ALEC.
I daresay I shall never see you again. Perhaps it doesn't much matter what I say to you. You'll think me very silly, but I'm afraid I'm rather--patriotic. It's only we who live away from England who really love it. I'm so proud of my country, and I wanted so much to do something for it. Often in Africa I've thought of this dear England, and longed not to die till I had done my work. Behind all the soldiers and the statesmen whose fame is imperishable, there is a long line of men who've built up the Empire piece by piece. Their names are forgotten, and only students know their history, but each one of them gave a province to his country. And I, too, have my place among them. For five years I toiled night and day, and at the end of it was able to hand over to the Commissioners a broad tract of land, rich and fertile. After my death England will forget my faults and my mistakes. I care nothing for the flouts and gibes with which she has repaid all my pain, for I have added another fair jewel to her crown. I don't want rewards. I only want the honour of serving this dear land of ours.
MRS. CROWLEY.
Why is it, when you're so nice really, that you do all you can to make people think you utterly horrid?
ALEC.
Don't laugh at me because you've found out that at heart I'm nothing more than a sentimental old woman.
MRS. CROWLEY.
[_Putting her hand on his arm._] What would you do if Lucy came here to-day?
[ALEC _starts, looks at her sharply, then answers with deliberation_.
ALEC.
I have always lived in polite society. I should never dream of outraging its conventions. If Miss Allerton happened to come, you may be sure I should be scrupulously polite.
MRS. CROWLEY.
Is that all? Lucy has suffered very much.
ALEC.
And do you suppose I've not suffered? Because I don't whine my misery to all and sundry, d'you think I don't care? I'm not the man to fall in and out of love with every pretty face I meet. All my life I've kept an ideal before my eyes. Oh, you don't know what it meant to me to fall in love. I felt that I had lived all my life in a prison, and at last Lucy came and took me by the hand and led me out. And for the first time I breathed the free air of heaven. Oh God! how I've suffered for it! Why should it have come to me? Oh, if you knew my agony and the torture!
[_He hides his face, trying to master his emotion._ MRS. CROWLEY _goes to him and puts her hand on his shoulder_.
MRS. CROWLEY.
Mr. Mackenzie.
ALEC.
[_Springing up._] Go away. Don't look at me. How can you stand there and watch my weakness? Oh God, give me strength.... My love was the last human weakness I had. It was right that I should drink that bitter cup.
And I've drunk its very dregs. I should have known that I wasn't meant for happiness and a life of ease. I have other work to do in the world.
And now that I have overcome this last temptation, I am ready to do it.
MRS. CROWLEY.
But haven't you any pity for yourself, haven't you any thought for Lucy?
ALEC.
Must I tell you, too, that everything I did was for Lucy's sake? And still I love her with all my heart and soul....
DICK _comes in_.
DICK.
Here is Lucy!
[CHARLES _comes in and announces_ LUCY.
CHARLES.
Miss Allerton!
[_She enters, and_ DICK, _anxious that the meeting shall not be more awkward than need be, goes up to her very cordially_.
DICK.
Ah, my dear Lucy. So glad you were able to come.
LUCY.
[_Giving her hand to_ DICK, _but looking at_ ALEC.] How d'you do?
ALEC.
How d'you do? [_He forces himself to talk._] How is Lady Kelsey?
LUCY.
She's much better, thanks. We've been to Spa, you know, for her health.
ALEC.
Somebody told me you'd gone abroad. Was it you, Dick? Dick is an admirable person, a sort of gazetteer for polite society.
DICK.
Won't you have some tea, Lucy?
LUCY.
No, thanks!
MRS. CROWLEY.
[_Trying on her side also to make conversation._] We shall miss you dreadfully when you're gone, Mr. Mackenzie.
DICK.
[_Cheerfully._] Not a bit of it.