The Master of Mrs. Chilvers: An Improbable Comedy

Lady Mogton. Where are you going?

Annys. (She turns; there are tears in her eyes. The question seems to recall her to herself.) Nowhere. I am so sorry. I can’t help it. It seems to me to mean so much. It gives us the right to go before the people – to plead to them, not for ourselves, for them. (Again she seems to lose consciousness of those at the table, of the room.) To the men we will say: “Will you not trust us? Is it harm we have ever done you? Have we not suffered for you and with you? Were we not sent into the world to be your helpmeet? Are not the children ours as well as yours? Shall we not work together to shape the world where they must dwell? Is it only the mother-voice that shall not be heard in your councils? Is it only the mother-hand that shall not help to guide?” To the women we will say: “Tell them – tell them it is from no love of ourselves that we come from our sheltered homes into the street. It is to give, not to get – to mingle with the sterner judgments of men the deeper truths that God, through pain, has taught to women – to mingle with man’s justice woman’s pity, till there shall arise the perfect law – not made of man nor woman, but of both, each bringing what the other lacks.” And they will listen to us. Till now it has seemed to them that we were clamouring only for selfish ends. They have not understood. We shall speak to them of common purposes, use the language of fellow-citizens. They will see that we are worthy of the place we claim. They will welcome us as helpers in a common cause. They —

(She turns—the present comes back to her.)

Lady Mogton. (After a pause.) The business (she dwells severely on the word) before the meeting —

Annys. (She resents herself meekly. Apologising generally.) I must learn to control myself.

Lady Mogton. (Who has waited.) – is McCaw versus Potts. Its bearing upon the movement for the extension of the franchise to women. My own view I venture to submit in the form of a resolution. (She takes up a paper on which she has been writing.) As follows: That the Council of the Woman’s Parliamentary Franchise League, having regard to the decision of the House of Lords in McCaw v. Potts —

St. Herbert. (Looking over.) Two t’s.

Lady Mogton. – resolves to bring forward a woman candidate to contest the next bye-election. (Suddenly to Mrs. Mountcalm-Villiers, who is chattering.) Do you agree or disagree?

Mrs. Mountcalm-Villiers. My dear! How can you ask? Of course we all agree. (To Elizabeth.) You agree, don’t you?

Elizabeth. Of course, even if elected, she would not be allowed to take her seat.

Phoebe. How do you know? Nothing more full of surprises than English law.

Lady Mogton. At the present stage I regard that point as immaterial. What I am thinking of is the advertisement. A female candidate upon the platform will concentrate the whole attention of the country on our movement.

St. Herbert. It might even be prudent – until you have got the vote – to keep it dark that you will soon be proceeding to the next inevitable step.

Elizabeth. You think even man could be so easily deceived!

St. Herbert. Man has had so much practice in being deceived. It comes naturally to him.

Elizabeth. Poor devil!

Lady Mogton. The only question remaining to be discussed is the candidate.

Annys. Is there not danger that between now and the next bye-election the Government may, having regard to this case, bring in a bill to stop women candidates from going to the poll?

St. Herbert. I have thought of that. Fortunately, the case seems to have attracted very little attention. If a bye-election occurred soon there would hardly be time.

Lady Mogton. It must be the very next one that does occur – wherever it is.

Janet. I am sure that in the East End we should have a chance.

Phoebe. Great Scott! Just think. If we were to win it!

St. Herbert. If you could get a straight fight against a Liberal I believe you would.

Annys. Why is the Government so unpopular?

St. Herbert. Well, take the weather alone – twelve degrees of frost again last night.

Janet. In St. George’s Road the sewer has burst. The water is in the rooms where the children are sleeping. (She clenches her hands.)

Mrs. Mountcalm-Villiers. (She shakes her head.) Something ought really to be done.

Lady Mogton. Has anybody any suggestion to make? – as regards the candidate. There’s no advantage in going outside. It will have to be one of ourselves.

Mrs. Mountcalm-Villiers. Won’t you, dear?

Lady Mogton. I shall be better employed organising. My own feeling is that it ought to be Annys. (To St. Herbert.) What do you think?

St. Herbert. Undoubtedly.

Annys. I’d rather not.

Lady Mogton. It’s not a question of liking. It’s a question of duty. For this occasion we shall be appealing to the male voter. Our candidate must be a woman popular with men. The choice is somewhat limited.

Elizabeth. No one will put up so good a fight as you.

Annys. Will you give me till this evening?

Lady Mogton. What for?

Annys. I should like to consult Geoffrey.

Lady Mogton. You think he would object?

Annys. (A little doubtfully.) No. But we have always talked everything over together.

Lady Mogton. Absurd! He’s one of our staunchest supporters. Of course he’ll be delighted.

Elizabeth. I think the thing ought to be settled at once.

Lady Mogton. It must be. I have to return to Manchester to-night. We shall have to get to work immediately.

St. Herbert. Geoffrey will surely take it as a compliment.

Janet. Don’t you feel that woman, all over the world, is calling to you?

Annys. It isn’t that. I’m not trying to shirk it. I merely thought that if there had been time – of course, if you really think —

Lady Mogton. You consent?

Annys. Yes. If it’s everybody’s wish.

Lady Mogton. That’s settled.

Phoebe. (She springs up, waving a handkerchief.) Chilvers for ever!

Janet. (Rises.) God bless you!