the form of a resolution. (_She takes up a
paper on which she has been writing_.) As follows: That the Council of
the Woman’s Parliamentary Franchise League, having regard to the decision
of the House of Lords in McCaw v. Potts—
ST. HERBERT. (_Looking over_.) Two t’s.
LADY MOGTON. —resolves to bring forward a woman candidate to contest the
next bye-election. (_Suddenly to_ MRS. MOUNTCALM-VILLIERS, _who is
chattering_.) Do you agree or disagree?
MRS. MOUNTCALM-VILLIERS. My dear! How can you ask? Of course we all
agree. (_To Elizabeth_.) You agree, don’t you?
ELIZABETH. Of course, even if elected, she would not be allowed to take
her seat.
PHOEBE. How do you know? Nothing more full of surprises than English
law.
LADY MOGTON. At the present stage I regard that point as immaterial.
What I am thinking of is the advertisement. A female candidate upon the
platform will concentrate the whole attention of the country on our
movement.
ST. HERBERT. It might even be prudent—until you have got the vote—to
keep it dark that you will soon be proceeding to the next inevitable
step.
ELIZABETH. You think even man could be so easily deceived!
ST. HERBERT. Man has had so much practice in being deceived. It comes
naturally to him.
ELIZABETH. Poor devil!
LADY MOGTON. The only question remaining to be discussed is the
candidate.
ANNYS. Is there not danger that between now and the next bye-election
the Government may, having regard to this case, bring in a bill to stop
women candidates from going to the poll?
ST. HERBERT. I have thought of that. Fortunately, the case seems to
have attracted very little attention. If a bye-election occurred soon
there would hardly be time.
LADY MOGTON. It must be the very next one that does occur—wherever it
is.
JANET. I am sure that in the East End we should have a chance.
PHOEBE. Great Scott! Just think. If we were to win it!
ST. HERBERT. If you could get a straight fight against a Liberal I
believe you would.
ANNYS. Why is the Government so unpopular?
ST. HERBERT. Well, take the weather alone—twelve degrees of frost again
last night.
JANET. In St. George’s Road the sewer has burst. The water is in the
rooms where the children are sleeping. (_She clenches her hands_.)
MRS. MOUNTCALM-VILLIERS. (_She shakes her head_.) Something ought
really to be done.
LADY MOGTON. Has anybody any suggestion to make?—as regards the
candidate. There’s no advantage in going outside. It will have to be
one of ourselves.
MRS. MOUNTCALM-VILLIERS. Won’t you, dear?
LADY MOGTON. I shall be better employed organising. My own feeling is
that it ought to be Annys. (_To_ ST. HERBERT.) What do you think?
ST. HERBERT. Undoubtedly.
ANNYS. I’d rather not.
LADY MOGTON. It’s not a question of liking. It’s a question of duty.
For this occasion we shall be appealing to the male voter. Our candidate
must be a woman popular with men. The choice is somewhat limited.
ELIZABETH. No one will put up so good a fight as you.
ANNYS. Will you give me till this evening?
LADY MOGTON. What for?
ANNYS. I should like to consult Geoffrey.
LADY MOGTON. You think he would object?
ANNYS. (_A little doubtfully_.) No. But we have always talked
everything over together.
LADY MOGTON. Absurd! He’s one of our staunchest supporters. Of course
he’ll be delighted.
ELIZABETH. I think the thing ought to be settled at once.
LADY MOGTON. It must be. I have to return to Manchester to-night. We
shall have to get to work immediately.
ST. HERBERT. Geoffrey will surely take it as a compliment.
JANET. Don’t you feel that woman, all over the world, is calling to you?
ANNYS. It isn’t that. I’m not trying to shirk it. I merely thought
that if there had been time—of course, if you really think—
LADY MOGTON. You consent?
ANNYS. Yes. If it’s everybody’s wish.
LADY MOGTON. That’s settled.
PHOEBE. (_She springs up_, _waving a handkerchief_.) Chilvers for ever!
JANET. (_Rises_.) God bless you!
MRS. MOUNTCALM-VILLIERS. (_Clapping her hands_.) Now we shan’t be long!
LADY MOGTON. (_Hammers_.) Order, please!
(_The three subside_.)