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diff --git a/34860.txt b/34860.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ecde5d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/34860.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5624 @@ +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 + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK EAST OF SUEZ *** + +***** This file should be named 34860.txt or 34860.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/8/6/34860/ + +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.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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