It is half-past nine of a July evening.In a dining-room lighted by sconces, and apparelled in wall-paper, carpet, and curtains of deep vivid blue, the large French windows between two columns are open on to a wide terrace, beyond which are seen trees in darkness, and distant shapes of lighted houses.On one side is a bay window, over which curtains are partly drawn.
Opposite to this window is a door leading into the hall.At an oval rosewood table, set with silver, flowers, fruit, and wine, six people are seated after dinner.Back to the bay window is STEPHEN MORE, the host, a man of forty, with a fine-cut face, a rather charming smile, and the eyes of an idealist; to his right, SIR, JOHN JULIAN, an old soldier, with thin brown features, and grey moustaches; to SIR JOHN's right, his brother, the DEAN OF STOUR, a tall, dark, ascetic-looking Churchman: to his right KATHERINE is leaning forward, her elbows on the table, and her chin on her hands, staring across at her husband; to her right sits EDWARD MENDIP, a pale man of forty-five, very bald, with a fine forehead, and on his clear-cut lips a smile that shows his teeth; between him and MORE is HELEN JULIAN, a pretty dark-haired young woman, absorbed in thoughts of her own.The voices are tuned to the pitch of heated discussion, as the curtain rises.
THE DEAN.I disagree with you, Stephen; absolutely, entirely disagree.
MORE.I can't help it.
MENDIP.Remember a certain war, Stephen! Were your chivalrous notions any good, then? And, what was winked at in an obscure young Member is anathema for an Under Secretary of State.You can't afford----MORE.To follow my conscience? That's new, Mendip.
MENDIP.Idealism can be out of place, my friend.
THE DEAN.The Government is dealing here with a wild lawless race, on whom I must say I think sentiment is rather wasted.
MORE.God made them, Dean.
MENDIP.I have my doubts.
THE DEAN.They have proved themselves faithless.We have the right to chastise.
MORE.If I hit a little man in the eye, and he hits me back, have Ithe right to chastise him?
SIR JOHN.We didn't begin this business.
MORE.What! With our missionaries and our trading?
THE DEAN.It is news indeed that the work of civilization may be justifiably met by murder.Have you forgotten Glaive and Morlinson?
SIR JOHN.Yes.And that poor fellow Groome and his wife?
MORE.They went into a wild country, against the feeling of the tribes, on their own business.What has the nation to do with the mishaps of gamblers?
SIR JOHN.We can't stand by and see our own flesh and blood ill-treated!
THE DEAN.Does our rule bring blessing--or does it not, Stephen?
MORE.Sometimes; but with all my soul I deny the fantastic superstition that our rule can benefit a people like this, a nation of one race, as different from ourselves as dark from light--in colour, religion, every mortal thing.We can only pervert their natural instincts.
THE DEAN.That to me is an unintelligible point of view.
MENDIP.Go into that philosophy of yours a little deeper, Stephen--it spells stagnation.There are no fixed stars on this earth.
Nations can't let each other alone.
MORE.Big ones could let little ones alone.
MENDIP.If they could there'd be no big ones.My dear fellow, we know little nations are your hobby, but surely office should have toned you down.
SIR JOHN.I've served my country fifty years, and I say she is not in the wrong.
MORE.I hope to serve her fifty, Sir John, and I say she is.
MENDIP.There are moments when such things can't be said, More.
MORE.They'll be said by me to-night, Mendip.
MENDIP.In the House?
[MORE nods.]
KATHERINE.Stephen!
MENDIP.Mrs.More, you mustn't let him.It's madness.
MORE.[Rising] You can tell people that to-morrow, Mendip.Give it a leader in 'The Parthenon'.
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MORE.I've made no secret of my feelings all along.I'm against this war, and against the annexation we all know it will lead to.
MENDIP.My dear fellow! Don't be so Quixotic! We shall have war within the next twenty-four hours, and nothing you can do will stop it.
HELEN.Oh! No!
MENDIP.I'm afraid so, Mrs.Hubert.
SIR JOHN.Not a doubt of it, Helen.
MENDIP.[TO MORE] And you mean to charge the windmill?
[MORE nods.]
MENDIP.'C'est magnifique'!
MORE.I'm not out for advertisement.
MENDIP.You will get it!
MORE.Must speak the truth sometimes, even at that risk.
SIR JOHN.It is not the truth.
MENDIP.The greater the truth the greater the libel, and the greater the resentment of the person libelled.
THE DEAN.[Trying to bring matters to a blander level] My dear Stephen, even if you were right--which I deny--about the initial merits, there surely comes a point where the individual conscience must resign it self to the country's feeling.This has become a question of national honour.
SIR JOHN.Well said, James!
MORE.Nations are bad judges of their honour, Dean.
THE DEAN.I shall not follow you there.
MORE.No.It's an awkward word.
KATHERINE.[Stopping THE DEAN] Uncle James! Please!
[MORE looks at her intently.]
SIR JOHN.So you're going to put yourself at the head of the cranks, ruin your career, and make me ashamed that you're my son-in-law?
MORE.Is a man only to hold beliefs when they're popular? You've stood up to be shot at often enough, Sir John.
SIR JOHN.Never by my country! Your speech will be in all the foreign press-trust 'em for seizing on anything against us.Ashow-up before other countries----!
MORE.You admit the show-up?
SIR JOHN.I do not, sir.
THE DEAN.The position has become impossible.The state of things out there must be put an end to once for all! Come, Katherine, back us up!
MORE.My country, right or wrong! Guilty--still my country!
MENDIP.That begs the question.
[KATHERINE rises.THE DEAN, too, stands up.]
THE DEAN.[In a low voice] 'Quem Deus volt perdere'----!
SIR JOHN.Unpatriotic!
MORE.I'll have no truck with tyranny.
KATHERINE.Father doesn't admit tyranny.Nor do any of us, Stephen.
HUBERT JULIAN, a tall Soldier-like man, has come in.
HELEN.Hubert!
[She gets up and goes to him, and they talk together near the door.]