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diff --git a/3301.txt b/3301.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3b02480 --- /dev/null +++ b/3301.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3382 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Naturewoman, by Upton Sinclair + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Naturewoman + +Author: Upton Sinclair + +Posting Date: February 15, 2009 [EBook #3301] +Release Date: July, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NATUREWOMAN *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + +THE NATUREWOMAN + +By Upton Sinclair + + + + +CHARACTERS + + Oceana: the Naturewoman. + Mrs. Sophronia Masterson: of Beacon Street, Boston. + Quincy Masterson, M.D.: her husband. + Freddy Masterson: her son. + Ethel Masterson: her younger daughter. + Mrs. Letitia Selden: her elder daughter. + Henry Selden: Letitia's husband. + Remson: a butler. + + + + ACT I + Drawing-room of the Masterson home; afternoon in winter. + + + ACT II + The same; the next afternoon. + + + ACT III + A portion of the parlor, as a stage; the same evening. + + ACT IV + Henry Selden's camp in the White Mountains; afternoon, a week later. + + + + + +THE NATUREWOMAN + + + + +ACT I + + + +[Scene shows a luxuriously furnished drawing-room. Double doors, centre, +opening to hall and stairway. Grand piano at right, fireplace next to +it, with large easy-chair in front. Centre table; windows left, and +chairs.] + +[At rise: ETHEL standing by table; a beautiful but rather frail girl of +sixteen; opening a package containing photograph in frame.] + + +ETHEL. Oceana! Oceana! [She gazes at it in rapture.] Oh, I wonder if +she'll be as good as she is beautiful! She must be! Oceana! [To REMSON, +an old, white-haired family servant, who enters with flowers in vase.] +No message from my brother yet? + +REMSON. Nothing, Miss Ethel. + +ETHEL. Look at this, Remson. + +REMSON. [Takes photograph.] Is that your cousin, Miss Ethel? + +ETHEL. That's she. Isn't she lovely? + +REMSON. Yes, miss. Is that the way they dress in those parts? + +ETHEL. The natives don't even wear that much, Remson. + +REMSON. It must be right warm there, I fancy. + +ETHEL. Oh, yes... they never know what cold weather is. + +REMSON. What is the name of it, Miss Ethel? + +ETHEL. Maukuri--it's in the South Seas. + +REMSON. It seems like I've heard of cannibals in those parts, somewhere. + +ETHEL, Yes, in some of the groups. But this is just one little island by +itself... nothing else for a hundred miles and more. + +REMSON. And she's lived there all this time, Miss Ethel? + +ETHEL. Fifteen years, Remson. + +REMSON. And no folks at all there? + +ETHEL. Not since her father died. + +REMSON. [Shakes his head.] Humph! She'd ought to be glad to get home, +Miss Ethel. + +ETHEL. She didn't seem to feel that way. [Takes book and seats herself +by fireplace.] But we'll try to make her change her mind. Just think of +it... she's been forty-six days on the steamer! + +REMSON. Can it be possible, miss? + +ETHEL. Wasn't that the street door just now, Remson? + +REMSON. I thought so, Miss Ethel. [Moves to door.] Oh! Mrs. Masterson. + +MRS. MASTERSON. [In doorway; a Boston Brahman, aged fifty, wearing +street costume, black.] Any news yet, Remson? + +REMSON. None, madam. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Master Frederick is at the dock? + +REMSON. Yes, madam. + +DR. MASTERSON. [Enters; slightly younger than his wife, a dapper little +man, bald and henpecked.] No news from the steamer, my dear? + +MRS. MASTERSON. None. + +REMSON. Anything further, madam? + +MRS. MASTERSON. Nothing. + +[Exit REMSON.] + +DR. MASTERSON. It'll be too bad if Oceana has to spend this evening on +the steamer. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Have you taken to calling her by that ridiculous name +also? + +DR. MASTERSON. Surely she has a right to select her name! + +MRS. MASTERSON. I was present when she was christened; and so were you, +Quincy. For ME she will remain Anna Talbot until the day she dies. + +DR. MASTERSON. Anna or Oceana... there's not much difference, it seems. +[Takes paper and sits by window; they do not see ETHEL.] Weren't Letitia +and Henry to be here? + +MRS. MASTERSON. Letitia was... but she's never on time. There's the +bell now. [Looks at photograph.] Humph! So Ethel's had it framed! I +declare... people ought not to be shown a photograph like that.. . it's +not decent. + +DR. MASTERSON. My dear! It's the South Sea Islands! + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Severely.] This is Back Bay. Oh! Letitia! + +LETITIA. [Enters; aged about twenty-eight, prim and decorous, Patterned +after her mother; black street costume, with furs.] No news from the +steamer, it seems! Dear me, such weather! + +MRS. MASTERSON. You didn't walk, I hope? + +LETITIA. No, but even getting into the stores! I'm exhausted. + +DR. MASTERSON. [Looking from paper.] Henry coming? + +LETITIA. He said he might drop in. He's curious to see the lady. + +DR. MASTERSON. Humph! No doubt! + +LETITIA. Mother, I wish you'd try to do something with Henry. He's so +restless and discontented... he's getting to be simply impossible. + +MRS. MASTERSON. I'm going to talk to him to-day, my dear. + +LETITIA. Fancy my going out and burying myself in the country! And he +means it... he's at me all the time about it! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Well, don't go, my dear! + +LETITIA. Don't worry yourself... I've not the least intention of going. +Such things as we modern women have to endure! Only fancy, he's got an +idea he wants to be where he can work with his hands! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Henry ought to have discovered these yearnings before he +married one of the Mastersons. As my daughter, you have certain social +obligations to fill... your friends have a claim upon you, quite as much +as your husband. + +LETITIA. He says he wants to take the bungalow and make it over... wants +to plan it and work at it himself. And with me and the children sitting +out on the mountain-top in the snow until he finishes, I suppose! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Quincy, do you know anything about this whim of Henry's +for a day-laborer's life? + +DR. MASTERSON. My dear, Henry's a big, active man, and he wants +something to do. + +MRS. MASTERSON. But hasn't he his business? + +DR. MASTERSON. I dare say there are things more thrilling to a man than +commercial law-cases. And Henry's been thinking for himself... he says +the law's a cheat. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Yes, I know... I've heard all that. And here we are, +just at this critical moment, when the girl is coming, and when he ought +to be advising us about that will. + +DR. MASTERSON. It seems to me, my dear, you've managed to choose your +course without his aid. [A pause.] I hope we shan't have to get into any +quarrel with Oceana. + +MRS. MASTERSON. We shall not if _I_ can help it, Quincy. + +LETITIA. We simply intend to be firm, father. + +MRS. MASTERSON. We intend to make it clear that we are going to stand by +our legal rights. With no hard feelings for her personally... + +ETHEL. [Rising from chair.] Mother! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Ethel! + +ETHEL. Mother, this has gone just as far as it can go! I've felt all +along that something like this was preparing. + +MRS. MASTERSON. My dear... + +ETHEL. Mother, this concerns me as much as it concerns any one of you. +And I tell you, you have simply got to let me know about that will. + +MRS. MASTERSON. My dear... + +ETHEL. Do I understand that it is your intention to threaten to go to +law, unless Oceana gives us a part of grandfather's property? + +MRS. MASTERSON. Ethel, I refuse... + +DR. MASTERSON. You might as well tell the child, Sophronia. It's +perfectly certain, Ethel, that your grandfather was not of sound mind +when he made the will. + +ETHEL. It's perfectly certain that he hated you and mother and Aunt +Letitia and me and Freddy... every one of us; and that he had hated us +for years and years; and that he left his money to Oceana to spite us +all. + +MRS. MASTERSON. That's precisely it, Ethel... + +ETHEL. And I, for one, knowing that he hated me, don't want his money. +And what is more, I refuse to touch his money. + +DR. MASTERSON. Not being of age, my dear, you can't... + +ETHEL. I am near enough of age to possess my self-respect. And I shall +refuse to touch one penny. + +DR. MASTERSON. My child, there are a good many pennies in a half million +dollars. + +MRS. MASTERSON. And when you are of age, Ethel, you'll appreciate.. + +ETHEL. I shall be of age two years from now, and then I shall return to +Oceana every penny of grandfather's money that may have been gotten for +me. + +LETITIA. Ethel! + +MRS. MASTERSON. It seems to me this is a strange way for a young girl to +be speaking to her parents! + +ETHEL. I can't help it, mother. I am meek and patient... I try to +let you have your way with me in everything. But this is a matter of +principle, and I can't let myself be sat on. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Sat on! Is that your view of your mother's attitude +towards you? + +ETHEL. You know, perfectly well, mother; that it's impossible for +anybody to preserve any individuality in contact with you... that as a +matter of fact, neither father nor Letitia nor Freddy nor myself have +preserved a shred of it. Grandfather said that to you himself, the +last time you ever saw him... I know it, for I've heard father say it a +hundred times. + +DR. MASTERSON. Well! + +MRS. MASTERSON. It seems to me there's more than a trace of +individuality in this present outburst, Ethel. + +ETHEL. Yes, but it's the first time, mother. + +LETITIA. Some one is coming. [Turns to door.] Oh! Henry! + +HENRY. [Enters; a handsome, powerfully-built man; smooth shaven, +immaculate, reserved in manner.] Well, has the sea-witch arrived? + +MRS. MASTERSON. Not yet. + +DR. MASTERSON. Freddy's gone to meet her with the limousine. + +HENRY. I see. And the steamer? + +MRS. MASTERSON. It was to have docked two hours ago. + +HENRY. Well, that means that I won't see her till tomorrow evening. I've +got to run down to Providence to-night. + +LETITIA. What's the matter? + +HENRY. Nothing important... just a business matter that requires my +presence. Make my apologies; and goodbye, my dear. + +[Kisses LETITIA.] + +LETITIA. Henry, I wish you'd wait a moment. + +HENRY. What for, my dear? + +LETITIA. Mother has something to say... + +MRS. MASTERSON. I want to talk to you about this idea of going to the +country in the winter-time. + +HENRY. Oh! There's no use talking about that, Mrs. Masterson. I see I +can't have my way, so there's no more to be said. I'm not the sort of +man to sulk. + +MRS. MASTERSON. But such an idea, Henry! For a delicate woman like +Letitia... + +HENRY. I know... I know. I'd have taken care of her... but that doesn't +interest her. And, of course, I can't take the children away from her, +and there's not much fun in the country alone. So what's the use? I give +up... as I give up everything. Good-bye, all. + +[Exit.] + +LETITIA. I declare--such a trial! A husband who's lost his interest in +life! + +MRS. MASTERSON. It's that new cook of yours, Letitia. + +LETITIA. Every cook is worse. + +MRS. MASTERSON. What he needs is some liver-pills. Quincy, you should +attend to it! [Rises.] Well, I'm going upstairs. You'll stay to dinner, +Letitia? + +LETITIA. Yes, I want to lie down for a while. + +DR. MASTERSON. And I'll beat myself a game of billiards. + +[Exit With LETITIA and MRS. MASTERSON.] + +ETHEL. [Drops her book to floor, springs up and paces the room.] Oh! +If only I might change places with Oceana! If I could get away to some +South Sea island, and be my own mistress and live my own life. [Takes +photograph.] Oceana! I'm wild to see you! I want to see you dancing. +Your Sunrise Dance... and to your own music! [Begins to hum the Sunrise +Dance.] Oceana! Oceana! + +[A step in the hall, she turns.] + +FREDDY. [Enters briskly; a college boy, about twenty-one, overgrown, +narrow-chested, good-natured and slangy.] Ethel! + +ETHEL. [Starts.] Freddy! Where's Oceana? + +FREDDY. She won't get here till morning. + +ETHEL. Oh, Freddy! + +FREDDY. They can't dock the steamer to-night... there's some tangle at +the pier. + +ETHEL. Did you go and see? + +FREDDY. I telephoned about it. I didn't want to wait in this blizzard. + +ETHEL. I'm so sorry! + +FREDDY. Me, too. But there's no help for it. + +ETHEL. So long as she doesn't miss to-morrow night! Did I read you what +she said about that, Freddy? [Takes letter from pocket.] "I'll pray +for fair weather, so that I may get there to see the beautiful dancing. +There is nothing in all the world that I love more... my whole being +seems to flow into the dance. I send you the music of my Sunrise Dance, +that father composed for me. You can learn it, and I'll do it for you. I +don't know, of course; but father used to think that I was wonderful in +it.. and he had known all the great dances in Europe. It was the last +thing I heard him play, before he went out in the boat, and I saw him +perish before my eyes." Don't you think that she writes beautifully, +Freddy? + +FREDDY. Yes; it's surprising. + +ETHEL, Oh, yes. Her father was an extraordinary man, Henry says... a +musician and a poet. They had books and everything, apparently. You'd +think she's been living in Europe. + +FREDDY. I see. + +ETHEL. Listen to this: [Reads.] "About my name... I forgot to explain. +You see, Anna sounds like England... or New England... and I am not the +least like those places. Father used to see me, as a little tot, diving +through the breakers, and floating out in the sea, with the snow-white +frigate-birds flashing by overhead; and he said I was the very spirit +of the island and the wild, lonely ocean. So he called me Oceana, and +that's the name I've always borne." + +FREDDY. It just fits my idea of her. + +ETHEL. She goes on: "You mustn't be surprised at what I am. You may +think it's dreadful... even wicked. But at least don't expect anything +like you've ever known before. Fifteen years with only cocoa-palms and +naked savages... the Boston varnish rubs off one. But I'm going to try +to behave. I expect to feel quite at home... I have pictures of all of +you, and a picture of the house... I even have father's keys, to let +myself in with!" + +FREDDY. Can you play her music, Ethel? + +ETHEL. Play it? I could play it in my sleep. [Opens piano.] The Sunrise +Dance! [She sits and plays.] Listen! + +[She plunges into the ecstatic part of the music. FREDDY leans by the +piano, watching her; she plays, more and more enthralled. The door opens +softly.] + +[OCEANA enters; a girl of twenty-two, superbly formed, dark-skinned, +a picture of glowing health. She is clad in a short skirt and a rough +sailor's reefer with cap to match; underneath this a knitted garment, +tight-fitting and soft--no corsets. She carries two extremely heavy +suitcases, and with no apparent effort. She sets these down and stands +listening to the music, completely absorbed in it. There is the faintest +suggestion of the Sunrise Dance in her attitude.] + +[OCEANA is trusting, and yet with power of reserve. Throughout the +action, however vehemently she speaks, she seldom really grows angry; +she does not take the game seriously enough. On the other hand her +enjoyment, however keen, never becomes boisterous. Her actions proceed +from a continual overflow of animal health. She is like a little child, +in that she cannot remain physically still for very long at a time; she +moves about the room like an animal in a cage. Her speech proceeds from +an overwhelming interest in the truth, regardless of all personality. +She never conceals anything, and she never represses anything.] + +ETHEL. [Finishes the music, then turns, and leaps up.] Oceana! + +FREDDY. [Turns.] Oceana! + +OCEANA. Ethel! [Embraces her.] Oh, my dear! How glad I am to see you! + +ETHEL. Oceana! But how did you get here? + +OCEANA. I came on the steamer. + +FREDDY. But it isn't docked + +OCEANA. They took us to another dock. + +ETHEL. [Holds her at arm's length.] Oh, how fine you are! + +OCEANA. And you--you can play my father's music! I'm so glad! + +ETHEL. You liked the way I played it? + +OCEANA. I liked it! And so I know I shall like you! And I'm so happy +about it--I wanted to like you! + +ETHEL. But how big you are! + +OCEANA. [Laughing.] Oh, that's the clothes. I got them in Rio. They're +queer, I guess, but I only had a couple of hours. And this is Freddy! +[They shake hands.] It's so good to be here! + +FREDDY. How did you get from the dock? + +OCEANA. I walked. + +ETHEL. Walked all the way? + +OCEANA. Of course... I enjoyed it. + +ETHEL. But in the storm! + +OCEANA. I didn't mind that. It's all new to me, you see. My dear, think +of it... I've never seen snow before. I was fairly crazy. + +[She pulls off the coat and throws it on one of the suitcases.] + +ETHEL. I must tell mother. And Letitia! [Opens door and calls.] Mother! +Letitia! Oceana's here! + +FREDDY. [Stoops to pick up the suitcases.] Why... + +OCEANA. What is it? + +FREDDY. [He moves them against the wall with a great effort.] You don't +mean you CARRIED those! + +OCEANA. Why, yes. + +FREDDY. From the docks? + +OCEANA. [Laughs.] Oh, dear me! I didn't mind that. + +FREDDY. Well... I'll be blowed! + +[He has fallen head over heels in love with her, and whenever he is in +her presence he follows her about with his eyes, like one bewitched.] + +OCEANA. You aren't strong as you ought to be! You stay too much in the +house! + +ETHEL. Here's mother! + +OCEANA. Aunt Sophronia! + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Enters.] My dear Anna! [Kisses her upon the cheek.] I +am delighted to see you safe. + +ETHEL. And Letitia! + +OCEANA. Cousin Letitia! + +LETITIA. [Enters.] My dear cousin! So glad you are here! + +OCEANA. [Looking from one to the other, as they eye her critically.] Oh, +are you really glad to see me? You must be, you know... for I've come so +far. And you've no idea how homesick I've been. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Homesick, my dear? For that wild place you left? + +OCEANA. But Aunt Sophronia, that's my home! And it's God's own dream of +beauty! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Yes, my dear... I dare say... + +OCEANA. Ah, you've never been there, or you wouldn't feel that way! +Picture it as it is at this moment... the broad white beach... the sun +setting and the clouds aflame... the great green breakers rolling in... +the frigate-birds calling... the palm trees rustling in the wind! And +you don't have to wrap yourself up in clothes... you don't have to shut +yourself up in houses! You plunge through the surf, you dance upon the +beach... naked... + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Aghast.] My dear girl! + +OCEANA. Oh, oh! That's so! I beg your pardon! + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Coldly.] It will take you, a little while to get used +to civilized ways... + +OCEANA. Oh, no, no, no! I know about that... I know how it is. Father +told me about Boston. + +MRS. MASTERSON. My dear... + +OCEANA. Don't worry about me. I'm really going to try to behave myself +... in every way. I want to get the right sort of clothes, you know. I +couldn't get them on my trip... + +MRS. MASTERSON. It's just as well, my dear. You'd best have us attend to +that. You will need mourning for quite a while, you understand. + +OCEANA. Mourning! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Yes... for your grandfather. + +OCEANA. But, my dear Aunt Sophronia, I couldn't possibly wear mourning! +No, no! I couldn't do that! + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Astonished.] Why not? + +OCEANA. In the first place, I never mourn. + +MRS. MASTERSON. But your own grandfather, my dear! + +OCEANA. But I never knew him. Aunt Sophronia... I never saw him in my +life! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Even so, my dear! Hasn't he left you all his fortune? + +OCEANA. But am I supposed to mourn over that? Why, I'd naturally be +happy about that! + +LETITIA. Oceana! + +OCEANA. But surely.. wouldn't you be happy about it? + +MRS. MASTERSON. My child, one is not supposed to set so much store by +mere money... + +OCEANA. But Aunt Sophronia, money is power! And isn't anybody glad to +have power? What else did I come here for? + +MRS. MASTERSON. I had hoped you had come home for some other things. .. +to see your relatives, for instance. + +ETHEL. Here's father! + +OCEANA. Uncle Quincy! + +DR. MASTERSON. [Enters.] My dear girl! You have come! [Embraces her.] +Why, what a picture you are! A very storm from the tropics! My dear +Oceana! + +OCEANA. I'm so glad to get here. + +DR. MASTERSON. Yes, indeed! I can believe it! And a strange experience +it must have been... your first plunge into civilization! + +OCEANA. Yes, Uncle Quincy! It's been horrible! + +DR. MASTERSON. Horrible, my dear? In what way? + +OCEANA. It's been almost too much for me. Really... I could understand +how it might feel to be sick! + +DR. MASTERSON. Why, what did you see? + +OCEANA. Everything! It rushed over me, all at once! The people... their +dreadful faces! And such noises and odors and sights! + +DR. MASTERSON. I hadn't realized... + +OCEANA. And then the saloons! Rows and rows of them! It is ghastly! + +LETITIA. My dear cousin, mother and I contribute regularly to a +temperance society. + +OCEANA. But that hasn't helped, has it? I'm almost wild about such +things--they were the real reason I came home, you know. + +MRS. MASTERSON. How do you mean? + +OCEANA. They had got to my island! They are turning it into a hell! + +DR. MASTERSON. In what way? + +OCEANA. Why, it's a long story. I didn't write... it would have taken +too long. Two years ago there was a ship laid up... and the crew found, +quite by accident, that our island rock is all phosphate; something +very valuable... for fertilizer, it seems. So they bought land from the +natives, and now there's a company, and a trading-post, and all that. +And oh, my people are going all to pieces! + +MRS. MASTERSON. The natives, you mean? + +OCEANA. Yes... the people I have loved all my life. And I've tried so +hard... I've pleaded with them, I've wept and prayed with them! But +they're lost! + +LETITIA. You mean rum? + +OCEANA. I mean everything. Rum, and cocaine, and sugar, and canned food, +and clothes, and missionaries... all civilization! And worse yet, Aunt +Sophronia... ah, I can't bear to think of it! + +MRS. MASTERSON. What? + +OCEANA. You wouldn't let me tell you what. [In a low voice.] Imagine +my people, my beautiful people, with the soft, brown skins and the big +black eyes, and hair like the curtains of night. They are not savages, +you understand... they are gentle and kindly. They ride the rushing +breakers in their frail canoes, they fish and gather fruits in the +forests, they dream in the soft, warm sunshine... they are happy, +they are care-free, their whole life is a song. And they are trusting, +hospitable... the wonderful white strangers come, and they take them +into their homes, and open their hearts to them. And the strangers go +away and leave them a ghastly disease, that rages like a fire in their +palm-thatched cabins, that sweeps through their villages like a tornado. +And the women's hair falls out... they wither up... they're old hags +in a year or two. And the babies... I've helped bring them into the +world... and they had no lips... their noses were gone! They were +idiots... blind... + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Wildly.] Anna Talbot! I must beg you to have a little +discretion! + +LETITIA. Why should we hear about these things, Oceana? + +OCEANA. My dear, it comes from America. The ships came from here! There +was one of them I saw... "The Mary Jane, of Boston, Mass." + +MRS. MASTERSON. No doubt, among such low men... men of vile life. .. +sailors... + +OCEANA. No, Aunt Sophronia... you're mistaken! It's everywhere. Isn't +it, Uncle Quincy? You're a doctor... YOU must know! + +DR. MASTERSON. Why, to tell the truth... + +OCEANA. TELL the truth! Am I not right? + +FREDDY. Of course you're right! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Freddy! + +OCEANA. Ah! You know! + +MRS. MASTERSON. This is outrageous! + +OCEANA. You mean you don't teach your children about it? Why... + +[She stares at them, perplexed.] + +MRS. MASTERSON. You don't understand our ways, Anna... + +OCEANA. No, no... I don't. I don't think I ever can. You'd let some man +come and make love to Ethel... and you'd never warn her? + +ETHEL. They warned me to turn my toes out when I walked, and not to eat +fish with a knife. + +MRS. MASTERSON. If this conversation is to go on, I insist that the +children shall leave the room. + +OCEANA. Oh, I'm awfully sorry, Aunt Sophronia! Why, I didn't mean any +harm. It's all so real to me. [She gazes from one to the other, hoping +for some sign of a thaw.] Just think... these were the people that I'd +loved... that I'd grown up with all my life. I'd fished in their canoes, +I'd hunted with them and basked on the beach with them. I'd watched the +young men and girls dancing their love-dances in the moonlit glades... +[She pauses again.] Oughtn't I to talk about THAT? + +DR. MASTERSON. My dear girl... + +OCEANA. [Stares at them; a sudden idea occurs to her.] Perhaps I ought +to explain to you... you're no doubt wondering. I'm a virgin myself, you +know. + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Starting up.] OH! + +LETITIA. Oceana! + +OCEANA. But weren't you thinking of that? + +MRS. MASTERSON. Why, of course not! + +OCEANA. But Aunt Sophronia! You know you were! + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Sputters.] Oh! OH! + +OCEANA. You were thinking to yourself, this girl's been playing around +on the beaches with savages... and what's been happening to her? + +DR. MASTERSON. My dear niece, I'm afraid you'll have to take some +account of our civilized prejudices. We simply don't say everything that +we think. + +OCEANA. [Springing up.] Oh, dear me! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to make +you unhappy! I was going to be so good. I was going to try to conform to +everything. Why, just think of it, Aunt Sophronia... in Rio I actually +bought a pair of corsets. And I tried to wear them. I. .. Oceana! +Around my waist! Think of it! [She looks for sympathy.] I couldn't stand +them... I climbed to the topmast and threw them to the sharks. But now +it seems that you all wear corsets on your minds and souls. [A pause.] +Never mind... let's talk about something else. I'm getting restless. You +see... I'm not used to being in a room... it seems like a box to me... +I can hardly breathe. The air in here is dreadful... hadn't any of you +noticed? [Silence. Apparently nobody had.] Would you mind if I opened a +window? + +MRS. MASTERSON. It is storming outside, Anna. + +OCEANA. Yes, but one can exercise and keep warm. just a minute... +please. [She flings up a window; a gale blows in.] Ah, feel that! + +[MRS. MASTERSON, LETITIA and DR. MASTERSON draw away from the window.] + +MRS. MASTERSON. This is simply outrageous! + +LETITIA. It is beyond all words! + +DR. MASTERSON. My dear, consider... + +MRS. MASTERSON. I won't have that creature in my house a minute longer. + +DR. MASTERSON. My dear, be reasonable! + +LETITIA. REASONABLE? + +DR. MASTERSON. Consider what is at stake! + +MRS. MASTERSON. But what hope have we to get anything out of such a +woman? + +DR. MASTERSON. We have some hope, I'm sure. If we... + +MRS. MASTERSON. Didn't you hear her say she'd come home for nothing but +the money? + +DR. MASTERSON. Yes... but at least she's honest enough to say it, +Sophronia. And she's here as our guest... she wants to be friendly ... +don't let it come to an open break with her! + +LETITIA. But how can we HELP it, father? + +DR. MASTERSON. It's just a matter of letting her talk. And what harm +will that do us? + +MRS. MASTERSON. But we can't lock her up in the house. And can we +introduce her to our friends? Tomorrow night, for instance! + +DR. MASTERSON. We must manage it somehow. When we've once had an +understanding with her, it won't take long to get the papers signed, and +after that we won't care. Control yourself, Sophronia, I implore you! +Don't let your prejudices ruin us! + +ETHEL. [Steals to them, in agitation.] Mother, CAN'T you be good to her? +You don't understand her at all. + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Coldly.] Thank you, Ethel... + +ETHEL. [To FREDDY, who joins them.] Can't you say something to them, +Freddy? They treat her so badly. + +FREDDY. They hate her, Ethel! They couldn't understand her. + +[OCEANA takes deep breaths, expelling them in short, sharp puffs.] + +LETITIA. What in the world are you doing? + +OCEANA. That's one of the Yogi exercises. Haven't any of you studied the +Vedantas? + +LETITIA. We are all Episcopalians here, Oceana. + +OCEANA. Oh, I see! + +[She takes a deep breath and then pounds her chest like a gorilla.] + +MRS. MASTERSON. And pray, what is THAT? + +OCEANA. I'm just getting some of the civilization out of my lungs. + +[A furious gale blows.] + +MRS. MASTERSON. Really, my dear, we shall have to leave the room. We'll +all catch our death of cold. + +OCEANA. My dear Aunt Sophronia, nobody ever caught a cold from winter +air. Colds come from over-eating and bad ventilation. [She closes the +window.] However, there you are! [Eagerly.] Now, let's have something +beautiful--so that I can forget my blunders. Let's have some music. Will +you play for me, Cousin Letitia? + +LETITIA. I don't play, my dear. + +OCEANA. What? Why, father told me you played all the time! + +LETITIA. That was before my marriage. + +OCEANA. Oh, I see! [Laughs.] The music has accomplished its purpose! +[Stops, alarmed.] Oh! I've done it again! [Goes to LETITIA.] My dear +cousin, believe me, I meant no offense. I'm never personal. I was simply +formulating a principle of sociology! + +MRS. MASTERSON. You have strange ways, my dear niece. + +DR. MASTERSON. Are you always so direct, so ruthless? + +OCEANA. That's the word, isn't it? That's what father taught me. Never +to think about personalities... to go after the truth! He used to quote +that saying of Nietzsche's: "To hunger after knowledge as the lion for +his food!" + +MRS. MASTERSON. Oh, you read Nietzsche, do you? How could you get such +books? + +OCEANA. We had a government steamer from New Zealand three times a year, +you know. That brought our mail. + +MRS. MASTERSON. And your father permitted you to read these improper +things? + +OCEANA. My father taught me to face the facts of my being. My father was +a fighter, you know. + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Grimly.] Yes, I knew that. + +OCEANA. Life had hurt him. Some day you must tell me about it... what it +was that happened to him here in Boston. He never would talk about it, +but I've often wondered. It must have been my mother. What did she do to +him before she died? [She pauses, expecting an answer.] Was it that she +was just conventional like you? [She pauses again.] It must have been +something dreadful... he felt so keenly about it. He burned it into my +very soul... his fear of civilization. And here I am... right in the +midst of it... I'm letting it get its claws into me! I'm wearing its +clothes... [She tears at them.] I'm breathing its air! I don't believe +I can stand it! [She paces the room restlessly.] My soul is suffocating, +as well as my body. I must have something to remind me of the sky, and +the open sea, and the great spaces. I must go back again to my home, to +my island! [Stretches out her arms to them appealingly.] Ah, can't some +of you understand about it? Can't some of you take pity on me? It's so +strange to me... so different from everything I've been used to! Aunt +Sophronia! + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Takes a step reluctantly.] My dear! + +ETHEL. [Springing forward.] No! No! They don't understand! They don't +really care. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Ethel! + +OCEANA. But you! Ethel! + +ETHEL. [Rushes and flings herself at OCEANA'S feet, clutching her +dress.] Take me with you! Take me away to your island! + +OCEANA. [Turning to FREDDY.] And you... won't you be my friend? + +FREDDY. [Goes to her.] I will! [She holds out her hand to him; he +hesitates, gazing at her awe-stricken.] May I... may I take your hand? + +OCEANA. Why certainly! + +FREDDY. [With fervor.] Oceana! + +[CURTAIN] + + + + +ACT II + + +SCENE: Same as Act I. + + +[At rise: DR. MASTERSON in easy-chair near the window; opens newspaper, +sighs, wipes glasses, prepares to read.] + + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Enters with LETITIA.] Well! + +DR. MASTERSON. Home, are you? + +MRS. MASTERSON. Yes! And such a day! + +LETITIA. Shopping with Oceana! + +DR. MASTERSON. Humph! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Imagine buying clothes for a woman who won't squeeze her +waist, and won't let her skirts touch the ground! + +DR. MASTERSON. Why didn't you take her to the men's department? + +LETITIA. Don't make a joke of it, father. + +DR. MASTERSON. How did you make out? + +MRS. MASTERSON. Well, we've got her so the police won't molest her. + +LETITIA. We told Madame Clarice her trunks had been misplaced in the +steamer hold. + +DR. MASTERSON. Ingenious! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Yes! Only she spoiled it all by telling the truth! + +DR. MASTERSON. Where is she now? + +MRS. MASTERSON. She's walking... she says she must have exercise. + +LETITIA. The air in the limousine is close, it seems. + +DR. MASTERSON. You got something she could wear to-night? + +MRS. MASTERSON. Oh, yes, that part's all right. If I could only have +selected the things she's going to SAY to-night! + +[A pause.] + +DR. MASTERSON. Well, and what are the signs? + +MRS. MASTERSON. I don't know. I can't read her at all. + +DR. MASTERSON. You haven't broached the subject yet? + +MRS. MASTERSON. Not definitely. I've hinted at it. I said we were +worried about the future of Freddy and Ethel. + +DR. MASTERSON. And what did she say to that? + +MRS. MASTERSON. She said that she'd take care of them, if I'd let her. + +DR. MASTERSON. Why... that's promising. + +MRS. MASTERSON. So I thought... till I found she meant taking them off +to the South Seas! + +DR. MASTERSON. Oh! + +MRS. MASTERSON. I thought I'd wait till to-night... after the dancing. +You see, she'll have met some company, and I thought she might be +feeling more... more genial. + +DR. MASTERSON. I understand. A good idea. + +LETITIA. Miss Pilkington ought to put her in a good mood. + +MRS. MASTERSON. She's passionately fond of fancy dancing, it seems. And +Ethel's been writing her about to-night, so she's quite excited about +it. + +DR. MASTERSON. I see. + +LETITIA. People are wildly jealous of us because we got Miss Pilkington +to come here. Everybody's talking about it. + +MRS. MASTERSON. You haven't heard any criticisms, I hope? + +LETITIA. Nothing that amounts to anything. + +MRS. MASTERSON. I wish I could feel comfortable about it. It seems so +very daring. It's been only seven months since the funeral. To be sure +... father and I hadn't spoken for ten years. + +DR. MASTERSON. And everybody knows the entertainment is for charity. + +LETITIA. And we've only asked the very best people. + +DR. MASTERSON. And the date was arranged over a year ago. + +LETITIA. And it isn't as if we were going to dance ourselves, mother. +And then they are "Biblical Dances," too. + +MRS. MASTERSON. I know--I know. But then, the world is so quick to +gossip. They might say we were doing it because he left his fortune to a +girl in the Cannibal Islands! + +DR. MASTERSON. Perhaps it's just as well the girl's to be here. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Yes, if we can keep her within bounds. I shall be on +pins and needles till it's over. + +LETITIA. Such a white elephant in one's home! + +MRS. MASTERSON. And then the way Freddy and Ethel are behaving! + +LETITIA. Freddy wanted to stay from college and Ethel from her music +lesson--both of them to go and sit around in the stores while Oceana +bought clothes! + +DR. MASTERSON. Well, of all things! + +MRS. MASTERSON. I hardly know Ethel any more! + +LETITIA. And Freddy sits around and stares at her like a man out of his +wits! + +MRS. MASTERSON. That'll be the next thing, I suppose... she'll run off +and marry him! + +DR. MASTERSON. Well, mightn't that be a good way to solve the problem? +To keep the money in the family? + +MRS. MASTERSON. Ouincy! + +LETITIA. Besides--she mightn't marry him. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Letitia! + +LETITIA. Why not, mother? + +MRS. MASTERSON. I'm sure, my child, you have no reason for saying +anything like THAT. + +LETITIA. I don't trust the minx! + +[A pause.] + +DR. MASTERSON. Has Henry got home? + +LETITIA. He's probably there now. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Is he coming here to dinner? + +LETITIA. I'm not sure. + +MRS. MASTERSON. You'd better take my advice and not let him. + +LETITIA. Why not? + +MRS. MASTERSON. Because, the first thing you know, we'll have Henry in +love with her, too. + +LETITIA. [Horrified.] MOTHER! + +MRS. MASTERSON. I mean it, my dear--quite seriously. What's the meaning +of all this discontent of Henry's? I know him well enough.. . he's just +the man to be taken in by the tricks of such a woman! SHE'D give him +plenty of outdoor exercise! SHE'D go live in the country with him! + +LETITIA. [Springing up.] Mother! How horrible! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Forewarned is forearmed, Letitia. You listen to me, and +let Henry see just as little of Anna Talbot as you can. And when he's +with her, you be there, too. + +LETITIA. [In great agitation.] I'll go home right now and see to him! + +[Exit.] + +DR. MASTERSON. [Sighs.] Oh, dear! And I was waiting for Henry to play +billiards with! + +MRS. MASTERSON. You might get Anna to play billiards with you. No doubt +she's an expert. + +[Exit right.] + +[DR. MASTERSON sighs, shakes his head, and resumes reading.] + +OCEANA. [Enters, radiant, clad in an ermine cloak.] Well, Uncle Quincy! + +DR. MASTERSON. Oceana! Bless me! How gorgeous! + +OCEANA. [Takes it off and throws it on the chair.] It's really too warm +for walking. + +DR. MASTERSON. I should have thought, coming from a tropical climate. .. + +OCEANA. Ah, but my blood circulates, you see. [Sits opposite him.] Uncle +Quincy, I want to have a talk with you. + +DR. MASTERSON. Yes, my dear? + +OCEANA. Uncle Quincy, why do you let Aunt Sophronia and Letitia frighten +you the way they do? + +DR. MASTERSON. My dear girl! + +OCEANA. Take yesterday afternoon, for instance--what I said about +syphilis. You know I was right, and yet you didn't dare say so. + +DR. MASTERSON. Really, Oceana... + +OCEANA. You are an educated man--a man of science. You know what modern +ideas are. And yet you consent to be walked all over! + +DR. MASTERSON. My dear... + +OCEANA. Here are these women... they have leisure and opportunity. .. +they ought to be doing some good in the world. And yet they haven't an +idea except to act as other people think they ought to act! + +DR. MASTERSON. Dear me! Dear me! + +[Rises and begins to pace the room.] + +OCEANA. Don't run away from me. + +DR. MASTERSON. I'm not running away. But you are so disconcerting, +Oceana... + +OCEANA. I know; but that's only because you know that what I say is +true, and you don't like to feel that anybody else knows it. + +FREDDY. [Off.] Oceana! + +OCEANA. Freddy! + +FREDDY. [Enters.] Oh! Father's here! + +OCEANA. Yes; we were having a chat. + +FREDDY. [Hesitates.] Father, will you excuse me, please... I have +something very important to say to Oceana. I've been waiting for her. + +DR. MASTERSON. Why... what... + +FREDDY. Don't ask me, please. I must have a talk with her right away. +Please come, Oceana. + +OCEANA. All right. + +DR. MASTERSON. I was going to the billiard-room, anyway. Pray excuse me. + +[Exit centre.] + +OCEANA. [Smiles.] See him run! Well, Freddy, what is it? + +FREDDY. [Intensely.] Oceana! + +OCEANA. What's the matter? + +FREDDY. You mustn't stay here! + +OCEANA. Why not? + +FREDDY. They'll ruin you, Oceana! They'll crush you, they'll spoil you +forever! You must go away! + +OCEANA. Why, my dear boy, how can they hurt me? + +FREDDY. They will, they will! I've been thinking about it all day! I +didn't go to college... I spent the whole day pacing the streets. + +OCEANA. Why, Freddy! + +FREDDY. And I want you to come away! Come away with me! I want you.. . +[Wildly.]... I want you to marry me! + +OCEANA. [Aghast.] Why, Freddy! + +FREDDY. Oh, I know it's a fool way... to blurt it out at you like that. +I thought up a hundred ways to say it to you. I had a fine speech all +by heart, but I can't remember a word of it. When I see you I can't even +think straight. I'm simply beside myself... I can't rest, I can't +sleep, I can't do anything. I used to laugh at such ideas, but now I'm +frightened at myself. Can't you understand me, Oceana? Oceana... I love +you! + +OCEANA. [Whispers.] My poor boy! + +FREDDY. I don't ask you to say yes... I just ask you to give me a +chance... a hope. If I thought I might win you, I'd do anything.. . +anything! I'd wait for you... I'd work for you... I'd worship you! +Oceana! [He stops.] May I... May I take your hand? [She does not give +it.] Ah, no! I have no right! Oceana, listen to me! I have thought that +I was in love before... but it was just childish, it was nothing like +this. This has been a revelation to me... it makes all the world seem +different to me. And just see how suddenly it's come... why, yesterday +I was a boy! Yesterday I thought some things were interesting... and +to-day I wonder how I could have cared about them. Nothing seems the +same to me. And it all happened at once, it was like an explosion... the +first instant I laid eyes on you I knew that you were the one woman I +could ever love. And I said to myself, she will laugh at you. + +[He hesitates.] + +OCEANA. No, I won't laugh at you. + +FREDDY. I tried to keep it to myself, but I couldn't... not if I were +to be hanged for it. I'm just... just torn out of myself. I'm trembling +with delight, and then I'm plunged into despair, and then I stop to +think and I'm terrified. For I don't know what I can do. Everything in +my life is gone--I won't know how to live if you send me away. + +OCEANA. [Gravely.] Freddy, come sit down here. Be rational now. + +FREDDY. Yes. + +[He sits watching her, in a kind of daze.] + +OCEANA. In the first place, Freddy... you must understand, it isn't the +first time this has happened to me. + +FREDDY. No, I suppose not. + +OCEANA. The officers of the ships always used to fall in love with me. +There were three on this last steamer. + +FREDDY. Yes. + +OCEANA. You say to marry you. But it's difficult for me to imagine +myself marrying any man, no matter how much I loved him. One has to make +so many promises, you know. + +FREDDY. How do you mean? + +OCEANA. You have to "love, honor and obey." + +FREDDY. But, Oceana! That's a mere form. + +OCEANA. No, no. It's written in the laws. All kinds of things... people +don't realize it. + +FREDDY. But surely... if you love a man... a decent man... + +OCEANA. No decent man ought to ask a woman to sign away her +self-respect. + +FREDDY. [Bewildered.] But then... then... what would you do? + +OCEANA. [Watches him, then laughs to herself.] Boston is such a funny +place! + +FREDDY. Hey? + +OCEANA. Let us leave marriage out now... let us talk of love. Realize +how much more serious it is to a woman than it is to a man. A man meets +a woman and he finds her beautiful, and his blood begins to boil, and he +says: "I adore you." And so she gives herself to him; and then, the next +morning, he goes off and forgets all about it. + +FREDDY. No, no! + +OCEANA. I don't say you, Freddy. But it's happened that way. The woman, +though... she doesn't forget. She carries a reminder. And it's not only +that she has the burden of the child... the anguish of the birth... the +task of suckling and rearing it. It's that she has a miniature of the +man with her all the rest of her days. She has his soul there... blended +with the thing she loves most of all in the world. And so, don't you +see how careful she has to be, how desperately important the thing is to +her? [She sits lost in thought.] I have never been in love, Freddy, not +the least little bit. I have never felt that call in my blood. But some +day I shall feel it; and when I do, I shall take that man as if before a +court of judgment. I shall take him away with me. I shall ask myself not +merely, "Is he beautiful and strong of body?" but, "Is he beautiful +and strong in soul?" I would not ask that he be learned... he might not +chance to be a cultured man. But he would be a man of power, he would be +a man who could rule himself, he would be a soul without base alloy. And +when I had satisfied myself as to that, I would have found my mate. I +would say to him, "I wish you to be the father of my child." [She sits +again, brooding.] I would not exact pledges of him. I would say to him, +"I do not ask you to take care of me; I do not ask you to take care of +my child. You may go away when you wish... that rests with you; but _I_ +wish the child." [She pauses.] Do you see? + +FREDDY. Yes, I see. [He gazes at her, frightened.] And you... you do not +feel that way about me? + +OCEANA. Not the least little bit, Freddy. + +FREDDY. And if I waited ever so long? + +OCEANA. I do not believe that I should ever feel it, [She puts her hand +upon his arm.] My dear, dear boy! Learn to look at it as I do. Face it +like a man. It is one of those things that we cannot help.. . that we +do not even understand. It is the chemistry of sex; it is Nature's voice +speaking to us. It means no disgrace to you that I do not love you... it +means no inferiority, no defeat. It is the signal that Nature gives +us, that we wait for, and dare not disregard. You dare not ask me to +disregard it! [He is gazing into her eyes like one entranced.] You must +let me teach you... you must let me help you. You must not let this mean +misery and despair. Take hold of yourself. Perhaps you and Ethel can go +back with me to my island... for I think that I am going. [He continues +to gaze at her, speechless with admiration. She presses his arm.] Now +promise me. + +FREDDY. What? + +OCEANA. That you will be a man. + +[They gaze into each other's eyes.] + +ETHEL. [Off.] Oceana! + +OCEANA. Here is your sister. Let us not trouble her. [Aloud.] Ethel! + +ETHEL. [Enters in street costume.] Oh, here you are! And your new +clothes! + +OCEANA. Do you like me? + +ETHEL. No, they don't belong to you! + +OCEANA. [Laughs.] Well, I shan't wear them long. + +ETHEL. What are you going to do? + +OCEANA. I'm going to design some for myself. + +ETHEL. What kind? + +OCEANA. I don't know yet. But it'll be something that will leave my legs +outside. + +ETHEL. And did you get something beautiful for tonight? + +OCEANA. I got something that will do. + +ETHEL. Oceana, when am I to see the dance? + +OCEANA. I told you, when I have my costume. + +ETHEL. But when will that be? + +OCEANA. When my trunks have come. + +FREDDY. They came this afternoon. + +OCEANA. Oh! Then we'll have it to-morrow morning! And I'll show you my +beautiful bridal-robe. + +FREDDY. Bridal-robe? + +OCEANA. Yes. Didn't I tell you? It was made for me by one of our King's +sons. His name was Paukopi... that means, in our language, "Child of the +Sea Foam." And he was in love with me. + +ETHEL. Oh! + +OCEANA. He was very sad and went away by himself. But he was a man.. . +he did not go to pieces. [She looks at FREDDY.] He went into the forest +and spent his time hunting wild birds; and he gathered their feathers +and made them into this gorgeous robe... purple and gold and green and +scarlet. He brought it and laid it at my feet, and said that it was my +bridal-robe, that I must wear it at my feast. + +ETHEL. Oh, how lovely! + +FREDDY. [Rises and turns away in despair.] Oh! + +ETHEL. Tell me a little about the Sunrise Dance. + +OCEANA. It represents the worship of Nature. It portrays an awakening +from slumber... you know the soft part of the music at the beginning... + +ETHEL. Yes. + +OCEANA. Then gradually I rise to my feet and gaze towards the light. +There is the sun shining upon the waves of the sea, and upon the palm +branches. All life is awakening and singing for joy... and so the music +rises to an ecstasy. + +ETHEL. And do you dance other things? + +OCEANA. Oh, yes--lots of things. + +ETHEL. Oh, Oceana! I'm just wild to see you! + +OCEANA. And I'm wild to dance. I must have some vent pretty soon. You +see, at home I was out of doors all the time. I hunted and fished, I +swam and dived, I danced on the beach. And here... why, I walk down the +street, and I daren't even so much as sing out loud. I have to remember +that I'm a young lady, and have an ermine cloak on! Truly, I don't see +how you ever stand it! + +ETHEL. We were brought up that way. + +OCEANA. Yes; and that's why you're undeveloped and frail. But tell +me, don't you ever have an impulse to play? That beautiful snow out +there--don't you want to tumble round in it and pelt each other with +snowballs? + +FREDDY. We did that when we were children. + +OCEANA. Yes, that's the way. But I, you see... I'm a child still; and I +expect to be always. + +ETHEL. And are you always happy, Oceana? + +OCEANA. Always. + +ETHEL. You never... you never even start to feel sad? + +OCEANA. Why yes, now and then. But I don't permit such moods. You see, +I have the conviction that there is nothing beautiful or right about +sorrow--never, under any circumstances. + +ETHEL. You mean you would not mourn, even if some one you loved were to +die? + +OCEANA. I mean that I did not. [She pauses.] Yes, exactly... my father. +He had been my life's companion, and they brought him home drowned; and +yet I did not mourn. + +ETHEL. Oceana! + +OCEANA. I had trained myself... for just that. We had made ourselves +what you might call soul-exercises; little ceremonies to remind +ourselves of things we wished to hold by. The Sunrise Dance was one of +those. And then, on the last day of each month, at sunset, we would +sit and watch the shadows fade, and contemplate death. [She pauses, +gravely.] We would say to ourselves that we, too, were shadows ... +rainbows in the sea-mist; that we held our life as a gift... we carried +it in our hands, ready to give it up when we heard the call. [A pause.] + +HENRY. [Opens door centre and enters. Sees OCEANA and halts.] Oh! + +OCEANA. [Turns and sees him.] Why! Here's a man! [They gaze at each +other, transfixed.] Ethel! Who is he? + +ETHEL. Why, this is Henry. Letitia's husband. + +OCEANA. Oh! Letitia's husband! [With a sudden, frank gesture, putting +out her hand.] Henry! + +HENRY. Oceana! + +[As their hands meet, they stand looking into each other's faces.] + +OCEANA. [Gripping his hand tightly.] You are strong! [Looks at his +hand.] And you do not smoke, either! Let me see your eyes. + +HENRY. [Perplexed.] My eyes? + +OCEANA. Your eyes. [Turns him toward the light; studies his eyes.] They +dosed you with quinine! Malaria, I suppose? + +HENRY. Why... yes. But how can you tell? + +OCEANA. I can tell many things. Let me see your tongue. + +HENRY. [Bewildered.] My tongue? + +OCEANA. Your tongue. + +HENRY. But what for? + +OCEANA. I can tell more about a man by looking at his tongue for a +minute than by listening to it for a week. + +HENRY. But, Oceana-- + +OCEANA. I am in earnest. + +HENRY. [Laughs.] Why... really... + +OCEANA. Are you afraid? + +HENRY. Good heavens, no! + +OCEANA. Put it out. [He pats his tongue out and she examines it.] So! A +man with a red tongue! And in a civilized city! + +HENRY. Oughtn't it to be red? + +OCEANA. And he doesn't know what it ought to be! How delicious! [She +steps back from him.] And so you are Letitia's husband. Tell me, are you +happy with her? + +HENRY. [Startled; stares at her intently.] No, no... you ought not to +ask me that. + +OCEANA. Why not? + +HENRY. [In a low voice.] Because you know. + +OCEANA. Yes, that's true. [A pause; she changes the subject.] I have +heard my father speak of you often. + +HENRY. He remembered me, did he? I was only twenty when he went away. + +OCEANA. He said that he taught you to play single-stick. + +HENRY. Ah yes, to be sure! + +OCEANA. He taught me also. + +HENRY. You? + +OCEANA. It was our favorite game. + +HENRY. It's a rather rough game for a woman. + +OCEANA. I love it. We'll have a bout. + +HENRY. I'm afraid... I don't think I could. + +OCEANA. Why not? + +HENRY. [Laughs.] I should find it a psychical impossibility to hit a +woman. + +OCEANA. You might find it a physical impossibility in this case. [With +sudden excitement.] Why, my trunks have come! We could have a go before +dinner. Couldn't we, Freddy? + +FREDDY. I suppose so. + +OCEANA. Oh, it's just what I'm pining for! To get my blood stirring +again! And you, too... surely you must be chafing, out of patience! [She +stops abruptly.] Oh! + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Enters left.] Henry! + +HENRY. Yes? + +MRS. MASTERSON. When did you get here? + +HENRY. Just a minute ago. + +MRS. MASTERSON. You've met Anna, I see. + +OCEANA. Yes, Aunt Sophronia... we're getting along famously. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Letitia's looking for you, Henry. + +HENRY. Where is she? + +MRS. MASTERSON. She went home to find you. + +HENRY. Humph! I came here for her. + +MRS. MASTERSON. She wants you at once. + +HENRY. All right. Good-bye, Oceana. + +OCEANA. Until later. + +HENRY [exit centre with MRS. MASTERSON.] + +OCEANA. So that is Henry! Tell me, Ethel, have they any children? + +ETHEL. Yes... two. + +OCEANA. How long have they been married? + +ETHEL. Six years. + +OCEANA. Six years! And is he really happy? + +ETHEL. Why... you know Letitia. + +OCEANA. Yes, but I don't know Henry. + +ETHEL. [Laughs.] I guess he's so-so. Like most of us. + +OCEANA. [Half to herself.] I'll find out for myself. ['Phone rings; +FREDDY rises.] What's that? It's the 'phone. [Rises.] I hadn't noticed +it before! How interesting! + +ETHEL. That's so! You never saw one? + +FREDDY. [At 'phone.] Hello! Yes, this is Mrs. Masterson's. This is her +son. Can't I take the message? Oh, from Miss Pilkington. Oh! Why, that's +too bad! Why no, of course not. Tell Miss Pilkington we're as sorry as +can be! No, I'll attend to it. Good-bye. [Turns.] Miss Pilkington can't +come! + +ETHEL. What? + +FREDDY. She's slipped in the snow and hurt her ankle. + +ETHEL. Oh, Freddy! + +OCEANA. What a shame! + +[They stare at one another.] + +ETHEL. Was that she at the 'phone? + +FREDDY. No, her maid. She's laid up. + +ETHEL. What in the world will we do? + +FREDDY. It's too late to notify people. + +ETHEL. How perfectly beastly! + +FREDDY. I'll go tell mother. + +OCEANA. No, wait! + +FREDDY. What is it? + +OCEANA. I've an idea. + +FREDDY. What? + +OCEANA. Why not let ME take her place? + +ETHEL. How do you mean? + +OCEANA. Let me dance! + +ETHEL. Oh! + +OCEANA. Why not? I'd love to do it. + +ETHEL. Oceana! You'd do the Sunrise Dance? + +OCEANA. Yes; and then if they liked it, I could do some others. + +ETHEL. Oh, Oceana! How perfectly lovely! But... but I wonder if it would +be all right. I mean... it wouldn't shock them? + +OCEANA. Why should it, my dear? + +ETHEL. Is it what they'd call proper? + +OCEANA. Why, of course, Ethel. How ridiculous! It isn't a sex-dance. +It's religious. + +FREDDY. And the costume? + +OCEANA. Oh, the costume is beautiful. + +ETHEL. Then I'll ask mother. + +[Starts to go.] + +OCEANA. Wait. Will Henry be there? + +ETHEL. Of course. + +OCEANA. Are you sure? + +ETHEL. Of course. + +OCEANA. [Eagerly.] Why ask your mother at all? Why not just go ahead and +do it? + +ETHEL. Oceana! + +OCEANA. Why not? She'd only worry meantime. So let's just wait, and I'll +go ahead. + +ETHEL. Oh, would you dare? + +OCEANA. Why, of course! She needn't know until almost time. Is this Miss +Pilkington known here? + +ETHEL. No, she's never been in Boston before. + +FREDDY. Mother met her in London. She promised she'd do her famous +Biblical Dances for mother's pet foundling asylum. + +OCEANA. Well, don't you see? Most of the people wouldn't know till it +was all over! And oh, Ethel, it would be such a lark! [ETHEL and +FREDDY gaze at each other dubiously.] Who was going to play for Miss +Pilkington? + +ETHEL. I was. + +OCEANA. Well, then, you can play for me! You see, Ethel, I'm afraid to +tell your mother... she mightn't be willing. She wants to suppress me, +and oh, I just can't be suppressed! I must have something to do or I'll +jump out of my skin, Ethel. Truly, my dear, if this goes on much longer, +I'll go out and climb the telegraph pole in front of the house! And if I +can only make an impression with my dancing, then I may choose that +for my career. I've been thinking of it seriously... it's one way, that +people might let me preach joy and health to them. If I can't do that, +I'll go off and turn into a suffragette, or join the Anarchists, or +something worse! + +ETHEL. Freddy, what do you say? + +FREDDY. I'll stand my share of the racket. + +OCEANA. Oh, come on! I'm just wild for some kind of mischief! I could +dance like the grandmother of all the witches! Come, let's practice +some. Play for me, Ethel! Play! [Pushes her toward the piano; raises her +hands in triumph; whispers.] Henry! + +CURTAIN + + + + +ACT III + + +[Front part of stage shows an ante-room, with folding doors opening to +rear part, which represents a portion of the Masterson parlor, curtained +off to form a stage for the dance. Entrances down stage right and left. +Up stage, at the left, are the curtains, which part in the middle; they +are held by a cord which is fastened by the wall. OCEANA'S trunk stands +near entrance, right. Also a couple of chairs.] + +[At rise: FREDDY stands left, holding curtain cord. OCEANA lies up +centre, covered with the "Bridal-robe," asleep. Music of Sunrise Dance +begins softly. FREDDY draws back curtains, revealing part of audience, +left. He steals off. OCEANA gradually awakens, raises her head, lifts +herself to her knees, stretches out her hands in worship to the Sun-god. +Then slowly she rises, rapt in wonder. The robe falls back, revealing +a filmy costume, primitive, elemental, naive. She begins to sway, and +gradually glides into an ecstatic dance, which portrays the joyful +awakening of morning.] + + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Enters, left, in great agitation, stares at OCEANA, +wrings her hands, paces about, signals to her frantically.] Oh! Oh! + +[Rushes left and releases curtains, which fall.] + +OCEANA. [Turns in consternation.] Why! What... [Sees MRS. MASTERSON.] +Aunt Sophronia! + +MRS. MASTERSON. How dare you! How dare you! + +OCEANA. Why, what's the matter? + +MRS. MASTERSON. You ask me? Oh, oh! + +OCEANA. Aunt Sophronia, you stopped my dance! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Hussy! Shameless wanton! You have disgraced me before +all the world! + +OCEANA. [Stares at her, slowly comprehending.] Oh! I see! [Goes to her +with signs of distress.] Oh, Aunt Sophronia, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean +to displease you! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Such a humiliation! + +OCEANA. Aunt Sophronia, you must believe me... I had a reason! + +MRS. MASTERSON. A what? + +OCEANA. A reason for doing it! I couldn't help it... believe me, believe +me! + +MRS. MASTERSON. But what... what reason? What do you mean? + +OCEANA. I can't tell you, Aunt Sophronia. But truly... if you knew, you +would understand. I simply had to do it. + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Bewildered.] Is the girl mad? + +OCEANA. Yes, I believe that is it! I am mad! + +DR. MASTERSON. [Opens door and enters left.] Oceana! + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Hurries to him.] Quincy! Don't come in here! It's not +decent! [Pushes him towards door; to OCEANA.] Put something on you, +girl! + +OCEANA. Of course. [Puts on robe.] + +MRS. MASTERSON. I can't comprehend you! Have you no sense of shame +whatever? + +OCEANA. I had a sense of shame. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Naked! Almost naked! And in my home! + +ETHEL. [Enters left.] Mother, what's the matter? + +MRS. MASTERSON. Ethel! You knew of this outrageous plot... + +OCEANA. One moment, Aunt Sophronia. The blame for this rests upon me +alone. I told Ethel that the dance was all right. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Ethel, leave the room. This is no place for you. + +ETHEL. Mother! The people are waiting... + +MRS. MASTERSON. Go at once! [To DR. MASTERSON.] Quincy, go out and make +some apology to our guests. Explain to them that we had no idea... we +were imposed upon... + +[Applause heard off left.] + +OCEANA. Perhaps if your guests were consulted... + +DR. MASTERSON. My dear Sophronia... + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Pushes him off.] Go! Quickly! [Turns to OCEANA.] And as +for you, Anna Talbot, there is no more to be said. You have overwhelmed +me with shame. + +OCEANA. Perhaps, Aunt Sophronia, you would prefer I should leave your +house? + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Stiffly.] I would make no objection. + +OCEANA. I will go as soon as I dress. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Very well. [Starts towards the door.] I will do what I +can to atone for your wantonness. + +OCEANA. One moment, Aunt Sophronia. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Well? + +OCEANA. Ethel tells me that you had something to say to me about +grandfather's will. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Oh! Ethel told you, did she? + +OCEANA. Yes... she wished you to know that she had told me. Of course, +feeling towards me as you do, you would hardly expect me to give up any +rights that I may have. + +MRS. MASTERSON. We will be content with what rights the law allows us. + +OCEANA. What I wished to say was that I would be willing to give Ethel +part of my inheritance. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Oh! + +OCEANA. I would not give it to Freddy, for he is a man, and I should be +breaking the mainspring of his life. But I will give half my money to +Ethel, provided that you will consent to let her go with me. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Oh! So that is your idea! You have already weaned the +child from me... you have made her a traitor to me; and now you wish to +buy her altogether. + +OCEANA. Aunt Sophronia! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Your offer is declined. I have no more to say to you. + +[She sweeps out.] + +OCEANA. [Stands lost in thought; a smile grows upon her face.] Poor Aunt +Sophronia! + +[Begins to hum, and to sway as in the Sunrise Dance. She completes the +dance from where she was interrupted, from an impulse of inner delight.] + +FREDDY. [Steals in right; watches her, enraptured, as she stands with +arms outstretched in ecstasy. He rushes towards her and flings himself +at her feet, clasping her hand.] Oceana! + +OCEANA. Freddy! + +FREDDY. [Sobbing incoherently.] Oceana! I can't stand it! + +OCEANA. Why... what's the matter? + +FREDDY. I love you! I love you! I can't live without you! I can't give +you up... Oceana, have mercy on me! + +OCEANA. [Gravely.] Freddy! This won't do! No... let go of me, please! +You must control yourself. + +FREDDY. Don't send me away! How can you be so cruel to me? + +OCEANA. But, Freddy, I have told you that I don't love you. [She stands, +thinking.] Give me my robe. Now, come sit down here, and listen to me. +I am going away, Freddy, and you won't see me any more. And that is +for the best... for you must get me out of your mind. I don't love you, +Freddy. + +FREDDY. And you never would love me? + +OCEANA. Never. + +FREDDY. But why not... why not? + +OCEANA. I can't tell you that. + +FREDDY. Oh, you are pitiless to me! + +OCEANA. One does not give love out of pity. That is a cowardly thing +to ask. [She pauses.] I must be frank with you, Freddy. You have got to +face the facts. When I give my love, it will be to a man; and you are +not a man. + +FREDDY. But I am growing up! + +OCEANA. No; you don't understand me. You should have grown up years ago. +You have been stunted. [She takes his hand.] Look! See the stains! + +FREDDY. Why... + +OCEANA. Cigarettes! And you want to be a man! + +FREDDY. Is that so unforgivable? + +OCEANA. It is only one thing of many, my dear cousin. + +FREDDY. Oceana, you don't know what men are! + +OCEANA. Oh, don't I! My dear boy, there is nothing about men that I +don't know. I have read Krafft-Ebing and Havelock Ellis... I know it +all. I know it as a physician knows it. I can read a man's diseases in +his complexion... I can read his vices in his eyes. Don't you see? + +FREDDY. [Drops his eyes.] I see! + +OCEANA. Don't think that I am despising you, dear boy. I know the world +you have lived in. + +FREDDY. But what can I do? + +OCEANA. You can go away, and make a man of yourself. Go West, get out +into the open. Learn to ride and hunt... harden your muscles and expand +your chest. Until then you're not fit to be the father of any woman's +child! + +FREDDY. Drop college, you mean? + +OCEANA. Be your own college! The idea of trying to build a brain in a +body that's decaying! How could you stand it? Don't you ever feel that +you are boiling over... that you must have something upon which you can +wreak yourself? Don't you feel that you'd like to tame a horse, or to +sail a boat in a storm? Don't you ever read about adventures? + +FREDDY. Yes, I read about them. + +OCEANA. And don't you ever feel that you must experience them? That you +must face some kind of danger... do something that you can look back +on with pride? Why, see... six years ago there came to our island three +war-canoes full of savages... cannibals they were. If father and I +hadn't been there, they'd have wiped our people out. And do you think +I'd give up the memory of that struggle? + +FREDDY. What happened? + +OCEANA. Fortunately they came in the daytime, so we soon drove them back +to their boats. See... I'll show you. [She goes to trunk.] Here's one of +them. + +[She lifts up a human skull.] + +FREDDY. Good Lord! + +OCEANA. Notice that crack. That was done with a spear... by my prince, +the one who made me this robe, you know. He cleaned the skull out for +me. + +FREDDY. Rather a ghastly sort of souvenir. + +OCEANA. Oh, I don't mind that. Father and I found it useful... a sort of +memento mori. + +FREDDY. [Looking into trunk.] And what are those things? + +OCEANA. They are some of my arrows. And these are what we used for +bowls... turtle-shells, you see. + +FREDDY. [Pointing.] But those? + +OCEANA. Oh, my single-sticks. [Lifts them.] That's the game Henry and I +were talking about. You ought to get him to teach it to you. + +FREDDY. What's it like? + +OCEANA. I'll show you. [She takes from the trunk two leather helmets and +gloves.] Here you are! It's an old English game... didn't you ever read +"Robin Hood"? + +FREDDY. Oh, it's that? Why, they used to crack each other's heads! + +OCEANA. The object was to draw first blood. But we used to wear these +helmets. You see how we've dented them up? And these old cudgels... how +they remind me of father! + +FREDDY. Humph! They're heavy. + +OCEANA. You take the stick this way; it's a kind of fencing. [She gives +him a stick and illustrates the play.] No, so! + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Enters.] What's this? Is this the way you get ready to +leave? + +OCEANA. [Imploring.] Oh, Aunt Sophronia, I beg your pardon! I got so +interested... + +MRS. MASTERSON. Is there no limit to your indiscretion? + +DR. MASTERSON. [Enters hurriedly.] Sophronia, I beg of you... + +MRS. MASTERSON. I will hear no more of this! I have spoken, once for +all... + +DR. MASTERSON. But, my dear... + +MRS. MASTERSON. No more! + +DR. MASTERSON. But, Sophronia, the people don't understand why.... + +MRS. MASTERSON. It was outrageous! + +DR. MASTERSON. I know. But since it was begun... it's so difficult to +explain... + +MRS. MASTERSON. No more of this! I won't hear it! + +HENRY. [Enters; stares about.] Mrs. Masterson, what have you done here? + +MRS. MASTERSON. There is no reason why you should concern yourself with +it. + +HENRY. But I wish to know. + +MRS. MASTERSON. What do you wish to know? + +HENRY. Did you stop Oceana's dance? + +MRS. MASTERSON. I did. + +HENRY. And why? + +MRS. MASTERSON. Because I saw fit to. + +HENRY. But your guests... + +MRS. MASTERSON. I will attend to my guests. + +HENRY. But what is Oceana going to do? + +MRS. MASTERSON. She is going to leave our house. + +HENRY. This is a shame. Most of the people enjoyed the dance. They would +like to see more... + +MRS. MASTERSON. Henry, you will permit me to decide about what goes on +in my home. + +HENRY. You may decide for yourself. But if Oceana leaves tonight, I will +leave also... and I will never return. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Very well, Sir; as you please. + +OCEANA. Henry, let me have a say. I am obliged to you, but I don't want +to stay. It's absurd for me to be here... I don't belong here. I've +lived all my life under the open sky; I've been free. I've swum several +miles every day and run several more; I've hunted and fished and danced +and played; and here they dress me up in long skirts and sit me in a +corner and tell me I'm a lady! I can stand it just so long ... I've +stood it twenty-four hours, and I feel like a wild animal in a cage. +If I don't find something to do... something real... something that is +thrilling... truly, I'll murder some one. [She paces the room; DR. and +MRS. Masterson shrink away from her.] Yes, I mean it! [With increasing +vehemence.] Picture me at home. When I was hungry, I went out for game; +and unless I got the game, I stayed hungry. Or I went fishing, and I had +to get my canoe through the surf. I had the zest of danger... I had +real struggle. But here I have nothing. They bring me my food on silver +platters; they get up and give me their seats, they even push the doors +open in front of me! And so I'm panting for something to do... for some +opposition, some competition, some conflict. I'm spoiling for a fight! +You, Henry, don't you know what I mean? A fight! [With a sharp, swift +gesture.] I want to meet some wild animal again! Is there a wild animal +in you? [They stare at each other; suddenly she springs and takes the +other single-stick from FREDDY.] Here! You know this game! My father +taught you! [She holds out one to him.] Come on! + +HENRY. [Bewildered.] Oceana! This is not the place. + +OCEANA. It's the place for me! Take it! [She forces it on him.] Now! +Forget that I'm a woman! Ready! + +HENRY. Oceana! No! + +OCEANA. Are you afraid of your mother-in-law? + +HENRY. Good heavens! + +OCEANA. If you're not, you're the only man in the family that isn't. +[She drops her robe.] Now! + +MRS. MASTERSON. This is disgraceful! + +DR. MASTERSON. Oceana, I beg of you... + +OCEANA. Defend yourself! [She makes a feint at Henry's head, causing him +to raise his stick.] Lay on! + +[She attacks him briskly. He defends himself. There is a swift rattle of +the sticks and a vivid conflict.] + +HENRY. [Laughing.] Oceana, for God's sake, stop! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Oh, stop them! + +DR. MASTERSON. Are you mad? + +FREDDY. Oceana! + +OCEANA. [Wild with the excitement of the struggle.] Lay on! Ha, ha! Well +played! Guard! Once again! Ah, this is what I like! This is what I've +been looking for! [They leap here and there; the others dodge out of the +way, protesting; the conflict grows more and more strenuous.] + +LETITIA. [Enters left; screams in terror.] Henry! [They stop; a long +pause.] Henry! What does this mean? + +HENRY. My dear... + +[Stops for lack of breath.] + +OCEANA. Freddy, my robe. + +[Wraps herself and sits in chair, smiling.] + +LETITIA. What does this mean? + +MRS. MASTERSON. Of all the shameless and insane procedures! + +LETITIA. Are you mad, Henry? + +OCEANA. No, no, Letitia. We know just what we're about. You see, your +husband and I are considering whether or not we shall fall in love with +each other. + +LETITIA. [Wildly.] Oh! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Monstrous! + +DR. MASTERSON. Oceana! + +LETITIA. How dare you? + +OCEANA. He's interested, you know. I've got hold of him. + +LETITIA. [Furiously.] Henry, you stand there and permit her to insult +me... + +HENRY. My dear, believe me... + +OCEANA. [Sharply.] Stop, Henry! [A pause.] Look at me! + +HENRY. Well? + +OCEANA. Don't tell her a lie. A lie is the thing I never pardon. + +HENRY. Why... why... + +[Falls silent.] + +MRS. MASTERSON. Henry! + +FREDDY. Gee whiz! + +LETITIA. Henry, I demand that you come home with me instantly. + +OCEANA. Don't go. + +LETITIA. [Almost speechless.] If you stay here, you stay alone! + +OCEANA. [Rises, casts aside her robe, stretches wide her arms.] Letitia! +Look at me! Am I the sort of woman that you can safely leave your +husband alone with? + +LETITIA. [Stares at her terrified, then bursts into tears and flings +herself into HENRY'S arms.] Henry! + +OCEANA. Ah, yes! That is safer! + +HENRY. [Supports LETITIA.] My dear! My dear! + +LETITIA. Come home with me! + +OCEANA. God, man, how I pity you! Bound in chains to a woman like that! +And with all the world conspiring to hold you fast! How can you bear it? +Do you expect to bear it forever? What will become of your soul? Oh, I +pity you! I pity you! + +LETITIA. [Hysterically.] Henry, take me home! Take me home at once! + +HENRY. Yes, my dear, yes! + +OCEANA. What is the spell they've laid upon you? You make me think of +Gulliver... a giant stretched out upon the ground, impotent, bound fast +with a million tiny threads! Wake up, man... wake up! You've only one +life to live. You act as if you had a thousand. + +LETITIA. Mother! + +MRS. MASTERSON. How long is this to continue? + +LETITIA. Henry, won't you stop listening to her? + +OCEANA. He's not listening to me, Letitia. He's listening to the voice +of the universe, calling to him. The voice of unborn generations, +clamoring, agonizing! What do you suppose it means, man... this storm +that has shaken us? It is Nature's trumpet-call... it is the shout of +discovery of the powers within us! For ages upon ages life has been +preparing it... and now suddenly we meet... the barriers are shattered +and flung down, the tides of being sweep us together! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Oh! This is outrageous! + +DR. MASTERSON. Oceana, Henry is married! + +OCEANA. Married! Married! That is the sorcery with which you bind him! +No longer a man at all, but some aborted thing... a relic! An eunuch! +They mumble their incantations over you... the spell is done, and you +sink back, cowed and whimpering! You are a machine, a domestic utensil! +Never again are you to love and to dare to create No, there are other +things in life for you... bread and butter, cooks and dinner parties, +billiards and bridge-whist... that is your portion! A married man! + +LETITIA. [Terrified.] Henry! For God's sake! + +[He no longer returns her embraces, but stares at Oceana, fascinated.] + +OCEANA. Don't you see, man? It's a dream! A nightmare! Rouse yourself, +lift your head... and it's gone! Life is calling! Come away! + +LETITIA. [Frantically.] Mother! Mother! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Quincy, if you can't stop this outrage, I will! Call the +servants. + +[She starts toward Oceana.] + +OCEANA. Call the police! Call your guests! Anything... bring the world +down on him. Terrify him with conventions, beat him into subjection +again! + +MRS. MASTERSON. Wanton! + +OCEANA. Wanton! Oh, how well you understand me! I, with my hunger for +righteousness... I, who have disciplined myself as an anchorite, who +have served as a priestess of life! And you, with your formulas and your +superstitions... you pass judgment upon me! [With terrific energy.] See! +This man and I, we are the gateway to the future! And you seek to +bar it! By what right do you stand in the path of posterity... you +tormentors of the ideal, you assassins of human hope! + +MRS. MASTERSON. [Almost striking her.] Oh! Oh! And my children have to +listen to this! [She whirls about.] Ethel! Freddy! Go out of the room! + +ETHEL. I am going with Oceana. + +MRS. MASTERSON. What? + +ETHEL. Some day... if not now. She's perfectly right. Letitia has no +business to keep him. She never would have got him if she hadn't played +a part. + +MRS. MASTERSON. Ethel Masterson! + +LETITIA. Little vixen! + +FREDDY. [Rushes to OCEANA and seizes her hand.] Oceana! Let me go with +you, too! + +DR. MASTERSON. What next! + +OCEANA. No, Freddy... no! [She withdraws her hand and holds it out to +Henry.] Henry! Come! + +[A tense pause; all stare at Henry. He never takes his eyes from Oceana. +Slowly, like one hypnotized, he draws away from his wife's embrace, +and moves towards Oceana. He seizes her hand. All stand transfixed. +Silence.] + +[CURTAIN] + + + + +ACT IV + + +[The scene shows the living-room of a bungalow. Large stone fireplace +centre; windows and window seats on each side; French windows leading +to piazza right; piano between them; door left to another room; large +mirror beside it. Centre table, rustic chairs, deer-heads and skins, +Indian blankets, etc.] + +[At rise: The stage is empty.] + + +OCEANA. [Laughs off.] Oh, say, but that was an adventure! + +[Enters; glowing and exultant from a long mountain walk. She wears a +"Rosalind" costume, brown, with soft boots, gauntlet gloves and light +fur about the neck; carries a pair of snow-shoes, which she has taken +off and from which she knocks the snow.] + +HENRY. [Follows.] You like the mountains! + +OCEANA. Oh, my dear! They are marvellous! I've never imagined anything +like it... to be able to see so much of the world at once. It's the way +you think of heaven. + +HENRY. You don't mind the cold? + +OCEANA. I find I prefer it. I think I shall stay here forever. It tunes +you up so! It makes you quite drunk! [Looks at herself in the mirror.] I +look cute in this, don't I? + +HENRY. You look like a fairy-story! + +OCEANA. I ought to have had sense enough to think of a theatrical +costumer in the beginning. [Stretches her arms.] Oh, I feel so +wonderful! Ha, ha, ha! I don't know whether it's the mountain air.. . or +whether it's because I'm in love! + +HENRY. [Seizes her hand.] Sweetheart! + +OCEANA. [Stares at him.] How wonderful it is! Beyond all believing! I'm +stunned by it... afraid of it. Tell me, Hal, were you ever drunk? + +HENRY. [Laughs.] Once or twice. + +OCEANA. [Seriously.] I never was. But I've watched my people sometimes +and tried to understand it. And it's just that. Nature has made us +drunk! + +HENRY. And that is what frightens you? + +OCEANA. She has her purposes, Hal; and I don't want to be her blind +victim. But then, I look at you again, and wonder leaps up in me... +love, such as I never conceived of before; power... vision without end. +I seem to be a hundred times myself! It is as if barriers were broken +down within me... I see into new vistas of life. I understand... I +exult! Oh, Hal, I shall never be the same again! + +HENRY. Nor I; I look back at myself as I was a week ago, and I can't +believe it. + +OCEANA. With me it is like a great fountain inside. It surges up, and I +cannot be still! I want to laugh... to sing! I have to dance it out of +me! Do you know Anitra's Dance, Hal? + +HENRY. Yes, of course. + +OCEANA. [Begins to sing the music to herself and playfully to dance. The +enthusiasm of it takes hold of her, and she dances more quickly.] Play +it, Hal! Play! + +[HENRY sits at piano and plays Anitra's Dance; she dances tumultuously, +ending in a whirlwind of excitement.] Oh! + +[As Henry rises, she flies to him and he clasps her passionately.] + +HENRY. Sweetheart! + +OCEANA. [Panting.] Oh, Hal, I'm so happy! So happy! [She sobs upon his +shoulder, then looks at him through her tears.] Oh, if I only dared let +myself go! + +HENRY. Why not, dearest? + +OCEANA. It sweeps me off my feet! And I have to hold myself in. + +HENRY. Why? Don't I love you? + +OCEANA. Yes, I know. But I'm terrified at myself; I'm losing my +self-control. And I promised father. + +HENRY. What? + +OCEANA. That I would never do it. "Never feel an emotion," he would say, +"that you could not stop feeling if you wished to." + +HENRY. But, sweetheart... why so much distrust? Why should we wait, when +everything in us cries out against it? + +OCEANA. Don't say that to me now, Hal! + +HENRY. But why not? + +OCEANA. This is not the time for such a thought. You know it! + +HENRY. Dearest... + +OCEANA. [Passionately.] Ah, don't put it all on me! Don't make it too +hard for me! + +HENRY. But if I only knew... + +OCEANA. You will know before long. Ah, Hal, see how I'm situated. I've +broken all the laws. I've no precedent to help me... I have to work it +all out for myself. I shall have to bear the scorn of the world; and oh, +think if I had to bear the scorn of my own conscience! Don't you see? + +HENRY. Yes, I see. But... + +OCEANA. I have chosen a certain course. I have forced myself to be calm, +to think it out in the cold light of reason, to decide what is right for +me to do. And now I must keep to my resolution. You would not want our +love to lead me into shame! + +HENRY. No! + +OCEANA. Do you read Nietzsche, Henry? + +HENRY. He is a mere name to me. + +OCEANA. I will give you some lines of Nietzsche's. "Canst thou give +thyself thy good and thine evil, and hang thy will above thee as thy +law? Canst thou be thine own judge, and avenger of thy law? Fearful is +it to be alone with the judge and the avenger of thy law. So is a stone +flung out into empty space and into the icy breath of isolation." + +HENRY. That's all right... but if you expect Letitia to face this +problem in any such way, you will be sadly disappointed. + +OCEANA. That's none of my affair. All I have to do is to give her a +chance. If she cannot face the facts, she has passed sentence upon +herself. + +HENRY. [Laughs.] All right, my dear. It will certainly be a scene to +watch! + +OCEANA. You think she will come? + +HENRY. Oh, she'll certainly come. + +OCEANA. And she won't bring her mother? + +HENRY. I can't tell about that. + +OCEANA. If she does, we'll simply have to send her down to the village +... I won't talk in Aunt Sophronia's presence. + +HENRY. I was perfectly explicit on that point. [Takes paper from table.] +Here's the telegram: "Come to the bungalow immediately, upon a matter of +extreme urgency. Do not bring your mother." + +OCEANA. Certainly that is clear enough. + +HENRY. And bewildering enough. But I suppose they are prepared for +anything by now. + +OCEANA. It's past the time. [Looking from window.] We should be able to +see a sleigh. + +HENRY. No, the road turns behind that hillock there. + +OCEANA. But look! + +HENRY. What? + +OCEANA. There's some one coming afoot. + +HENRY. Where? + +OCEANA. Round that side! By the path! Why, it's Ethel! + +HENRY. Good Lord! Ethel! + +OCEANA. She's come up from the village afoot. + +HENRY. Well, of all the apparitions! + +OCEANA. Run help her, Henry. She's running. [Opens window and calls.] +Ethel! [HENRY exit hurriedly.] Why, the poor, dear child! I wonder if +she came in Letitia's stead! But then... why wouldn't she get a sleigh? +[Calls.] Ethel! What's the matter? + +HENRY. [Off.] She says Letitia is coming! + +OCEANA. Oh! + +HENRY. She's just behind! + +OCEANA. But, Ethel, what are you doing here? + +ETHEL. [Off, breathless.] Wait! + +OCEANA. Why, you poor child, you're exhausted. What in the world... + +ETHEL. Wait. + +[Enters, breathless, half carried by Henry.] + +OCEANA. [Pounces upon her.] Ethel! Of all the surprises! You dear thing! +[Embraces her, shakes snow from her.] What in the world has happened? + +ETHEL. Oceana, I ran away! + +OCEANA. You ran away? + +ETHEL. To you! I couldn't stand it! I must be with you, Oceana--no +matter how wicked it is, I must be with you! + +OCEANA. [Breathlessly.] Ethel! + +ETHEL. Yes, I'm desperate... I'll die if I have to stay at home. + +OCEANA. My dear, dear girl! [Clasps her.] + +ETHEL. You won't send me back? + +OCEANA. Never! + +ETHEL. [Wildly.] But, Oceana, Letitia is coming! + +OCEANA. Yes? + +ETHEL. I took a train from Boston. And when I saw her come aboard, +imagine how I felt! I hid... she didn't see me. And I got off the train +first and dodged out of sight. I ran all the way. I suppose she stopped +to get a sleigh. + +HENRY. It's all right, Ethel... we knew she was coming. + +ETHEL. You knew it? + +OCEANA. Yes, Henry sent for her. You see, Letitia and I have to talk +things out. + +ETHEL. Well, of all the... + +[Stops, dazed.] + +OCEANA. [Laughs.] That's all right, dear. We know what we're doing. But +it was good of you to try to save us! + +HENRY. Listen! + +OCEANA. Ah! + +HENRY. The sleigh-bells! + +OCEANA. She's here! + +ETHEL. [Clasping her.] Oceana! + +OCEANA. What is it, dear? + +ETHEL. Don't let her take me back home? + +OCEANA. But how can she take you, dear, if you won't go? + +ETHEL. She might persuade you. + +OCEANA. Never fear, Ethel... we'll stand by you, won't we, Hal? + +HENRY. Yes. + +ETHEL. She'll threaten to make me go. + +OCEANA. Her mind will be taken up with other things, Ethel. + +ETHEL. But mother will come! And she'll command me to return. I'm not of +age, you know. + +OCEANA. But then, if you won't obey? Will she send for the police? + +ETHEL. No... hardly that. + +OCEANA. All right, then, dear. I'll save you... trust me. I mean to give +you a chance for life. + +ETHEL. And, oh, Oceana... what do you think? Freddy's run away, too! + +OCEANA. What? + +HENRY. Where to? + +ETHEL. He's gone out West! + +OCEANA. You don't mean it! + +HENRY. What for? + +ETHEL. He says he's going to be a cowboy. He's going to make a man of +himself. He left a letter to father. + +OCEANA. Why, the dear boy! + +ETHEL. [Mysteriously.] Oceana, do you know what was the matter? + +OCEANA. No... what? + +ETHEL. I think I know. He was in love with you! + +OCEANA. I shouldn't wonder, my dear. [Laughs.] But don't tell Henry. .. +he'll be jealous! + +[Sound of sleigh-bells louder.] + +ETHEL. Here she is! + +OCEANA. You go into the next room now. It wouldn't be considered proper +for you to hear what we're going to say. + +ETHEL. Of all the adventures! + +[Exit.] + +OCEANA. [Smiles at Henry.] Now then! + +HENRY. You wanted it, my dear! + +[They turn, gazing right. The sleigh-bells have come nearer, then +stopped. Some one is heard to step upon the piazza and stamp the snow +from the feet.] + +LETITIA. [Enters right, stares at Oceana and screams.] Oceana! + +OCEANA. Letitia... + +LETITIA. [Gasps for breath.] Henry! How dared you bring me here to meet +that woman? + +OCEANA. Letitia... + +LETITIA. Don't speak to me! Don't you dare to speak to me! [She sinks +down by table and bursts into tears.] Oh, how horrible! How horrible! As +if I had not humiliations enough already! + +HENRY. [Taking step toward her.] Letitia... + +OCEANA. [With a swift gesture.] Wait! + +LETITIA. Oh, who would have thought it possible! To bring me 'way up +here... + +OCEANA. You might as well understand at the outset... the thing cannot +be done that way. + +LETITIA. [With concentrated hatred.] You dare! + +OCEANA. We have sent for you... + +LETITIA. WE have sent for you! + +OCEANA. Because we wished to talk things out with you in a sensible way. +And you'll have to make up your mind to control yourself. + +LETITIA. [Sobbing.] Henry, you permit this shameful humiliation! + +OCEANA. Henry has nothing to do with this affair, Letitia. It is I who +have to talk to you. + +LETITIA. [Bursts into hysterical weeping again.] Oh, that I should have +lived to see this! + +OCEANA. You will find out before you get through that I mean to deal +with you fairly. But you cannot accomplish anything by hysterics. + +LETITIA. Oh, oh, oh! + +OCEANA. And you had best believe me; you injure your case by refusing to +act rationally. + +LETITIA. [Looks up, frightened.] What do you want with me? + +OCEANA. [Quietly.] In the first place, Letitia, I want to convey to you +the information that your husband's relationship and mine has so far +been what you would call innocent. + +LETITIA. What? + +OCEANA. I was a virgin when I came to Boston, and I am a virgin still. + +LETITIA, And you expect me to believe that? + +OCEANA. My dear, I don't care in the least whether you believe it or +not. + +LETITIA. [Faintly.] But... + +OCEANA. What reason would I have to fear you? He is mine, if I want him. + +LETITIA. [Dazed.] Then what... why are you here? Why... + +OCEANA. I came here because I wished to get acquainted with him. And +what chance have a man and woman to get acquainted with each other in +the conventional world? + +LETITIA. [Stares at her; then, faintly.] But what... + +OCEANA. I wished to try him out... in body, mind and soul. I wished to +know if he was the man for me. + +LETITIA. [Rushes to Henry.] Oh! Have you no decency left? Have you no +mercy on me? What has come over you? + +HENRY. Letitia... + +OCEANA. Let me attend to this, Hal. + +LETITIA. Hal! + +OCEANA. That a woman could be married to a man for six years and +continue to call him Henry, speaks volumes for the romance of their +relationship! + +LETITIA. [To Henry.] Where's your sense of shame? + +OCEANA. You are taking the wrong line, Letitia. No such consideration +has a moment's weight with us. + +LETITIA. [Catches her breath.] Since it seems that I am here at your +mercy, I ask to know your pleasure? + +OCEANA. The reason that we have sent for you is that I might assure +myself upon two points... first, as to whether your husband still loves +you, and second, as to whether you still love him. + +LETITIA. You doubt that I love him? + +OCEANA. So far, Letitia, your actions have proceeded, not from love of +him, but from hatred of me. + +LETITIA. Oh! And if I fail to measure up to your tests of love... + +OCEANA. [Triumphantly.] Then he is mine! + +LETITIA. And the fact that he is my husband... + +OCEANA. Is nothing! + +LETITIA. The fact that he vowed to keep faith with me... + +OCEANA. Is nothing! + +LETITIA. That I am dependent upon him for support... + +OCEANA. You have money of your own, Letitia. + +LETITIA. Do you suppose I am thinking about money! I mean his +protection. + +OCEANA. A person who confesses to the need of protection has written +himself down an inferior. [A pause.] You see, Letitia, times have +changed; our ideas of marriage have charged. In the beginning a woman +was a man's economic dependent; now that the man has become ashamed +of that, he is made the woman's spiritual dependent. You play upon his +sense of chivalry, his sympathy, his pity; and you prey upon him, you +devour him alive. But the time has come when that must cease, Letitia +... man will not always be a domestic appendage! And you will simply +have to face this new situation. Do you still possess your husband's +love? Do you really love him? Nothing else will count... none of your +"rights"... we are not afraid of man or devil. + +LETITIA. [Gasps.] Oh! [Turns to HENRY.] Henry, will you tell me what all +this means? Can it be that you assent to these outrageous ideas? + +HENRY. I assent to them, Letitia. It may be that you still love me, +but you have given me few signs of it. You have been... you are.. . a +selfish woman. + +LETITIA. Henry! + +HENRY. How often do you give a thought to me... to the needs of my +nature? You think of your whims and your prejudices; you think of your +social position... of your "world" and its conventions. You think of +what your mother approves, of what your father approves, of what this +person will say and what that person will say. And I follow you about... +I play my part in the hollow show that you call life; but all the time +my heart is crying out in me... I am starving... starving! + +LETITIA. [Startled.] Henry! + +OCEANA. Ah! She is beginning to see it! + +LETITIA. [Stretches out her arms and totters towards him, weeping.] +Henry! I love you! [Wildly.] Believe me! Believe me! I love you! Don't +you remember when you were ill three years ago... how I nursed you and +watched over you? You knew that I loved you then. Why, you said I'd worn +myself to a shadow! You kissed me, and told me I'd saved your life! And +when I was ill myself, and you thought I was dying... didn't you realize +that you loved me? And the children? Have you never given a thought to +them? Are they nothing to you? And you to them? You know that you love +them, Henry... you dare not deny it. Are they to be without a father all +their lives? [Falls into his arms.] My husband! + +HENRY. [Catches her, deeply moved.] Letitia! + +OCEANA. [Has been watching them intently; now, startled and pained.] Ah +I thought so! [She turns away; supports herself by the table; whispers.] +That settles it! + +LETITIA. Henry, if I have been selfish, I am sorry! I humble myself +before you... I beg you for forgiveness! Henry, I do love you! Don't you +believe me? + +HENRY. [Faintly.] I believe you. + +OCEANA. [Clenches her hands and turns resolutely.] You see, Hal, I knew +it! [He bows his head.] You can't get away from her. [She pauses.] You +understand it all now... what my instinct told me. You still love her, +you still belong to her. You would have gone away with me, and you would +still have been thinking about her--worrying about her. It would have +been tearing your soul in half. [She waits; he does not look at her; she +goes on, half to convince herself.] She is not big enough to give you +up. She could not say, "Oceana is young and needs you; you love Oceana, +and she will make you happy. Go with her." No, she would think of the +world and its conventions... she would be jealous and bitter. She would +eat her heart out... she would tear herself to pieces! And that would +tear you to pieces... you could never forget it. And there are the +children, Hal. It's true that you love them; you think about them all +the time... I know, for you speak of them. And she could take them away +from you, legally... how much chance would they ever have in life, if +she and her mother had the bringing up of them? Don't you see, Hal? What +can we do? + +LETITIA. [Clinging to Henry's bosom.] Henry, I love you! + +OCEANA. I want to play the game generously, Letitia; but it is all I +can do not to despise you... because he loves you, and it has meant so +little to you, you have done so little in return. That is the curse of +this thing you call marriage. You say to yourself that you've got him... +the law and the conventions will keep him for you... and so you can +treat him as you please. You'll take him off with you now, and you'll +set to work to get right back where you were before... yes, she will, +Hal. She'll try to wheedle you into backing down from this position. She +will weep and she will scold. But you stand firm... stand firm! What we +did was right... it was noble and true, and if more married people did +such things, it would be better for them. + +LETITIA. [Clinging to Henry.] Henry, come home with me! + +HENRY. All right, I'll come. + +[He does not lift his head.] + +OCEANA. Look at me. It's all right, Hal... it's all right. + +[She speaks with intensity; they gaze into each other's eyes.] + +HENRY. [Stretches out his hand to her.] Oceana... I'm sorry... + +OCEANA. [With sudden emotion.] No, Hal! Go... go quickly! Please! + +[He goes out, right, with Letitia; Oceana stands gazing straight ahead. +Sound of sleigh-bells heard. Suddenly she sinks into a chair, bows her +head upon the table, and bursts into tears.] + +ETHEL. [Opens door, left, and stands gazing at Oceana in alarm, then +runs to her and sinks upon her knees before her.] Oceana! + +OCEANA. [Sobbing.] He's gone! Gone! + +ETHEL. He left you? + +OCEANA. I gave him up! I sent him away. Oh, Ethel, Ethel... what am I +going to do? + +ETHEL. Oceana! + +OCEANA. Oh, how I loved him! I didn't realize how I loved him! The whole +face of the world was changed... and now, now... how shall I bear it? +[She stares ahead of her.] Oh, Ethel, tell me I did right to give him +up. + +ETHEL. Why did you do it? + +OCEANA. I saw he loved her, and I had to give him up. It would have been +to tear his soul in half! But now that he's gone, I don't see how I +can bear it! [A pause; she is lost in thought; she whispers with great +intensity.] There is a vision... it haunts me... it cries out in me in a +voice of agony! + +ETHEL. What? + +OCEANA. A little child! You have no idea... how real it was to me! It +fell out of the skies upon me! The thought never left me. I heard its +voice... its laughter; I saw its smile. It called to me all day, and it +played with me in my dreams; I felt its little hands upon me... its lips +upon my breast. And it's gone! + +ETHEL. Your child! + +OCEANA. And his! And think... think of the awfulness of it... it was +hovering at the gates of life! It wanted to be! And I trembled.. . I +suffered; at any moment I might have said the word, and it would have +come. But I did not say the word... and it is gone. And now it will +never come! Never... never! I have murdered the child! My child! + +ETHEL. No, no, Oceana! + +OCEANA. God! I can't understand it! What does it mean? Did it exist when +I thought of it? Does it exist now? Who can tell me? + +ETHEL. I don't know, Oceana. + +OCEANA. The strangeness of it! Sometimes my whole being rises up in +revolt... I could tear the skies apart, to wrest the secret from them! +You see, we don't know anything. We don't know what's right, we don't +know what's wrong. We're in a trap! [She rises suddenly.] No, no, I +mustn't talk that way. I've lost my self-control. I let myself go, and +I had no right to. Now, what shall I do? Wait, dear... let me think, let +me think calmly. [Stares about her.] I want to remember what father said +to me; what I promised to do. See, Ethel... the sun is setting. Look at +the sky! And it's the last day of the month, isn't it? + +ETHEL. Yes. + +OCEANA. If father had been here we should have sat us down to one of our +services! Look here. [She goes to trunk, and takes out a human skull.] +Ah, old friend! + +ETHEL. [Shocked.] Oceana! + +OCEANA. He came from the Marquesas, I think. And here's where he was hit +with the spear. You see? Sit down. [She places the skull before her.] +See, Ethel--he used to smile. And now and then he had the toothache... +see that? He took himself very seriously; he was all wrapped up in +the things that went on in this little cracked skull. But he lacked +imagination. He never foresaw that somebody would carry him off to the +New Hampshire mountains, and make him the text for a Hamlet soliloquy. +Alas, poor Yorick! He did not know that he was immortal, you see; +that life proceeded from him... unrolling itself for generation after +generation without end; that all that he did would be perpetuated... +that where he sinned we would suffer, and where he fought we would be +strong. He did not know that he was the creator, the mystic fountain of +an unexplored stream... the maker of an endless future... [She stops; +a spasm of pain crosses her face.] Oh, Ethel! [Clasps her hand.] It is +terrible to die young, is it not? + +ETHEL. Yes. + +OCEANA. Then how much worse is it to die before you are born! To be +strangled in the idea... to be stifled by a cowardly thought! + +ETHEL. What do you mean? + +OCEANA. Oh, Ethel, stay by me, will you? Promise me you will stay by me. + +ETHEL. I will! + +OCEANA. I'm frightened, Ethel... frightened at myself. I've done +wrong... I've committed a crime! I ought not to have let him go! I ought +not to have let him go! + +ETHEL. Henry? + +OCEANA. No, we mustn't speak of him again. I can't bear to hear his +name. I have failed... I have failed. I've been crushed by civilization! +[Starts up.] But there's my island! There's the white beach, shining +in the moonlight, and the great breakers rolling in, and the palm trees +rustling in the wind. Let us go together... to my island! Let us go back +and get healed, before we try to face this world again! + +[CURTAIN] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Naturewoman, by Upton Sinclair + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE NATUREWOMAN *** + +***** This file should be named 3301.txt or 3301.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/0/3301/ + +Produced by Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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