Collected Works. GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
eyes). No.
LOUKA.
Then stand back where we can’t be seen. Have you no common sense?
SERGIUS.
Ah, that’s reasonable. (He takes her into the stableyard gateway, where they are hidden from the house.)
LOUKA.
(complaining). I may have been seen from the windows: Miss Raina is sure to be spying about after you.
SERGIUS.
(stung—letting her go). Take care, Louka. I may be worthless enough to betray the higher love; but do not you insult it.
LOUKA.
(demurely). Not for the world, sir, I’m sure. May I go on with my work please, now?
SERGIUS.
(again putting his arm round her). You are a provoking little witch, Louka. If you were in love with me, would you spy out of windows on me?
LOUKA.
Well, you see, sir, since you say you are half a dozen different gentlemen all at once, I should have a great deal to look after.
SERGIUS.
(charmed). Witty as well as pretty. (He tries to kiss her.)
LOUKA.
(avoiding him). No, I don’t want your kisses. Gentlefolk are all alike—you making love to me behind Miss Raina’s back, and she doing the same behind yours.
SERGIUS.
(recoiling a step). Louka!
LOUKA.
It shews how little you really care!
SERGIUS.
(dropping his familiarity and speaking with freezing politeness). If our conversation is to continue, Louka, you will please remember that a gentleman does not discuss the conduct of the lady he is engaged to with her maid.
LOUKA.
It’s so hard to know what a gentleman considers right. I thought from your trying to kiss me that you had given up being so particular.
SERGIUS.
(turning from her and striking his forehead as he comes back into the garden from the gateway). Devil! devil!
LOUKA.
Ha! ha! I expect one of the six of you is very like me, sir, though I am only Miss Raina’s maid. (She goes back to her work at the table, taking no further notice of him.)
SERGIUS.
(speaking to himself). Which of the six is the real man?—that’s the question that torments me. One of them is a hero, another a buffoon, another a humbug, another perhaps a bit of a blackguard. (He pauses and looks furtively at Louka, as he adds with deep bitterness) And one, at least, is a coward—jealous, like all cowards. (He goes to the table.) Louka.
LOUKA.
Yes?
SERGIUS.
Who is my rival?
LOUKA.
You shall never get that out of me, for love or money.
SERGIUS.
Why?
LOUKA.
Never mind why. Besides, you would tell that I told you; and I should lose my place.
SERGIUS.
(holding out his right hand in affirmation). No; on the honor of a—(He checks himself, and his hand drops nerveless as he concludes, sardonically)—of a man capable of behaving as I have been behaving for the last five minutes. Who is he?
LOUKA.
I don’t know. I never saw him. I only heard his voice through the door of her room.
SERGIUS.
Damnation! How dare you?
LOUKA.
(retreating). Oh, I mean no harm: you’ve no right to take up my words like that. The mistress knows all about it. And I tell you that if that gentleman ever comes here again, Miss Raina will marry him, whether he likes it or not. I know the difference between the sort of manner you and she put on before one another and the real manner. (Sergius shivers as if she had stabbed him. Then, setting his face like iron, he strides grimly to her, and grips her above the elbows with both bands.)
SERGIUS.
Now listen you to me!
LOUKA.
(wincing). Not so tight: you’re hurting me!
SERGIUS.
That doesn’t matter. You have stained my honor by making me a party to your eavesdropping. And you have betrayed your mistress—
LOUKA.
(writhing). Please—
SERGIUS.
That shews that you are an abominable little clod of common clay, with the soul of a servant. (He lets her go as if she were an unclean thing, and turns away, dusting his hands of her, to the bench by the wall, where he sits down with averted head, meditating gloomily.)
LOUKA.
(whimpering angrily with her hands up her sleeves, feeling her bruised arms). You know how to hurt with your tongue as well as with your hands. But I don’t care, now I’ve found out that whatever clay I’m made of, you’re made of the same. As for her, she’s a liar; and her fine airs are a cheat; and I’m worth six of her. (She shakes the pain off hardily; tosses her head; and sets to work to put the things on the tray. He looks doubtfully at her once or twice. She finishes packing the tray, and laps the cloth over the edges, so as to carry all out together. As she stoops to lift it, he rises.)
SERGIUS.
Louka! (She stops and looks defiantly at him with the tray in her hands.) A gentleman has no right to hurt a woman under any circumstances. (With profound humility, uncovering his head.) I beg your pardon.
LOUKA.
That sort of apology may satisfy a lady. Of what use is it to a servant?
SERGIUS.
(thus rudely crossed in his chivalry, throws it off with a bitter laugh and says slightingly). Oh, you wish to be paid for the hurt? (He puts on his shako, and takes some money from his pocket.)
LOUKA.
(her eyes filling with tears in spite of herself). No, I want my hurt made well.
SERGIUS.
(sobered by her tone). How?
(She rolls up her left sleeve; clasps her arm with the thumb and fingers of her right hand; and looks down at the bruise. Then she raises her head and looks straight at him. Finally, with a superb gesture she presents her arm to be kissed. Amazed, he looks at her; at the arm; at her again; hesitates; and then, with shuddering intensity, exclaims)
SERGIUS.
Never! (and gets away as far as possible from her.)
(Her arm drops. Without a word, and with unaffected dignity, she takes her tray, and is approaching the house when Raina returns wearing a hat and jacket in the height of the Vienna fashion of the previous year, 1885. Louka makes way proudly for her, and then goes into the house.)
RAINA.
I’m ready! What’s the matter? (Gaily.) Have you been flirting with Louka?
SERGIUS.
(hastily). No, no. How can you think such a thing?
RAINA.
(ashamed of herself). Forgive me, dear: it was only a jest. I am so happy to-day.
(He