strife-第12部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



WILDER。　　I　don't　like　this　business　a　bitthat　Radical　rag　will　twist　it　to　their　own　ends；　see　if　they　don't！　　They'll　get　up　some　cock　and　bull　story　about　the　poor　woman's　dying　from　starvation。　　I　wash　my　hands　of　it。

EDGAR。　　You　can't。　　None　of　us　can。

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇Striking　his　fist　on　the　arm　of　his　chair。＇　　But　I　protest　against　this！

EDGAR。　　Protest　as　you　like；　Mr。　Scantlebury；　it　won't　alter　facts。

ANTHONY。　　That's　enough。

EDGAR。　　＇Facing　him　angrily。＇　　No；　sir。　　I　tell　you　exactly　what　I　think。　　If　we　pretend　the　men　are　not　suffering；　it's　humbug；　and　if　they're　suffering；　we　know　enough　of　human　nature　to　know　the　women　are　suffering　more；　and　as　to　the　childrenwellit's　damnable！

　　　　　＇SCANTLEBURY　rises　from　his　chair。＇

I　don't　say　that　we　meant　to　be　cruel；　I　don't　say　anything　of　the　sort；　but　I　do　say　it's　criminal　to　shut　our　eyes　to　the　facts。　　We　employ　these　men；　and　we　can't　get　out　of　it。　　I　don't　care　so　much　about　the　men；　but　I'd　sooner　resign　my　position　on　the　Board　than　go　on　starving　women　in　this　way。＇

　　　　　＇All　except　ANTHONY　are　now　upon　their　feet；　ANTHONY　sits　　　　　　grasping　the　arms　of　his　chair　and　staring　at　his　son。＇

SCANTLEBURY。　　I　don'tI　don't　like　the　way　you're　putting　it；　young　sir。

WANKLIN。　　You're　rather　overshooting　the　mark。

WILDER。　　I　should　think　so　indeed！

EDGAR。　　＇Losing　control。＇　　It's　no　use　blinking　things！　　If　you　want　to　have　the　death　of　women　on　your　handsI　don't！

SCANTLEBURY。　　Now；　now；　young　man！

WILDER。　　On　our　hands？　　Not　on　mine；　I　won't　have　it！

EDGAR。　　We　are　five　members　of　this　Board；　if　we　were　four　against　it；　why　did　we　let　it　drift　till　it　came　to　this？　　You　know　perfectly　well　whybecause　we　hoped　we　should　starve　the　men　out。　　Well；　all　we've　done　is　to　starve　one　woman　out！

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇Almost　hysterically。＇　　I　protest；　I　protest！　　I'm　a　humane　manwe're　all　humane　men！

EDGAR。　　＇Scornfully。＇　　There's　nothing　wrong　with　our　humanity。　　It's　our　imaginations；　Mr。　Scantlebury。

WILDER。　　Nonsense！　　My　imagination's　as　good　as　yours。

EDGAR。　　If　so；　it　is　n't　good　enough。

WILDER。　　I　foresaw　this！

EDGAR。　　Then　why　didn't　you　put　your　foot　down！

WILDER。　　Much　good　that　would　have　done。

　　　　　＇He　looks　at　ANTHONY。＇

EDGAR。　　If　you；　and　I；　and　each　one　of　us　here　who　say　that　our　imaginations　are　so　good

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇Flurried。＇　　I　never　said　so。

EDGAR。　　＇Paying　no　attention。＇　　had　put　our　feet　down；　the　thing　would　have　been　ended　long　ago；　and　this　poor　woman's　life　wouldn't　have　been　crushed　out　of　her　like　this。　　For　all　we　can　tell　there　may　be　a　dozen　other　starving　women。

SCANTLEBURY。　　For　God's　sake；　sir；　don't　use　that　word　at　aat　a　Board　meeting；　it'sit's　monstrous。

EDGAR。　　I　will　use　it；　Mr。　Scantlebury。

SCANTLEBURY。　　Then　I　shall　not　listen　to　you。　　I　shall　not　listen！　It's　painful　to　me。

　　　　　＇He　covers　his　ears。＇

WANKLIN。　　None　of　us　are　opposed　to　a　settlement；　except　your　Father。

EDGAR。　　I'm　certain　that　if　the　shareholders　knew

WANKLIN。　　I　don't　think　you'll　find　their　imaginations　are　any　better　than　ours。　　Because　a　woman　happens　to　have　a　weak　heart

EDGAR。　　A　struggle　like　this　finds　out　the　weak　spots　in　everybody。　Any　child　knows　that。　　If　it　hadn't　been　for　this　cut…throat　policy；　she　need　n't　have　died　like　this；　and　there　would　n't　be　all　this　misery　that　any　one　who　is　n't　a　fool　can　see　is　going　on。

　　　　　＇Throughout　the　foregoing　ANTHONY　has　eyed　his　son；　he　now　moves　　　　　　as　though　to　rise；　but　stops　as　EDGAR　speaks　again。＇

I　don't　defend　the　men；　or　myself；　or　anybody。

WANKLIN。　　You　may　have　to！　　A　coroner's　jury　of　disinterested　sympathisers　may　say　some　very　nasty　things。　　We　mustn't　lose　sight　of　our　position。

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇Without　uncovering　his　ears。＇　　Coroner's　jury！　　No；　no；　it's　not　a　case　for　that！

EDGAR。　　I　've　had　enough　of　cowardice。

WANKLIN。　　Cowardice　is　an　unpleasant　word；　Mr。　Edgar　Anthony。　　It　will　look　very　like　cowardice　if　we　suddenly　concede　the　men's　demands　when　a　thing　like　this　happens；　we　must　be　careful！

WILDER。　　Of　course　we　must。　　We've　no　knowledge　of　this　matter；　except　a　rumour。　　The　proper　course　is　to　put　the　whole　thing　into　the　hands　of　Harness　to　settle　for　us；　that's　natural；　that's　what　we　should　have　come　to　any　way。

SCANTLEBURY。　　＇With　dignity。＇　　Exactly！　　＇Turning　to　EDGAR。＇　　And　as　to　you；　young　sir；　I　can't　sufficiently　express　mymy　distaste　for　the　way　you've　treated　the　whole　matter。　　You　ought　to　withdraw！　Talking　of　starvation；　talking　of　cowardice！　　Considering　what　our　views　are！　　Except　your　own　isis　one　of　goodwillit's　most　irregular；　it's　most　improper；　and　all　I　can　say　is　it'sit's　given　me　pain

　　　　　＇He　places　his　hand　over　his　heart。＇

EDGAR。　　＇Stubbornly。＇　　I　withdraw　nothing。

　　　　　＇He　is　about　to　say　mote　when　SCANTLEBURY　once　more　coveys　up　　　　　　his　ears。　　TENCH　suddenly　makes　a　demonstration　with　the　minute…　　　　　　book。　　A　sense　of　having　been　engaged　in　the　unusual　comes　over　　　　　　all　of　them；　and　one　by　one　they　resume　their　seats。　　EDGAR　　　　　　alone　remains　on　his　feet。＇

WILDER。　　＇With　an　air　of　trying　to　wipe　something　out。＇　　I　pay　no　attention　to　what　young　Mr。　Anthony　has　said。　　Coroner's　jury！　　The　idea's　preposterous。　　II　move　this　amendment　to　the　Chairman's　Motion：　That　the　dispute　be　placed　at　once　in　the　hands　of　Mr。　Simon　Harness　for　settlement；　on　the　lines　indicated　by　him　this　morning。　Any　one　second　that？

　　　　　＇TENCH　writes　in　his　book。＇

WANKLIN。　　I　do。

WILDER。　　Very　well；　then；　I　ask　the　Chairman　to　put　it　to　the　Board。

ANTHONY。　　＇With　a　great　sigh…slowly。＇　　We　have　been　made　the　subject　of　an　attack。　　＇Looking　round　at　WILDER　and　SCANTLEBURY　with　ironical　contempt。＇　　I　take　it　on　my　shoulders。　　I　am　seventy…six　years　old。　I　have　been　Chairman　of　this　Company　since　its　inception　two…and…　thirty　years　ago。　　I　have　seen　it　pass　through　good　and　evil　report。　My　connection　with　it　began　in　the　year　that　this　young　man　was　born。

　　　　　＇EDGAR　bows　his　head。　　ANTHONY；　gripping　his　chair；　goes　on。＇

I　have　had　do　to　with　〃men〃　for　fifty　years；　I've　always　stood　up　to　them；　I　have　never　been　beaten　yet。　　I　have　fought　the　men　of　this　Company　four　times；　and　four　times　I　have　beaten　them。　　It　has　been　said　that　I　am　not　the　man　I　was。　　＇He　looks　at　Wilder。＇　　However　that　may　be；　I　am　man　enough　to　stand　to　my　guns。

　　　　　＇His　voice　grows　stronger。　　The　double…doors　are　opened。　　ENID　　　　　　slips　in；　followed　by　UNDERWOOD；　who　restrains　her。＇

The　men　have　been　treated　justly；　they　have　had　fair　wages；　we　have　always　been　ready　to　listen　to　complaints。　　It　has　been　said　that　times　have　changed；　if　they　have；　I　have　not　changed　with　them。　Neither　will　I。　　It　has　been　said　that　masters　and　men　are　equal！　Cant！　　There　can　only　be　one　master　in　a　house！　　Where　two　men　meet　the　better　man　will　rule。　　It　has　been　said　that　Capital　and　Labour　have　the　same　interests。　　Cant！　　Their　interests　are　as　wide　asunder　as　the　poles。　　It　has　been　said　that　the　Board　is　only　part　of　a　machine。　　Cant！　　We　are　the　machine；　its　brains　and　sinews；　it　is　for　us　to　lead　and　to　determine　what　is　to　be　done；　and　to　do　it　without　fear　or　favour。　　Fear　of　the　men！　　Fear　of　the　shareholders！　　Fear　of　our　own　shadows！　　Before　I　am　like　that；　I　hope　to　die。

　　　　　＇He　pauses；　and　meeting　his　son's　eyes；　goes　on。＇

There　is　only　one　way　of　treating　〃men〃with　the　iron　hand。　　This　half　and　half　business；　the　half　and　half　manners　of　this　generation；　has　brought　all　this　upon　us。　　Sentiment　and　softness；　and　what　this　young　man；　no　doubt；　would　call　his　social　policy。　　You　can't　eat　cake　and　have　it！　　This　middle…class　sentiment；　or　socialism；　or　whatever　it　may　be；　is　rotten。　　Masters　are　masters；　men　are　men！　Yield　one　demand；　and　they　will　make　it　six。　　They　are　＇he　smiles　grimly＇　　like　Oliver　Twist；　asking　for　more。　　If　I　were　in　their　place　I　should　be　the　same。　　But　I　am　not　in　their　place。　　Mark　my　words：　one　fine　morning；　when　you　have　given　way　here；　and　given　way　thereyou　will　find　you　have　parted　with　the　ground　beneath　your　feet；　and　are　deep　in　the　bog　of　bankruptcy；　and　with　you；　floundering　in　that　bog；　will　be　the　very　men　you　have　given　way　to。　I　have　been　accused　of　being　a　domineering　tyrant；　thinking　only　of　my　prideI　am　thinking　of　the　future　of　this　country；　threatened　with　the　black　waters　of　confusion；　threatened　with　mob　government；　threatened　with　what　I　cannot　see。　　If　by　any　conduct　of　mine　I　help　to　bring　this　on　us；　I　shall　be　ashamed　to　look　my　fellows　in　the　face。

　　　　　＇ANTHONY　stares　before　him；　at　what　he　cannot　see；　and　there　is　　　　　　perfect　stillness。　　FROST　comes　in　from　the　hall；　and　all　but　　　　　　ANTHONY　look　round　at　him　uneasily。＇

FROST。　　＇To　his　master。＇　　The　men　are　here；　sir。　　＇ANTHONY　makes　a　gesture　of　dismissal。　　Shall　I　bring　them　in；　sir？

ANTHONY。　　Wait！

　　　　　＇FROST　goes　out；　ANTHONY　turns　to　face　his　son。＇

I　come　to　the　attack　that　has　been　made　upon　me。

　　　　　＇EDGAR；　with　a　gesture　of　deprecation；　remains　motionless　with　　　　　　his　head　a　little　bowed。＇

A　woman　has　died。　　I　am　told　that　her　blood　is　on　my　hands；　I　am　told　that　on　my　hands　is　the　starvation　and　the　suffering　of　other　women　and　of　children。

EDGAR。　　I　said　〃on　our　hands；〃　sir。

ANTHONY。　　It　is　the　same。　　＇His　voice　grows　stronger　and　stronger；　his　feeling　is　more　and　more　made　manifest。＇　　I　am　not　aware　that　if　my　adversary　suffer　in　a　fair　fight　not　sought　by　me；　it　is　my　fault。　If　I　fall　under　his　feetas　fall　I　mayI　shall　not　complain。　　That　will　be　my　look…outand　this　ishis。　　I　cannot　separate；　as　I　would；　these　men　from　their　women　and　children。　　A　fair　fight　is　a　fair　fight！　　Let　them　learn　to　think　before　they　pick　a　quarrel！

EDGAR。　　＇In　a　low　voice。＇　　But　is　it　a　fair　fight；　Father？　　Look　at　them；　and　look　at　us！　　They've　only　this　one　weapon！

ANTHONY。　　＇Grimly。＇　　And　you're　weak…kneed　enough　to　teach　them　how　to　use　it！　　It　seems　the　fashion　nowadays　for　men　to　take　their　enemy's　side。　　I　have　not　learnt　that　art。　　Is　it　my　fault　that　they　quarrelled　with　their　Union　too？

EDGAR。　　There　is　such　a　thing　as　Mercy。

ANTHONY。　　And　justice　comes　before　it。

EDGAR。　　What　seems　just　to　one　man；　sir；　is　injustice　to　ano