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.] G.o.d bless you!
MRS. MOUNTCALM-VILLIERS [Clapping her hands.] Now we shan"t be long!
LADY MOGTON [Hammers.] Order, please!
[The three subside.]
This is serious business. The next step is, of course -
[The door opens; GEOFFREY enters. He is a youngish-looking man of three or four and thirty. LADY MOGTON, at the sound of the door, turns. ST. HERBERT rises. There is a pause.]
LADY MOGTON We"ve been talking about you. We must apologise for turning your drawing-room -
GEOFFREY My dear mother-in-law, it is Providence. [He kisses her.] There is no one I was more longing to see.
ANNYS [She has risen.] Hake told me you would be dining at the House.
GEOFFREY [He comes to her, kisses her, he is in a state of suppressed excitement.] I shall be. I came back to bring you some news.
PHOEBE We"ve got some news for you. Have you heard -
GEOFFREY [He stays her.] May I claim man"s privilege for the first word? It is news, I am sure, you will all be delighted to hear. A friend of yours has been appointed to an office where--it is quite possible--he may be of service to you.
PHOEBE Governorship of Holloway Gaol?
GEOFFREY Not a bad guess. Very near it. To the Under- Secretaryship for Home Affairs.
LADY MOGTON Who is it?
GEOFFREY [He bows.] Your affectionate and devoted servant.
ANNYS You!
PHOEBE [Genuinely delighted. She is not a quick thinker.] Bravo!
Congratulations, old boy! [She has risen--she slaps him on the back.]
ANNYS Geoffrey! [She puts her arms about him.] You never told me anything.
GEOFFREY I know, dear. I was afraid. It mightn"t have come off.
And then you would have been so disappointed.