The New Woman Part 46

SYLVESTER.

I love _you,_ Margery.

MARGERY.

I knew that was coming.

SYLVESTER.

 

Honestly love you! I admired you always. It was an empty admiration, perhaps--the admiration a man feels for twenty women--but it grew solid; and the more you repulsed me, the more you attracted me. You mayn't believe me, but at first I _wanted_ you to repulse me; then it got past that; and when I saw you sitting there alone--living over in your mind your wasted life--I loved you, and the words sprang to my lips. Nothing could keep them back! I love you, Margery--n.o.body but you! Why should your life be wasted? Why should mine?

MARGERY.

Well, have you finished?

SYLVESTER [_seizing her_].

No!

MARGERY.

I can guess the rest. You say Gerald doesn't love me, you don't love your wife, and your wife doesn't love _you;_ but you forget one thing--that _I_ don't love you either.

SYLVESTER.

Not now, but by-and-by. Margery, I would make you love me--I would teach you!

MARGERY.

So, I'm to _learn_ to be unfaithful, is that it? As one learns music?

No, Captain Sylvester! Suppose two people are so much in love that they can't help it, Heaven is their judge, not me. But to _begin_ to love when they _can_ help it--not to resist--to _teach_ themselves to love--that's where the wrong is, and there's no gainsaying it.

SYLVESTER.

Suppose your husband left you?

MARGERY.

I would have no other!

SYLVESTER.

Why not?

_Re-enter GERALD, L._

MARGERY.

Because I love him, and I don't love you!

[_MARGERY'S back is towards GERALD, so that she doesn't see him; but SYLVESTER is facing him and sees him._

GERALD [_coming down to MARGERY_].

What has he said?

MARGERY.

Nothing for your ears!

SYLVESTER.

Yes, for all the world's! I'll tell you!

MARGERY.

I forbid you! Leave me with my husband.

[_SYLVESTER hesitates a moment, then exit, C._

GERALD.

Margery, speak! I have a right to know.

MARGERY.

You have no right!

GERALD.

You will not tell me?

MARGERY.

No!

GERALD.

Then _he shall!_

[_Advances on her._

MARGERY.

Stand back! You shall not go!

GERALD.

What, you defend him?