[HORNBLOWER with a stare at HILLCRIST'S half-smiling face, takes CHLOE'S arm, and half drags her towards the door on the Left.But there, in the opened doorway, are standing DAWKERand a STRANGER.They move just out of the way of the exit, looking at CHLOE, who sways and very nearly falls.]
HORNBLOWER.Why! Chloe! What's the matter?
CHLOE.I don't know; I'm not well to-day.
[She pulls herself together with a great, effort.]
MRS.H.[Who has exchanged a nod with DAWKER and the STRANGER] Mr.
Hornblower, you build at your peril.I warn you.
HORNBLOWER.[Turning round to speak] Ye think yourself very cool and very smart.But I doubt this is the first time ye've been up against realities.Now, I've been up against them all my life.
Don't talk to me, ma'am, about peril and that sort of nonsense; it makes no impression.Your husband called me pachydermatous.Idon't know Greek, and Latin, and all that, but I've looked it out in the , dictionary, and I find it means thick-skinned.And I'm none the worse for that when I have to deal with folk like you.Good afternoon.
[He draws CHLOE forward, and they pass through the door, followed quickly by ROLF.]
MRS.H.Thank you; Dawker.
[She moves up to DAWKER and the STRANGER, Left, and they talk.]
JILL.Dodo! It's awful!
HILLCRIST.Well, there's nothing for it now but to smile and pay up.Poor old home! It shall be his wash-pot.Over the Centry will he cast his shoe.By Gad, Jill, I could cry!
JILL.[Pointing] Look! Chloe's sitting down.She nearly fainted just now.It's something to do with Dawker, Dodo, and that man with him.Look at mother! Ask them!
HILLCRIST.Dawker!
[DAWKER comes to him, followed by MRS.HILLCRIST.]
What's the mystery about young Mrs.Hornblower?
DAWKER.No mystery.
HILLCRIST.Well, what is it?
MRS.H.You'd better not ask.
HILLCRIST.I wish to know.
MRS.H.Jill, go out and wait for us.
JILL.Nonsense, mother!
MRS.H.It's not for a girl to hear.
JILL.Bosh! I read the papers every day.
DAWKER.It's nothin' worse than you get there, anyway.
MRS.H.Do you wish your daughter----
JILL.It's ridiculous, Dodo; you'd think I was mother at my age.
MRS.H.I was not so proud of my knowledge.
JILL.No, but you had it, dear.
HILLCRIST.What is it----what is it? Come over here, Dawker.
[DAWKER goes to him, Right, and speaks in a low voice.]
What! [Again DAWKER speaks in, a low voice.]
Good God!
MRS.H.Exactly!
JILL.Poor thing--whatever it is!
MRS.H.Poor thing?
JILL.What went before, mother?
MRS.H.It's what's coming after that matters; luckily.
HILLCRIST.How do you know this?
DAWKER.My friend here [He points to the STRANGER] was one of the agents.
HILLCRIST.It's shocking.I'm sorry I heard it.
MRS.H.I told you not to.
HILLCRIST.Ask your friend to come here.
[DAWKER beckons, and the STRANGER joins the group.]
Are you sure of what you've said, sir?
STRANGER.Perfectly.I remember her quite well; her name then was----HILLCRIST.I don't want to know, thank you.I'm truly sorry.Iwouldn't wish the knowledge of that about his womenfolk to my worst enemy.This mustn't be spoken of.[JILL hugs his arm.]
MRS.H.It will not be if Mr.Hornblower is wise.If he is not wise, it must be spoken of.
HILLCRIST.I say no, Amy.I won't have it.It's a dirty weapon.
Who touches pitch shall be defiled.
MRS.H.Well, what weapons does he use against us? Don't be quixotic.For all we can tell, they know it quite well already, and if they don't they ought to.Anyway, to know this is our salvation, and we must use it.
JILL: [Sotto voce] Pitch! Dodo! Pitch!
DAWKER.The threat's enough! J.P.--Chapel--Future member for the constituency----.
HILLCRIST.[A little more doubtfully] To use a piece of knowledge about a woman--it's repugnant.I--I won't do it.
[Mrs.H.If you had a son tricked into marrying such a woman, would you wish to remain ignorant of it?]
HILLCRIST.[Struck] I don't know--I don't know.
MRS.H.At least, you'd like to be in a position to help him, if you thought it necessary?
HILLCRIST.Well--that perhaps.
MRS.H.Then you agree that Mr.Hornblower at least should be told.
What he does with the knowledge is not our affair.
HILLCRIST.[Half to the STRANGER and half to DAWKER] Do you realise that an imputation of that kind may be ground for a criminal libel action?
STRANGER.Quite.But there's no shadow of doubt; not the faintest.
You saw her just now?
HILLCRIST.I did.[Revolting again] No; I don't like it.
[DAWKER has drawn the STRANGER a step or two away, and they talk together.]
MRS.H.[In a low voice] And the ruin of our home? You're betraying your fathers, Jack.
HILLCRIST.I can't bear bringing a woman into it.
MRS.H.We don't.If anyone brings her in; it will be Hornblower himself.
HILLCRIST.We use her secret as a lever.
MRS.H.I tell you quite plainly: I will only consent to holding my tongue about her, if you agree to Hornblower being told.It's a scandal to have a woman like that in the neighbourhood.
JILL.Mother means that, father.
HILLCRIST.Jill, keep quiet.This is a very bitter position.Ican't tell what to do.
MRS.H.You must use this knowledge.You owe it to me--to us all.
You'll see that when you've thought it over.
JILL.[Softly] Pitch, Dodo, pitch!
MRS.H.[Furiously] Jill, be quiet!
HILLCRIST.I was brought up never to hurt a woman.I can't do it, Amy--I can't do it.I should never feel like a gentleman again.
MRS.H.[Coldly] Oh! Very well.
HILLCRIST.What d'you mean by that?
MRS.H.I shall use the knowledge in my own way.
HILLCRIST.[Staring at her] You would--against my wishes?
MRS.H.I consider it my duty.
HILLCRIST.If I agree to Hornblower being told----MRS.H.That's all I want.
HILLCRIST.It's the utmost I'll consent to, Amy; and don't let's have any humbug about its being, morally necessary.We do it to save our skins.
MRS.H.I don't know what you mean by humbug?
JILL.He means humbug; mother.
HILLCRIST.It must stop at old Hornblower.Do you quite understand?
MRS.H.Quite.
JILL.Will it stop?
MRS.H.Jill, if you can't keep your impertinence to yourself----HILLCRIST.Jill, come with me.