第32章 ACT IV(8)

Later in the evening,the grasshopper is again enjoying the sunset by the great stone on the hill;but this time he enjoys neither the stimulus of Keegan's conversation nor the pleasure of terrifying Patsy Farrell.He is alone until Nora and Broadbent come up the hill arm in arm.Broadbent is still breezy and confident;but she has her head averted from him and is almost in tears].

BROADBENT [stopping to snuff up the hillside air].Ah!I like this spot.I like this view.This would be a jolly good place for a hotel and a golf links.Friday to Tuesday,railway ticket and hotel all inclusive.I tell you,Nora,I'm going to develop this place.[Looking at her]Hallo!What's the matter?Tired?

NORA [unable to restrain her tears].I'm ashamed out o me life.

BROADBENT [astonished].Ashamed!What of?

NORA.Oh,how could you drag me all round the place like that,telling everybody that we're going to be married,and introjoocing me to the lowest of the low,and letting them shake hans with me,and encouraging them to make free with us?I little thought I should live to be shaken hans with be Doolan in broad daylight in the public street of Rosscullen.

BROADBENT.But,my dear,Doolan's a publican:a most influential man.By the way,I asked him if his wife would be at home tomorrow.He said she would;so you must take the motor car round and call on her.

NORA [aghast].Is it me call on Doolan's wife!

BROADBENT.Yes,of course:call on all their wives.We must get a copy of the register and a supply of canvassing cards.No use calling on people who haven't votes.You'll be a great success as a canvasser,Nora:they call you the heiress;and they'll be flattered no end by your calling,especially as you've never cheapened yourself by speaking to them before--have you?

NORA [indignantly].Not likely,indeed.

BROADBENT.Well,we mustn't be stiff and stand-off,you know.We must be thoroughly democratic,and patronize everybody without distinction of class.I tell you I'm a jolly lucky man,Nora Cryna.I get engaged to the most delightful woman in Ireland;and it turns out that I couldn't have done a smarter stroke of electioneering.

NORA.An would you let me demean meself like that,just to get yourself into parliament?

BROADBENT [buoyantly].Aha!Wait till you find out what an exciting game electioneering is:you'll be mad to get me in.

Besides,you'd like people to say that Tom Broadbent's wife had been the making of him--that she got him into parliament--into the Cabinet,perhaps,eh?

NORA.God knows I don't grudge you me money!But to lower meself to the level of common people BROADBENT.To a member's wife,Nora,nobody is common provided he's on the register.Come,my dear!it's all right:do you think I'd let you do it if it wasn't?The best people do it.Everybody does it.

NORA [who has been biting her lip and looking over the hill,disconsolate and unconvinced].Well,praps you know best what they do in England.They must have very little respect for themselves.I think I'll go in now.I see Larry and Mr Keegan coming up the hill;and I'm not fit to talk to them.

BROADBENT.Just wait and say something nice to Keegan.They tell me he controls nearly as many votes as Father Dempsey himself.

NORA.You little know Peter Keegan.He'd see through me as if Iwas a pane o glass.

BROADBENT.Oh,he won't like it any the less for that.What really flatters a man is that you think him worth flattering.Not that I would flatter any man:don't think that.I'll just go and meet him.[He goes down the hill with the eager forward look of a man about to greet a valued acquaintance.Nora dries her eyes,and turns to go as Larry strolls up the hill to her].

LARRY.Nora.[She turns and looks at him hardly,without a word.

He continues anxiously,in his most conciliatory tone].When Ileft you that time,I was just as wretched as you.I didn't rightly know what I wanted to say;and my tongue kept clacking to cover the loss I was at.Well,I've been thinking ever since;and now I know what I ought to have said.I've come back to say it.

NORA.You've come too late,then.You thought eighteen years was not long enough,and that you might keep me waiting a day longer.

Well,you were mistaken.I'm engaged to your friend Mr Broadbent;and I'm done with you.

LARRY [naively].But that was the very thing I was going to advise you to do.

NORA [involuntarily].Oh you brute!to tell me that to me face.

LARRY [nervously relapsing into his most Irish manner].Nora,dear,don't you understand that I'm an Irishman,and he's an Englishman.He wants you;and he grabs you.I want you;and Iquarrel with you and have to go on wanting you.

NORA.So you may.You'd better go back to England to the animated beefsteaks you're so fond of.

LARRY [amazed].Nora![Guessing where she got the metaphor]He's been talking about me,I see.Well,never mind:we must be friends,you and I.I don't want his marriage to you to be his divorce from me.

NORA.You care more for him than you ever did for me.

LARRY [with curt sincerity].Yes of course I do:why should Itell you lies about it?Nora Reilly was a person of very little consequence to me or anyone else outside this miserable little hole.But Mrs Tom Broadbent will be a person of very considerable consequence indeed.Play your new part well,and there will be no more neglect,no more loneliness,no more idle regrettings and vain-hopings in the evenings by the Round Tower,but real life and real work and real cares and real joys among real people:solid English life in London,the very centre of the world.You will find your work cut out for you keeping Tom's house and entertaining Tom's friends and getting Tom into parliament;but it will be worth the effort.

NORA.You talk as if I were under an obligation to him for marrying me.

LARRY.I talk as I think.You've made a very good match,let me tell you.

NORA.Indeed!Well,some people might say he's not done so badly himself.

LARRY.If you mean that you will be a treasure to him,he thinks so now;and you can keep him thinking so if you like.

NORA.I wasn't thinking o meself at all.