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Read Ebook: East of Suez: A Play in Seven Scenes by Maugham W Somerset William Somerset
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Ebook has 1089 lines and 23870 words, and 22 pages
HARRY. He's in Jardine's, isn't he? Do you mean to say it's going to handicap a man in a shipping firm because he's married a woman who's partly Chinese?
GEORGE. Of course it is. Jardine's are about the most important firm in China and the manager of one of their principal branches has definite social obligations. Freddy Baker will be sent to twopenny halfpenny outports where his wife doesn't matter.
HARRY. It's cruel. His wife may be a charming and cultivated woman.
HARRY. I have.
HARRY. I've no patience with you. You're a perfect damned fool.
HARRY. I hate injustice.
GEORGE. Do you think it really is injustice? The English are not an unkindly race. If they've got a down on half-castes there are probably very good grounds for it.
HARRY. What are they?
GEORGE. Somehow or other they seem to inherit all the bad qualities of the two races from which they spring and none of the good ones. I'm sure there are exceptions, but on the whole the Eurasian is vulgar and noisy. He can't tell the truth if he tries.
GEORGE. He's as vain as a peacock. He'll cringe when he's afraid of you and he'll bully when he's not. You can never rely on him. He's crooked from the crown of his German hat to the toes of his American boots.
HARRY. Oughtn't you to be going?
HARRY. I'm sorry if I was rude to you just now, old man.
WU. Ye'.
HARRY. Bring tea for three.
GEORGE. Who is the third?
HARRY. When you said you could come round I asked somebody I want you very much to meet.
GEORGE. Who is that?
HARRY. Mrs. Rathbone ... I'm going to be married to her and we want you to be our best man.
GEORGE. Harry.
HARRY. I thought you'd be surprised.
GEORGE. My dear old boy, I am so glad. I hope you'll be awfully happy.
HARRY. I'm awfully happy now.
GEORGE. Why have you kept it so dark?
HARRY. I didn't want to say anything till it was all settled. Besides, I've only known her six weeks. I met her when I was down in Shanghai....
GEORGE. Is she a widow?
HARRY. Yes, she was married to an American in the F. M. S.
GEORGE. Is she American?
HARRY. Only by marriage. I'm afraid she didn't have a very happy married life.
GEORGE. Poor thing. I think I'd take a small bet that you won't beat her.
HARRY. I mean to try my best to make her happy.
GEORGE. You old fool, I've never known a man who was likely to make a better husband.
HARRY. I'm most awfully in love with her, George.
GEORGE. Isn't that ripping? How old is she?
HARRY. Only twenty-two. She's the loveliest thing you ever saw.
GEORGE. And is she in love with you?
HARRY. She says so.
GEORGE. She damned well ought to be.
HARRY. I do hope you'll like her, George.
GEORGE. Of course I shall. You're not the sort of chap to fall in love with a woman who isn't nice.
It's no good beating about the bush. I may as well tell you at once. Her--her mother was Chinese.
GEORGE. Oh, Harry. I wish I hadn't said all that I did just now.
HARRY. Of course you didn't know.
GEORGE. I should have had to say something very like it, Harry. But I shouldn't have put it so bluntly.
HARRY. You said yourself there were exceptions.
GEORGE. I know. Won't your people be rather upset?
HARRY. I don't see how it can matter to them. They're nine thousand miles away.
GEORGE. Who was her father?
HARRY. Oh, he was a merchant. He's dead. And her mother is too.
GEORGE. That's something. I don't think you'd much like having a Chinese mother-in-law about the place.
HARRY. George, you won't let it make any difference, will you? We've known one another all our lives.
GEORGE. My dear old chap, as far as I'm concerned I shouldn't care if you married the first cousin of the Ace of Spades. I don't want you to make a hash of things.
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