Thank you. I'll steal one of Clement's cigarettes if I may?
Of course Clement was always good and strong and clever. It only wanted marriage to--to----
Well, I was going to say to complete him; but it comes to the same thing, doesn't it?
I found my happiness when I married Clement.
Of course; isn't that every woman's duty?
[_Less confidently._] Well, yes, I should think so.
And one's happiness once found is worth fighting for?
[_Firmly._] Worth fighting very hard for!
[_Drily._] Of course. [_Aside._] Poor Burleigh!
You, I suppose, have never met a woman who could make you happy?
I have never met a woman whom I was sure of being able to make happy.
And, anyway, the state of marriage has always appeared to me to be a state of warfare.
I admit the case of you and Clement to be an exceptional one. I'm talking of ordinary cases--the average marriage; there you will find, according to my observation, an endless war--a war of self-interests, a war of opposing emotions, a war of irreconcilable nervous organisations----
Viewed from the hill-tops rather a pitiful sort of war, in which can be won neither the full joys of love nor the complete glories of battle.
I remain single, Mrs. Parbury, quite without happiness--except in the reflection that I am neither an oppressor exercising a daily tyranny, nor a slave rightly struggling to be free.
Of course I don't in the least agree with you. [_The telephone bell rings._] [_Rising._] There's some one on the telephone--forgive me. [_Goes to telephone box and puts the communicator to her ear._] Are you there?--yes--who are you?--the article--yes--no, you can't have it to-day--no, it hasn't a million to one chance of being finished. [_To GUNNING, with a smile._] That's Clement's slang, not mine. [_Again into telephone._] What?
I say it hasn't a million to one chance of being finished.
But, my dear, the article is finished. [_Rushes to telephone._] [_MISS WOODWARD and GUNNING are laughing secretly. MRS. PARBURY stands C., rather confused._] [_At telephone._] Hullo! Hullo! Are you there? [_Rings violently._] Hullo--oh! is that you, Jackson? . . . what's the matter? [_Rather a long pause. He smiles while listening._] No, no, not at all, my dear chap. What was said was, 'It's a million to one you'll have the copy in half-an-hour'--eh?--yes, those were the very words . . . no, quite a mistake, you don't listen properly. A messenger has just gone off in a cab with it. What? Yes. [_Laughs._] All right! Good-bye!