Act III - Page 2

be amused. Don't you want to?

MARCHBANKS [in half terror, half rapture]
Yes.

CANDIDA
Then come along. [She moves her chair back a little to make room. He hesitates; then timidly stretches himself on the hearth-rug, face upwards, and throws back his head across her knees, looking up at her.]

MARCHBANKS
Oh, I've been so miserable all the evening, because I was doing right. Now I'm doing wrong; and I'm happy.

CANDIDA [tenderly amused at him]
Yes: I'm sure you feel a great grown up wicked deceiver--quite proud of yourself, aren't you?

MARCHBANKS [raising his head quickly and turning a little to look round at her]
Take care. I'm ever so much older than you, if you only knew. [He turns quite over on his knees, with his hands clasped and his arms on her lap, and speaks with growing impulse, his blood beginning to stir.] May I say some wicked things to you?

CANDIDA [without the least fear or coldness, quite nobly, and with perfect respect for his passion, but with a touch of her wise-hearted maternal humor]
No. But you may say anything you really and truly feel. Anything at all, no matter what it is. I am not afraid, so long as it is your real self that speaks, and not a mere attitude--a gallant attitude, or a wicked attitude, or even a poetic attitude. I put you on your honor and truth. Now say whatever you want to.

MARCHBANKS [the eager expression vanishing utterly from his lips and nostrils as his eyes light up with pathetic spirituality]

Oh, now I can't say anything: all the words I know belong to some attitude or other--all except one.

CANDIDA
What one is that?

MARCHBANKS [softly, losing himself in the music of the name]

Candida, Candida, Candida, Candida, Candida. I must say that now, because you have put me on my honor and truth; and I never think or feel Mrs. Morell: it is always Candida.

CANDIDA
Of course. And what have you to say to Candida?

MARCHBANKS
Nothing, but to repeat your name a thousand times. Don't you feel that every time is a prayer to you?

CANDIDA
Doesn't it make you happy to be able to pray?

MARCHBANKS
Yes, very happy.

CANDIDA
Well, that happiness is the answer to your prayer. Do you want anything more?

MARCHBANKS [in beatitude]
No: I have come into heaven, where want is unknown.

[Morell comes in. He halts on the threshold, and takes in the scene at a glance.]

MORELL [grave and self-contained]
I hope I don't disturb you. [Candida starts up violently, but without the smallest embarrassment, laughing at herself. Eugene, still kneeling, saves himself from falling by putting his hands on the seat of the chair, and remains there, staring open mouthed at Morell.]

CANDIDA [as she rises]
Oh, James, how you startled me! I was so