The Fugitive | Page 7

so beautifully!
Poor dears! I wonder if I ought----[She looks towards the door.]
MALISE. Don't spoil it!
CLARE. I'd been walking up and down the Embankment for about
three hours. One does get desperate sometimes.
MALISE. Thank God for that!
CLARE. Only makes it worse afterwards. It seems so frightful to them,
too.
MALISE. [Softly and suddenly, but with a difficulty in finding the
right words] Blessed be the respectable! May they dream of--me! And
blessed be all men of the world! May they perish of a surfeit of--good
form!
CLARE. I like that. Oh, won't there be a row! [With a faint movement
of her shoulders] And the usual reconciliation.
MALISE. Mrs. Dedmond, there's a whole world outside yours. Why
don't you spread your wings?
CLARE. My dear father's a saint, and he's getting old and frail; and I've
got a sister engaged; and three little sisters to whom I'm supposed to set
a good example. Then, I've no money, and I can't do anything for a
living, except serve in a shop. I shouldn't be free, either; so what's the
good? Besides, I oughtn't to have married if I wasn't going to be happy.
You see, I'm not a bit misunderstood or ill-treated. It's only----
MALISE. Prison. Break out!
CLARE. [Turning to the window] Did you see the sunset? That white
cloud trying to fly up?
[She holds up her bare arms, with a motion of flight.]
MALISE. [Admiring her] Ah-h-h! [Then, as she drops her arms
suddenly] Play me something.
CLARE. [Going to the piano] I'm awfully grateful to you. You don't
make me feel just an attractive female. I wanted somebody like that.
[Letting her hands rest on the notes] All the same, I'm glad not to be
ugly.
MALISE. Thank God for beauty!
PAYNTER. [Opening the door] Mr. and Mrs. Fullarton.

MALISE. Who are they?
CLARE. [Rising] She's my chief pal. He was in the Navy.
She goes forward. MRS. FULLERTON is a rather tall woman, with
dark hair and a quick eye. He, one of those clean-shaven naval men of
good presence who have retired from the sea, but not from their
susceptibility.
MRS. FULLARTON. [Kissing CLARE, and taking in both MALISE
and her husband's look at CLARE] We've only come for a minute.
CLARE. They're playing Bridge in the dining-room. Mr. Malise doesn't
play. Mr. Malise--Mrs. Fullarton, Mr. Fullarton.
[They greet.]
FULLARTON. Most awfully jolly dress, Mrs. Dedmond.
MRS. FULLARTON. Yes, lovely, Clare. [FULLARTON abases eyes
which mechanically readjust themselves] We can't stay for Bridge, my
dear; I just wanted to see you a minute, that's all. [Seeing
HUNTINGDON coming in she speaks in a low voice to her husband]
Edward, I want to speak to Clare. How d'you do, Captain Huntingdon?
MALISE. I'll say good-night.
He shakes hands with CLARE, bows to MRS. FULLARTON, and
makes his way out. HUNTINGDON and FULLERTON foregather in
the doorway.
MRS. FULLARTON. How are things, Clare? [CLARE just moves her
shoulders] Have you done what I suggested? Your room?
CLARE. No.
MRS. FULLARTON. Why not?
CLARE. I don't want to torture him. If I strike--I'll go clean. I expect I
shall strike.
MRS. FULLARTON. My dear! You'll have the whole world against
you.
CLARE. Even you won't back me, Dolly?
MRS. FULLARTON. Of course I'll back you, all that's possible, but I
can't invent things.
CLARE. You wouldn't let me come to you for a bit, till I could find my
feet?
MRS. FULLARTON, taken aback, cannot refrain from her glance at
FULLARTON automatically gazing at CLARE while he talks with
HUNTINGDON.

MRS. FULLARTON. Of course--the only thing is that----
CLARE. [With a faint smile] It's all right, Dolly. I'm not coming.
MRS. FULLARTON. Oh! don't do anything desperate, Clare--you are
so desperate sometimes. You ought to make terms--not tracks.
CLARE. Haggle? [She shakes her head] What have I got to make terms
with? What he still wants is just what I hate giving.
MRS. FULLARTON. But, Clare----
CLARE. No, Dolly; even you don't understand. All day and every day
--just as far apart as we can be--and still--Jolly, isn't it? If you've got a
soul at all.
MRS. FULLARTON. It's awful, really.
CLARE. I suppose there are lots of women who feel as I do, and go on
with it; only, you see, I happen to have something in me that--comes to
an end. Can't endure beyond a certain time, ever.
She has taken a flower from her dress, and suddenly tears it to bits. It is
the only sign of emotion she has given.
MRS. FULLARTON. [Watching] Look here, my child; this won't do.
You must get a rest. Can't Reggie take you with him to India for a bit?
CLARE. [Shaking her head] Reggie lives on his pay.
MRS. FULLARTON. [With one of her quick