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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of East of Suez, by William Somerset Maugham
+
+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: East of Suez
+       a Play in Seven Scenes
+
+Author: William Somerset Maugham
+
+Release Date: January 5, 2011 [EBook #34860]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EAST OF SUEZ ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was
+produced from scanned images of public domain material
+from the Google Print project.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+BY W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM
+
+_Plays_:
+
+EAST OF SUEZ
+THE CIRCLE
+THE EXPLORER
+MRS. DOT
+A MAN OF HONOUR
+PENELOPE
+JACK STRAW
+LADY FREDERICK
+THE TENTH MAN
+LANDED GENTRY
+THE UNKNOWN
+SMITH
+
+
+_Novels_:
+
+OF HUMAN BONDAGE
+THE MOON AND SIXPENCE
+THE TREMBLING OF A LEAF
+LIZA OF LAMBETH
+MRS. CRADDOCK
+THE EXPLORER
+THE MAGICIAN
+THE MERRY-GO-ROUND
+
+ON A CHINESE SCREEN
+THE LAND OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
+
+(_Sketches and Impressions in Andalusia_)
+
+
+
+
+EAST OF SUEZ
+
+A PLAY IN SEVEN SCENES
+
+BY
+
+W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM
+
+NEW [Illustration] YORK
+GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
+
+COPYRIGHT, 1922.
+BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
+
+[Illustration]
+
+EAST OF SUEZ.
+
+PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
+
+
+
+
+DRAMATIS PERSONAE
+
+
+  DAISY
+  GEORGE CONWAY
+  HENRY ANDERSON
+  HAROLD KNOX
+  LEE TAI CHENG
+  SYLVIA KNOX
+  AMAH
+  WU
+
+_The action of the play takes place in Peking_
+
+
+
+
+SCENES
+
+
+SCENE                                                      PAGE
+
+ I  A STREET IN PEKING                                       11
+
+ II A SMALL VERANDAH ON AN UPPER STOREY OF THE BRITISH
+AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY'S PREMISES                          17
+
+III THE TEMPLE OF FIDELITY AND VIRTUOUS INCLINATION          37
+
+ IV THE SITTING-ROOM IN THE ANDERSONS' APARTMENTS            59
+
+  V THE COURTYARD IN THE ANDERSONS' PART OF THE TEMPLE       81
+
+ VI A SMALL ROOM IN A CHINESE HOUSE IN PEKING               101
+
+VII THE SITTING-ROOM IN THE ANDERSONS' APARTMENTS           121
+
+
+
+
+SCENE I
+
+
+
+
+EAST OF SUEZ
+
+
+SCENE I
+
+
+SCENE: _A street in Peking_
+
+     _Several shops are shown. Their fronts are richly decorated with
+     carved wood painted red and profusely gilt. The counters are
+     elaborately carved. Outside are huge sign-boards. The shops are
+     open to the street and you can see the various wares they sell. One
+     is a coffin shop, where the coolies are at work on a coffin: other
+     coffins, ready for sale, are displayed; some of them are of plain
+     deal, others are rich, with black and gold. The next shop is a
+     money changer's. Then there is a lantern shop in which all manner
+     of coloured lanterns are hanging. After this comes a druggist where
+     there are queer things in bottles and dried herbs. A small stuffed
+     crocodile is a prominent object. Next to this is a shop where
+     crockery is sold, large coloured jars, plates, and all manner of
+     strange animals. In all the shops two or three Chinamen are seated.
+     Some read newspapers through great horn spectacles; some smoke
+     water pipes._
+
+     _The street is crowded. Here is an itinerant cook with his two
+     chests, in one of which is burning charcoal: he serves out bowls of
+     rice and condiments to the passers-by who want food. There is a
+     barber with the utensils of his trade. A coolie, seated on a stool,
+     is having his head shaved. Chinese walk to and fro.
+
+     Some are coolies and wear blue cotton in various stages of
+     raggedness; some in black gowns and caps and black shoes are
+     merchants and clerks. There is a beggar, gaunt and thin, with an
+     untidy mop of bristly hair, in tatters of indescribable filthiness.
+     He stops at one of the shops and begins a long wail. For a time no
+     one takes any notice of him, but presently on a word from the fat
+     shopkeeper an assistant gives him a few cash and he wanders on.
+     Coolies, half naked, hurry by, bearing great bales on their yokes.
+     They utter little sharp cries for people to get out of their way.
+     Peking carts with their blue hoods rumble noisily along. Rickshaws
+     pass rapidly in both directions, and the rickshaw boys shout for
+     the crowd to make way. In the rickshaws are grave Chinese. Some are
+     dressed in white ducks after the European fashion; in other
+     rickshaws are Chinese women in long smocks and wide trousers or
+     Manchu ladies, with their faces painted like masks, in embroidered
+     silks. Women of various sorts stroll about the street or enter the
+     shops. You see them chaffering for various articles._
+
+     _A water-carrier passes along with a creaking barrow, slopping the
+     water as he goes; an old blind woman, a masseuse, advances slowly,
+     striking wooden clappers to proclaim her calling. A musician stands
+     on the curb and plays a tuneless melody on a one-stringed fiddle.
+     From the distance comes the muffled sound of gongs. There is a
+     babel of sound caused by the talking of all these people, by the
+     cries of coolies, the gong, the clappers, and the fiddle. From
+     burning joss-sticks in the shops in front of the household god
+     comes a savour of incense._
+
+     _A couple of Mongols ride across on shaggy ponies; they wear high
+     boots and Astrakhan caps. Then a string of camels sways slowly down
+     the street. They carry great burdens of skins from the deserts of
+     Mongolia. They are accompanied by wild looking fellows. Two stout
+     Chinese gentlemen are giving their pet birds an airing; the birds
+     are attached by the leg with a string and sit on little wooden
+     perches. The two Chinese gentlemen discuss their merits. Round
+     about them small boys play. They run hither and thither pursuing
+     one another amid the crowd._
+
+
+END OF SCENE I
+
+
+
+
+SCENE II
+
+
+_A small verandah on an upper storey of the British American Tobacco
+Company's premises, the upper part of which the staff lives in. At the
+back are heavy arches of whitewashed masonry and a low wall which serves
+as a parapet. Green blinds are drawn. There is a bamboo table on which
+are copies of illustrated papers. A couple of long bamboo chairs and two
+or three smaller arm chairs. The floor is tiled._
+
+_On one of the long chairs_ HAROLD KNOX _is lying asleep. He is a young
+man of pleasing appearance_. _He wears white ducks, but he has taken off
+his coat, which lies on a chair, and his collar and tie and pin. They
+are on the table by his side. He is troubled by a fly and, half waking
+but with his eyes still closed, tries to drive it away._
+
+KNOX. Curse it. [_He opens his eyes and yawns._] Boy!
+
+WU. [_Outside._] Ye.
+
+KNOX. What's the time?
+
+[WU _comes in; he is a Chinese servant in a long white gown with a black
+cap on his head_. _He bears a tray on which is a bottle of whisky, a
+glass and a syphon._]
+
+WU. My no sabe.
+
+KNOX. Anyhow it's time for a whisky and soda. [WU _puts the tray down on
+the table_. KNOX _smiles_.] Intelligent anticipation. Model servant and
+all that sort of thing. [WU _pours out the whisky_.] You don't care if I
+drink myself to death, Wu--do you? [WU _smiles, showing all his teeth_.]
+Fault of the climate. Give me the glass. [WU _does so_.] You're like a
+mother to me, Wu. [_He drinks and puts down the glass._] By George, I
+feel another man. The bull-dog breed, Wu. Never say die. Rule
+Britannia. Pull up the blinds, you lazy blighter. The sun's off and the
+place is like a oven.
+
+[WU _goes over and pulls up one blind after the other_. _An expanse of
+blue sky is seen._ HENRY ANDERSON _comes in_. _He is a man of thirty,
+fair, good-looking, with a pleasant, honest face. His obvious
+straightforwardness and sincerity make him attractive._]
+
+HARRY. [_Breezily._] Hulloa, Harold, you seem to be taking it easy.
+
+KNOX. There was nothing to do in the office and I thought I'd get in my
+beauty sleep while I had the chance.
+
+HARRY. I thought you had your beauty sleep before midnight.
+
+KNOX. I'm taking time by the forelock so as to be on the safe side.
+
+HARRY. Are you going on the loose again to-night?
+
+KNOX. Again, Henry?
+
+HARRY. You were blind last night.
+
+KNOX. [_With great satisfaction._] Paralytic.... Hulloa, who's this?
+[_He catches sight of the_ AMAH _who has just entered_. _She is a
+little, thin, wrinkled, elderly Chinawoman in a long smock and trousers.
+She has gold pins in her sleek black hair. When she sees she has been
+noticed she smiles obsequiously._] Well, fair charmer, what can we do
+for you?
+
+HARRY. What does she want, Wu?
+
+KNOX. Is this the face that launched a thousand ships?
+
+AMAH. My Missy have pay my letter.
+
+HARRY. [_With sudden eager interest._] Are you Mrs. Rathbone's amah?
+Have you got a letter for me?
+
+AMAH. My belong Missy Rathbone amah.
+
+HARRY. Well, hurry up, don't be all night about it. Lend me a dollar,
+Harold. I want to give it to the old girl.
+
+     [_The_ AMAH _takes a note out of her sleeve and gives it to_ HARRY.
+     _He opens it and reads._
+
+KNOX. I haven't got a dollar. Give her a chit or ask Wu. He's the only
+man I know who's got any money.
+
+HARRY. Let me have a dollar, Wu. Chop-chop.
+
+WU. My go catchee.
+
+[_He goes out._ _The_ AMAH _is standing near the table_. _While_ KNOX
+_and_ HARRY _go on talking she notices_ KNOX'S _pin_. _She smiles and
+smiles and makes little bows to the two men, but at the same time her
+hand cautiously reaches out for the pin and closes on it. Then she
+secretes it in her sleeve._
+
+HARRY. I thought you were going to play tennis this afternoon.
+
+KNOX. So I am later on.
+
+HARRY. [_Smiling._] Do it now, dear boy. That is a precept a business
+man should never forget.
+
+KNOX. I should hate to think you wanted to be rid of me.
+
+HARRY. I dote on your company, but I feel that I mustn't be selfish.
+
+KNOX. [_Pulling his leg._] To tell you the truth I don't feel very fit
+to-day.
+
+HARRY. A little bilious, I dare say. Half a dozen hard sets are just
+what you want. [_He hands_ KNOX _his coat_.]
+
+KNOX. What is this?
+
+HARRY. Your coat.
+
+KNOX. You're making yourself almost more distressingly plain than nature
+has already made you.
+
+[WU _comes back and hands_ HARRY _a dollar, and then goes out_. HARRY
+_gives the dollar to the_ AMAH.
+
+HARRY. Here's a dollar for you, amah. You go back to missy and tell her
+it's all right and will she come chop-chop. Sabe?
+
+AMAH. My sabe. Goo'-bye.
+
+KNOX. God bless you, dearie. It's done me good to see your winsome
+little face.
+
+HARRY. [_With a smile._] Shut up, Harold.
+
+[_The_ AMAH _with nods, smiles and bows, goes out_.
+
+KNOX. Harry, my poor friend, is it possible that you have an
+assignation?
+
+HARRY. What is possible is that if you don't get out quick I'll throw
+you out.
+
+KNOX. Why didn't you say you were expecting a girl?
+
+HARRY. I'm not; I'm expecting a lady.
+
+KNOX. Are you sure you know how to behave? If you'd like me to stay and
+see you don't do the wrong thing I'll chuck my tennis. I'm always ready
+to sacrifice myself for a friend.
+
+HARRY. Has it struck you that the distance from the verandah to the
+street is very considerable?
+
+KNOX. And the pavement is hard. I flatter myself I can take a hint. I
+wonder where the devil my pin is. I left it on the table.
+
+HARRY. I expect Wu put it away.
+
+KNOX. It's much more likely that old woman pinched it.
+
+HARRY. Oh, nonsense. She wouldn't dream of such a thing. I believe Mrs.
+Rathbone's had her for ages.
+
+KNOX. Who is Mrs. Rathbone?
+
+HARRY. [_Not wishing to be questioned._] A friend of mine.
+
+[GEORGE CONWAY _comes in_. _He is a tall, dark man in the early
+thirties. He is a handsome, well-built fellow, of a somewhat rugged
+appearance, but urbane and self-assured._
+
+GEORGE. May I come in?
+
+HARRY. [_Eagerly, shaking him warmly by the hand._] At last. By Jove,
+it's good to see you again. You know Knox, don't you?
+
+GEORGE. I think so.
+
+KNOX. I wash bottles in the B. A. T. I don't expect the legation bloods
+to be aware of my existence.
+
+GEORGE. [_With a twinkle in his eye._] I don't know that an Assistant
+Chinese Secretary is such a blood as all that.
+
+KNOX. You've just been down to Fuchow, haven't you?
+
+GEORGE. Yes, I only got back this morning.
+
+KNOX. Did you see Freddy Baker by any chance?
+
+GEORGE. Yes, poor chap.
+
+KNOX. Oh, I've got no pity for him. He's just a damned fool.
+
+HARRY. Why?
+
+KNOX. Haven't you heard? He's married a half-caste.
+
+HARRY. What of it? I believe she's a very pretty girl.
+
+KNOX. I daresay she is. But hang it all, he needn't have married her.
+
+GEORGE. I don't think it was a very wise thing to do.
+
+HARRY. I should have thought all those prejudices were out of date. Why
+shouldn't a man marry a half-caste if he wants to?
+
+KNOX. It can't be very nice to have a wife whom even the missionary
+ladies turn up their noses at.
+
+HARRY. [_With a shrug of the shoulders._] You wait till Freddy's number
+one in Hankow and can entertain. I bet the white ladies will be glad
+enough to know his missus then.
+
+GEORGE. Yes, but that's just it. He'll never get a good job with a
+Eurasian wife.
+
+HARRY. He's in Jardine's, isn't he? Do you mean to say it's going to
+handicap a man in a shipping firm because he's married a woman who's
+partly Chinese?
+
+GEORGE. Of course it is. Jardine's are about the most important firm in
+China and the manager of one of their principal branches has definite
+social obligations. Freddy Baker will be sent to twopenny halfpenny
+outports where his wife doesn't matter.
+
+KNOX. I think he's damned lucky if he's not asked to resign.
+
+HARRY. It's cruel. His wife may be a charming and cultivated woman.
+
+KNOX. Have you ever known a half-caste that was?
+
+HARRY. I have.
+
+KNOX. Well, I've been in this country for seven years and I've never met
+one, male or female, that didn't give me the shivers.
+
+HARRY. I've no patience with you. You're a perfect damned fool.
+
+KNOX. [_A little surprised, but quite good-humoured._] You're getting
+rather excited, aren't you?
+
+HARRY. [_Hotly._] I hate injustice.
+
+GEORGE. Do you think it really is injustice? The English are not an
+unkindly race. If they've got a down on half-castes there are probably
+very good grounds for it.
+
+HARRY. What are they?
+
+KNOX. We don't much like their morals, but we can't stick their manners.
+
+GEORGE. Somehow or other they seem to inherit all the bad qualities of
+the two races from which they spring and none of the good ones. I'm sure
+there are exceptions, but on the whole the Eurasian is vulgar and noisy.
+He can't tell the truth if he tries.
+
+KNOX. To do him justice, he seldom tries.
+
+GEORGE. He's as vain as a peacock. He'll cringe when he's afraid of you
+and he'll bully when he's not. You can never rely on him. He's crooked
+from the crown of his German hat to the toes of his American boots.
+
+KNOX. Straight from the shoulder. Take the count, old man.
+
+HARRY. [_Frigidly._] Oughtn't you to be going?
+
+KNOX. [_Smiling._] No, but I will.
+
+HARRY. I'm sorry if I was rude to you just now, old man.
+
+KNOX. Silly ass, you've broken no bones; my self-esteem, thank God, is
+unimpaired. [_He goes out._
+
+HARRY. I say, I'm awfully glad you're back, George. You can't think how
+I miss you when you're away.
+
+GEORGE. As soon as the shooting starts we'll try and get two or three
+days together in the country.
+
+HARRY. Yes, that would be jolly. [_Calling._] Wu.
+
+WU. [_Outside._] Ye'.
+
+HARRY. Bring tea for three.
+
+GEORGE. Who is the third?
+
+HARRY. When you said you could come round I asked somebody I want you
+very much to meet.
+
+GEORGE. Who is that?
+
+HARRY. Mrs. Rathbone ... I'm going to be married to her and we want you
+to be our best man.
+
+GEORGE. Harry.
+
+HARRY. [_Boyishly._] I thought you'd be surprised.
+
+GEORGE. My dear old boy, I am so glad. I hope you'll be awfully happy.
+
+HARRY. I'm awfully happy now.
+
+GEORGE. Why have you kept it so dark?
+
+HARRY. I didn't want to say anything till it was all settled. Besides,
+I've only known her six weeks. I met her when I was down in Shanghai....
+
+GEORGE. Is she a widow?
+
+HARRY. Yes, she was married to an American in the F. M. S.
+
+GEORGE. Is she American?
+
+HARRY. Only by marriage. I'm afraid she didn't have a very happy married
+life.
+
+GEORGE. Poor thing. I think I'd take a small bet that you won't beat
+her.
+
+HARRY. I mean to try my best to make her happy.
+
+GEORGE. You old fool, I've never known a man who was likely to make a
+better husband.
+
+HARRY. I'm most awfully in love with her, George.
+
+GEORGE. Isn't that ripping? How old is she?
+
+HARRY. Only twenty-two. She's the loveliest thing you ever saw.
+
+GEORGE. And is she in love with you?
+
+HARRY. She says so.
+
+GEORGE. She damned well ought to be.
+
+HARRY. I do hope you'll like her, George.
+
+GEORGE. Of course I shall. You're not the sort of chap to fall in love
+with a woman who isn't nice.
+
+[HARRY _walks up and down for a moment restlessly_.
+
+HARRY. Will you have a whisky and soda?
+
+GEORGE. No, thanks ... I'll wait for tea.
+
+HARRY. She ought to be here in a moment. [_Suddenly making up his
+mind._] It's no good beating about the bush. I may as well tell you at
+once. Her--her mother was Chinese.
+
+GEORGE. [_Unable to conceal his dismay._] Oh, Harry. [_A pause._] I wish
+I hadn't said all that I did just now.
+
+HARRY. Of course you didn't know.
+
+GEORGE. [_Gravely._] I should have had to say something very like it,
+Harry. But I shouldn't have put it so bluntly.
+
+HARRY. You said yourself there were exceptions.
+
+GEORGE. I know. [_Distressed._] Won't your people be rather upset?
+
+HARRY. I don't see how it can matter to them. They're nine thousand
+miles away.
+
+GEORGE. Who was her father?
+
+HARRY. Oh, he was a merchant. He's dead. And her mother is too.
+
+GEORGE. That's something. I don't think you'd much like having a Chinese
+mother-in-law about the place.
+
+HARRY. George, you won't let it make any difference, will you? We've
+known one another all our lives.
+
+GEORGE. My dear old chap, as far as I'm concerned I shouldn't care if
+you married the first cousin of the Ace of Spades. I don't want you to
+make a hash of things.
+
+HARRY. Wait till you see her. She's the most fascinating thing you ever
+met.
+
+GEORGE. Yes, they can be charming. I was awfully in love with a
+half--with a Eurasian girl myself years ago. It was before you came out
+to the country. I wanted to marry her.
+
+HARRY. Why didn't you?
+
+GEORGE. It was up in Chung-king. I'd just been appointed vice-consul. I
+was only twenty-three. The Minister wired from Peking that I'd have to
+resign if I did. I hadn't a bob except my salary and they transferred me
+to Canton to get me away.
+
+HARRY. It's different for you. You're in the service and you may be
+Minister one of these days. I'm only a merchant.
+
+GEORGE. Even for you there'll be difficulties, you know. Has it occurred
+to you that the white ladies won't be very nice?
+
+HARRY. I can do without their society.
+
+GEORGE. You must know some people. It means you'll have to hobnob with
+Eurasian clerks and their wives. I'm afraid you'll find it pretty
+rotten.
+
+HARRY. If you'll stick to me I don't care.
+
+GEORGE. I suppose you've absolutely made up your mind?
+
+HARRY. Absolutely.
+
+GEORGE. In that case I've got nothing more to say. You can't expect me
+not to be a little disappointed, but after all the chief thing is your
+happiness, and whatever I can do I will. You can put your shirt on that.
+
+HARRY. You're a brick, George.
+
+GEORGE. The little lady ought to be here, oughtn't she?
+
+HARRY. I think I hear her on the stairs.
+
+[_He goes to the entrance and then out._ WU _brings in the tea and sets
+it on the table_. GEORGE _walks over to the parapet and looks
+thoughtfully before him_. _There is a sound of voices in the adjoining
+room._
+
+HARRY. [_Outside._] Come in; he's on the verandah.
+
+DAISY. [_Outside._] One brief look in the glass and then I'm ready.
+
+[HARRY _enters_.
+
+HARRY. She's just coming.
+
+GEORGE. I bet she's powdering her nose.
+
+DAISY. Here I am.
+
+[DAISY _enters_. SHE _is an extremely pretty woman, beautifully, perhaps
+a little showily, dressed_. _She has a pale, very clear, slightly sallow
+skin, and beautiful dark eyes. There is only the very faintest suspicion
+in them of the Chinese slant. Her hair is abundant and black._
+
+HARRY. This is George Conway, Daisy.
+
+[GEORGE _stares at her_. _At first he is not quite sure that he
+recognizes her, then suddenly he does, but only the slightest movement
+of the eyes betrays him._
+
+DAISY. How do you do. I told Harry I had an idea I must have met you
+somewhere. I don't think I have after all.
+
+HARRY. George flatters himself he's not easily forgotten.
+
+DAISY. But I've heard so much about you from Harry that I feel as though
+we were old friends.
+
+GEORGE. It's very kind of you to say so.
+
+HARRY. Supposing you poured out the tea, Daisy.
+
+GEORGE. I'm dying for a cup.
+
+[_She sits down and proceeds to do so._
+
+DAISY. Harry is very anxious that you should like me.
+
+HARRY. George and I have known one another since we were kids. His
+people and mine live quite close to one another at home.
+
+DAISY. But I'm not blaming you. I'm only wondering how I shall
+ingratiate myself with him.
+
+HARRY. He looks rather severe, but he isn't really. I think you've only
+got to be your natural charming self.
+
+DAISY. Have you told him about the house?
+
+HARRY. No. [_To George._] You know the temple the Harrisons used to
+have. We've taken that.
+
+GEORGE. Oh, it's a ripping place. But won't you find it rather a
+nuisance to have those old monks on the top of you all the time?
+
+HARRY. Oh, I don't think so. Our part is quite separate, you know, and
+the Harrisons made it very comfortable.
+
+[HAROLD KNOX _comes in_. _He has changed into tennis things._
+
+KNOX. I say, Harry ... [_He sees_ DAISY.] Oh, I beg your pardon.
+
+HARRY. Mr. Knox--Mrs. Rathbone.
+
+[KNOX _gives her a curt nod, but she holds out her hand affably_. _He
+takes it._
+
+DAISY. How do you do.
+
+KNOX. I'm sorry to disturb you, Harry, but old Ku Faung Min is
+downstairs and wants to see you.
+
+HARRY. Tell him to go to blazes. The office is closed.
+
+KNOX. He's going to Hankow to-night and he says he must see you before
+he goes. He's got some big order to give.
+
+HARRY. Oh, curse him. I know what he is. He'll keep me talking for half
+an hour. D'you mind if I leave you?
+
+DAISY. Of course not. It'll give me a chance of making Mr. Conway's
+acquaintance.
+
+HARRY. I'll get rid of him as quickly as I can.
+
+[_He goes out accompanied by Knox._
+
+KNOX. [_As he goes._] Good-bye.
+
+[GEORGE _looks at_ DAISY _for a moment_. _She smiles at him. There is a
+silence._
+
+GEORGE. Why didn't you warn me that it was you I was going to meet?
+
+DAISY. I didn't know what you'd say about me to Harry if you knew.
+
+GEORGE. It was rather a risk, wasn't it? Supposing I'd blurted out the
+truth.
+
+DAISY. I trusted to your diplomatic training. Besides, I'd prepared for
+it. I told him I thought I'd met you.
+
+GEORGE. Harry and I have been pals all our lives. I brought him out to
+China and I got him his job. When he had cholera he would have died if
+I hadn't pulled him through.
+
+DAISY. I know. And in return he worships the ground you tread on. I've
+never known one man think so much of another as he does of you.
+
+GEORGE. All that's rot, of course. Sometimes I don't know how I'm going
+to live up to the good opinion Harry has of me. But when you've done so
+much for a pal as I have for him it gives you an awful sense of
+responsibility towards him.
+
+DAISY. What do you mean by that?
+
+[_A short pause._
+
+GEORGE. I'm not going to let you marry him.
+
+DAISY. He's so much in love with me that he doesn't know what to do with
+himself.
+
+GEORGE. I know he is. But if you were in love with him you wouldn't be
+so sure of it.
+
+DAISY. [_With a sudden change of tone._] Why not? I was sure of your
+love. And God knows I was in love with you.
+
+[GEORGE _makes a gesture of dismay_. _He is taken aback for a moment,
+but he quickly recovers._
+
+GEORGE. You don't know what sort of a man Harry is. He's not like the
+fellows you've been used to. He's never knocked around as most of us do.
+He's always been as straight as a die.
+
+DAISY. I know.
+
+GEORGE. Have mercy on him. Even if there were nothing else against you
+he's not the sort of chap for you to marry. He's awfully English.
+
+DAISY. If he doesn't mind marrying a Eurasian I really don't see what
+business it is of yours.
+
+GEORGE. But you know very well that that isn't the only thing against
+you.
+
+DAISY. I haven't an idea what you mean.
+
+GEORGE. Haven't you? You forget the war. When we heard there was a very
+pretty young woman, apparently with plenty of money, living at the Hong
+Kong Hotel on very familiar terms with a lot of naval fellows, it became
+our business to make enquiries. I think I know everything there is
+against you.
+
+DAISY. Have you any right to make use of information you've acquired
+officially?
+
+GEORGE. Don't be a fool, Daisy.
+
+DAISY. [_Passionately._] Tell him then. You'll break his heart. You'll
+make him utterly wretched. But he'll marry me all the same. When a man's
+as much in love as he is he'll forgive everything.
+
+GEORGE. I think it's horrible. If you loved him you couldn't marry him.
+It's heartless.
+
+DAISY. [_Violently._] How dare you say that? You. You. You know what I
+am. Yes, it's all true. I don't know what you know but it can't be worse
+than the truth. And whose fault is it? Yours. If I'm rotten it's you who
+made me rotten.
+
+GEORGE. I? No. You've got no right to say that. It's cruel. It's
+infamous.
+
+DAISY. I've touched you at last, have I? Because you know it's true.
+Don't you remember when I first came to Chung-king? I was seventeen. My
+father had sent me to England to school when I was seven. I never saw
+him for ten years. And at last he wrote and said I was to come back to
+China. You came and met me on the boat and told me my father had had a
+stroke and was dead. You took me to the Presbyterian mission.
+
+GEORGE. That was my job. I was awfully sorry for you.
+
+DAISY. And then in a day or two you came and told me that my father
+hadn't left anything and what there was went to his relations in
+England.
+
+GEORGE. Naturally he didn't expect to die.
+
+DAISY. [_Passionately._] If he was going to leave me like that why
+didn't he let me stay with my Chinese mother? Why did he bring me up
+like a lady? Oh, it was cruel.
+
+GEORGE. Yes. It was unpardonable.
+
+DAISY. I was so lonely and so frightened. You seemed to be sorry for me.
+You were the only person who was really kind to me. You were practically
+the first man I'd known. I loved you. I thought you loved me. Oh, say
+that you loved me then, George.
+
+GEORGE. You know I did.
+
+DAISY. I was very innocent in those days. I thought that when two people
+loved one another they married. I wasn't a Eurasian then, George. I was
+like any other English girl. If you'd married me I shouldn't be what I
+am now. But they took you away from me. You never even said good-bye to
+me. You wrote and told me you'd been transferred to Canton.
+
+GEORGE. I couldn't say good-bye to you, Daisy. They said that if I
+married you I'd have to leave the service. I was absolutely penniless.
+They dinned it into my ears that if a white man marries a Eurasian he's
+done for. I wouldn't listen to them, but in my heart I knew it was true.
+
+DAISY. I don't blame you. You wanted to get on, and you have, haven't
+you? You're Assistant Chinese Secretary already and Harry says you'll be
+Minister before you've done. It seems rather hard that I should have had
+to pay the price.
+
+GEORGE. Daisy, you'll never know what anguish I suffered. I can't expect
+you to care. It's very natural if you hate me. I was ambitious. I didn't
+want to be a failure. I knew that it was madness to marry you. I had to
+kill my love. I couldn't. It was stronger than I was. At last I couldn't
+help myself. I made up my mind to chuck everything and take the
+consequences. I was just starting for Chung-king when I heard you were
+living in Shanghai with a rich Chinaman.
+
+[DAISY _gives a little moan_. _There is a silence._
+
+DAISY. They hated me at the mission. They found fault with me from
+morning till night. They blamed me because you wanted to marry me and
+they treated me as if I was a designing cat. When you went away they
+heaved a sigh of relief. Then they started to convert me. They thought
+I'd better become a school teacher. They hated me because I was
+seventeen. They hated me because I was pretty. Oh, the brutes. They
+killed all the religion I'd got. There was only one person who seemed to
+care if I was alive or dead. That was my mother. Oh, I was so ashamed
+the first time I saw her. At school in England I'd told them so often
+that she was a Chinese princess that I almost believed it myself. My
+mother was a dirty little ugly Chinawoman. I'd forgotten all my Chinese
+and I had to talk to her in English. She asked me if I'd like to go to
+Shanghai with her. I was ready to do anything in the world to get away
+from the mission and I thought in Shanghai I shouldn't be so far away
+from you. They didn't want me to go, but they couldn't keep me against
+my will. When we got to Shanghai she sold me to Lee Tai Cheng for two
+thousand dollars.
+
+GEORGE. How terrible.
+
+DAISY. I've never had a chance. Oh, George, isn't it possible for a
+woman to turn over a new leaf? You say that Harry's good and kind. Don't
+you see what that means to me? Because he'll think me good I shall be
+good. After all, he couldn't have fallen in love with me if I'd been
+entirely worthless. I hate the life I've led. I want to go straight. I
+swear I'll make him a good wife. Oh, George, if you ever loved me have
+pity on me. If Harry doesn't marry me I'm done.
+
+GEORGE. How can a marriage be happy that's founded on a tissue of lies?
+
+DAISY. I've never told Harry a single lie.
+
+GEORGE. You told him you hadn't been happily married.
+
+DAISY. That wasn't a lie.
+
+GEORGE. You haven't been married at all.
+
+DAISY. [_With a roguish look._] Well then, I haven't been happily
+married, have I?
+
+GEORGE. Who was this fellow Rathbone?
+
+DAISY. He was an American in business at Singapore. I met him in
+Shanghai. I hated Lee. Rathbone asked me to go to Singapore with him and
+I went. I lived with him for four years.
+
+GEORGE. Then you went back to Lee Tai Cheng.
+
+DAISY. Rathbone died. There was nothing else to do. My mother was always
+nagging me to go back to him. He's rich and she makes a good thing out
+of it.
+
+GEORGE. I thought she was dead.
+
+DAISY. No. I told Harry she was because I thought it would make it
+easier for him.
+
+GEORGE. She isn't with you now, is she?
+
+DAISY. No, she lives at Ichang. She doesn't bother me as long as I send
+her something every month.
+
+GEORGE. Why did you tell Harry that you were twenty-two? It's ten years
+since you came to China and you were seventeen then.
+
+DAISY. [_With a twinkle in her eye._] Any woman of my age will tell you
+that seventeen and ten are twenty-two.
+
+[GEORGE _does not smile_. _With frowning brow he walks up and down._
+
+GEORGE. Oh, I wish to God I knew nothing about you. I can't bring myself
+to tell him and yet how can I let him marry you in absolute ignorance?
+Oh, Daisy, for your sake as well as for his I beseech you to tell him
+the whole truth and let him decide for himself.
+
+DAISY. And break his heart? There's not a missionary who believes in God
+as he believes in me. If he loses his trust in me he loses everything.
+Tell him if you think you must, if you have no pity, if you have no
+regret for all the shame and misery you brought on me, you, you,
+you--but if you do, I swear, I swear to God that I shall kill myself. I
+won't go back to that hateful life.
+
+[_He looks at her earnestly for a moment._
+
+GEORGE. I don't know if I'm doing right or wrong. I shall tell him
+nothing.
+
+[DAISY _gives a deep sigh of relief_, HARRY _comes in_.
+
+HARRY. I say, I'm awfully sorry to have been so long. I couldn't get the
+old blighter to go.
+
+DAISY. [_With complete self-control._] If I say you've been an age it'll
+look as though Mr. Conway had been boring me.
+
+HARRY. I hope you've made friends.
+
+DAISY. [_To_ GEORGE.] Have we?
+
+GEORGE. I hope so. But now I think I must bolt. I have a long Chinese
+document to translate. [_Holding out his hand to_ DAISY.] I hope you'll
+both be very happy.
+
+DAISY. I think I'm going to like you.
+
+GEORGE. Good-bye, Harry, old man.
+
+HARRY. I shall see you later on in the club, sha'n't I?
+
+GEORGE. If I can get through my work.
+
+[_He goes out._
+
+HARRY. What have you and George been talking about?
+
+DAISY. We discussed the house. It'll be great fun buying the things for
+it.
+
+HARRY. I could have killed that old Chink for keeping me so long. I
+grudge every minute that I spend away from you.
+
+DAISY. It's nice to be loved.
+
+HARRY. You do love me a little, don't you?
+
+DAISY. A little more than a little, my lamb.
+
+HARRY. I wish I were more worth your while. You've made me feel so
+dissatisfied with myself. I'm such a rotter.
+
+DAISY. You're not going to disagree with me already.
+
+HARRY. What about?
+
+DAISY. About you. I think you're a perfect duck.
+
+[_The_ AMAH _appears_.
+
+HARRY. Hulloa, who's this?
+
+DAISY. Oh, it's my amah.
+
+HARRY. I didn't recognize her for a moment.
+
+DAISY. She doesn't approve of my being alone with strange gentlemen. She
+looks after me as if I was a child of ten.
+
+AMAH. Velly late, missy Daisy. Time you come along.
+
+HARRY. Oh, nonsense.
+
+DAISY. She wants me to go and be fitted. She never lets me go out in
+Peking alone.
+
+HARRY. She's quite right.
+
+DAISY. Amah, come and be introduced to the gentleman. He's going to be
+your master now.
+
+AMAH. [_Smiling, with little nods._] Velly nice gentleman. You keep
+missy Daisy old amah--yes? Velly good amah--yes?
+
+DAISY. She's been with me ever since I was a child.
+
+HARRY. Of course we'll keep her. She was with you when you were in
+Singapore?
+
+DAISY. [_With a little sigh._] Yes, I don't know what I should have done
+without her sometimes.
+
+HARRY. Oh, Daisy, I do want to make you forget all the unhappiness you
+have suffered.
+
+[_He takes her in his arms and kisses her on the lips._ _The_ AMAH
+_chuckles to herself silently_.
+
+
+END OF SCENE II.
+
+
+
+
+SCENE III
+
+
+     SCENE: _The Temple of Fidelity and Virtuous Inclination. The
+     courtyard of the temple is shown. At the back is the sanctuary in
+     which is seen the altar table; on this are two large vases in each
+     of which are seven lotus flowers, gilt but discoloured by incense,
+     and in the middle there is a sand-box in which are burning
+     joss-sticks; behind is the image of Buddha. The sanctuary can be
+     closed by huge doors. These are now open. A flight of steps leads
+     up to it._
+
+     _A service is finishing. The monks are seen on each side of the
+     altar kneeling in two rows. They are clad in grey gowns and their
+     heads are shaven. They sing the invocation to Buddha, repeating the
+     same words over and over again in a monotonous chaunt._ DAISY
+     _stands outside the sanctuary door, on the steps, listlessly_.
+     _The_ AMAH _is squatting by her side_. _Now the service ends; the
+     monks form a procession and two by two, still singing, come down
+     the steps and go out. A tiny acolyte blows out the oil lamps and
+     with an effort shuts the temple doors._
+
+     DAISY _comes down the steps and sits on one of the lower ones_.
+     _She is dreadfully bored._
+
+AMAH. What is the matter with my pletty one?
+
+DAISY. What should be the matter?
+
+AMAH. [_With a snigger._] Hi, hi. Old amah got velly good eyes in her
+head.
+
+DAISY. [_As though talking to herself._] I've got a husband who adores
+me and a nice house to live in. I've got a position and as much money as
+I want. I'm safe. I'm respectable. I ought to be happy.
+
+AMAH. I say, Harry no good, what for you wanchee marry? You say, I
+wanchee marry, I wanchee marry? Well, you married. What you want now?
+
+DAISY. They say life is short. Good God, how long the days are.
+
+AMAH. You want pony--Harry give you pony. You want jade ring--Harry give
+you jade ring. You want sable coat--Harry give you sable coat. Why you
+not happy?
+
+DAISY. I never said I wasn't happy.
+
+AMAH. Hi, hi.
+
+DAISY. If you laugh like that I'll kill you.
+
+AMAH. You no kill old amah. You want old amah. I got something velly
+pletty for my little Daisy flower.
+
+DAISY. Don't be an old fool. I'm not a child any more. [_Desperately._]
+I'm growing older, older, older. And every day is just like every other
+day. I might as well be dead.
+
+AMAH. Look this pletty present old amah have got.
+
+[_She takes a jade necklace out of her sleeve and puts it, smiling,
+into_ DAISY'S _hand_.
+
+DAISY. [_With sudden vivacity,_] Oh, what a lovely chain. It's beautiful
+jade. How much do they want for it?
+
+AMAH. It's a present for my little Daisy.
+
+DAISY. For me? It must have cost five hundred dollars. Who is it from?
+
+AMAH. To-day is my little Daisy's wedding-day. She have married one
+year. Perhaps old amah want to give her little flower present.
+
+DAISY. YOU! Have you ever given me anything but a beating?
+
+AMAH. Lee Tai Cheng pay me necklace and say you give to Daisy.
+
+DAISY. You old hag. [_She flings the necklace away violently._]
+
+AMAH. You silly. Worth plenty money. You no wanchee, I sell rich
+Amelican.
+
+[_She is just going after the necklace, when_ DAISY _catches her
+violently by the arm_.
+
+DAISY. How dare you? How dare you? I told you that you were never to let
+Lee Tai speak to you again.
+
+AMAH. You very angry, Daisy. You very angry before, but you go back to
+Lee Tai; he think perhaps you go back again.
+
+DAISY. Tell him that I loathe the sight of him. Tell him that if I were
+starving I wouldn't take a penny from him. Tell him that if he dares to
+come round here I'll have him beaten till he screams.
+
+AMAH. Hi, hi.
+
+DAISY. And you leave me alone, will you. Harry hates you. I've only got
+to say a word and he'll kick you out in five minutes.
+
+AMAH. What would my little Daisy do without old amah, hi, hi? What for
+you no talkee true? You think old amah no got eyes? [_With a cunning,
+arch look._] I got something make you very glad. [_She takes a note out
+of her sleeve._]
+
+DAISY. What's that?
+
+AMAH. I got letter.
+
+DAISY. [_Snatching it from her._] Give it me. How dare you hide it?
+
+AMAH. Have come when you long Harry. I think perhaps you no wanchee read
+when Harry there. [DAISY _tears it open_.] What he say?
+
+DAISY. [_Reading._] "I'm awfully sorry I can't dine with you on
+Thursday, but I'm engaged. I've just remembered it's your wedding-day
+and I'll look in for a minute. Ask Harry if he'd like to ride with me."
+
+AMAH. Is that all?
+
+DAISY. "Yours ever. George Conway."
+
+AMAH. You love him very much, George Conway?
+
+DAISY. [_Taking no notice of her, passionately._] At last. I haven't
+seen him for ten days. Ten mortal days. Oh, I want him. I want him.
+
+AMAH. Why you no talkee old amah?
+
+DAISY. [_Desperately._] I can't help myself. Oh, I love him so. What
+shall I do? I can't live without him. If you don't want me to die make
+him love me.
+
+AMAH. You see, you want old amah.
+
+DAISY. Oh, I'm so unhappy. I think I shall go mad.
+
+AMAH. Sh, sh. Perhaps he love you too.
+
+DAISY. Never. He hates me. Why does he avoid me? He never comes here. At
+first he was always looking in. He used to come out and dine two or
+three days a week. What have I done to him? He only comes now because he
+does not want to offend Harry. Harry, Harry, what do I care for Harry?
+
+AMAH. Sh. Don't let him see. Give amah the letter.
+
+[_She snatches it from_ DAISY _and hides it in her dress as_ HARRY
+_comes in_. DAISY _pulls herself together_.
+
+HARRY. I say, Daisy, I've just had the ponies saddled. Put on your habit
+and let's go for a ride.
+
+DAISY. I've got a headache.
+
+HARRY. Oh, my poor child. Why don't you lie down?
+
+DAISY. I thought I was better in the air. But there's no reason why you
+shouldn't ride.
+
+HARRY. Oh, no, I won't ride without you.
+
+DAISY. Why on earth not? It'll do you good. You know when my head's bad
+I only want to be left alone. Your pony wants exercising.
+
+HARRY. The boy can do that.
+
+DAISY. [_Trying to conceal her growing exasperation._] Please do as I
+ask. I'd rather you went.
+
+HARRY. [_Laughing._] Of course if you're so anxious to get rid of me....
+
+DAISY. [_Smiling._] I can't bear that you should be done out of your
+ride. If you won't go alone you'll just force me to come with you.
+
+HARRY. I'll go. Give me a kiss before I do. [_She puts up her lips to
+his._] I'm almost ashamed of myself, I'm just as madly in love with you
+as the day we were married.
+
+DAISY. You are a dear. Have a nice ride, and when you come back I shall
+be all right.
+
+HARRY. That's ripping. I shan't be very long.
+
+[_He goes out. The lightness, the smile, with which she has spoken to
+Harry disappear as he goes, and she looks worried and anxious._
+
+DAISY. Supposing they meet?
+
+AMAH. No can. Harry go out back way.
+
+DAISY. Yes, I suppose he will. I wish he'd be quick. [_Violently._] I
+must see George.
+
+AMAH. [_Picking up the necklace._] Velly pletty necklace. You silly
+girl. Why you no take?
+
+DAISY. Oh, damn, why can't you leave me alone? [_Listening._] What on
+earth is Harry doing? I thought the pony was saddled.
+
+AMAH. [_Looking at the necklace._] What shall I do with this?
+
+DAISY. Throw it in the dust-bin.
+
+AMAH. Lee Tai no likee that very much.
+
+DAISY. [_Hearing the sound of the pony, with a sigh of relief._] He's
+gone. Now I'm safe. Where's my bag? [_She takes a little mirror out of
+it and looks at herself._] I look perfectly hideous.
+
+AMAH. Don't be silly. You velly pletty girl.
+
+DAISY. [_Her ears all alert._] There's someone riding along.
+
+AMAH. That not pony. That Peking cart.
+
+DAISY. You old fool, I tell you it's a pony. At last. Oh, my heart's
+beating so.... It's stopping at the gate. It's George. Oh, I love him. I
+love him. [_To the_ AMAH, _stamping her foot_.] What are you waiting
+for? I don't want you here now, and don't listen, d'you hear. Get out,
+get out.
+
+AMAH. All-light. My go away.
+
+[_The_ AMAH _slinks away_. DAISY _stands waiting for_ GEORGE, _holding
+her hands to her heart as though to stop the anguish of its beating_.
+_She makes a great effort at self-control as_ GEORGE _enters_. _He is in
+riding kit. He has a bunch of orchids in his hand._
+
+GEORGE. Hulloa, what are you doing here?
+
+DAISY. I was tired of sitting in the drawing-room.
+
+GEORGE. I remembered it was your wedding-day. I've brought you a few
+flowers. [_She takes them with both hands._]
+
+DAISY. Thank you. That _is_ kind of you.
+
+GEORGE. [_Gravely._] I hope you'll always be very happy. I hope you'll
+allow me to say how grateful I am that you've given Harry so much
+happiness.
+
+DAISY. You're very solemn. One would almost think you'd prepared that
+pretty speech beforehand.
+
+GEORGE. [_Trying to take it lightly._] I'm sorry if it didn't sound
+natural. I can promise you it was sincere.
+
+DAISY. Shall we sit down?
+
+GEORGE. I think we ought to go for our ride while the light lasts. I'll
+come in and have a drink on the way back.
+
+DAISY. Harry's out.
+
+GEORGE. Is he? I sent you a note this morning. I said I couldn't dine on
+Thursday and I'd come and fetch Harry for a ride this afternoon.
+
+DAISY. I didn't tell him.
+
+GEORGE. No?
+
+DAISY. I don't see you very often nowadays.
+
+GEORGE. There's an awful lot of work to do just now. They lead me a
+dog's life at the legation.
+
+DAISY. Even at night? At first you used to come and dine with us two or
+three nights a week.
+
+GEORGE. I can't always be sponging on you. It's positively indecent.
+
+DAISY. We don't know many people. It's not always very lively here. I
+should have thought if you didn't care to come for my sake you'd have
+come for Harry's.
+
+GEORGE. I come whenever you ask me.
+
+DAISY. You haven't been here for a month.
+
+GEORGE. It just happens that the last two or three times you've asked me
+to dine I've been engaged.
+
+DAISY. [_Her voice breaking._] You promised that we'd be friends. What
+have I done to turn you against me?
+
+GEORGE. [_His armour pierced by the emotion in her voice._] Oh, Daisy,
+don't speak like that.
+
+DAISY. I've tried to do everything I could to please you. If there's
+anything I do that you don't like, won't you tell me? I promise you I
+won't do it.
+
+GEORGE. Oh, my dear child, you make me feel such an awful beast.
+
+DAISY. Is it the past that you can't forget?
+
+GEORGE. Good heavens, no, what do I care about the past?
+
+DAISY. I have so few friends. I'm so awfully fond of you, George.
+
+GEORGE. I don't think I've given you much cause to be that.
+
+DAISY. There must be some reason why you won't ever come near me. Why
+won't you tell me?
+
+GEORGE. Oh, it's absurd, you're making a mountain out of a molehill.
+
+DAISY. You used to be so jolly, and we used to laugh together. I looked
+forward so much to your coming here. What has changed you?
+
+GEORGE. Nothing has changed me.
+
+DAISY. [_With a passion of despair._] Oh, I might as well batter my head
+against a brick wall. How can you be so unkind to me?
+
+GEORGE. For God's sake ... [_He stops._] Heaven knows, I don't want to
+be unkind to you.
+
+DAISY. Then why do you treat me as an outcast? Oh, it's cruel, cruel.
+
+[GEORGE _is excessively distressed_. _He walks up and down, frowning._
+_He cannot bear to look at_ DAISY _and he speaks with hesitation_.
+
+GEORGE. You'll think me an awful rotter, Daisy, but you can't think me
+more of a rotter than I think myself. I don't know how to say it. It
+seems such an awful thing to say. I'm so ashamed of myself. I don't
+suppose two men have ever been greater pals than Harry and I. He's
+married to you and he's awfully in love with you. And I think you're in
+love with him. I was only twenty-three when I--first knew you. It's an
+awful long time ago, isn't it? There are some wounds that never quite
+heal, you know. Oh, my God, don't you understand? [_His embarrassment,
+the distraction of his tone, and the way the halting words fall
+unwillingly from his lips have betrayed the truth to_ DAISY. _She does
+not speak, she does not stir, she looks at him with great shining eyes.
+She hardly dares to breathe._] If ever you wanted revenge on me you've
+got it now. You must see that it's better that I shouldn't come here too
+often. Forgive me--Goodby.
+
+[_He hurries away with averted face._ DAISY _stands motionless, erect;
+she is almost transfigured_. _She draws a long breath._
+
+DAISY. Oh, God! He loves me.
+
+[_She takes the orchids he has brought her and crushes them to her
+heart._ _The_ AMAH _appears_.
+
+AMAH. You wantchee buy Manchu dress, Daisy?
+
+DAISY. Go away.
+
+AMAH. Velly cheap. You look see. No likee, no buy.
+
+DAISY. [_Impatiently._] I'm sick of curio-dealers.
+
+AMAH. Velly pletty Manchu dresses.
+
+[_She draws aside a little and allows a man with a large bundle wrapped
+up in a blue cotton cloth to come in. He is a Chinese. He is dressed in
+a long black robe and a round black cap._ _It is_ LEE TAI CHENG. _He is
+big and rather stout. From his smooth and yellow face his black eyes
+gleam craftily. He lays his bundle on the ground and unties it, showing
+a pile of gorgeous Manchu dresses._ DAISY _has taken no notice of him_.
+_Suddenly she sees that a man, with his back turned to her, is there._
+
+DAISY. [_To the_ AMAH.] I told you I wouldn't see the man. Send him away
+at once.
+
+LEE TAI. [_Turning round, with a sly smile._] You look see. No likee, no
+buy.
+
+DAISY. [_With a start of surprise and dismay._] Lee!
+
+LEE TAI. [_Coming forward coolly._] Good afternoon, Daisy.
+
+DAISY. [_Recovering herself._] It's lucky for you I'm in a good temper
+or I'd have you thrown out by the boys. What have you brought this junk
+for?
+
+LEE TAI. A curio-dealer can come and go and no one wonders.
+
+AMAH. Lee Tai velly clever man.
+
+DAISY. Give me that chain. [_The_ AMAH _takes it out of her sleeve and
+gives it to her_. DAISY _flings it contemptuously at_ LEE TAI'S _feet_.]
+Take it. Pack up your things and go. If you ever dare to show your face
+here again, I'll tell my husband.
+
+LEE TAI. [_With a chuckle._] What will you tell him? Don't you be a
+silly girl, Daisy.
+
+DAISY. What do you want?
+
+LEE TAI. [_Coolly._] You.
+
+DAISY. Don't you know that I loathe you? You disgust me.
+
+LEE TAI. What do I care? Perhaps if you loved me I shouldn't want you.
+Your hatred is like a sharp and bitter sauce that tickles my appetite.
+
+DAISY. You beast.
+
+LEE TAI. I like the horror that makes your body tremble when I hold you
+in my arms. And sometimes the horror turns on a sudden into a wild
+tempest of passion.
+
+DAISY. You liar.
+
+LEE TAI. Leave this stupid white man. What is he to you?
+
+DAISY. He is my husband.
+
+LEE TAI. It is a year to-day since you were married. What has marriage
+done for you? You thought when you married a white man you'd become a
+white woman. Do you think they can look at you and forget? How many
+white women do you know? How many friends have you got? You're a
+prisoner. I'll take you to Singapore or Calcutta. Don't you want to
+amuse yourself? Do you want to go to Europe? I'll take you to Paris.
+I'll give you more money to spend in a week than your husband earns in a
+year.
+
+DAISY. I'm very comfortable in Peking, thank you.
+
+LEE TAI. [_Snapping his fingers._] You don't care that for your husband.
+He loves you. You despise him. Don't you wish with all your heart that
+you hadn't married him?
+
+AMAH. He very silly white man. He no likee Daisy's old amah. Perhaps one
+day he b'long sick. Daisy cry velly much if he die?
+
+DAISY. [_Impatiently._] Don't be such a fool.
+
+AMAH. Perhaps one day he drink whisky soda. Oh, velly ill, velly ill.
+What's the matter with me? No sabe. No can stand. Doctor no sabe. Then
+die. Hi, hi.
+
+DAISY. You silly old woman. Harry's not a Chinaman and he wouldn't call
+in a Chinese doctor.
+
+LEE TAI. [_With a smile._] China is a very old and a highly civilized
+country, Daisy. When anyone is in your way, it's not very difficult to
+get rid of him.
+
+DAISY. [_Scornfully._] And do you think I'd let poor Harry be murdered
+so that I might be free to listen to your generous proposals? You must
+think I'm a fool if you expect me to risk my neck for that.
+
+LEE TAI. You don't take _any_ risk, Daisy. You know nothing.
+
+AMAH. Lee Tai velly clever man, Daisy.
+
+DAISY. I thought so once. Lee Tai, you're a damned fool. Get out.
+
+LEE TAI. Freedom is a very good thing, Daisy.
+
+DAISY. What should I do with it?
+
+LEE TAI. Wouldn't you like to be free now? [_She looks at him sharply.
+She wonders if it can possibly be that he suspects her passion for
+George Conway. He meets her glance steadily._] One day Sen Shi Ming was
+sitting with his wife looking at a Tang bronze that he had just bought
+when he heard someone in the street crying for help. Sen Shi was a very
+brave man and he snatched up a revolver and ran out. Sen Shi forgot that
+he had cheated his brother out of a house in Hatamen Street or he would
+have been more prudent. Sen Shi was found by the watchman an hour later
+with a dagger in his heart. Who killed cock-robin?
+
+AMAH. Hi, hi. Sen Shi velly silly man.
+
+LEE TAI. His brother knew that. They had grown up together. If I heard
+cries for help outside my house late in the night, I should ask myself
+who had a grudge against me, and I should make sure the door was bolted.
+But white men are very brave. White men don't know the Chinese customs.
+Would you be very sorry if an accident happened to your excellent
+husband?
+
+DAISY. I wonder what you take me for?
+
+LEE TAI. Why do you pretend to me, Daisy? Do you think I don't know you?
+
+DAISY. The door is a little on the left of you, Lee Tai. Would you give
+yourself the trouble of walking through it?
+
+LEE TAI. [_With a smile._] I go, but I come back. Perhaps you'll change
+your mind.
+
+[_He ties up his bundle and is about to go._ HARRY _enters_.
+
+DAISY. Oh, Harry, you're back very soon!
+
+HARRY. Yes, the pony went lame. Fortunately I hadn't gone far before I
+noticed it. Who's this?
+
+DAISY. It's a curio-dealer. He has nothing I want. I was just sending
+him away.
+
+[LEE TAI _takes up his bundle and goes out_.
+
+HARRY. [_Noticing the orchids._] Someone been sending you flowers?
+
+DAISY. George.
+
+HARRY. Rather nice of him. [_To the_ AMAH.] Run along, amah, I want to
+talk to missy.
+
+AMAH. All light.
+
+HARRY. And don't let me catch you listening round the corner.
+
+AMAH. My no listen. What for I listen?
+
+HARRY. Run along--chop-chop.
+
+AMAH. Can do. [_She goes out._]
+
+HARRY. [_With a laugh._] I couldn't give you a greater proof of my
+affection than consenting to have that old woman around all the time.
+
+DAISY. I don't know why you dislike her. She's devoted to me.
+
+HARRY. That's the only reason I put up with her. She gives me the
+creeps. I have the impression that she watches every movement I make.
+
+DAISY. Oh, what nonsense!
+
+HARRY. And I've caught her eavesdropping.
+
+DAISY. Was it amah that you wanted to talk to me about?
+
+HARRY. No, I've got something to tell you. How would you like to leave
+Peking?
+
+DAISY. [_With a start, suddenly off her guard._] Not at all.
+
+HARRY. I'm afraid it's awfully dull for you here, darling.
+
+DAISY. I don't find it so.
+
+HARRY. You're so dear and sweet. Are you sure you don't say that on my
+account?
+
+DAISY. I'm very fond of Peking.
+
+HARRY. We've been married a year now. I don't want to hurt your
+feelings, darling, but it's no good beating about the bush, and I think
+it's better to be frank.
+
+DAISY. Surely you can say anything you like to me without hesitation.
+
+HARRY. Things have been a little awkward in a way. The women I used to
+know before we married left cards on you--
+
+DAISY. Having taken the precaution to discover that I should be out.
+
+HARRY. And you returned those cards and that was the end of it. I asked
+George what he thought about my taking you to the club to play tennis
+and he said he thought we'd better not risk it. The result is that you
+don't know a soul.
+
+DAISY. Have I complained?
+
+HARRY. You've been most awfully decent about it, but I hate to think of
+your spending day after day entirely by yourself. It can't be good for
+you to be so much alone.
+
+DAISY. I might have known Mrs. Chuan. She's a white woman.
+
+HARRY. Oh, my dear, she was--heaven knows what she was! She's married to
+a Chinaman. It's horrible. She's outside the pale.
+
+DAISY. And there's Bertha Raymond. She's very nice, even though she is a
+Eurasian.
+
+HARRY. I'm sure she's very nice, but we couldn't very well have the
+Raymonds here and refuse to go to them. Her brother is one of the clerks
+in my office. I don't want to seem an awful snob....
+
+DAISY. You needn't hesitate to say anything about the Eurasians. You
+can't hate and despise them more than I do.
+
+HARRY. I don't hate and despise them. I think that's odious. But
+sometimes they're not very tactful. I don't know that I much want one of
+my clerks to come and slap me on the back in the office and call me old
+chap.
+
+DAISY. Of course not.
+
+HARRY. The fact is we've been trying to do an impossible thing. It's no
+good kicking against the pricks. What with the legations and one thing
+and another Peking's hopeless. We'd far better clear out.
+
+DAISY. But if I don't mind why should you?
+
+HARRY. Well, it's not very nice for me either. It's for my sake just as
+much as for yours that I'd be glad to go elsewhere. Of course everybody
+at the club knows I'm married. Some of them ignore it altogether. I
+don't mind that so much. Some of them ask after you with an exaggerated
+cordiality which is rather offensive. And every now and then some fool
+begins to slang the Eurasians and everybody kicks him under the table.
+Then he remembers about me and goes scarlet. By God, it's hell.
+
+DAISY. [_Sulkily._] I don't want to leave Peking. I'm very happy here.
+
+HARRY. Well, darling, I've applied for a transfer.
+
+DAISY. [_With sudden indignation._] Without saying a word to me?
+
+HARRY. I thought you'd be glad. I didn't want to say anything till it
+was settled.
+
+DAISY. Do you think I am a child to have everything arranged for me
+without a word? [_Trying to control herself._] After all, you'd never
+see George. Surely you don't want to lose sight of your only real
+friend.
+
+HARRY. I've talked it over with George and he thinks it's the best thing
+to do.
+
+DAISY. Did he advise you to go?
+
+HARRY. Strongly.
+
+DAISY. [_Violently._] I won't do it. I won't leave Peking.
+
+HARRY. Why should his advice make the difference?
+
+DAISY. Why? [_She is confused for a moment, but quickly recovers
+herself._] I won't let George Conway--or anybody else--decide where I'm
+to go.
+
+HARRY. Don't be unreasonable, darling.
+
+DAISY. I won't go. I tell you I won't go.
+
+HARRY. Well, I'm afraid you must now. It's all settled. The transfer is
+decided.
+
+DAISY. [_Bursting into tears._] Oh, Harry, don't take me away from here.
+I can't bear it. I want to stay here.
+
+HARRY. Oh, darling, how can you be so silly! You'll have a much better
+time at one of the outports. You see, there are so few white people
+there that they can't afford to put on frills. They'll be jolly glad to
+know us both. We shall lead a normal life and be like everybody else.
+
+DAISY. [_Sulkily._] Where do you want to go?
+
+HARRY. I've been put in charge of our place at Chung-king.
+
+DAISY. [_Starting up with a cry._] Chung-king! Of course you'd choose
+Chung-king.
+
+HARRY. Why, what's wrong with it? Do you know it?
+
+DAISY. No--oh, what am I talking about? I'm all confused. Yes, I was
+there once when I was a girl. It's a hateful place.
+
+HARRY. Oh, nonsense! The consul's got a charming wife, and there are
+quite a nice lot of people there.
+
+DAISY. [_Distracted._] Oh, what shall I do? I'm so unhappy. If you cared
+for me at all you wouldn't treat me so cruelly. You're ashamed of me.
+You want to hide me. Why should I bury myself in a hole two thousand
+miles up the river? I won't go! I won't go! I won't go! [_She bursts
+into a storm of hysterical weeping._]
+
+HARRY. [_Trying to take her in his arms._] Oh, Daisy, for God's sake
+don't cry. You know I'm not ashamed of you. I love you more than ever. I
+love you with all my heart.
+
+DAISY. [_Drawing away from him._] Don't touch me. Leave me alone. I hate
+you.
+
+HARRY. Don't say that, Daisy. It hurts me frightfully.
+
+DAISY. Oh, go away, go away!
+
+HARRY. [_Seeking to reason with her._] I can't leave you like this.
+
+DAISY. Go, go, go, go, go! I don't want to see you! Oh, God, what shall
+I do?
+
+[_She flings herself doom on the steps, weeping hysterically._ HARRY,
+_much distressed, looks at her in perplexity_. _The_ AMAH _comes in_.
+
+AMAH. You make missy cly. You velly bad man.
+
+HARRY. What the devil do you want?
+
+AMAH. [_Going up to_ DAISY _and stroking her head_.] What thing he
+talkee my poor little flower? Maskee. He belong velly bad man.
+
+HARRY. Shut up, you old ... I won't have you talk like that. I've put up
+with a good deal from you, but if you try to make mischief between Daisy
+and me, by God, I'll throw you out into the street with my own hands.
+
+AMAH. What thing you do my Daisy? Don't cly, Daisy.
+
+HARRY. Darling, don't be unreasonable.
+
+DAISY. Go away, don't come near me. I hate you.
+
+HARRY. How _can_ you say anything so unkind?
+
+DAISY. Send him away. [_She begins to sob again more violently._]
+
+AMAH. You go away. You no can see she no wanchee you. You come back
+bimeby. My sabe talk to little flower.
+
+[HARRY _hesitates for a moment_. _He is harassed by the scene. Then he
+makes up his mind the best thing is to leave_ DAISY _with the_ AMAH. _He
+goes out._ DAISY _raises her head cautiously_.
+
+DAISY. Has he gone?
+
+AMAH. Yes. He go drink whisky soda.
+
+DAISY. Do you know what he wants?
+
+AMAH. What for he tell me no listen? So fashion I sabe he say something
+I wanchee hear. He wanchee you leave Peking.
+
+DAISY. I won't go.
+
+AMAH. Harry velly silly man. He alla same pig. You pull thisa way, he
+pull thata way. If Harry say you go from Peking--you go.
+
+DAISY. Never, never, never!
+
+AMAH. You go away from Peking you never see George anymore.
+
+DAISY. I should die. Oh, I want him! I want him to love me. I want him
+to hurt me. I want.... [_In her passion she has dug her hands hard into
+the_ AMAH.]
+
+AMAH. [_Pushing away_ DAISY'S _hands_.] Oh!
+
+DAISY. He loves me. That's the only thing that matters. All the rest....
+
+AMAH. Harry wanchee you go Chung-king. Missionary ladies like see you
+again, Daisy. Perhaps they ask you how you like living along Lee Tai
+Cheng. Perhaps somebody tell Harry.
+
+DAISY. The fool. Of all the places in China he must hit upon Chung-king.
+
+AMAH. You know Harry. If he say go Chung-king, he go. You cly, he velly
+solly, he all same go.
+
+DAISY. Oh, I know his obstinacy. When he's once made up his
+mind--[_Contemptuously._]--he prides himself on his firmness. Oh, what
+shall I do?
+
+AMAH. I think more better something happen to Harry.
+
+DAISY. No, no, no!
+
+AMAH. What you flightened for? You no do anything. I tell Lee Tai more
+better something happen to Harry. I say you not velly sorry if Harry
+die.
+
+DAISY. [_Putting her hands over her ears._] Be quiet! I won't listen to
+you.
+
+AMAH. [_Roughly tearing her hands away._] Don't you be such a big fool,
+Daisy. You go to Chung-king and Harry know everything. Maybe he kill
+you.
+
+DAISY. What do I care?
+
+AMAH. You go to Chung-king, you never see George no more. George, he
+love my little Daisy. When Harry gone--George, he come say....
+
+DAISY. Oh, don't tempt me, it's horrible!
+
+AMAH. He put his arms round you and you feel such a little small thing,
+you hear his heart beat quick, quick against your heart. And he throw
+back your head and he kiss you. And you think you die, little flower.
+
+DAISY. Oh, I love him, I love him!
+
+AMAH. Hi, hi.
+
+DAISY. [_Thinking of the scene with George._] He would hardly look at me
+and his hands were trembling. He was as white as a sheet.
+
+AMAH. [_Persuasively._] I tell you, Daisy. You no say yes, you no say
+no. I ask Buddha.
+
+DAISY. [_Frightened._] What for?
+
+AMAH. If Buddha say yes, I talk with Lee Tai; if Buddha say no, I do
+nothing. Then you go to Chung-king and you never see George any more.
+
+     [_The_ AMAH _goes up the temple steps and flings open the great
+     doors_. DAISY _watches her with an agony of horror, expectation,
+     and dread. The_ AMAH _lights some joss-sticks on the altar, and
+     strikes a deep-toned gong._ HARRY _comes in, followed by_ LEE TAI
+     _with his bundle_.
+
+HARRY. [_Anxious to make his peace._] Daisy, I found this fellow hanging
+about in the courtyard. I thought I'd like to buy you a Manchu dress
+that he's got.
+
+DAISY. [_After a moment's reflection, with a change of tone._] That's
+very nice of you, Harry.
+
+HARRY. It's a real beauty. You'll look stunning in it.
+
+LEE TAI. [_Showing the dress, speaking in Pidgin English._] Firs class
+dless. He belong Manchu plincess. Manchus no got money. No got money, no
+can chow. Manchus sell velly cheap. You takee, Missy.
+
+     [DAISY _and_ LEE TAI _exchange glances_. DAISY _is grave and
+     tragic, whereas_ LEE TAI _has an ironical glint in his eyes.
+     Meanwhile the_ AMAH _has been bowing before the altar. She goes
+     down on her knees and knocks her head on the ground_.
+
+HARRY. What in God's Name is amah doing?
+
+DAISY. She's asking Buddha a question.
+
+HARRY. What question?
+
+DAISY. [_With a shadow of a smile._] How should I know?
+
+HARRY. What's the idea?
+
+DAISY. Haven't you ever seen the Chinese do it? You see those pieces of
+wood she's holding in her hands. She's holding them out to the Buddha so
+that he may see them and she's telling him that he must answer the
+question. [_Meanwhile the_ AMAH, _muttering in a low tone, is seen doing
+what_ DAISY _describes_.] The Buddha smells the incense of the burning
+joss-sticks, and he's pleased and he listens to what she says.
+
+HARRY. [_Smiling._] Don't be so absurd, Daisy. One might almost think
+you believed all this nonsense. Why, you're quite pale.
+
+DAISY. Then she gets up. The pieces of wood are flat on one side and
+round on the other. She'll lift them above her head and she'll drop them
+in front of the Buddha. If they fall with the round side uppermost it
+means yes. [DAISY _has been growing more and more excited as the
+ceremony proceeds. Now the_ AMAH _steps back a little and she raises her
+arms_. DAISY _gives a shriek and starts to run forward_.] No! no! Stop!
+
+HARRY. [_Instinctively seizing her arms._] Daisy!
+
+     [_At the same moment the_ AMAH _has let the pieces of wood fall.
+     She looks at them for an instant and then turns round_.
+
+AMAH. Buddha talkee, can do.
+
+DAISY. [_To_ HARRY.] Why did you stop me?
+
+HARRY. Daisy, how can you be so superstitious? What is the result?
+
+DAISY. Amah asked Buddha a question and the answer is yes. [_She puts
+her hand to her heart for an instant, then looking at_ HARRY _she
+smiles_.] I'm sorry I was silly and unreasonable just now, Harry.
+
+END OF SCENE III
+
+
+
+
+SCENE IV
+
+
+     _The sitting-room in the_ ANDERSONS' _apartments. At the back are
+     two double doors. The lower part of them is solid, but above they
+     are cut in an intricate trellis. The ceiling is raftered, painted
+     red and decorated with dim, gold dragons; the walls are
+     whitewashed. On them hang Chinese pictures on rolls. Between the
+     doors is a little image of the domestic god, and under it a tiny
+     oil lamp is burning. The furniture is partly Chinese and partly
+     European. There is an English writing-table, but the occasional
+     tables, richly carved, are Chinese. There is a Chinese pallet-bed,
+     covered with bamboo matting, and there is an English Chesterfield.
+     There are a couple of Philippine rattan chairs and one or two of
+     Cantonese blackwood. On the floor is a Chinese carpet. A Ming tile
+     here and there gives a vivid note of colour. It is a summer night
+     and the doors are wide open. Through them you see one of the
+     courtyards of the temple_.
+
+     _The_ AMAH _is seated in one of the blackwood chairs by the side of
+     a table. She has her water-pipe. She puts a pinch of tobacco in and
+     then going to the lamp under the image lights a taper. She seats
+     herself again and lights her pipe. She smokes quietly_.
+
+     DAISY _comes in. She wears an evening dress somewhat too splendid
+     for dinner with only her husband and a friend_.
+
+AMAH. B. A. T. fellow, when he go?
+
+DAISY. You know his name. Why don't you call him by it? I think he's
+going almost at once.
+
+AMAH. What for he go so soon?
+
+DAISY. That's his business, isn't it? As a matter of fact his sister is
+arriving from England, and he has to go to meet her.
+
+AMAH. More better he go soon.
+
+DAISY. Why do you smoke your pipe here? You know Harry doesn't like it.
+
+AMAH. Harry one big fool, I think. When you go to Chung-king?
+
+DAISY. Harry hasn't said a word about it since.
+
+AMAH. You got key that desk?
+
+DAISY. No. Harry keeps all his private papers there.
+
+     [_The_ AMAH _goes up to the desk and tries one of the drawers. It
+     is locked and she cannot open it_.
+
+AMAH. What Harry do now?
+
+DAISY. He and Mr. Knox are drinking their port.
+
+     [_The_ AMAH _takes out a skeleton key out of her pocket and inserts
+     it in the lock. She turns the key_.
+
+AMAH. Velly bad lock. I think him made in Germany. Hi, hi. [_She opens
+the drawer and takes out a revolver. She hands it to_ DAISY.] Lee Tai
+say, you take out cartridges.
+
+DAISY. What do you mean? [_She suddenly guesses the truth and gives a
+cry._] Oh!
+
+AMAH. [_Hurriedly putting her hand over_ DAISY'S _mouth_.] Sh, you no
+make noise. [_Holding out the revolver._] Lee Tai say, more better you
+do it.
+
+DAISY. Take it away. No, no, I won't, I won't.
+
+AMAH. Sh, sh. I do it. I sabe.
+
+     [_She takes the cartridges out of the revolver and hides them about
+     her._ DAISY _looks at her with horror_.
+
+DAISY. It's not for to-night?
+
+AMAH. I no sabe.
+
+DAISY. I won't have it. Do you hear? Oh, I shall go mad!
+
+AMAH. Then Harry shut you up. Hi, hi. All same Chung-king.
+
+     [_She puts the revolver back into the drawer and shuts it_ _just
+     as_ HARRY _and_ HAROLD KNOX _come in. They wear dinner jackets_.
+
+KNOX. Hulloa, there's the little ray of sunshine. I missed your bonny
+face before dinner.
+
+AMAH. You velly funny man.
+
+KNOX. No wonder I dote upon you, dearie. You're the only attractive
+woman I've ever been able to persuade that I was a humourist.
+
+HARRY. [_Catching sight of the_ AMAH'S _water-pipe_.] I told you I
+wouldn't have your disgusting pipe in here, amah.
+
+AMAH. Belong velly nice pipe.
+
+HARRY. I swore I'd throw the damned thing out myself if I found it lying
+about.
+
+AMAH. [_Snatching it away._] You no touch my pipe. You velly bad man.
+Velly bad temper. You no Christian.
+
+HARRY. A fat lot you know about Christianity.
+
+AMAH. I know plentything about Christianity. My father velly poor man.
+He say, you go and be Christian. I go Catholic mission and they baptize
+me. English Church missionary, he come along and say, Catholic mission
+no good, you go to hell, I baptize you. All right I say, you baptize me.
+By and by Baptist missionary come along and say, English Church mission
+no good, you go to hell, I baptize you. All right, I say, you baptize
+me. By and by Presbyterian missionary come along and say, Baptist
+mission no good, you go to hell, I baptize you. All right, I say, you
+baptize me. [_To_ KNOX.] You know Seventh Day Adventists?
+
+KNOX. I've heard of them.
+
+AMAH. By and by Seventh Day Adventist he come along and say,
+Presbyterian mission no good.
+
+KNOX. You go to hell.
+
+AMAH. How fashion you sabe what he said?
+
+KNOX. I guessed it.
+
+AMAH. You go to hell, he say. I baptize you. I been baptized one, two,
+three, four, five times. I velly Christian woman.
+
+HARRY. [_Smiling._] I apologize.
+
+AMAH. They all say to poor Chinese, love one another. I no think
+missionaries love one another velly much. Hi, hi.
+
+KNOX. [_Taking out his watch._] D'you mind if I look at the time? I
+don't want to get to the station late.
+
+HARRY. Of course not. I say, won't you have a cigar? [_He goes to his
+desk._] I have to keep them locked up. I think the boys find them very
+much to their taste. [_He puts the key into the lock._] Hulloa, the
+drawer's open. I could have sworn I locked it. [_He takes out a box of
+cigars and hands it to_ KNOX.]
+
+KNOX. [_Helping himself._] Thanks very much.
+
+DAISY. You know, you mustn't let me keep you if you want to be off.
+
+KNOX. I've got two or three minutes.
+
+HARRY. Oh, Daisy, before Harold goes I wish you'd show him that Manchu
+dress I bought you.
+
+DAISY. I'll go and fetch it. [_To the_ AMAH.] Is it hanging up in the
+cupboard?
+
+AMAH. No, I have puttee in paper. I velly careful woman.
+
+     [_They both go out._
+
+KNOX. I say, old man, I hope you don't think I'm an awful swine to rush
+off like this the moment I've swallowed my dinner.
+
+HARRY. Rather not. As a matter of fact it's not exactly inconvenient,
+because I'm expecting George. I want him to have a heart to heart talk
+with Daisy.
+
+KNOX. Oh.
+
+HARRY. She's grousing rather about going to Chung-king and I want him to
+tell her it's a very decent place. He was vice-consul up there once.
+He's dining at the Carmichael's, but he said he'd come along here as
+soon as he could get away.
+
+KNOX. Then it's all for the best in the best of all possible worlds.
+
+     [DAISY _comes in with the dress_.
+
+DAISY. Here it is.
+
+KNOX. By George, isn't it stunning? I must try to get one for my sister.
+She'd simply go off her head if she saw that.
+
+DAISY. Harry spoils me, doesn't he?
+
+KNOX. Harry's a very lucky young fellow to have you to spoil.
+
+DAISY. [_Smiling._] Go away or you'll never arrive in time.
+
+KNOX. I'm off. Goodby and thanks very much. Dinner was top-hole.
+
+DAISY. Goodby.
+
+     [_He goes out._ HARRY _accompanies him into the courtyard and for a
+     moment is lost to view. The gaiety on_ DAISY'S _face vanishes and a
+     look of anxiety takes its place_.
+
+DAISY. [_Calling hurriedly._] Amah, amah.
+
+AMAH. [_Coming in._] What thing?
+
+DAISY. What have you done? Have you...? [_She stops, unable to complete
+the agonised question._]
+
+AMAH. What you talk about? I done nothing. I only have joke with you.
+Hi, hi.
+
+DAISY. Will you swear that's true?
+
+AMAH. Never tell a lie. Velly good Christian.
+
+     [DAISY _looks at her searchingly. She does not know whether to
+     believe or not_. HARRY _returns_.
+
+HARRY. I say, Daisy, I wish you'd put on the dress. I'd love to see how
+you look in it.
+
+DAISY. [_With a smile._] Shall I?
+
+HARRY. Amah will help you. It'll suit you right down to the ground.
+
+DAISY. Wait a minute. Bring the dress along, amah.
+
+AMAH. All right.
+
+     [DAISY _goes out, followed by the_ AMAH _with the Manchu dress_.
+     HARRY _goes to his desk and opens the drawer. He examines the lock
+     and looks at the keyhole_.
+
+HARRY. [_To himself._] I wonder if that old devil's got a key.
+
+     [_He shuts the drawer, but does not lock it. He strolls back to the
+     middle of the room._
+
+DAISY. [_In the adjoining room._] Are you getting impatient?
+
+HARRY. Not a bit.
+
+DAISY. I'm just ready.
+
+HARRY. I'm holding my breath. [DAISY _comes in. She is in full Manchu
+dress. She is strangely changed. There is nothing European about her any
+more. She is mysterious and enigmatical_.] Daisy! [_She gives him a
+little smile but does not answer. She stands quite still for him to look
+at her._] By George, how Chinese you look!
+
+DAISY. Don't you like it?
+
+HARRY. I don't know. You've just knocked me off my feet. Like it? You're
+wonderful. In my wildest dreams I never saw you like that. You've
+brought all the East into the room with you. My head reels as though I
+were drunk.
+
+DAISY. It's strange that I feel as if these things were made for me.
+They make me feel so different.
+
+HARRY. I thought that no one in the world was more normal than I. I'm
+ashamed of myself. You're almost a stranger to me and by God, I feel as
+though the marrow of my bones were melting. I hear the East a-calling. I
+have such a pain in my heart. Oh, my pretty, my precious, I love you.
+
+     [_He falls down on his knees before her and clasps both his arms
+     round her._
+
+DAISY. [_In a low voice, hardly her own._] Why, Harry, what are you
+talking about?
+
+     [_She caresses his hair with her long, delicate Chinese hand._
+
+HARRY. I'm such a fool. My heart is full of wonderful thoughts and I
+can only say that--that I worship the very ground you walk on.
+
+DAISY. Don't kneel, Harry; that isn't the way a woman wants to be loved.
+
+[_She raises him to his feet and as he rises he takes her in his arms._
+
+HARRY. [_Passionately._] I'd do anything in the world for you.
+
+DAISY. You could make me so happy if you chose.
+
+HARRY. I do choose.
+
+DAISY. Won't you give up this idea of leaving Peking?
+
+HARRY. But, my darling, it's for your happiness I'm doing it.
+
+DAISY. Don't you think that everyone is the best judge of his own
+happiness?
+
+HARRY. Not always.
+
+DAISY. [_Disengaging herself from his arms._] Ah, that's the English
+way. You want to make people happy in your way and not in theirs. You'll
+never be satisfied till the Chinese wear Norfolk jackets and eat roast
+beef and plum pudding.
+
+HARRY. Oh, my dear, don't let's argue now.
+
+DAISY. You say you'll give me everything in the world and you won't give
+me the one thing I want. What's the good of offering me the moon if I
+have a nail in my shoe and you won't take it out?
+
+HARRY. Well, you can smile, so it's not very serious, is it?
+
+DAISY. [_Putting her arms round his neck._] Oh, Harry, I'll love you so
+much if you'll only do what I ask. You don't know me yet. Oh, Harry!
+
+HARRY. My darling, I love you with all my heart and soul, but when I've
+once made up my mind nothing on earth is going to make me change it. We
+can only be happy and natural if we go. You must submit to my judgment.
+
+DAISY. How _can_ you be so obstinate?
+
+HARRY. My dear, look at yourself in the glass now.
+
+     [_She looks down on her Manchu dress. She understands what he
+     means. She is a Chinese woman._
+
+DAISY. [_With a change of tone._] Amah, bring me a tea-gown.
+
+     [_She begins to undo the long Manchu coat. The_ AMAH _comes in with
+     a tea-gown_.
+
+HARRY. [_Dryly._] It's very convenient that you should always be within
+earshot when you're wanted, amah.
+
+AMAH. I velly good amah. Velly Christian woman.
+
+     [DAISY _slips off the Manchu clothes and is helped by the_ AMAH
+     _into the tea-gown. She wraps it round her. She is once more a
+     white woman._
+
+DAISY. [_Pointing to the Manchu dress._] Take those things away. [_To_
+HARRY.] Would you like to have a game of chess?
+
+HARRY. Very much. I'll get the men.
+
+     [DAISY _goes to the gramophone and turns on a Chinese tune. It is
+     strange and exotic. Its monotony exacerbates the nerves._ HARRY
+     _gets the chessboard and sets up the pieces. They sit down opposite
+     one another. The_ AMAH _has disappeared with the discarded dress_.
+
+HARRY. Will you take white?
+
+DAISY. If you like. [_She moves a piece._]
+
+HARRY. I hate your queen opening. It always flummoxes me. I don't know
+where you learned to play so well. I never have a chance against you.
+
+DAISY. I was taught by a Chinaman. It's a game they take to naturally.
+
+     [_They make two or three moves without a word. Suddenly, breaking
+     across the silence, stridently, there is a shriek outside in the
+     street._ DAISY _gives a little gasp_.
+
+HARRY. Hulloa, what's that?
+
+DAISY. Oh, it's nothing. It's only some Chinese quarrelling.
+
+     [_Two or three shouts are heard and then an agonised cry of "Help,
+     help."_ HARRY _springs to his feet_.
+
+HARRY. By God, that's English.
+
+[_He is just going to rush out when Daisy seizes his arm._]
+
+DAISY. What are you going to do? No, no, don't leave me, Harry.
+
+[_She clings to him. He pushes her away violently._
+
+HARRY. Shut up. Don't be a fool.
+
+     [_He runs to the drawer of his desk. The cry is repeated: "For
+     God's sake, help, help, oh!"_
+
+HARRY. My God, they're killing someone. It can't be ... [_He remembers
+that George is coming that evening._]
+
+DAISY. [_Throwing herself on him._] No, Harry, don't go, don't go, I
+won't let you.
+
+HARRY. Get out of my way.
+
+     [_He pushes her violently aside and runs out._ DAISY _sinks to the
+     floor and buries her face in her hands_.
+
+DAISY. Oh, my God!
+
+     [_The_ AMAH _has been waiting just outside one of the doors, in the
+     courtyard, and now she slips in_.
+
+AMAH. Harry velly blave man. He hear white man being murdered. He run
+and help. Hi, hi.
+
+DAISY. Oh, I can't. Harry, Harry.
+
+     [_She springs to her feet and runs towards the courtyard, with some
+     instinctive idea of going to her husband's help._ The AMAH _stops
+     her_.
+
+AMAH. What side you go?
+
+DAISY. I can't stand here and let Harry be murdered.
+
+AMAH. You stop here.
+
+DAISY. Let me go. For God's sake let me go. Wu, Wu.
+
+[_The_ AMAH _puts her hand over_ DAISY'S _mouth_.
+
+AMAH. You be quiet. You wanchee go prison?
+
+DAISY. [_Snatching away her hand._] I'll give you anything in the world
+if you'll only let me go.
+
+AMAH. You silly little fool, Daisy.
+
+     [DAISY _struggles to release herself, but she is helpless in the_
+     AMAH'S _grasp_.
+
+DAISY. [_In an agony._] It'll be too late.
+
+AMAH. Too late now. You no can help him.
+
+     [_She releases_ DAISY. DAISY _staggers forward and covers her face
+     with her hands_.
+
+DAISY. Oh, what have I done?
+
+AMAH. [_With a snigger._] You no done nothing, you know nothing.
+
+DAISY. [_Violently._] Curse you! It's you, you, you!
+
+AMAH. I velly wicked woman. Curse me. Do me no harm.
+
+DAISY. I told you I wouldn't have anything done to Harry.
+
+AMAH. You say no with your lips but in your belly you say yes.
+
+DAISY. No, no, no!
+
+AMAH. You just big damned fool, Daisy. You no love Harry. Him not velly
+rich. Not velly big man. No good. You velly glad you finish with him.
+
+DAISY. But not that way. He never did me any harm. He was always good to
+me and kind to me.
+
+AMAH. That velly good way. Velly safe way.
+
+DAISY. You devil! I hate the sight of you.
+
+AMAH. What for you hate me? I do what you want. Your father velly clever
+man. He say: no break eggs, no can eat omelette.
+
+DAISY. I wish I'd never been born.
+
+AMAH. [_Impatiently._] What for you tell me lies? You want Harry dead.
+Well, I kill him for you. [_With a sudden gust of anger._] You no curse
+me or I beat you. You velly bad girl.
+
+DAISY. [_Giving way._] Oh, I feel so awfully faint!
+
+AMAH. [_Tenderly, as though_ DAISY _were still a child_.] You sit down.
+You take smelly salts. [_She helps_ DAISY _into a chair and holds
+smelling salts to her nostrils_.] You feel better in a minute. Amah love
+her little Daisy flower. Harry him die and Daisy velly sorry. She cry
+and cry and cry. George velly sorry for Daisy. By and by Daisy no cry
+any more. She say, more better Harry dead. Good old amah, she do
+everything for little Daisy.
+
+[DAISY _has been looking at her with terrified eyes_.
+
+DAISY. What a brute I am! I'd give anything in the world to have Harry
+back, and yet in the bottom of my heart there's a feeling--if I were
+free there'd be nothing to stand between George and me.
+
+AMAH. I think George he marry you maybe.
+
+DAISY. Oh, not now! It'll bring me bad joss.
+
+AMAH. You no wanchee fear, my little flower. You sit still or you feel
+bad again.
+
+DAISY. [_Jumping up._] How can I sit still? The suspense is awful. Oh,
+my God, what's happened?
+
+AMAH. [_With a cunning smile._] I tell you what's happened. Harry run
+outside and he see two, three men makee fighting. They a little way off.
+One man cry, "Help, help!" Harry give shout and run. He fall down and
+him not get up again.
+
+DAISY. He's as strong as a horse. With his bare hands he's a match for
+ten Chinamen.
+
+AMAH. Lee Tai velly clever man. He no take risks. I think all finish
+now.
+
+DAISY. Then for God's sake let me go.
+
+AMAH. More better you stay here, Daisy. Perhaps you get into trouble if
+you go out. They ask you why you go out,--why you think something happen
+to your husband.
+
+DAISY. I can't let him lie there.
+
+AMAH. He no lie velly long. By and by night watchman come here, and he
+say white man in the street--him dead. I think his throat cut.
+
+DAISY. Oh, how horrible! Harry, Harry!
+
+[_She buries her face in her hands._
+
+AMAH. I light joss-stick. Make everything come all right.
+
+     [_She goes over to the household image and lights a joss-stick in
+     front of it. She bows before it and going on her knees knocks her
+     head on the ground._
+
+DAISY. How long is it going on? How long have I got to wait? Oh, what
+have I done? The silence is awful. [_There is a silence. Suddenly_ DAISY
+_breaks out into a shriek_.] No, no, no! I won't have it. I can't bear
+it. Oh, God help me! [_In the distance of the next courtyard is heard
+the chanting of the monks at the evening service. The_ AMAH, _having
+finished her devotions, stands at the doorway looking out steadily_.
+DAISY _stares straight in front of her. Suddenly there is a loud booming
+of a gong_. DAISY _starts up_.] What's that?
+
+AMAH. Be quiet, Daisy. Be careful.
+
+     [_The door of the courtyard is flung open._ HARRY _comes in,
+     through the courtyard, into the room, pushing before him a coolie
+     whom he holds by the wrists and by the scruff of the neck_.
+
+DAISY. Harry!
+
+HARRY. I've got one of the blighters. [_Shouting._] Here, bring me a
+rope.
+
+DAISY. What's happened?
+
+HARRY. Wait a minute. Thank God, I got there when I did. [WU _brings a
+rope and_ HARRY _ties the man's wrists behind his back_.] Keep quiet,
+you devil, or I'll break your ruddy neck. [_He slips the rope through
+the great iron ring of one of the doors and ties it so that the man
+cannot get away._] He'll be all right there for the present. I'll just
+go and telephone to the police station. Wu, you stand outside there. You
+watch him. Sabe?
+
+WU. I sabe.
+
+     [_As_ HARRY _goes out a crowd of people surge through the great
+     open doorway of the courtyard. They are monks of the temple,
+     attracted to the street by the quick rumour of accident, coolies,
+     and the night watchman with his rattle. Some of them bear Chinese
+     lanterns, some hurricane lamps. The crowd separates out as they
+     approach the room and then it is seen that three men are bearing
+     what seems to be the body of a man_.
+
+DAISY. What's that?
+
+AMAH. I think belong foreign man. [_The men bring in the body and lay it
+on the sofa. The head and part of the chest are covered with a piece of
+blue cotton._ DAISY _and the_ AMAH _look at it with dismay. They dare
+not approach. The_ ABBOT _drives the crowd out of the room and shuts the
+doors, only leaving that side of one open at which the prisoner is
+attached. The_ AMAH _turns on the god in the niche_.] You say can do.
+What for you make mistake?
+
+     [_She seizes a fan which is on the table under her hand and with
+     angry violence hits the image on the face two or three times._
+     DAISY _has been staring at the body. She goes up to it softly and
+     lifts the cloth slightly, she gives a start, and with a quick
+     gesture snatches it away. She sees George Conway_.
+
+DAISY. George. [_She opens her mouth to shriek._]
+
+AMAH. Sh, take care. Harry hear.
+
+DAISY. What have you done?
+
+AMAH. I do nothing. Buddha, he makee mistake.
+
+DAISY. You fiend!
+
+AMAH. How do I know, Daisy? I no can tell George coming here to-night.
+[_The words come gurgling out, for_ DAISY _has sprung upon her and
+seized her by the throat_.] Oh, let me go.
+
+DAISY. You fiend.
+
+[HARRY _comes in. He is astounded at what he sees_.
+
+HARRY. Daisy, Daisy. What in God's name are you doing?
+
+     [_Restrained by his voice_, DAISY _releases her hold of the_ AMAH,
+     _but violently, pushing her so that she falls to the ground. She
+     lies there, putting her hand to her throat_. DAISY _turns to_
+     HARRY.
+
+DAISY. It's George.
+
+HARRY. [_Going up to the sofa and putting his hand on George's heart._]
+Confound it, I know it's George.
+
+DAISY. Is he dead?
+
+HARRY. No, he's only had a bang on the head. He's stunned. I've sent for
+the doctor. Luckily he was dining at the Carmichaels' and I sent
+George's rickshaw to bring him along as quick as he could come.
+
+DAISY. Supposing he's gone?
+
+HARRY. He won't have gone. They were going to play poker. By God, what's
+this? [_He takes away his hand and sees blood upon it._] He's been
+wounded. He's bleeding.
+
+     [DAISY _goes up to the body and kneeling down, feels the pulse_.
+
+DAISY. Are you sure he's alive?
+
+HARRY. Yes, his heart's beating all right. I wish the doctor would make
+haste. I don't know what one ought to do.
+
+DAISY. How do you know he's at the Carmichaels'?
+
+HARRY. George told me yesterday he was going to be there. George said he
+did not want to play poker and he'd come along here after dinner.
+
+DAISY. [_Springing to her feet._] Did you know George was coming?
+
+HARRY. Of course I did. When I heard someone shouting in English the
+first thing I thought of was George.
+
+     [DAISY _bursts into a scream of hysterical laughter. The_ AMAH
+     _suddenly looks up and becomes attentive_.
+
+HARRY. Daisy, what's the matter?
+
+AMAH. [_Sliding to her feet and going up to Daisy, trying to stop her._]
+Maskee. She only laughy laughy. You no trouble.
+
+HARRY. Get some water or something.
+
+AMAH. [_Frightened._] Now, my pletty, my pletty.
+
+DAISY. [_Recovering herself, violently._] Let me be.
+
+HARRY. By George, I believe he's coming to. Bring the water here.
+
+     [DAISY _takes the glass and leaning over the sofa, moistens_
+     GEORGE'S _lips. He slowly opens his eyes_.
+
+GEORGE. Funny stuff. What is it?
+
+HARRY. [_With a chuckle that is half a sob._] Don't be a fool. Oh,
+George, you have given me a nasty turn.
+
+GEORGE. There's something the matter with the water.
+
+DAISY. [_Looking at it quickly._] What?
+
+GEORGE. Damn it all, there's no brandy in it.
+
+DAISY. If you make a joke I shall cry.
+
+[_He tries to move, but suddenly gives a groan._
+
+GEORGE. Oh Lord. I've got such a pain in my side.
+
+HARRY. Keep quiet. The doctor will be here in a minute.
+
+GEORGE. What is it?
+
+HARRY. I don't know. There's a lot of blood.
+
+GEORGE. I hope I haven't made a mess on your nice new sofa.
+
+HARRY. Damn the sofa. It's lucky I heard you shout.
+
+GEORGE. I never shouted.
+
+HARRY. Oh, nonsense, I heard you. I thought it was you at once.
+
+GEORGE. I heard a cry for help too. I was just coming along. I nipped
+out of my rickshaw and sprinted like hell. I saw some fellows
+struggling. I think someone hit me on the head. I don't remember much.
+
+HARRY. Who did cry for help?
+
+GEORGE. [_After a pause._] Nobody.
+
+HARRY. But I heard it. Daisy heard it too. It sounded like someone being
+murdered. [_As_ GEORGE _gives a little chuckle_.] What's the joke?
+
+GEORGE. Someone's got his knife into you, old man, and the silly ass
+stuck it into me instead.
+
+[_The_ AMAH _pricks up her ears_.
+
+DAISY. I'm sure you oughtn't to talk so much.
+
+GEORGE. It's a very old Chinese trick. They just got the wrong man,
+that's all.
+
+HARRY. By George, that explains why I tripped.
+
+GEORGE. Did you trip? A piece of string across the street.
+
+HARRY. I wasn't expecting it. I went down like a ninepin. I was up again
+in a flash and just threw myself at the blighters. You should have seen
+'em scatter. Luckily I got one of them.
+
+GEORGE. Good. Where is he?
+
+HARRY. He's here. I've tied him up pretty tight.
+
+GEORGE. Well, we shall find out who's at the bottom of this. The methods
+of the Chinese police may be uncivilized, but they are ... Oh, Lord, I
+do feel rotten.
+
+HARRY. Oh, George.
+
+     [DAISY _gives_ HARRY _the glass and he helps_ GEORGE _to drink_.
+
+GEORGE. That's better.
+
+HARRY. We'd better get you to bed, old man.
+
+GEORGE. All right.
+
+HARRY. Wu and I will carry you. Wu, come along here.
+
+     [_The boy approaches. The_ AMAH _realizes that for a moment the
+     prisoner is to be left unguarded. There is a table knife on one of
+     the occasional tables with which_ DAISY _has been cutting a book.
+     The_ AMAH'S _hand closes over it_.
+
+GEORGE. Oh, no, that's all right. I can walk.
+
+     [_He gets up from the sofa._ HARRY _gives him an arm. He staggers._
+
+HARRY. Wu, you fool. [DAISY _springs forward_.] No, let me take him,
+Daisy. You're not strong enough.
+
+GEORGE. [_Gasping._] Sorry to make such an ass of myself.
+
+     [HARRY _and_ WU, _holding him one on each side, help him out of the
+     room_.
+
+DAISY. Shall I come?
+
+HARRY. Oh, I'll call you if you're wanted.
+
+     [DAISY _sinks into a chair, shuddering, and covers her face with
+     her hands. The_ AMAH _seizes her opportunity. She cuts the rope
+     which binds the prisoner. As soon as he is free he steps out into
+     the darkness. The_ AMAH _watches for a moment and then cries out_.
+
+AMAH. Help, help!
+
+[DAISY _springs up and_ HARRY _hurries in_.
+
+HARRY. What's the matter?
+
+AMAH. Coolie. Him run away.
+
+HARRY. [_Looking at the place where he had been tied up._] By God!
+
+AMAH. Missy feel velly ill. No can stand blood. Feel faint. I run fetch
+smelly salts and when I come back him gone. Him bad man.
+
+[HARRY _goes to the door and looks at the rope_.
+
+HARRY. This rope's been cut.
+
+AMAH. Perhaps he have knife. Why you no look see before you tie him.
+
+HARRY. [_Looking at her sternly._] How do you think he could get at a
+knife with his hands tied behind his back?
+
+AMAH. I no sabe. Maybe he have friend.
+
+HARRY. Didn't you hear anything, Daisy?
+
+DAISY. No. I wasn't thinking about him. Oh, Harry, George isn't going to
+die, is he?
+
+HARRY. I hope not. I don't know what sort of a wound he's got. [_The_
+AMAH, _thinking attention is withdrawn from her, is slipping away_.] No,
+you don't. You stop here.
+
+AMAH. What thing you wantchee?
+
+HARRY. You let that man go.
+
+AMAH. You velly silly man. What for I want let him go?
+
+HARRY. [_Pointing._] What's that knife doing there? That's one of our
+knives.
+
+AMAH. Missy takey knife cutty book.
+
+HARRY. When I got into the street I wanted to fire my revolver to
+frighten them. There wasn't a cartridge in it. I always keep it loaded
+and locked up.
+
+AMAH. Revolver. I don't know him. I never have see revolver. Never.
+Never.
+
+     [_She makes a movement as though to go away. He seizes her wrist._
+
+HARRY. Stop.
+
+AMAH. My go chow. My belong velly hungly. You talk by and by.
+
+HARRY. If I hadn't come in just now, Daisy would have strangled you.
+
+AMAH. Daisy velly excited. She no sabe what she do. She never hurt old
+amah.
+
+HARRY. Why were you angry with her, Daisy?
+
+DAISY. [_Frightened._] I was beside myself. I don't know what I was
+doing.
+
+HARRY. [_With sudden suspicion_.] Are you trying to shield her?
+
+DAISY. Of course not. Why on earth should I do that?
+
+HARRY. I suppose you look on it as a matter of no importance that she
+tried to kill me.
+
+DAISY. Oh, Harry, how can you say anything so cruel? Why should she try
+and kill you?
+
+HARRY. I don't know. How do you expect me to guess what is at the back
+of a Chinese brain? She's hated me always.
+
+AMAH. You no love me velly much.
+
+HARRY. I've put up with her just because she was attached to you. I knew
+she was a liar and a thief. It was a trap and I escaped by a miracle.
+Only, George has got to suffer for it.
+
+DAISY. Harry, you're nervous and excited.
+
+HARRY. What are you defending her for?
+
+DAISY. I'm not defending her.
+
+HARRY. One would almost think she had some hold on you. I've never seen
+anyone let an amah behave as you let her behave.
+
+DAISY. She's been with me since I was a child. She--she can't get it
+into her head that I'm grown up.
+
+HARRY. Well, I've had about enough of her. [_To the_
+
+AMAH.] The police will be here in ten minutes and I shall give you in
+charge instead of the man you allowed to escape.
+
+AMAH. You give me policeman? I no have do wrong. What for you send me to
+prison?
+
+HARRY. I daresay you know what a Chinese prison is like better than I
+do. I don't think it'll be long before you find it worth while to tell
+the truth.
+
+DAISY. [_With increasing nervousness._] Oh, Harry, I don't think you
+ought to do anything before you've had time to think. After all, there's
+absolutely no proof.
+
+HARRY. [_Looking at her with perplexity._] I don't understand. What is
+the mystery?
+
+DAISY. There is no mystery. Only I can't bear the idea that my old amah
+should go to prison. She's been almost a mother to me for so many years.
+
+     [_There is a pause._ HARRY _looks from_ DAISY _to the_ AMAH.
+
+HARRY. [_To the_ AMAH.] Then get out of here before the police come.
+
+AMAH. You talkee so quick. No can understand.
+
+HARRY. Yes, you can. Unless you're out of here in ten minutes I shall
+give you in charge ... Go while the going's good.
+
+AMAH. I think I go smoke pipe.
+
+HARRY. No, you don't, you get out quick or I'll throw you out myself.
+
+AMAH. You no throw me out and I no go to prison.
+
+HARRY. We'll soon see about that.
+
+     [_He seizes her roughly and is about to run her out into the
+     courtyard._
+
+DAISY. No, don't, Harry. She's my mother.
+
+HARRY. That!
+
+     [_He is aghast. He releases the_ AMAH. _He looks at her with
+     horror._ DAISY _covers her face with her hands. The_ AMAH _gives a
+     little snigger_.
+
+AMAH. Yes, Daisy, my daughter. She no wanchee tell. I think she a little
+ashamed of her mother.
+
+HARRY. My God!
+
+AMAH. I velly pletty girl long time ago. Daisy's father, he call me his
+little lotus flower, he call me his little peach-blossom. By and by I no
+velly pletty girl any more and Daisy's father he call me you old witch.
+Witch, that's what he call me. Witch. He call me, you old hag. You velly
+bad man, I say to him. You no Christian. You go to hell, he say. All
+right, I say, you baptize me.
+
+     [HARRY _turns away, with dismay, and repulsion. The_ AMAH _takes
+     her pipe and lights it_.
+
+
+END OF SCENE IV
+
+
+
+
+SCENE V
+
+
+_The courtyard in the_ ANDERSONS' _part of the temple_.
+
+     _At the back is the outer wall raised by two or three steps from
+     the ground. From the top of the wall, projects a shallow roof of
+     yellow tiles supported by wooden pillars painted red, shabby and
+     rather weather-worn, and this roof is raised in the middle of the
+     wall, where there is a huge wooden gateway. When this is opened the
+     street is seen and on the other side of it a high, blank, white
+     wall. The courtyard is paved with great flags. On each side of it
+     are living rooms._
+
+     _There is a long rattan chair; a round table and a couple of
+     armchairs._ GEORGE _is lying on the long chair, looking at an
+     illustrated paper, and the_ AMAH _is seated on the ground, smoking
+     her water-pipe_.
+
+GEORGE. [_With a smile, putting down the paper._] You're not as chatty
+as usual this afternoon, amah.
+
+AMAH. Suppose I got nothing to talk about I no talk.
+
+GEORGE. You are an example to your sex, amah. Your price is above
+rubies.
+
+AMAH. No likee rubies velly much. No can sell velly much money.
+
+GEORGE. In point of fact I wasn't thinking of giving you rubies, even
+reconstructed, but if I did I can't think you'd be so indelicate as to
+sell them.
+
+AMAH. I no think you velly funny man.
+
+GEORGE. I was afraid you didn't. Would you think it funny if I sat on my
+hat?
+
+AMAH. Yes, I laugh then. Hi, hi.
+
+GEORGE. The inscrutable heart of China expands to the self-same joke
+that convulses a duchess in London and a financier in New York.
+
+AMAH. You more better read the paper.
+
+GEORGE. Where's Missy?
+
+AMAH. I think she in her room. You wanchee?
+
+GEORGE. No.
+
+AMAH. I think she come by and by.
+
+GEORGE. [_Looking at his watch._] Mr. Anderson ought to be back from the
+office soon. [_There is a loud knocking at the door._] Hulloa, who's
+that?
+
+     [_A_ SERVANT _comes out of the house and going to the gateway
+     withdraws the bolt_.
+
+AMAH. I think doctor come see you, maybe.
+
+GEORGE. Oh no, he's not coming to-day. He said he'd look in to-morrow
+before I started.
+
+     [_The_ AMAH _gets up and looks at the doorway of which now the_
+     SERVANT _has opened one side_. HAROLD KNOX _and his sister_ SYLVIA
+     _are seen_.
+
+KNOX. May we come in?
+
+GEORGE. Good man. Of course.
+
+     [_They come towards_ GEORGE. SYLVIA _is a very pretty, simple,
+     healthy, and attractive girl. She is dressed in a light summer
+     frock. There is in her gait and manner something so spring-like and
+     fresh that it is a pleasure to look at her_.
+
+KNOX. I've brought my young sister along with me. [_As_ GEORGE _rises to
+his feet_.] Don't get up. You needn't put on any frills for a chit like
+that.
+
+GEORGE. Nonsense. I'm perfectly well. [_Shaking hands with_ SYLVIA.] How
+d'you do? My name is Conway.
+
+ KNOX. I only omitted to inform her of that fact because she already
+knew it.
+
+SYLVIA. Strangely enough that happens to be true. But I wish you'd lie
+down again.
+
+GEORGE. I'm sick of lying down. The doctor says I'm perfectly all right.
+I'm going home to-morrow.
+
+ KNOX. [_Catching sight of the_ AMAH.] Hulloa, sweetheart, I didn't see
+you. Sylvia, I want you to know the only woman I've ever loved.
+
+GEORGE. [_Smiling._] This is Mrs. Anderson's amah.
+
+SYLVIA. [_With a little friendly nod._] How do you do?
+
+AMAH. [_All in a breath._] Velly well, thank you. How do you do? Velly
+well, thank you ... You Mr. Knox sister?
+
+SYLVIA. Yes.
+
+AMAH. You missionary lady?
+
+SYLVIA. No.
+
+AMAH. What for you come China then?
+
+SYLVIA. I came to see my brother.
+
+AMAH. How old are you?
+
+KNOX. Be truthful, Sylvia.
+
+SYLVIA. I'm twenty-two.
+
+AMAH. How many children you got?
+
+SYLVIA. I'm not married.
+
+AMAH. What for you no married if you twenty-two?
+
+SYLVIA. It does need an explanation, doesn't it? The truth is that
+nobody's asked me.
+
+KNOX. What a lie!
+
+AMAH. You come China catchee husband?
+
+SYLVIA. Certainly not.
+
+AMAH. You Christian?
+
+SYLVIA. Not a very good one, I'm afraid.
+
+AMAH. Who baptized you?
+
+SYLVIA. Well, you know, it's an awfully long time ago. I forget.
+
+KNOX. She's like me, amah, she's a Presbyterian.
+
+AMAH. You go to hell then. Only Seventh Day Adventists no go to hell.
+
+SYLVIA. It'll be rather crowded then, I'm afraid.
+
+AMAH. You only baptized once?
+
+SYLVIA. So far as I know.
+
+AMAH. I baptized one, two, three, four, five times. I velly Christian
+woman.
+
+KNOX. I say, old man, I don't want to dash your fond hopes, but in point
+of fact we didn't come here to see you.
+
+GEORGE. Why not? Surely Miss Knox must want to see the principal sights
+of Peking.
+
+KNOX. The man is not a raving lunatic, Sylvia. His only delusion is that
+he's a humourist ... Sylvia thought she'd like to call on Mrs. Harry.
+
+GEORGE. I'm sure Daisy will be very glad. Amah, go and tell Missy that
+there's a lady.
+
+AMAH. Can do.
+
+[_Exit._
+
+KNOX. I say, have they caught any of those blighters who tried to kill
+you?
+
+GEORGE. No, not a chance. They weren't after me, you know; they were
+after Harry.
+
+KNOX. Is there anyone who has a grudge against him?
+
+GEORGE. I don't think so. He doesn't seem very keen on discussing the
+incident.
+
+[DAISY _comes in_.
+
+KNOX. Here she is. I've brought my sister to see you, Mrs. Harry.
+
+DAISY. [_Shaking hands._] How do you do?
+
+SYLVIA. What a wonderful place you live in!
+
+DAISY. It's rather attractive, isn't it? You must see the temple before
+you go.
+
+SYLVIA. I'd love to.
+
+DAISY. Do sit down. [_To_ KNOX.] What do you think of my patient?
+
+KNOX. I think he's a fraud. I never saw anyone look so robust.
+
+DAISY. [_Delighted._] He's made a wonderful recovery.
+
+GEORGE. Thanks to you, Daisy. You can't think how she nursed me.
+
+KNOX. It was rather a narrow escape, wasn't it?
+
+DAISY. For two days we thought he might die at any minute. It was--it
+was rather dreadful.
+
+GEORGE. And do you know, all that time she never left me a minute. [_To_
+DAISY.] I don't know how I can ever thank you.
+
+DAISY. Oh, well, Harry had his work. I didn't think he ought to be
+robbed of his night's rest for a worthless creature like you, and I
+hated the idea of a paid nurse looking after you.
+
+SYLVIA. You must have been worn out at the end of it.
+
+DAISY. No, I'm as strong as a horse. And it was such a relief to me when
+the doctor said he was out of danger, I forgot I was tired.
+
+KNOX. I don't know why you bothered about him. There are such a lot of
+fellows who want his job and they all know they could do it much better
+than he can.
+
+GEORGE. Everyone's been so extraordinarily good to me. I had no idea
+there was so much kindness in the world.
+
+DAISY. [_To_ SYLVIA, _very pleasantly_.] Will you come and look at the
+temple now while they're bringing tea?
+
+SYLVIA. Yes, I'd like to very much.
+
+DAISY. I think you'll enjoy your tea more if you feel you've done the
+sight.
+
+SYLVIA. It's all so new to me. Everything interests me. I've fallen
+passionately in love with Peking.
+
+[_They wander off, talking gaily._
+
+GEORGE. Harold, you're a very nice boy.
+
+KNOX. That's what the girls tell me. But I don't know why you should.
+
+GEORGE. I think it was rather sporting of you to bring your sister to
+see Daisy.
+
+KNOX. I don't deserve any credit for that. She insisted on coming.
+
+GEORGE. Oh?
+
+KNOX. She met Harry at the club and took rather a fancy to him. When I
+told her Daisy was a half-caste and people didn't bother much about her
+she got right up on her hind legs. I told her she'd only just come out
+to China and didn't know what she was talking about and then she gave me
+what she called a bit of her mind. I was obliged to remark that if that
+was a bit I didn't much care about knowing the rest.
+
+GEORGE. It sounds as though you'd had a little tiff.
+
+KNOX. She said she had no patience with the airs people gave themselves
+in the East. A Eurasian was just as good as anybody else. And when I
+happened to say I was coming here to-day to see how you were she said
+she'd come too.
+
+GEORGE. It's very kind of her. Daisy leads a dreadfully lonely life. It
+would mean so much to her if she knew one or two white women. If they
+take to one another, you won't try to crab it, will you? I fancy Daisy
+wants a friend rather badly.
+
+KNOX. I shouldn't like it very much, you know. Would you much care for
+your sister to be very pally with a half-caste?
+
+GEORGE. Daisy is one in a thousand. You can't think what she's done for
+me during my illness. My mother couldn't have taken more care of me.
+
+KNOX. They're often very good-hearted. But as a matter of fact nothing I
+can say will have the least effect on Sylvia. Girls have changed a lot
+since the war. If she wants to do a thing and she thinks it right,
+she'll do it. And if I try to interfere she's quite capable of telling
+me to go to the devil.
+
+GEORGE. She seems to be a young woman of some character.
+
+KNOX. Perhaps because she's had rather a rough time. The fellow she was
+engaged to was killed in the war and she was awfully cut up. She drove
+an ambulance for the last two years and then she went up to Girton.
+After that my father thought she'd better come out here for a bit.
+
+GEORGE. She ought to like it.
+
+KNOX. If she doesn't put up people's backs too much. She can't stand
+anything like injustice or cruelty. If she thinks people are unkind to
+Daisy or sniffy about her, she'll stick to her like a leech. However, I
+daresay she'll get married.
+
+GEORGE. [_Smiling._] That'll learn her.
+
+KNOX. Why don't you marry her? It's about time you settled down.
+
+GEORGE. [_With a chuckle._] You fool.
+
+KNOX. Why? You're by way of being rather eligible, aren't you?
+
+GEORGE. I don't know why you want to get rid of her. She seems a very
+nice sister.
+
+KNOX. Of course I love having her with me, but she does cramp my style a
+bit. And she ought to marry. She'd make you a first-rate wife.
+
+GEORGE. Much too good for the likes of me.
+
+KNOX. Of course she's a bit independent, but one has to put up with that
+in girls nowadays. And she's as good as gold.
+
+GEORGE. One can see that at a mile, my son.
+
+KNOX. I say, who was Rathbone, Daisy's first husband, do you know?
+
+GEORGE. [_His face a blank._] Harry told me he was an American. He said
+he was in business in the F. M. S.
+
+KNOX. That's what Harry told me. I met a fellow the other day who lives
+in Singapore who told me he'd never heard of Rathbone.
+
+GEORGE. [_Chaffing him._] Perhaps he didn't move in the exalted circles
+that a friend of yours would naturally move in.
+
+KNOX. I suppose there was a Mr. Rathbone?
+
+     [_There is a distant sound in the street of Chinese instruments
+     being played._
+
+GEORGE. Hulloa, there's the procession coming along.
+
+KNOX. What procession?
+
+GEORGE. It's a Manchu wedding. The amah was talking about it this
+morning.
+
+KNOX. I must call Sylvia. She'd love to see it. Sylvia.
+
+     [DAISY _and_ SYLVIA _come out of the house just as he calls_.
+
+SYLVIA. Don't shout, Harold.
+
+KNOX. Come along and have your education improved. A Manchu wedding is
+just going to pass by....
+
+SYLVIA. Oh, good, let's go out into the street!
+
+DAISY. You can see it just as well from here. I'll have the doors
+opened. Boy, open the gate.
+
+KNOX. Yes, that's the ticket. We shall see it better from here.
+
+     [WU _during the last few speeches has appeared with the tea, which
+     he sets down on the table. On receiving_ DAISY'S _order he goes to
+     the doorway and draws the bolt. He pulls back one heavy door while_
+     KNOX _pulls back the other. The empty street is seen. The music
+     grows louder. Now the procession comes, gay, brilliant, and
+     barbaric against the white wall of the street; first men on
+     horseback, then Buddhist monks in gray, with their shaven heads;
+     then the band, playing wild, discordant music; after them passes a
+     long string of retainers in red, with strange shaped hats; then
+     come retainers bearing in open palanquins great masses of cardboard
+     fruits and all manner of foodstuffs, silver vessels and gold; these
+     are followed by two or three youths on horseback, gorgeously
+     dressed, and these again by the palanquin, carved and richly
+     painted and gilt, of the bride. Then pass more priests and another
+     band and finally a last string of retainers in red. When the last
+     one has disappeared a beggar shows himself at the open doorway. He
+     is excessively thin, and he has a bush of long, bristly hair; he is
+     clothed in pale rags, torn and patched; his legs and feet are bare.
+     He puts out a bony hand and breaks into a long, high-pitched
+     whine_.
+
+KNOX. Oh, Lord, get out!
+
+DAISY. Oh, no, please, Harold, give him a copper or two.
+
+GEORGE. Daisy never lets a beggar go away without something.
+
+DAISY. It's not because I'm charitable. I'm afraid they'll bring me bad
+luck.
+
+KNOX. [_Taking a coin from his pocket._] Here you are, Clarence. Now
+buzz off.
+
+     [_The beggar takes his dole and saunters away._ WU _closes the
+     doors_.
+
+SYLVIA. [_Enthusiastically._] I _am_ glad I saw that.
+
+DAISY. You'll get very tired of that sort of thing before you've been
+here long. Now let's have tea.
+
+SYLVIA. Oh, I don't think we'll stay, thank you very much. We have
+another call to make.
+
+DAISY. How tiresome of you. Harry ought to be back in a few minutes.
+He'll be disappointed not to have seen you.
+
+SYLVIA. I promised to go and see Mrs. Stopfort. Do you know her?
+
+DAISY. I know who you mean.
+
+SYLVIA. I think people are being absolutely beastly to her. It simply
+makes my blood boil.
+
+DAISY. Oh, how?
+
+SYLVIA. Well, you know that her husband's a drunken brute who's treated
+her abominably for years. At last she fell in love with a man and now
+her husband is going to divorce her. It's monstrous that he should be
+able to.
+
+DAISY. Are the ladies of Peking giving her the cold shoulder?
+
+KNOX. The cold _shoulder_ hardly describes it. The frozen silverside.
+
+GEORGE. I think she's well rid of Reggie Stopfort at any price, but I'm
+sorry the other party is Andre Leroux.
+
+SYLVIA. Why? She introduced me to him. I thought he was a very nice
+fellow.
+
+GEORGE. Well, you see, if he'd been English or American, he would have
+married her as a matter of course.
+
+SYLVIA. So I should hope.
+
+DAISY. Because she was divorced on his account, you mean?
+
+GEORGE. Yes. But the French haven't our feeling on that matter. I'm not
+quite sure if Andre will be willing to marry her.
+
+SYLVIA. Oh, that would be dreadful! Under those circumstances the man
+must marry the woman. He simply must.
+
+GEORGE. Of course.
+
+KNOX. Come along, Sylvia. We won't discuss women's rights now.
+
+SYLVIA. [_Giving_ DAISY _her hand very cordially._] And if there's
+anything I hate it's people who say they're going and then don't go.
+Good-bye, Mrs. Anderson.
+
+DAISY. It's been very nice to see you.
+
+SYLVIA. I do hope you'll come and see me soon. I'm so very much alone
+you'd be doing me a charity if you'd look me up. We might do the curio
+shops together.
+
+DAISY. That would be great fun.
+
+SYLVIA. Good-bye, Mr. Conway. I'm glad to see you so well.
+
+GEORGE. Thank you very much, good-bye.
+
+     [KNOX _and_ SYLVIA _go out._ DAISY _has walked with them towards
+     the doorway and now returns to_ GEORGE.
+
+GEORGE. What a very nice girl, Daisy.
+
+DAISY. She seems to make a specialty of speckled peaches. First me and
+then Mrs. Stopfort.
+
+GEORGE. I was hoping you'd like her.
+
+DAISY. It's hardly probable. She's everything that I'm not. She has
+everything that I haven't. No, I don't like her. But I'd give anything
+in the world to be her.
+
+GEORGE. [_Smiling._] I don't think you need envy her.
+
+DAISY. Don't you think she's pretty?
+
+GEORGE. Yes, very. But you're so much more than pretty. I expect you
+have more brains in your little finger than she has in her whole body.
+
+DAISY. [_Gravely._] She has something that I haven't got, George, and
+I'd give my soul to have.
+
+GEORGE. [_Embarrassed._] I don't know what you mean. [_Changing the
+conversation abruptly._] Daisy, now that I'm going away....
+
+DAISY. [_Interrupting._] Are you really going to-morrow?
+
+GEORGE. [_Breezily._] I'm quite well. I'm ashamed to have stayed so
+long.
+
+DAISY. I don't look forward very much to the long, empty days when
+you're no longer here.
+
+GEORGE. [_Seriously._] I must go, Daisy. I really must.
+
+DAISY. [_After a moment's pause._] What were you going to say to me?
+Don't thank me for anything I may have done. It's given me a happiness I
+never knew before.
+
+GEORGE. Except for you I should have died. And when I think of the past
+I am ashamed.
+
+DAISY. What does the past matter? The past is dead and gone.
+
+GEORGE. And I'm ashamed when I think how patient you were when I was
+irritable, how kind and thoughtful. I hardly knew I wanted a thing
+before you gave it to me. Sometimes when I felt I couldn't breathe, the
+tenderness of your hand on my forehead--oh, it was like a dip in a
+highland stream on a summer day. I think I never knew that there was in
+you the most precious thing that anyone can have, goodness. Oh, Daisy,
+it makes me feel so humble.
+
+DAISY. Goodness? [_With the shadow of a laugh._] Oh, George.
+
+GEORGE. It's because Harry is better and simpler than I am that he was
+able to see it in you. He felt it in you always and he was right.
+
+[_The_ AMAH _comes in_.
+
+DAISY. [_Sharply._] What d'you want?
+
+     [_The_ AMAH _crosses from one to the other and a thin smile crosses
+     her eyes_.
+
+AMAH. Master telephone, Daisy.
+
+DAISY. Why didn't you take the message?
+
+[_She is about to go into the house._
+
+AMAH. He have go now. He say very much hurry. I say no can findee you. I
+think you go out.
+
+DAISY. Why did you say that?
+
+AMAH. I think more better, maybe.
+
+GEORGE. [_Smiling._] That's right, amah. Never tell the truth when a lie
+will do as well.
+
+DAISY. Well, what was the message?
+
+AMAH. Master say he must to go Tientsin. Very important business. No
+come back to-night. Come back first train to-morrow.
+
+DAISY. Very well. Tell the boy that we shall be only two to dinner.
+
+AMAH. I go talkee he.
+
+[_Exit._
+
+GEORGE. [_Urbanely._] I say, I don't want to be an awful trouble to you.
+I think I'd better go back to my own place to-night.
+
+DAISY. [_Looking at him._] Why should you do that?
+
+GEORGE. I was going to-morrow anyway.
+
+DAISY. Do you think my reputation is such a sensitive flower?
+
+GEORGE. [_Lightly._] Of course not. But people aren't very charitable.
+It seems rather funny I should stay here when Harry's away.
+
+DAISY. What do you suppose I care if people gossip?
+
+GEORGE. I care for you.
+
+DAISY. [_With a smile, almost archly._] It's not very flattering to me
+that you should insist on going the moment Harry does. Do I bore you so
+much as all that?
+
+GEORGE. [_With a chuckle._] How can you talk such nonsense? I haven't
+wanted to get well too quickly. I've so enjoyed sitting quietly here
+while you read or sewed. I've got so much in the habit of seeing you
+about me that if I don't go at once I shall never be able to bring
+myself to go at all.
+
+DAISY. Since that horrible accident I've been rather nervous at the
+thought of sleeping here by myself. I'm terrified at the thought of
+being left alone to-night.
+
+GEORGE. Come in with me, then. The Knoxes will be delighted to put you
+up for the night.
+
+DAISY. [_With a sudden change of manner._] I don't want you to go,
+George. I want you to stay.
+
+GEORGE. [_As serious as she is._] Daisy, don't be too hard on me. You
+don't know. You don't know. [_With an effort he regains his self-control
+and returns to his easy, chaffing tone._] Don't forget it's not only a
+wound in the lung that I've been suffering from. While you and the
+doctor between you have been patching that up, I've been busy sticking
+together the pieces of a broken heart. It's nicely set now, no one could
+tell that there'd ever been anything wrong with it, but I don't think it
+would be very wise to give it a sudden jolt or jerk.
+
+DAISY. [_In a low quivering voice._] Why do you say things like that?
+What is the good of making pretences?
+
+GEORGE. [_Determined to keep the note of lightness._] It was very silly
+of me to bother you with my little troubles. It was very hot. I was
+overworked and nervous at the time or I shouldn't have made so much of
+it. I'm sure that you'll be as pleased as I am to know that I'm making a
+very good recovery, thank you.
+
+DAISY. [_As though asking a casual question._] You don't care for me any
+more?
+
+GEORGE. I have the greatest affection for you. I admire you and of
+course I'm grateful to you. But if I thought I was in love with you I
+was mistaken.
+
+DAISY. Do you know why I wouldn't have a professional nurse and when you
+were unconscious for two days refused to leave you for a minute? Do you
+know why, afterwards, at night when you grew delirious I wouldn't let
+Harry watch you? I said it would interfere with his work. I dared not
+leave you for a single moment. And it was your secret and mine. I
+wouldn't let anybody in the world share it with me. Do you know what
+you said in your delirium?
+
+GEORGE. [_Disturbed._] I expect I talked an awful lot of rot. People
+always do, I believe.
+
+DAISY. [_Passionately._] You used to call me, "Daisy, Daisy," as though
+your heart was breaking. And when I leaned over you and said: "I'm
+here," you would take my face in your hands so that I could hardly
+believe you weren't conscious. And you said: "I love you."
+
+GEORGE. Oh, God!
+
+DAISY. And sometimes I didn't know how to calm you. You were frantic
+because you thought they were taking me away from you. "I can't bear
+it," you said, "I shall die." I had to put my hands over your mouth so
+that no one should hear.
+
+GEORGE. I didn't know what I was saying. I wasn't myself. It was just
+the madness of the fever.
+
+DAISY. And sometimes you were so exquisitely tender. Your voice was soft
+and caressing. And you called me by sweet names so that the tears ran
+down my cheeks. You thought you held me in your arms and you pressed me
+to your heart. You were happy then; you were so happy that I was afraid
+you'd die of it. I know what love is and you love me.
+
+GEORGE. For God's sake, stop. Why do you torture me?
+
+DAISY. And then you were madly jealous. You hated Harry. I think you
+could have killed him.
+
+GEORGE. That's not true. That's infamous. Never. Never.
+
+DAISY. Oh, you can say that with your lips! Sometimes you thought he put
+his arms round me and kissed me and you sobbed aloud. Oh, it was so
+painful. I forgot that you were unconscious and I took your hands and
+said: "He's not here. You and I are alone, alone, alone." And sometimes
+I think you understood. You fell back. And a look of peace came on your
+face as if you were in heaven and you said--do you know what you said?
+You said: "Beloved, beloved, beloved."
+
+     [_Her voice breaks and the tears course down her cheeks._ GEORGE
+     _is shattered by what she has told him_.
+
+GEORGE. I suppose there are few of us that wouldn't turn away from
+ourselves in horror if the innermost thoughts of our heart, the thoughts
+we're only conscious of to hate, were laid bare. But that shameful thing
+that showed itself in me isn't me. I disown it....
+
+DAISY. I thought you had more courage. I thought you had more sense. Do
+you call that you, a few conventional prejudices? The real you is the
+love that consumes you more hotly than ever the fever did. The only you
+is the you that loves me. The rest is only frills. It's a domino that
+you put on at a masked ball.
+
+GEORGE. You don't know what you say. Frills? It's honour, and duty, and
+decency. It's everything that makes it possible for me to cling to the
+shadow of my self-respect.
+
+DAISY. Oh, all that means nothing. You fool. You might as well try with
+your bare hands to stop the flow of the Yangtze.
+
+GEORGE. If I perish I perish. Oh, of course I love you. All night I'm
+tortured with love and tortured with jealousy, but the day does come at
+last and then I can get hold of myself again. My love is some horrible
+thing gnawing at my heart-strings. I hate it and despise it. But I can
+fight it, fight it all the time. Oh, I've been here too long. I ought to
+have got back to work long ago. Work is my only chance. Daisy, I beseech
+you to let me go.
+
+DAISY. How can I let you go? I love you.
+
+GEORGE. [_Thunderstruck._] You? [_Impatiently, with a shrug of the
+shoulders._] Oh, you're talking nonsense.
+
+DAISY. Why do you suppose I've said all these things? Do you think a
+woman cares twopence for a man's love when she doesn't love him?
+
+GEORGE. Oh, it's impossible. You don't know what you're saying. I know
+how good and kind you are. You've been touched by my love. You mistake
+pity for love.
+
+DAISY. I'm not good and I'm not kind. There's no room in my soul for
+pity. In my soul there's only a raging hunger. If I know what you feel
+it's because I feel it too. I love you, I love you, I love you.
+
+GEORGE. And Harry?
+
+DAISY. What do I care about Harry? I hate him because he's stood between
+me and you.
+
+GEORGE. He is your husband. He is my friend.
+
+DAISY. He doesn't exist. I've loved you always from the first day I saw
+you. The others were nothing to me, Lee Tai and Harry and the rest. I've
+loved you always. I've never loved anyone but you. All these years I've
+kept the letters you wrote to me. I've read them till I know every word
+by heart. They're all blurred and smudged with the tears I've wept over
+them. They were all I had. Do you think I'm going to let you go now? All
+my pain, all my anguish, are nothing any more. I love you and you love
+me.
+
+GEORGE. Oh, don't, don't!
+
+DAISY. You can't leave me now. If you leave me I shall kill myself.
+
+GEORGE. I must go away. I must never see you again. Whatever happens we
+must never meet.
+
+DAISY. [_Exasperated and impatient._] That's impossible. What will you
+say to Harry?
+
+GEORGE. If need be I'll tell him the truth.
+
+DAISY. What difference will that make? Will you love me any the less?
+Yes, tell him. Tell him that I love you and you only and that I belong
+to you and to you only.
+
+GEORGE. Oh, Daisy, for God's sake try and control yourself. We must do
+our duty, we must, we must.
+
+DAISY. I know no duty. I only know love. There's no room in my soul for
+anything else. You say that love is like a wild beast gnawing at your
+entrails. My love is a liberator. It's freed me from a hateful past.
+It's freed me from Harry. There's nothing in the world now but you and
+me and the love that joins us. I want you, I want you.
+
+GEORGE. Don't, don't! Oh, this is madness! There's only one thing to be
+done. God, give me strength. Daisy, you know I love you. I love you with
+all my heart and soul. But it's good-bye. I'll never see you again.
+Never. Never. So help me God.
+
+DAISY. How can you be so cruel? You're heartless. I've wanted you all
+these years. I've hungered for you. You don't know what my humiliation
+has been. Pity me because I loved you. If you leave me now I shall die.
+You open the doors of heaven to me and then you slam them in my face.
+Haven't you made me unhappy enough? You'd have done better to kill me
+ten years ago. You trampled me in the mud and then you left me. Oh, what
+shall I do? [_She sinks down to the ground, weeping as though her heart
+would break._ GEORGE _looks at her for a minute, his face distorted with
+agony; he clenches his hands in the violence of his effort to control
+himself. He takes his hat and walks slowly towards the gate. He
+withdraws the bolt that holds it. When_ DAISY _hears the sound of this
+she starts to her feet and staggers towards him_.] George. No, no. Not
+yet.
+
+     [_She staggers and with a cry falls headlong. She has fainted._
+
+GEORGE. [_Rushing towards her._] Daisy. Daisy. [_He kneels down and
+takes her head in his hands. He is fearfully agitated._] Oh, my darling,
+what is it? Oh, my God! Daisy! Speak to me. [_Calling._] Amah, amah!
+[DAISY _slowly opens her eyes_.] Oh, my beloved! I thought you were
+dead.
+
+DAISY. Lift me up.
+
+GEORGE. You can't stand.
+
+     [_He raises her to her feet so that when she is erect she is in his
+     arms. She puts her arms round his neck._
+
+DAISY. Don't leave me.
+
+GEORGE. My precious. My beloved.
+
+     [_She turns her face to him, offering her lips, and he bends his
+     head and kisses her. She closes her eyes in ecstasy._
+
+DAISY. Take me in. I feel so ill.
+
+GEORGE. I'll carry you.
+
+     [_He lifts her up and carries her into the house. From the opposite
+     side the_ AMAH _appears. She goes to the gateway and slips the bolt
+     forward into position. Then she comes to the tea-table, sits down
+     and takes a scone_.
+
+AMAH. Hi, hi.
+
+     [_She bites the scone and chews placidly. On her face is a smirk of
+     irony._
+
+
+END OF SCENE V
+
+
+
+
+SCENE VI
+
+
+_A small room in a Chinese house in Peking._
+
+     _The walls are whitewashed, but the whitewash is not a little
+     stained. Three or four scrolls hang on them, written over in large
+     characters with inscriptions. On the floor is matting. The only
+     furniture consists of a table, with a couple of chairs, a wooden
+     pallet covered with matting, with cushions at one end of it, and a
+     Korean chest heavily ornamented with brass. At the back are two
+     windows, elaborately latticed and covered with rice paper, and a
+     lightly carved door._
+
+     DAISY _is seated in one of the chairs. She has taken her pocket
+     mirror out of her bag and is looking at herself. She is gay and
+     happy. The_ AMAH _comes in. She carries a long-necked vase in which
+     are a couple of carnations_.
+
+AMAH. I bring you flowers make room look pletty.
+
+DAISY. Oh, you nice old thing! Put them on the table.
+
+AMAH. You look at yourself in looking-glass?
+
+DAISY. I'm looking young. It suits me to be happy.
+
+AMAH. You very pletty girl. I very pletty girl long time ago. You look
+alla same me some day.
+
+DAISY. [_Amused._] Heaven forbid.
+
+AMAH. You velly good temper to-day, Daisy. You glad because George come.
+
+DAISY. I didn't see him yesterday.
+
+AMAH. He keep you waiting.
+
+DAISY. The wretch. He always keeps me waiting. But what do I care as
+long as he comes? We shall have three hours. Perhaps he'll dine here. If
+he says he can, give him what he likes to eat. No one can make such
+delicious things as you can if you want to.
+
+AMAH. You try flatter me.
+
+DAISY. I don't. You know very well you're the best cook in China.
+
+AMAH. [_Tickled._] Oh, Daisy! I know you more better than you think.
+
+DAISY. You're a wicked old woman. [_She gives her a kiss on both
+cheeks._] What are they making such a row about next door?
+
+AMAH. Coolie, he got killed this morning. He have two small children.
+Their mother, she die long time ago.
+
+DAISY. How dreadful! Poor little things.
+
+AMAH. You like see them. They here.
+
+     [_She goes to the door and beckons. A little, old, shabby Chinaman
+     comes in with two tiny children, a boy and a girl, one holding on
+     to each hand. They are very solemn and shy and silent._
+
+DAISY. Oh, what lambs!
+
+AMAH. They no got money. This old man he say he take them and he bring
+them up. But he only coolie. He no got much money himself.
+
+DAISY. Is he related to them?
+
+AMAH. No, him just velly good man. He no can do velly much. He just do
+what he can. The neighbours, they help little.
+
+DAISY. But I'll help too. Have you got any money on you?
+
+AMAH. I got two, three dollars.
+
+DAISY. What's the good of that? Let him have this.
+
+     [_She has a chain of gold beads round her neck. She takes it off
+     and puts it in the old man's hands._
+
+AMAH. That chain very ispensive, Daisy.
+
+DAISY. What do I care? Let him sell it for what it'll fetch. It'll bring
+me luck. [_To the old man._] You sabe?
+
+[_He nods, smiling._
+
+AMAH. I think he understand all right.
+
+DAISY. [_Looking at the children._] Aren't they sweet? And so solemn.
+[_To the_ AMAH.] You go chop-chop to the toy shop opposite and buy them
+some toys.
+
+AMAH. Can do.
+
+     [_She goes out._ DAISY _takes the children and sets them up on the
+     table_.
+
+DAISY. [_Charmingly._] Now you come and talk to me. Sit very still now
+or you'll fall off. [_To the little boy._] I wonder how old you are.
+[_To the old man._] Wu? Liu?
+
+OLD MAN. Liu.
+
+DAISY. [_To the little boy._] Six years old. Good gracious, you're quite
+a man. If I had a little boy he'd be older than you now. If I had a
+little boy I'd dress him in such smart things. And I'd bath him myself.
+I wouldn't let any horrid old amah bath him. And I wouldn't stuff him up
+with sweets like the Chinese do; I'd give him one piece of chocolate
+when he was a good boy. Gracious me, I've got some chocolates here. Wait
+there. Sit quite still. [_She goes over to the shelf on which is a bag
+of chocolates._] There's one for you and one for you and (_to the old
+man_) one for you. And here's one for me.
+
+     [_The children and the Chinaman eat the chocolates solemnly. The
+     AMAH returns with a doll and a child's Peking cart_.
+
+AMAH. Have catchee toys.
+
+DAISY. Look what kind old amah has brought you. [_She lifts the children
+off the table and gives the doll to the little girl and the cart to the
+boy._] Here's a beautiful doll for you and here's a real cart for you.
+[_She sits down on the floor._] Look, the wheels go round and
+everything.
+
+AMAH. Have got more presents.
+
+     [_She takes out of her sleeve little bladders with mouthpiece
+     attached so that they can be blown up._
+
+DAISY. What on earth is this? Oh, I love them! We must all have one.
+[_She distributes them and they all blow them up. There it the sound of
+scratching at the door_.] Who's that, I wonder?
+
+AMAH. If you say come in, perhaps you see.
+
+DAISY. Open the door, you old silly. [_She begins to blow up the balloon
+again. The_ AMAH _goes to the door and opens it_. LEE TAI _steps in_.]
+Lee Tai. Send these away. [_The_ AMAH _makes a sign to the old Chinaman,
+he gives each child a hand and with their presents they go out. The_
+AMAH _slips out after them_.] I thought you were dead.
+
+LEE TAI. I'm very much alive, thank you.
+
+DAISY. Ah, well, we'll hope for the best.
+
+LEE TAI. I trust you're not displeased to see me.
+
+DAISY. [_Gaily._] If you'd come yesterday I should certainly have
+smacked your face, but to-day I'm in such a good humour that even the
+sight of you is tolerable.
+
+LEE TAI. You weren't here yesterday.
+
+     [_The_ AMAH _comes in carrying on a little wooden tray, two Chinese
+     bowls and a tea-pot_.
+
+DAISY. My dear Mamma seems to think you've come to pay me a visit. You
+mustn't let me keep you too long.
+
+LEE TAI. You are expecting someone? I know.
+
+[_The_ AMAH _goes out_.
+
+DAISY. [_Chaffing him._] I always said you had a brain.
+
+LEE TAI. No better a one than yours, Daisy. It was a clever trick when
+you got me to try to put your husband out of the way so that you should
+be free for George Conway.
+
+DAISY. It was nothing to do with me. I told you I'd have nothing to do
+with it. You made a hash of it. One can forgive the good for being
+stupid, but when rascals are fools there's no excuse.
+
+LEE TAI. The best laid schemes of mice and men, as my favourite poet
+Robert Burns so elegantly puts it, gang aft agley.
+
+DAISY. I don't care a damn about your favourite poet. What have you come
+here for to-day?
+
+LEE TAI. As it turns out I do not see that there is any cause for
+regret that George Conway got the knife thrust that was intended for
+your husband. I wish it had gone a little deeper.
+
+DAISY. [_Coolly._] As it turns out you only did me a service. But still
+you haven't told me to what I owe the honour of your visit.
+
+LEE TAI. Civility. I like to be on friendly terms with my tenants.
+
+DAISY. [_Surprised._] Your what?
+
+LEE TAI. [_Urbanely._] This happens to be my house. When I discovered
+that your honourable mother had taken the rooms in this courtyard so
+that you might have a place where George Conway and you could safely
+meet I thought I would buy the whole house.
+
+DAISY. I hope it was a good investment.
+
+LEE TAI. Otherwise perhaps I should have hesitated. It was clever of you
+to find so convenient a place. With a curio shop in front into which
+anyone can be seen going without remark and an ill-lit passage leading
+to this court, it is perfect.
+
+DAISY. What is the idea?
+
+LEE TAI. [_With a twinkle in his eyes._] Are you a little frightened?
+
+DAISY. Not a bit. What can you do? You can tell Harry. Tell him.
+
+LEE TAI. [_Affably._] George Conway would be ruined.
+
+DAISY. [_With a shrug._] He'd lose his job. Perhaps you would give him
+another. You're mixed up in so many concerns you could surely find use
+for a white man who speaks Chinese as well as George does.
+
+LEE TAI. I find even your shamelessness attractive.
+
+DAISY. I'm profoundly grateful for the compliment.
+
+LEE TAI. But do not fear. I shall do nothing. I bought this house
+because I like you to know that always, always you are in my hand. Where
+you go, I go. Where you are, I am. Sometimes you do not see me, but
+nevertheless I am close. I do nothing. I am content to wait.
+
+DAISY. Your time is your own. I have no objection to your wasting it.
+
+LEE TAI. One day, and I think that day is not very far distant, you will
+come to me. I was the first and I shall be the last. If you like I will
+marry you.
+
+DAISY. [_With a smile._] I thought you had two, if not three, wives
+already. I fancy that number four would have rather a thin time.
+
+LEE TAI. My wife can be divorced. I am willing to marry you before the
+British Consul. We will go to Penang. I have a house there. You shall
+have motor cars.
+
+DAISY. It's astonishing how easy it is to resist temptations that don't
+tempt you.
+
+LEE TAI. Sneer. What do I care? I wait.... What have you to do with
+white men? You are not a white woman. What power has this blood of your
+father's when it is mingled with the tumultuous stream which you have
+inherited through your mother from innumerable generations? Our race is
+very pure and very strong. Strange nations have overrun us, but in a
+little while we have absorbed them so that no trace of a foreign people
+is left in us. China is like the Yangtze, which is fed by five hundred
+streams and yet remains unchanged, the river of golden sand, majestic,
+turbulent, indifferent, and everlasting. What power have you to swim
+against that mighty current? You can wear European clothes and eat
+European food, but in your heart you are a Chinawoman. Are your passions
+the weak and vacillating passions of the white man? There is in your
+heart a simplicity which the white man can never fathom and a
+deviousness which he can never understand. Your soul is like a rice
+patch cleared in the middle of the jungle. All around the jungle hovers,
+watchful and jealous, and it is only by ceaseless labour that you can
+prevent its inroads. One day your labour will be vain and the jungle
+will take back its own. China is closing in on you.
+
+DAISY. My poor Lee Tai, you're talking perfect nonsense.
+
+LEE TAI. You're restless and unhappy and dissatisfied because you're
+struggling against instincts which were implanted in your breast when
+the white man was a hungry, naked savage. One day you will surrender.
+You will cast off the white woman like an outworn garment. You will come
+back to China as a tired child comes back to his mother. And in the
+immemorial usages of our great race you will find peace.
+
+     [_There is a moment's silence._ DAISY _passes her hand over her
+     forehead. Against her will she is strangely impressed by what_ LEE
+     TAI _has said. She gives a little shudder and recovers herself_.
+
+DAISY. George Conway loves me, and I-- Oh!
+
+LEE TAI. The white man's love lasts no longer than a summer day. It is a
+red, red rose. Now it flaunts its scented beauty proudly in the sun and
+to-morrow its petals, wrinkled and stinking, lie scattered on the
+ground.
+
+[_There is a sound of a footstep in the courtyard outside._
+
+DAISY. Here he is. Go quickly.
+
+     [GEORGE _opens the door and stops as he catches sight of_ LEE TAI.
+
+GEORGE. Hulloa, who's this?
+
+     [LEE TAI _steps forward, smiling and obsequious_.
+
+LEE TAI. I am the owner of this house. The amah complained that the roof
+leaked and I came to see for myself.
+
+GEORGE. [_Frowning._] It's of no consequence. Please don't bother about
+it.
+
+LEE TAI. I wish I needn't. The amah has a virulent and active tongue--I
+am afraid she will give me no peace till I have satisfied her outrageous
+demands.
+
+GEORGE. You speak extraordinarily good English.
+
+LEE TAI. I am a graduate of the University of Edinburgh.
+
+DAISY. Robert Burns is his favourite poet.
+
+LEE TAI. I spent a year at Oxford and another at Harvard. I can express
+myself in English not without fluency.
+
+GEORGE. Let me compliment you on your good sense in retaining your
+national costume. I think it a pity that the returned students should
+insist on wearing ugly tweed suits and billycock hats.
+
+LEE TAI. I spent eight years abroad. I brought back with me no more
+admiration for Western dress than for Western civilization.
+
+GEORGE. That is very interesting.
+
+LEE TAI. You are pleased to be sarcastic.
+
+GEORGE. And you, I think, are somewhat supercilious. Believe me, the
+time has passed when the mandarins of your country, in their
+impenetrable self-conceit, could put up a barrier against the advance of
+civilization. If you have any love for China you must see that her only
+chance to take her rightful place in the world is to accept honestly and
+sincerely the teaching of the West.
+
+LEE TAI. And if in our hearts we despise and detest what you have to
+teach us? For what reason are you so confident that you are so superior
+to us that it behooves us to sit humbly at your feet? Have you excelled
+us in arts or letters? Have our thinkers been less profound than yours?
+Has our civilization been less elaborate, less complicated, less refined
+than yours? Why, when you lived in caves and clothed yourselves with
+skins we were a cultured people. Do you know that we tried an experiment
+which is unique in the world?
+
+GEORGE. [_Good-naturedly._] What experiment is that?
+
+LEE TAI. We sought to rule this great people not by force, but by
+wisdom. And for centuries we succeeded. Then why does the white man
+despise the yellow? Shall I tell you?
+
+GEORGE. Do.
+
+LEE TAI. [_With a smiling contempt._] Because he has invented the
+machine-gun. That is your superiority. We are a defenceless horde and
+you can blow us into eternity. [_With a tinge of sadness._] You have
+shattered the dream of our philosophers that the world could be governed
+by the power of law and order.... And now you are teaching our young men
+your secret. You have thrust your hideous inventions upon us. Fools. Do
+you not know that we have a genius for mechanics? Do you not know that
+there are in this country four hundred millions of the most practical
+and industrious people in the world? Do you think it will take us long
+to learn? And what will become of your superiority when the yellow man
+can make as good guns as the white and fire them as straight? You have
+appealed to the machine-gun and by the machine-gun shall you be judged.
+
+     [_There is a pause. Suddenly_ GEORGE _gives_ LEE TAI _a
+     scrutinizing glance_.
+
+GEORGE. What is your name?
+
+LEE TAI. [_With a thin, amused smile._] Lee Tai Cheng.
+
+GEORGE. [_With a frigid politeness._] I'm sure you are very busy, Mr.
+Lee. I won't detain you any longer.
+
+LEE TAI. [_Still smiling._] I wish you a good day.
+
+     [_He bows slightly and shakes his own hands in the Chinese manner.
+     He goes out. He leaves behind him an impression that is at once
+     ironic and sinister._
+
+GEORGE. What the devil is he doing here?
+
+DAISY. [_Amused._] He came to make me an offer of marriage. I pointed
+out to him that I was married already.
+
+GEORGE. [_Not without irritation._] How did he know you were here?
+
+DAISY. He made it his business to find out.
+
+GEORGE. Does he know that...?
+
+DAISY. [_Coolly._] You know China better than most Englishmen. You know
+that the white man can do nothing without the Chinese knowing it. But
+they won't tell other white men unless--unless it's to their advantage
+to do so.
+
+GEORGE. You told me that this house belonged to the amah.
+
+DAISY. [_Smiling._] That was a slight exaggeration.
+
+GEORGE. You put it very mildly.
+
+DAISY. You said you wouldn't come to the temple. It meant finding some
+place where we could meet or never seeing you at all.
+
+GEORGE. [_Sombrely._] We began with deceit and with deceit we've
+continued.
+
+DAISY. [_Tenderly._] There's no deceit in my love, George. After all,
+our love is the only thing that matters.
+
+GEORGE. [_With a certain awkwardness._] I'm afraid I've kept you
+waiting. Andre Leroux came to see me just as I was leaving the Legation.
+
+DAISY. [_Remembering._] I know. Mrs. Stopfort's young man.
+
+GEORGE. He said he knew Mrs. Stopfort's friends were rather anxious
+about her future and he wanted them to know that he was going to marry
+her as soon as she was free.
+
+DAISY. Oh!
+
+GEORGE. Of course it's the only decent thing to do, but I wasn't sure if
+he'd see it. He's a very good fellow. [_With a smile._] He spent at
+least half an hour telling me how he adored Mrs. Stopfort.
+
+DAISY. [_Good-humouredly._] Oh, you know I'm not the sort of woman to
+grouse because you're a little late. I can always occupy myself by
+thinking how wonderful it will be to see you. And if I get bored with
+that I read your letters again.
+
+GEORGE. I shouldn't have thought they were worth that.
+
+DAISY. I think I have every word you have ever written to me--those old
+letters of ten years ago and the little notes you write to me now. Even
+though they're only two or three lines, saying you'll come here or can't
+come, they're precious to me.
+
+GEORGE. But do you keep them here?
+
+DAISY. Yes, they're safe here. They're locked up in that box. Only amah
+has the key of this room ... George.
+
+GEORGE. Yes.
+
+DAISY. Will you do something for me?
+
+GEORGE. If I can.
+
+DAISY. Will you dine here to-night? Amah will get us a lovely little
+dinner.
+
+GEORGE. Oh, my dear, I can't! I've got an official dinner that I can't
+possibly get out of.
+
+DAISY. Oh, how rotten!
+
+GEORGE. But I thought Harry was coming back this morning. He's been gone
+a week already.
+
+DAISY. I had a letter saying he had to go on to Kalgan. But don't say
+anything about it. He told me I was to keep it a secret.
+
+GEORGE. He must hate having to be away so much as he's been lately. The
+death of that man Gregson has upset things rather.
+
+DAISY. [_Smiling._] I wish I could thank Gregson for the good turn he
+did _us_ by dying at the psychological moment.
+
+GEORGE. [_Dryly._] I don't suppose that was his intention.
+
+DAISY. Except for that Harry would have insisted on going to Chung-king.
+Now there's no possibility of that for at least a year.
+
+GEORGE. I suppose not.
+
+DAISY. We've got a year before us, George, a whole year. And in a year
+anything can happen.
+
+GEORGE. [_Gravely._] Do you never have any feeling that we've behaved
+rottenly to Harry?
+
+DAISY. I? I've been happy for the first time in my life. At last I've
+known peace and rest. Oh, George, I'm so grateful for all you've given
+me! In these three months you've changed the whole world for me. I
+thought I couldn't love you more than I did. I think every day my love
+grows more consuming.
+
+GEORGE. [_With a sigh._] I've never known a single moment's happiness.
+
+DAISY. That's not true. When I've held you in my arms I've looked into
+your eyes and I've seen.
+
+GEORGE. Oh, I know. There've been moments of madness in which I forgot
+everything but that I loved you. I'm a low rotten cad. No one could
+despise me more than I despise myself. I've loved you so that there was
+room for nothing else in my soul. Waking and sleeping you've obsessed
+me.
+
+DAISY. That's how I want you to love me.
+
+GEORGE. And I've hated myself for loving you. I've hated you for making
+me love you. I've struggled with all my might and a hundred times I
+thought I'd conquered myself and then the touch of your hand, the
+softness of your lips--I was like a bird in a cage, I beat myself
+against the bars and all the time the door was open and I hadn't the
+will to fly out.
+
+DAISY. [_Tenderly._] Oh, darling, why do you make yourself unhappy when
+happiness lies in the hollow of your hand?
+
+GEORGE. Have you never regretted anything?
+
+DAISY. Never.
+
+GEORGE. You're stronger than I am. I'm as weak as dishwater. It's funny
+that it should have taken me all these years to find it out. I was weak
+from the beginning. But I was weakest of all that day. I was distracted,
+I thought you were dying, I forgot everything except that I loved you.
+
+DAISY. [_With passion._] Oh, my sweetheart! Don't you remember how, late
+in the night, we went outside the temple and looked at the moonlight on
+the walls of the Forbidden City? You had no regrets then.
+
+GEORGE. [_Going on with his own thoughts._] And afterwards your tears,
+your happiness, the dread of giving you pain and the hot love that
+burnt me--I was in the toils then. I too knew a happiness that I had
+never known before. On one side was honesty and duty and everything that
+makes a man respect himself--and on the other was love. I thought you'd
+be going away in two or three weeks and that would be the end of it. Oh,
+it was no excuse--there are no excuses for me, I can never look Harry in
+the face again, but though my heart was breaking at the thought, I--I
+knew that in a few days I should see you for the last time.
+
+DAISY. [_Scornfully._] Do you think I'd have gone then?
+
+GEORGE. And then came that sudden, unexpected, disastrous change in all
+Harry's plans. And this house and all the sordid horror of an intrigue.
+And then there was nothing to do but face the fact that I was a cur. I
+wouldn't wish my worst enemy the torture that I've undergone.
+
+DAISY. [_Full of love and pity._] Oh, my darling, you know I'd do
+anything in the world to give you happiness!
+
+GEORGE. [_Sombrely looking away from her._] Daisy, I think you can never
+give me happiness, but you can help me, not to make amends because
+that's impossible, but to ... [_Impulsively, looking at her now._] Oh,
+Daisy, do you really love me?
+
+DAISY. With all my heart. With all my soul.
+
+GEORGE. Then help me. Let us finish.
+
+DAISY. [_Quickly._] What do you mean?
+
+GEORGE. I don't want to seem a prig. I don't want to preach. Heaven
+knows, I've never pretended to be a saint. But what we've done is wrong.
+You must see that as plainly as I do.
+
+DAISY. Is it wrong to love? How can I help it?
+
+GEORGE. Daisy, I want to--cease doing wrong.
+
+DAISY. You make me impatient. How can you be so weak?
+
+GEORGE. I want you to believe that I love you. But I can't go on with
+this deceit. I'd sooner shoot myself.
+
+DAISY. You couldn't say that if you loved me as I love you.
+
+GEORGE. [_Brutally._] I _don't_ love you any more.
+
+DAISY. [_With a scornful shrug._] That's not true.
+
+GEORGE. [_Clenching his teeth._] I came here to-day to tell you
+that--well, that it's finished and done with. Oh, God, I don't want to
+make you unhappy! But you must see we can't go on. Everything that's
+decent in me revolts at the thought. I beseech you to forget me.
+
+DAISY. As if I could.
+
+GEORGE. I'm going away for a bit.
+
+DAISY. [_Startled._] You? Why?
+
+GEORGE. I didn't trust myself, you see; I've lost my nerve, so I applied
+for short leave. I'm sailing for Vancouver on the _Empress_. I leave
+here the day after to-morrow.
+
+DAISY. [_Suddenly distraught._] You don't mean that you're going to
+leave me? I didn't pay any attention to what you said. I thought it was
+just a mood. George, George, say that you don't mean that?
+
+GEORGE. It's the only thing to do, for your sake and Harry's and mine.
+[_Taking his courage in both hands._] This is good-bye, Daisy.
+
+DAISY. [_Seizing him by the shoulders._] Let me look at your eyes.
+George, you're crazy. You can't go.
+
+GEORGE. [_Drawing away._] For God's sake, don't touch me. I wanted to
+break it to you gently. I don't know what's happened. Everything has
+gone wrong. I'm going, Daisy, and nothing in the world can move me. I
+implore you to bear it bravely. [_She looks at him with suffering,
+anxious eyes. She is stunned._] I'm afraid you're going to be awfully
+unhappy for a little while. But I beseech you to have courage. Soon the
+pain won't be so great, and then you'll see I've done the only possible
+thing.
+
+DAISY. [_Sullenly._] How long are you going for?
+
+GEORGE. Three or four months. [_A pause._] I knew you'd be brave,
+Daisy. Do you know, I was afraid you'd cry most awfully. It tears my
+heart to see you cry.
+
+DAISY. Do you think I'm a child? Do you think I can cry now?
+
+GEORGE. It's good-bye, then, Daisy.
+
+     [_She does not answer. She hardly hears what he says. He hesitates
+     an instant wretchedly, and then goes quickly out of the room._
+     DAISY _stands as if she were turned to stone. Her face is haggard.
+     In a minute_ LEE TAI _comes softly in. He stands at the door,
+     looking at her, then gives a little cough. She turns round and sees
+     him_.
+
+DAISY. [_Fiercely._] What do you want?
+
+LEE TAI. I was waiting till you were disengaged.
+
+DAISY. Have you been listening?
+
+LEE TAI. I have heard.
+
+DAISY. I wish I could have seen you with your ear to the keyhole. You
+must have looked dignified.
+
+     [_She begins to laugh, angrily, hysterically, beside herself._
+
+LEE TAI. Let me give you a cup of tea. It's quite warm still.
+
+DAISY. I should have thought you were rather old and fat to stoop so
+much.
+
+LEE TAI. Fortunately the windows are only covered with rice paper, so I
+was saved that inconvenience.
+
+     [_He hands her a cup of tea. She takes it and flings it at him. The
+     tea is splashed over his black robe._
+
+DAISY. Get out of here or I'll kill you.
+
+     [_He wipes his dress with a large silk pocket handkerchief._
+
+LEE TAI. You forget sometimes the manners that were taught you at that
+elegant school for young ladies in England.
+
+DAISY. I suppose you've come to crow over me. Well, crow.
+
+LEE TAI. I told you that I thought I should not have to wait very long.
+
+DAISY. [_Scornfully._] You fool. Do you think it's finished?
+
+LEE TAI. Did I not tell you that the white man's love was weak and
+vacillating?
+
+DAISY. He's going away for four months. Do you think that frightens me?
+He's loved me for ten years. I've loved him for ten years. Do you think
+he can forget me in four months? He'll come back.
+
+LEE TAI. Not to you.
+
+DAISY. Yes, yes, yes. And when he comes it'll be for good. He'll hunger
+for me as he hungered before. He'll forget his scruples, his remorse,
+his stupid duties, because he'll only remember me.
+
+LEE TAI. [_Very quietly._] He's going to be married to Miss Sylvia Knox.
+
+[DAISY _springs at him and seizes him by the throat_.
+
+DAISY. That's a lie. That's a lie. Take it back. You pig.
+
+     [_He takes her hands and drags them away from his throat. He holds
+     her fast._
+
+LEE TAI. Ask your mother. She knows. The Chinese all know.
+
+DAISY. [_Calling._] Amah, amah. It's a lie. How dare you?
+
+LEE TAI. He told you he was going to an official dinner, but he didn't
+tell you that as soon as he could get away he was going to play bridge
+at the Knoxes'. Pity you don't play. They might have asked you too.
+
+[_The_ AMAH _comes in_.
+
+AMAH. You call me, Daisy?
+
+DAISY. [_Snatching her hands away._] Let me go, you fool. [_To the_
+AMAH.] He says George Conway is engaged to Harold Knox's sister. It's
+not true.
+
+AMAH. I no sabe. George's boy say so. Knox the night before last at the
+club, he say to his friend, George Conway and my sister, they going to
+make a match of it.
+
+     [_A horrible change comes over_ DAISY'S _face as all its features
+     become distorted with rage and jealousy_.
+
+DAISY. The liar.
+
+     [_She stares in front of her, hatred, anger, and mortification
+     seething in her heart. Then she gives a cruel malicious chuckle.
+     She goes quickly to the Korean chest and flings it open. She takes
+     out a parcel of letters and crossing back swiftly to_ LEE TAI
+     _thrusts them in his hands_.
+
+LEE TAI. What is this?
+
+DAISY. They're the letters he wrote me. Let them come into Harry's
+hands.
+
+LEE TAI. Why?
+
+DAISY. So that Harry may know everything.
+
+LEE TAI. [_After a moment's thought._] And what will you do for me if I
+do this for you?
+
+DAISY. What you like.... Only they must get to him quickly. George goes
+away the day after to-morrow.
+
+LEE TAI. Where is your husband?
+
+DAISY. Kalgan.
+
+LEE TAI. The letters shall reach him to-morrow morning. I'll send them
+by car.
+
+DAISY. It'll be a pleasant surprise for his breakfast.
+
+LEE TAI. Daisy.
+
+DAISY. Go quickly--or I shall change my mind. There'll be plenty of time
+for everything else after to-morrow.
+
+LEE TAI. I'll go.
+
+[LEE TAI _goes out_. DAISY _gives him a look of contempt_.
+
+DAISY. Fool.
+
+AMAH. What you mean, Daisy?
+
+DAISY. Harry will divorce me. And then....
+
+[DAISY _gives a little cry of triumph_.
+
+
+END OF SCENE VI
+
+
+
+
+SCENE VII
+
+
+_The sitting-room in the_ ANDERSONS' _apartments_.
+
+_The scene is the same as_ SCENE IV. DAISY _and the_ AMAH.
+
+DAISY _is walking restlessly backwards and forwards_.
+
+DAISY. At what time does the train from Kalgan get in?
+
+AMAH. Five o'clock, my think so.
+
+DAISY. What time is it now?
+
+[_The_ AMAH _takes a large gold watch out and looks at it_.
+
+AMAH. My watch no walkee.
+
+DAISY. Why don't you have it mended? What's the good of a watch that
+doesn't go?
+
+AMAH. Gold watch. Eighteen carats. Cost velly much money. Give me plenty
+face.
+
+DAISY. [_Impatiently._] Go and ask Wu what time it is.
+
+AMAH. I know time. I tell by the sun. More better than European watch. I
+think half-past four perhaps.
+
+DAISY. Why doesn't George come?
+
+AMAH. Perhaps he velly busy.
+
+DAISY. You gave him the note yourself?
+
+AMAH. Yes, I give him letter.
+
+DAISY. What did he say?
+
+AMAH. He no say nothing. He look: damn, damn.
+
+DAISY. Did you tell him it was very important?
+
+AMAH. I say, you come quick. Chop-chop.
+
+DAISY. Yes.
+
+AMAH. I tell you before. Why you want me tell you again? He say he come
+chop-chop when he get away from office.
+
+DAISY. As if the office mattered now. I ought to have gone to him
+myself.
+
+AMAH. You no make him come more quick because you walk up down. Why you
+no sit still?
+
+DAISY. The train is never punctual. It'll take Harry at least twenty
+minutes to get out here.
+
+AMAH. Lee Tai....
+
+DAISY. [_Interrupting._] Don't talk to me of Lee Tai. Why on earth
+should I bother about Lee Tai?
+
+AMAH. [_Taking up an opium pipe that is on the table._] Shall Amah make
+her little Daisy a pipe? Daisy very restless.
+
+DAISY. Have you got opium?
+
+AMAH. Lee Tai give me some. [_She shows_ DAISY _a small tin box_.]
+Number one quality. You have one little pipe, Daisy.
+
+DAISY. No.
+
+[WU _comes in with a card. He gives it to_ DAISY.
+
+Miss Knox. Say I'm not at home.
+
+WU. Yes, missy.
+
+[_He is about to go out._
+
+DAISY. Stop. Is she alone?
+
+WU. She ride up to gate with gentleman and lady. She say can she see you
+for two, three minutes.
+
+DAISY. [_After a moment's consideration._] Tell her to come in.
+
+[WU _goes out_.
+
+AMAH. What you want to see her for, Daisy?
+
+DAISY. Mind your own business.
+
+AMAH. George come very soon now.
+
+DAISY. I shall get rid of her as soon as he does. [_Almost to herself._]
+I want to see for myself.
+
+     [SYLVIA _comes in. She wears a riding-habit_. DAISY _greets her
+     cordially. Her manner, which was restless, becomes on a sudden gay,
+     gracious, and friendly_.
+
+DAISY. Oh, my dear, how sweet of you to come all this way!
+
+[_The_ AMAH _slips out_.
+
+SYLVIA. I can only stop a second. I was riding with the Fergusons and
+we passed your temple. I thought I'd just run in and see how you were. I
+haven't seen you for an age.
+
+DAISY. Are the Fergusons waiting outside?
+
+SYLVIA. They rode on. They said they'd fetch me in five minutes.
+
+DAISY. [_Smiling._] How did your bridge party go off last night?
+
+SYLVIA. How on earth did you hear about that? Did Mr. Conway tell you? I
+wish you played bridge. We really had rather a lark.
+
+DAISY. George didn't come in till late, I suppose?
+
+SYLVIA. Oh, no, he got away in fairly decent time. Where there's a will
+there's a way, you know, even at official functions.
+
+DAISY. [_With a little laugh._] Oh, I know! I'm expecting him here in a
+minute. I hope you won't have to go before he comes.
+
+SYLVIA. Well, I saw him yesterday. I can live one day without seeing
+him.
+
+DAISY. I wonder if he can live one day without seeing you?
+
+SYLVIA. I'm tolerably sure he can do that.
+
+DAISY. [_As if she were merely teasing._] A little bird has whispered to
+me that there's a very pretty blonde in Peking....
+
+SYLVIA. [_Interrupting._] Probably peroxide.
+
+DAISY. Not in this case. Who is not entirely indifferent to the
+Assistant Chinese Secretary at the British Legation.
+
+SYLVIA. Fancy!
+
+DAISY. I suppose you haven't an idea who I'm talking about?
+
+SYLVIA. Not a ghost.
+
+DAISY. Then why do you blush to the roots of your hair?
+
+SYLVIA. I was outraged at your suggestion that my hair was dyed.
+
+DAISY. It's too bad of me to tease you, isn't it?
+
+SYLVIA. I'm a perfect owl. You know what a tactless idiot my brother is.
+He will chaff me about George Conway, so it makes me self-conscious when
+anybody talks about him.
+
+DAISY. Darling, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Why shouldn't you be in
+love with him?
+
+SYLVIA. [_With a laugh._] But I'm not in love with him.
+
+DAISY. Why does your brother chaff you then?
+
+SYLVIA. Because he's under the delusion that it's funny.
+
+DAISY. But you do like him, don't you?
+
+SYLVIA. Of course I like him.... I think he's a very good sort.
+
+DAISY. Would you marry him if he asked you?
+
+SYLVIA. My dear, what are you talking about? The thought never entered
+my head.
+
+DAISY. Oh, what nonsense! When a man's as attentive to a girl as George
+has been to you she can't help asking herself if she'd like to marry him
+or not.
+
+SYLVIA. [_Coldly, but still smiling._] Can't she? I'm afraid I haven't a
+close acquaintance with that sort of girl.
+
+DAISY. Am I being very vulgar? You know, we half-castes are sometimes.
+
+SYLVIA. [_With a trace of impatience._] Of course you're not vulgar. But
+I don't know why you want to talk about something that's absolute Greek
+to me.
+
+DAISY. The natural curiosity of the Eurasian. Everybody tells me that
+you're engaged to George.
+
+SYLVIA. Look at my hand.
+
+[_She stretches out her left hand so that_ DAISY _should see there is no
+ring on the fourth finger_. DAISY _stares at it for a moment_.
+
+DAISY. You always used to wear an engagement ring.
+
+SYLVIA. [_Gravely._] It was put on my finger by a poor boy who was
+killed. I meant to wear it always.
+
+DAISY. Why have you taken it off?
+
+[_She looks at_ SYLVIA. _She can no longer preserve her artificial
+gaiety and her voice is cold and hard. Before_ SYLVIA _can answer_
+GEORGE CONWAY _comes in_.
+
+DAISY. [_Regaining with an effort her earlier sprightliness._] There you
+are at last.
+
+GEORGE. I couldn't come sooner. I was with the Minister.
+
+DAISY. We were wondering why you were so late.
+
+SYLVIA. Daisy was wondering.
+
+GEORGE. [_Shaking hands with Sylvia._] I thought that was your pony
+outside.
+
+SYLVIA. Clever.
+
+GEORGE. The Fergusons were just riding up as I came.
+
+SYLVIA. Oh, they've come to fetch me! I must bolt.
+
+GEORGE. I'm afraid we kept you up till all sorts of hours last night.
+
+SYLVIA. Not a bit. Do I look jaded?
+
+GEORGE. Of course not. You young things can stay up till three in the
+morning and be as fresh as paint. Wait till you're my age.
+
+SYLVIA. You haven't passed your hundredth birthday yet, have you?
+
+GEORGE. Not quite. But I'm old enough to be your father.
+
+SYLVIA. I will not stay and listen to you talk rubbish. Good-bye, Daisy.
+Do come and see me one day this week.
+
+DAISY. Good-bye.
+
+GEORGE. I'll come and help you mount, shall I?
+
+SYLVIA. Oh, no, don't bother! Mr. Ferguson is there.
+
+GEORGE. Oh, all right!
+
+[_She goes out._
+
+DAISY. [_Her smiles vanishing, hostile and cold._] You might shut the
+door.
+
+GEORGE. [_Doing so._] I will.
+
+DAISY. Aren't you going to kiss me?
+
+GEORGE. Daisy.
+
+DAISY. [_Hastily._] Oh, no, it doesn't matter! Don't bother.
+
+GEORGE. You said you wanted to see me very importantly.
+
+DAISY. It's kind of you to have come.
+
+GEORGE. [_With an effort at ease of manner._] My dear child, what are
+you talking about? You must know that if there's anything in the world I
+can do for you I'm only too anxious to do it.
+
+DAISY. Is that girl in love with you?
+
+GEORGE. Good heavens, no! What put that idea in your head?
+
+DAISY. The eyes in my head.
+
+GEORGE. What perfect nonsense!
+
+DAISY. Has it never occurred to you that she was in love with you?
+
+GEORGE. Never.
+
+DAISY. Why do you lie to me? I've been told that you were engaged to
+her.
+
+GEORGE. That's ludicrous. It's absolutely untrue.
+
+DAISY. Yes, I think it is. At the first moment I believed it. And then I
+thought it over and I knew it couldn't be true. I don't think you'd do
+anything underhand.
+
+GEORGE. At all events I shouldn't do that.
+
+DAISY. In fairness to me or in fairness to her?
+
+GEORGE. My dear Daisy, what are you talking about?
+
+DAISY. Did you break with me yesterday so that you might be free to
+propose to her?
+
+GEORGE. No, I swear I didn't.
+
+DAISY. Why are you so emphatic?
+
+GEORGE. Oh, Daisy, what's the good of tormenting yourself and tormenting
+me? You know I loved you just as much as you loved me. But I'm not like
+you. It was a torture. I knew it was wrong and hateful. I couldn't go
+on.
+
+DAISY. Do you think it would have seemed wrong and hateful if it hadn't
+been for Sylvia?
+
+GEORGE. Yes.
+
+DAISY. You don't say that very convincingly.
+
+GEORGE. I do think it is because she is so loyal, and good and straight
+that I saw so clearly what a cad I was. I think I found courage to do
+the only possible thing in her frankness and honesty.
+
+DAISY. I think you deceive yourself. Are you sure this admiration of
+yours for all her admirable qualities isn't--love?
+
+GEORGE. My dear, I'm unfit to love her.
+
+DAISY. She doesn't think so. If you asked her to marry you she'd accept.
+
+GEORGE. [_Impatiently._] What nonsense. What in heaven's name made you
+think that?
+
+DAISY. I made it my business to find out.
+
+GEORGE. Well, you can set your mind at rest. I'm not going to ask her to
+marry me.
+
+[_The_ AMAH _comes in_.
+
+AMAH. Five o'clock, Daisy.
+
+DAISY. Leave me alone.
+
+[_The_ AMAH _goes out_.
+
+GEORGE. When does Harry come back?
+
+DAISY. [_After a pause, in a strange, hoarse voice._] To-day.
+
+GEORGE. [_Surprised at her tone and manner._] Is anything the matter,
+Daisy?
+
+DAISY. I'm afraid I have some very bad news for you.
+
+GEORGE. [_Startled._] Oh!
+
+DAISY. You know those letters. I kept them locked in the box. Lee Tai
+was furious because I wouldn't have anything to do with him. Last night
+he broke open the box. He's sent the letters to Harry.
+
+GEORGE. [_Overwhelmed._] My God!
+
+DAISY. I'm awfully sorry. It wasn't my fault. I couldn't dream that
+there was any risk.
+
+GEORGE. Was that why you sent for me?
+
+DAISY. Say you don't hate me.
+
+GEORGE. Oh, poor Harry!
+
+DAISY. Don't think of him now. Think of me.
+
+GEORGE. What do we matter now, you and I? We're a pair of rotters. Harry
+is a white man through and through. He loved you, and he trusted me.
+
+DAISY. What are we going to do?
+
+GEORGE. Give me a minute. I'm all at sixes and sevens. It's such a
+knock-out blow.
+
+DAISY. Harry will be here soon. His train's due at five.
+
+GEORGE. We'll wait for him.
+
+DAISY. What?
+
+GEORGE. Did you think I was going to run away? I'll stay and face him.
+
+DAISY. He'll kill you.
+
+GEORGE. [_With anguish._] I wish to God he would.
+
+DAISY. Oh, George, how can you be so cruel? Don't you love me any more?
+I love you. George, what is to become of me if you desert me?
+
+GEORGE. Harry loves you so much and he loves me too. Heaven knows what
+sacrifices he's not capable of. Oh, I'm so ashamed!
+
+DAISY. Why do you bother about him? He doesn't count. He'll get over it.
+After all, what can he do? He can only divorce me and perhaps we can get
+him to let me divorce him.
+
+GEORGE. Could you _allow_ him to do that?
+
+DAISY. It means so little to a man. I don't care, I was thinking of you.
+It would make it so much easier for you. [_He gives her a quick look. He
+perceives the allusion to marriage._] George, George, you wouldn't
+leave--leave me in the cart.
+
+GEORGE. Of course I'll marry you.
+
+DAISY. [_Smiling now, loving and tender._] Oh, George, we shall be so
+happy. And you know, some day I'm sure you'll think it's better as it's
+turned out. I hate all this deceit just as much as you do. Oh, it'll
+make such a difference when our love can be open and above board. When
+I'm your wife you'll forget all that has tormented you. Oh, George, I
+know we shall be happy!
+
+[_All this time_ GEORGE _has been thinking deeply_.
+
+GEORGE. How do you know that Lee Tai sent those wretched letters to
+Harry?
+
+DAISY. He sent me a message. He wasn't satisfied with doing a dirty
+trick. He wanted me to know that he'd done it.
+
+GEORGE. How did he know you kept my letters there?
+
+DAISY. I told you I was reading them while I waited for you. He came in
+and I put them away. I suppose he suspected. It was very easy for him to
+get into the room after amah and I went away.
+
+GEORGE. [_Sarcastically._] Had you left the key of the box on the table?
+
+DAISY. What do you mean, George? I'd locked it up. Of course I took the
+key with me. I suppose he broke it open. What does it matter? The harm's
+done.
+
+GEORGE. How do you know Harry received the letters this morning?
+
+DAISY. Lee Tai said he would.
+
+GEORGE. In Kalgan?
+
+DAISY. Yes.
+
+GEORGE. How did he know Harry was in Kalgan?
+
+DAISY. The Chinese know all one's movements.
+
+GEORGE. They can't do miracles. Harry was going up there unexpectedly on
+a private mission. The fellows in that company know very well how to
+keep their own counsel when it's needful.... I imagine you were the only
+person in Peking who knew Harry was going to Kalgan.
+
+DAISY. [_Casually._] Well, it appears I wasn't.
+
+GEORGE. How do you suppose Lee Tai found out something that Harry had
+particularly told you to keep quiet about?
+
+DAISY. How can I tell? He may have found out from the amah for all I
+know.
+
+GEORGE. Surely you hadn't told her?
+
+DAISY. Of course not. She may have read the letter. She always does read
+my letters.
+
+GEORGE. Can she read English?
+
+DAISY. Enough to find out about other people's business.
+
+GEORGE. Why should she have told Lee Tai?
+
+DAISY. I suppose he bribed her. She'd do anything for a hundred dollars.
+
+GEORGE. Not if it would do you harm.
+
+DAISY. She's not so devoted to me as all that.
+
+GEORGE. She's your mother, Daisy.
+
+DAISY. [_Quickly._] How d'you know?
+
+GEORGE. Harry told me.
+
+DAISY. I thought he was too ashamed of it to do that.
+
+GEORGE. [_Persistently._] How did Lee Tai know that Harry was in Kalgan?
+
+DAISY. I tell you I don't know. Why do you cross-examine me? Good God,
+I'm harassed enough without that! What do you mean?
+
+GEORGE. [_He seizes her wrists and draws her violently to him._] Daisy,
+did you send those letters to Harry yourself?
+
+DAISY. Never! Do you think I'm crazy?
+
+GEORGE. Did you give them to Lee Tai to send?
+
+DAISY. No.
+
+GEORGE. God damn you, speak the truth! I will have the truth for once in
+your life.
+
+     [_They stare at one another. He is stern and angry. She pulls
+     herself together. She is fierce and defiant. She shakes herself
+     free of him._
+
+DAISY. I gave them to Lee Tai.
+
+GEORGE. [_Hiding his face with his hands._] My God!
+
+DAISY. He told me you were engaged to Sylvia. For a moment I believed it
+and I gave him the letters. I hardly knew what I was doing. And now,
+even though I know it wasn't true, I'm glad. I wish I'd done it long
+before.
+
+GEORGE. You fiend!
+
+DAISY. [_Violently._] Do you think I'm going to let you go so easily? Do
+you think I've done all I have to let you marry that silly little
+English girl?
+
+GEORGE. [_With anguish._] Oh, Daisy, how could you?
+
+DAISY. Has it never struck you how you came to be wounded that night? It
+wasn't you they wanted. It was Harry.
+
+GEORGE. I know. [_Suddenly understanding._] Daisy!
+
+DAISY. Yes, I could do that. I only wish it had succeeded.
+
+GEORGE. I can't believe it.
+
+DAISY. You're mine, mine, mine, and I'll never let you go.
+
+GEORGE. [_With increasing violence._] Do you think I can ever look at
+you again without horror? In my heart I've known always that you were
+evil. Ten years ago when I first loved you there was a deep instinct
+within that warned me. Even though my heart was breaking for love of you
+I knew that you were ruthless and cruel. I've loved you, yes, but all
+the time I've hated you. I've loved you, but with the baser part of me.
+All that was in me that was honest and decent and upright revolted
+against you. Always, always. This love has been a loathsome cancer in my
+heart. I couldn't rid me of it without killing myself, but I abhorred
+it. I felt that I was degraded by the love that burned me.
+
+DAISY. What do I care so long as you love? You can think anything you
+like of me. The fact remains that you love me.
+
+GEORGE. If you had no pity for Harry, who raised you from the gutter and
+gave you everything he had to give, oh, if you'd loved me you'd have
+had mercy on me. What do you think our life can be together? Don't you
+know what I shall be? Ruined and abject and hopeless. Oh, not only in
+the eyes of everyone who knows me shall I be degraded, but in my own. Do
+you think there's much happiness for you there?
+
+DAISY. I shall have you. That's all the happiness I want. I'd rather be
+wretched with you--oh, a thousand times--than happy with anyone else.
+
+GEORGE. [_Wrathfully, trying to wound her._] You were tormenting me just
+now because you were jealous of Sylvia. Do you know what I felt for her?
+It wasn't love--at least not what you mean by love. I can never love
+anyone as I've loved you and God knows I'm thankful. But I had such a
+respect for her. I've been so wretched and she offered me peace. And I
+did think that some day when all this horror was over, if I could do
+something to make myself feel clean again, I should go to her and, all
+unworthy, ask her if she would take me. And now the bitterest pang of
+all is to think that she must know what an unspeakable cad I've always
+been.
+
+     [_He has flung himself into a chair. He is in despair._ DAISY _goes
+     up to him and going down on her knees beside him puts her arm round
+     him. She is very tender_.
+
+DAISY. Oh, George, I can make you forget her so easily. You don't know
+what my love can do. I know I've been horrible, but it's only been
+because I loved you. Ten years ago I was all that she is. I'm like clay
+in your hands and you can make me what you will. Oh, George, say you
+forgive me!
+
+     [_In the caressing gestures of her hands as she tries to move him
+     one of them rests by chance on his coat pocket. She feels something
+     hard. He moves slightly away._
+
+GEORGE. Take care.
+
+DAISY. What's that in your pocket?
+
+GEORGE. It's my revolver. Since my accident I've always carried it about
+with me. It's rather silly, but the Minister asked me to. He said he'd
+feel safer.
+
+DAISY. Oh, George, if you only knew the agony I suffered when you were
+brought in! The remorse, the fear! I thought I should go mad.
+
+GEORGE. [_With a bitter chuckle._] It must have been rather a sell for
+you.
+
+DAISY. Oh, you can laugh! I knew you'd forgive me. My darling.
+
+GEORGE. I'm sorry for all the rough things I said to you, Daisy. I don't
+blame you for anything. You only acted according to your lights. The
+only person I can blame is myself. It's only reasonable that I should
+suffer the punishment.
+
+DAISY. My sweetheart!
+
+GEORGE. I suppose you know that I shall be quite ruined.
+
+DAISY. You'll have to leave the service. Does that really matter to you
+very much?
+
+GEORGE. It was my whole life.
+
+DAISY. You'll get a job in the post office. With your knowledge of the
+language they'll simply jump at you. It's a Chinese service. It has
+nothing to do with Europeans.
+
+GEORGE. Do you think the postmaster in a small Chinese city is a very
+lucrative position?
+
+DAISY. What does money matter? If I'd wanted money I could have got all
+I wanted from Lee Tai. We can do with very little. You don't know what a
+clever housekeeper I am.
+
+GEORGE. [_In a level, dead voice._] I'm sure you're wonderful.
+
+DAISY. We'll go to some city where there are no foreigners. And we shall
+be together always. We'll have a house high up on the bank and below us
+the river will flow, flow endlessly.
+
+GEORGE. You seem to have got it all mapped out.
+
+DAISY. If you only knew how often I've dreamed of it. Oh, George, I want
+rest and peace too! I'm so tired. I want endless days to rest in. [_With
+a puzzled look at him._] What is the matter? You look so strange.
+
+GEORGE. [_With a weary sigh._] I was thinking of all the things you've
+been saying to me.
+
+DAISY. If you think it'll be easier for you if you don't marry me, you
+need not. I don't care anything about that. I'll be your mistress and
+I'll lie hidden in your house so that no one shall know I'm there. I'll
+live like a Chinese woman. I'll be your slave and your plaything. I want
+to get away from all these Europeans. After all, China is the land of my
+birth and the land of my mother. China is crowding in upon me; I'm sick
+of these foreign clothes. I have a strange hankering for the ease of the
+Chinese dress. You've never seen me in it?
+
+GEORGE. Never.
+
+DAISY. [_With a smile._] You'd hardly know me. I'll be a little Chinese
+girl living in the foreigner's house. Have you ever smoked opium?
+
+GEORGE. No. [DAISY _takes the_ AMAH'S _long pipe in her hands._] Who
+does that belong to?
+
+DAISY. It's amah's. One day you shall try and I'll make your pipes for
+you. Lee Tai used to say that no one could make them better than I.
+
+GEORGE. However low down the ladder you go there's apparently always a
+rung lower.
+
+DAISY. After you've smoked a pipe or two your mind grows extraordinarily
+clear. You have a strange facility of speech and yet no desire to speak.
+All the puzzles of this puzzling world grow plain to you. You are
+tranquil and free. Your soul is gently released from the bondage of your
+body, and it plays, happy and careless, like a child with flowers. Death
+cannot frighten you, and want and misery are like blue mountains far
+away. You feel a heavenly power possess you and you can venture all
+things because suffering cannot touch you. Your spirit has wings and
+you fly like a bird through the starry wastes of the night. You hold
+space and time in the hollow of your hand. Then you come upon the dawn,
+all pearly and gray and silent, and there in the distance, like a
+dreamless sleep, is the sea.
+
+GEORGE. You are showing me a side of you I never knew.
+
+DAISY. Do you think you know me yet? I don't know myself. In my heart
+there are secrets that are strange even to me, and spells to bind you to
+me, and enchantments so that you will never weary.
+
+[_A pause._
+
+GEORGE. [_Standing up._] I'll go and get myself a drink. After all these
+alarums and excursions I really think I deserve it.
+
+DAISY. Amah will bring it to you.
+
+GEORGE. Oh, it doesn't matter! I can easily fetch it myself. The
+whisky's in the dining-room, isn't it?
+
+DAISY. I expect so.
+
+     [_He goes out._ DAISY _goes over to a chest which stands in the
+     room and throws it open. She takes out the Manchu dress which Harry
+     once gave her and handles it smilingly. She holds up in both her
+     hands the sumptuous headdress. There is the sound of a door being
+     locked_. DAISY _puts down the headdress and looks at the door
+     enquiringly_.
+
+DAISY. [_With a little smile._] What are you locking the door for,
+George? [_The words are hardly out of her mouth before there is the
+report of a pistol shot._ DAISY _gives a shriek and rushes towards the
+door._] George! George! What have you done? [_She beats frantically on
+the door._] Let me in! Let me in! George!
+
+[_The_ AMAH _comes in running from the courtyard_.
+
+AMAH. What's the matter? I hear shot.
+
+DAISY. Send the boys, quick. We must break down this door.
+
+AMAH. I send the boys away. I no want them here when Harry come.
+
+DAISY. George! George! Speak to me. [_She beats violently on the door._]
+Oh, what shall I do?
+
+AMAH. Daisy, what's the matter?
+
+DAISY. He's killed himself sooner--sooner than....
+
+AMAH. [_Aghast._] Oh!
+
+[DAISY _staggers back into the room_.
+
+DAISY. Oh, my God!
+
+     [_She sinks down on the floor. She beats it with her fist. The_
+     AMAH _looks at her for an instant, then with quick determination
+     seizes her shoulder_.
+
+AMAH. Daisy, Harry come soon.
+
+DAISY. [_With a violent gesture._] Leave me alone. What do I care if
+Harry comes?
+
+AMAH. You no can stay here. Come with me quick.
+
+DAISY. Go away. Damn you!
+
+AMAH. [_Stern and decided._] Don't you talk foolish now. You come. Lee
+Tai waiting for you.
+
+DAISY. [_With a sudden suspicion._] Did you know this was going to
+happen? George! George!
+
+AMAH. Harry will kill you if he find you here. Come with me. [_There is
+a knocking at the outer gate._] There he is. Daisy! Daisy!
+
+DAISY. Don't torture me.
+
+AMAH. I bolt that door. He no get in that way. He must come round
+through temple. You come quick and I hide you. We slip out when he safe.
+
+DAISY. [_With scornful rage._] Do you think I'm frightened of Harry?
+
+AMAH. He come velly soon now.
+
+[DAISY _raises herself to her feet. A strange look comes over her face._
+
+DAISY. Lee Tai has made a mistake again. Bolt that door.
+
+     [_The_ AMAH _runs to it and slips the bolt. While she does this_
+     DAISY _takes the tin of opium and quickly swallows some of the
+     contents. The_ AMAH _turns round and sees her. She gives a gasp.
+     She runs forward and snatches the tin from_ DAISY'S _hand_.
+
+AMAH. What you do, Daisy? Daisy, you die!
+
+DAISY. Yes, I die. The day has come. The jungle takes back its own.
+
+AMAH. [_Distraught._] Oh, Daisy! Daisy! My little flower.
+
+DAISY. How long will it take? [_The_ AMAH _sobs desperately_. DAISY
+_goes to the Manchu clothes and takes them up_.] Help me to put these
+on.
+
+AMAH. [_Dumbfounded._] What you mean, Daisy?
+
+DAISY. Curse you, do as I tell you!
+
+AMAH. I think you crazy. [DAISY _slips into the long skirt and the_ AMAH
+_with trembling hands helps her into the coat. In the middle of her
+dressing_ DAISY _staggers_.] Daisy.
+
+DAISY. [_Recovering herself._] Don't be a fool. I'm all right.
+
+AMAH. [_In a terrified whisper._] There's Harry.
+
+DAISY. Give me the headdress.
+
+HARRY. [_Outside._] Open the door.
+
+DAISY. Be quick.
+
+AMAH. I no understand. You die, Daisy. You die.
+
+[_The knocking is repeated more violently._
+
+HARRY. [_Shouting._] Daisy! Amah! Open the door. If you don't open I'll
+break it down.
+
+     [DAISY _is ready. She steps on to the pallet and sits in the
+     Chinese fashion_.
+
+DAISY. Go to the door. Open when I tell you.
+
+     [_There is by_ DAISY'S _side a box in which are the paints and
+     pencils the Chinese lady uses to make up her face_. DAISY _opens
+     it. She takes out a hand mirror_.
+
+HARRY. Who's there? Open, I tell you! Open!
+
+     [DAISY _puts rouge on her cheeks. She takes a black pencil and
+     touches her eyebrows. She gives them a slight slant so that she
+     looks on a sudden absolutely Chinese_.
+
+DAISY. Open!
+
+[_The_ _Amah_ _draws the bolt and_ HARRY _bursts in_.
+
+HARRY. Daisy! [_He comes forward impetuously and then on a sudden stops.
+He is taken aback. Something, he knows not what, comes over him and he
+feels helpless and strangely weak._] Daisy, what does it mean? These
+letters. [_He takes them out of his pocket and thrusts them towards her.
+She takes no notice of him._] Daisy, speak to me. I don't understand.
+[_He staggers towards her with outstretched hands._] For God's sake, say
+it isn't true.
+
+     [_Motionless she contemplates in the mirror the Chinese woman of
+     the reflection._
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's East of Suez, by William Somerset Maugham
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