Candida

Front 1

*scene start*

Back 1

You’ll stay to lunch, Marchbanks, of course.

Front 2

I musnt. I mean I can’t.

Back 2

You mean you won’t.

Front 3

No: I should like to, indeed. Thank you very much. but—but—

Back 3

but—but—but—but—Bosh! If you’d like to stay, stay. If you’re shy, go and take a turn in the park and write poetry until half past one; and then come in and have a good feed.

Front 4

Thank you, I should like that very much. But I really musnt. The truth is, Mrs Morrell told me not to... Please don’t tell her i told you.

Back 4

Oh, is that all? Won’t my suggestion that you should take a turn in the park meet the difficulty?

Front 5

How?

Back 5

Why, you duffer—No. I don’t put it in that way. My dear lad: in a happy marriage like ours, there is something very sacred in the return of the wife to her home. An old friend or a truly noble and sympathetic soul is not in the way in such occasions; but a chance visitor is. Candida thought I would rather not have you here; but she was wrong. I’m very fond of you, my boy; and I should like you to see for yourself what a happy thing it is to be married as I am.

Front 6

Happy! Your marriage! You think that! You believe that!

Back 6

I know it, my lad. Larochefoucauld said that there are convenient marriages but no delightful ones. You don’t know the comfort of seeing through and through a thundering liar and rotten cynic like that fellow. Ha! ha! Now, off with you to the park, and write your poem. Half past one, sharp, mind: we never wait for anybody.

Front 7

No: stop: you shan’t. I’ll force it into the light.

Back 7

Eh? Force what?

Front 8

I must speak to you. There is something that must be settled between us.

Back 8

Now?

Front 9

Now. Before you leave this room.

Back 9

I’m not going to leave it, my dear boy: I thought you were. Come: sit down quietly, and tell me what it is. And remember: we are friends, and need not fear that either of us will be anything but patient and kind to the other, whatever we may have to say.

Front 10

Oh, I am not forgetting myself: I am only full of horror... You think yourself stronger than I am; but I shall stagger you if you have a heart in your breast.

Back 10

Stagger me, my boy. Out with it.

Front 11

First—

Back 11

First?

Front 12

I love your wife.

Back 12

Why, my dear child, of course you do. Everybody loves her, they can’t help it. I like it. But I say, Eugene: do you think yours is a case to be talked about? You’re under twenty: she’s over thirty. Doesn’t it look rather too like a case of calf love?

Front 13

You dare say that of her? You think that way of the love she inspires! It is an insult to her!

Back 13

To her! Eugene: take care. I have been patient. I hope to remain patient. But there are some things I won’t allow. Don’t force me to shew you the indulgence I should shew to a child. Be a man.

Front 14

Oh, let us put aside all that can’t. It horrifies me when I think of the doses of it she has had to endure in all the weary years during which you have selfishly and blindly sacrificed her to minister to your self-sufficiency: you! who have not one thought—one sense—in common with her.

Back 14

She seems to bear it pretty well. Eugene, my boy: you are making a fool of yourself. There’s a piece of wholesome plain speaking for you.

Front 15

Oh, do you think I don’t know all that?... Does that prove you wrong? Does your complacent superiority to me prove that I am wrong?

Back 15

Marchbanks: some devil is putting these words into your mouth. It is easy—terribly easy—to shake a man’s faith in himself. To take advantage of that to break a man’s spirit is devil’s work. Take care of what you are doing. Take care.