Harley Granville-Barker

“ You're not a party man, Trebell. You haven't the true party feeling. You are to be bought. Of course you take your price in measures, not in money. But you are preeminently a man of ideas ... an expert. And a man of ideas is often a grave embarrassment to a government.
Horsham. And vice-versa ... vice-versa!
Trebell. [Facing Blackborough across the room.] Do I understand that you for the good of the Tory party ... just as Cantelupe for the good of his soul ... will refuse to sit in a cabinet with me.
Blackborough. [Unembarrassed.] I don't commit myself to saying that. ”

“ What are men to do when this is how women use the freedom we have given them? Is the curse of barrenness to be nothing to a man? And that's the death in life to which you gentlemen with your fine civilisation are bringing us. I think we are brothers in misfortune, Mr. Trebell.
Trebell. [Far from responding.] Not at all, sir. If you wanted children you did the next best thing when she left you. My own problem is neither so simple nor is it yet anyone's business but my own. I apologise for alluding to it.
Horsham takes advantage of the silence that follows.
Horsham. Shall we....
O'Connell. ”

“ But how long do you think the spirit stays near the body ... how long? When people die gently of age or weakness.... But when the spirit and body are so strong and knit together and all alive as his....
Wedgecroft. [His hand on hers.] Hush ... hush.
Frances. His face is very eager ... as if it still could speak. I know that.
Mrs. Farrant comes through the open doorway. Frances hears her steps and turning falls into her outstretched arms to cry there.
Frances. Oh, Julia!
Mrs. Farrant. Oh my dear Fanny! I came with Cyril Horsham ... I don't think Simpson even saw me. ”

“ It is possibly some German philosopher, whom she reads with a critical appreciation of his shortcomings. On the sofa near her lounges Mrs. O'Connell; a charming woman, if by charming you understand a woman who converts every quality she possesses into a means of attraction, and has no use for any others. On the sofa opposite sits Miss Trebell. In a few years, when her hair is quite grey, she will assume as by right the dignity of an old maid. Between these two in a low armchair is Lady Davenport. She has attained to many dignities. ”

“ Good-night, Cantelupe.
Cantelupe. From what motives have we thrown Trebell over?
Blackborough. Never mind the motives if the move is the right one. [Then he nods at Horsham.] I shall be up again next week if you want me.
And he flourishes out of the room; a man who has done a good hour's work, Farrant, who has been mooning depressedly around, now backs towards the door.
Farrant. In one way, of course, Trebell won't care a damn. I mean, he knows as well as we do that office isn't worth having ... he has never been a place-hunter. ”

“ Cantelupe. [Suddenly congenial.] Shelton's translation of Don Quixote I hope ... the modern ones have no flavour. And you took all the adventures as seriously as the Don did?
Trebell. [Not expecting this.] I forget.
Cantelupe. It's the finer attitude ... the child's attitude. And it would enable you immediately to comprehend mine towards an education consisting merely of practical knowledge. The life of Faith is still the happy one. What is more crushingly finite than knowledge? Moral discipline is a nation's only safety. ”

“ Frances. I'll trust you, Henry.
She looks into his eyes and he does not flinch. Then, with a final grip she leaves him. When she is at the door he speaks more gently than ever.
Trebell. Your own life is sufficient unto itself, isn't it?
Frances. Oh yes. I can be pleasant to talk to and give good advice through the years that remain. [Instinctively she rectifies some little untidiness in the room.] What fools they are to think they can run that government without you!
Trebell. Horsham will do his best. [Then, as for the second time she reaches the door.] Don't take away my razors, will you? ”

“ Trebell. Perhaps you are on the point of succeeding ... but I do not know what you may rouse.
Horsham. I understand. We are much in agreement, Mr. O'Connell. What can a man be—who has any pretensions to philosophy—but helplessly indifferent to the thousands of his fellow creatures whose fates are intertwined with his?
O'Connell. I am glad that you understand. But, again ... have I been wrong to shrink from personal relations with Mr. Trebell? Hatred is as sacred a responsibility as love. And you will not agree with me when I say that punishment can be the salvation of a man's soul.
Farrant. ”

“ Would they have thought of that and stopped whispering about the scandal?
Through this Wedgecroft has watched him very gravely.
Wedgecroft. Trebell ... if the inquest to-morrow had put you out of action ...
Trebell. Should I have grown a beard and travelled abroad and after ten years timidly tried to climb my way back into politics? When public opinion takes its heel from your face it keeps it for your finger-tips. After twenty years to be forgiven by your more broad-minded friends and tolerated as a dotard by a new generation.... ”

“ Cantelupe. What about a messenger?
Horsham. Not at this time of night. I'll post it.
Cantelupe. I'll post it as I go.
He seeks comfort again in the piano and this time starts to play, with one finger and some hesitation, the first bars of a Bach fugue, Horsham's pen-nib is disappointing him and the letter is not easy to phrase.
Horsham. But I hate coming to immediate decisions. The administrative part of my brain always tires after half an hour. Does yours, Charles?
Cantelupe. What do you think Trebell will do now?
Horsham. [A little grimly.] Punish us all he can. ”

“ Lady Davenport. I remember Mr. Disraeli once said to me ... Clever women are as dangerous to the State as dynamite.
Frances Trebell. [Not to be impressed by Disraeli.] Well, Lady Davenport, if men will leave our intellects lying loose about....
Farrant. Blackborough's going, Julia.
Mrs. Farrant. Yes, George.
Lady Davenport. [Concluding her little apologue to Miss Trebell.] Yes, my dear, but power without responsibility isn't good for the character that wields it either. ”

“ Trebell. That's another of your faults, Gilbert ... it's a comfort just now to enumerate them. You're an anarchist ... a kingdom to yourself. You make little treaties with Truth and with Beauty, and what can disturb you? I'm a part of the machine I believe in. If my life as I've made it is to be cut short ... the rest of me shall walk out of the world and slam the door ... with the noise of a pistol shot.
Wedgecroft. [Concealing some uneasiness.] Then I'm glad it's not to be cut short. You and your cabinet rank and your disestablishment bill! ”

“ Frances. He's always thanking you. You're always doing things for him.
Wedgecroft. Good night. [Seeing the tears in her eyes.] Oh, don't grieve.
Frances. One shouldn't be sorry when people die, I know. But she liked me more than I liked her ... [This time Trebell does laugh, silently.] ... so I somehow feel in her debt and unable to pay now.
Trebell. [An edge on his voice.] Yes ... people keep on dying at all sorts of ages, in all sorts of ways. But we seem never to get used to it ... narrow-minded as we are.
Wedgecroft. Don't you talk nonsense. ”

“ Mother and grandmother, she has brought into the world and nourished not merely life but character. A wonderful face she has, full of proud memories and fearless of the future. Behind her, on a sofa between the windows, is Walter Kent. He is just what the average English father would like his son to be. ”

“ Well, one shouldn't hate people ... there's no room for it in this world.
Cantelupe. [Quietly as ever.] We have some authority for thinking that the punishment of a secret sin is awarded by God secretly.
O'Connell. We have very poor authority, sir, for using God's name merely to fill up the gaps in an argument, though we may thus have our way easily with men who fear God more than they know him. I am not one of those. Yes, Farrant, you and your like have left little room in this world except for the dusty roads on which I notice you beginning once more to travel. ”

“ Cantelupe. I am very glad.
Blackborough. Of course we're all very glad indeed, Trebell ... very glad we persuaded him.
Farrant. That's dead and buried now, isn't it?
Trebell moves away from them all and leaves them wondering. When he turns round his face is as hard as ever; his voice, if possible, harder.
Trebell. But, Horsham, returning to the more important question ... you've taken trouble, and O'Connell's to perjure himself for nothing if you still can't get me into your child's puzzle ... to make the pretty picture that a Cabinet should be.
Horsham looks at Blackborough and scents danger. ”

“ Farrant. Oh, I'm afraid my wife knows. [He adds hastily.] My fault ... my fault entirely.
Blackborough. I tell you Rumour's electric.
Horsham has turned to Farrant with a sweet smile and with the air of a man about to be relieved of all responsibility.
Horsham. What does she say?
Farrant. [As one speaks of a nice woman.] She was horrified.
Horsham. Of course. [Once more he finds refuge and comfort on the hearthrug, to say, after a moment, with fine resignation.] I suppose I must let him go.
Cantelupe. [On his feet again.] Cyril!
Horsham. Yes, Charles? ”

“ Trebell. What's Now-a-days? You're very dull, Gilbert.
Wedgecroft. I'm not duller than the people who will have to understand your scheme.
Trebell. They won't understand it. I shan't explain to them that education is religion, and that those who deal in it are priests without any laying on of hands.
Wedgecroft. No matter what they teach?
Trebell. No ... the matter is how they teach it. I see schools in the future, Gilbert, not built next to the church, but on the site of the church.
Wedgecroft. Do you think the world is grown up enough to do without dogma? ”

“ Horsham. So late?
Blackborough. Really one can get along quicker at night if one knows the road. You're in town, aren't you, Farrant? Shall I drop you at Grosvenor Square?
Farrant. [Ungraciously.] Thank you.
Blackborough. [With a conqueror's geniality.] I don't mind telling you now, Horsham, that ever since we met at Shapters I've been wondering how you'd escape from this association with Trebell. Thought he was being very clever when he crossed the House to us! It's needed a special providence. You'd never have got a cabinet together to include him. ”

“ When you've a chance to re-formulate the reasons of your faith for the benefit of men teaching mathematics and science and history and political economy, you won't neglect to answer or allow for criticisms and doubts. ”

“ This is the age of equality; and it's a fine practical equality ... the equality of the road. But you've fenced the fields of human joy and turned the very hillsides into hoardings, Commercial opportunity is painted on them, I think.
Farrant. [Not to be impressed.] Perhaps it is O'Connell. My father made his money out of newspapers and I ride in a motor car and you came from Holyhead by train. What has all that to do with it? Why can't you make up your mind? You know in this sort of case one talks a lot ... and then does the usual thing. You must let Trebell off and that's all about it. ”

“ Trebell. No, neither to the beauty of Nature nor the particular human animals that are always called a part of it. I don't even see them with your eyes. I'm a son of the anger of Man at men's foolishness, and unless I've that to feed upon...! [Now he looks at her, as if for the first time wanting to explain himself, and his voice changes.] Don't you know that when a man cuts himself shaving, he swears? When he loses a seat in the Cabinet he turns inward for comfort ... and if he only finds there a spirit which should have been born, but is dead ... what's to be done then?
Frances. ”

“ He only bows towards Horsham's half-proffered hand. With instinctive respect for the situation of this tragically made widower the men have risen and stand in various uneasy attitudes.
Horsham. Oh ... how do you do? Let me see ... do you know my cousin Charles Cantelupe? Yes ... we were expecting Russell Blackborough. Sir Henry Percival is ill. Do sit down.
O'Connell takes the nearest chair and gradually the others settle themselves; Farrant seeking an obscure corner. But there follows an uncomfortable silence, which O'Connell at last breaks. ”

“ There faces you besides a double door; when it is opened another door is seen. When that is opened you discover a writing table, and beyond can discern a book-case filled with heavy volumes—law reports perhaps. The little room beyond is, so to speak, an under-study. ”

“ Education you'd call it in the one case as I called it in the other. What a waste of time!
Amy O'Connell. And what has become of your ideal?
Trebell. [Relapsing to his former mood.] It's no longer a personal matter.
Amy O'Connell. [With coquetry.] You're not interested in my character?
Trebell. Oh, yes, I am ... up to kissing point.
She does not shrink, but speaks with just a shade of contempt.
Amy O'Connell. You get that far more easily than a woman. That's one of my grudges against men. Why can't women take love-affairs so lightly?
Trebell. There are reasons. ”

“ What's the test of godliness, but your power to receive the new idea in whatever form it comes and give it life? It is blasphemy to pick and choose your good. [For a moment his thoughts seem to be elsewhere.] That's an unhappy man or woman or nation ... I know it if it has only come to me this minute ... and I don't care what their brains or their riches or their beauty or any of their triumph may be ... they're unhappy and useless if they can't tell life from death.
Cantelupe. [Interested in the digression] Remember that the Church's claim has ever been to know that difference.
Trebell. ”

“ Trebell. [With full voice.] But in the creed I'll lay down as unalterable there shall be neither Jew nor Greek.... What do you think of St. Paul, Gilbert?
Wedgecroft. I'd make him the head of a college.
Trebell. I'll make the Devil himself head of a college, if he'll undertake to teach honestly all he knows.
Wedgecroft. And he'll conjure up Comte and Robespierre for you to assist in this little rechauffée of their schemes.
Trebell. Hullo! Comte I knew about. Have I stolen from Robespierre too?
Wedgecroft. [Giving out the epigram with an air.] Property to him who can make the best use of it. ”

“ Horsham. [Safe on his own ground.] It's only a curious metaphysical point. Have you never noticed your distaste for the colour of a man's hair translate itself ultimately into an objection to his religious opinions ... or what not? I am sure—for instance—I could trace Charles's scruples about sitting in a cabinet with Trebell back to a sort of academic reverence for women generally which he possesses. I am sure I could ... if he were not probably now doing it himself. But this does not make the scruples less real, less religious, or less political. We must be humanly biased in expression ... ”