I can n't help it . To follow my conscience ? That 's new , Mendip . God made them , Dean . If I hit a little man in the eye , and he hits me back , have I the right to chastise him ? What ! With our missionaries and our trading ? They went into a wild country , against the feeling of the tribes , on their own business . What has the nation to do with the mishaps of gamblers ? Sometimes ; but with all my soul I deny the fantastic superstition that our rule can benefit a people like this , a nation of one race , as different from ourselves as dark from light — in colour , religion , every mortal thing . We can only pervert their natural instincts . Big ones could let little ones alone . I hope to serve her fifty , Sir John , and I say she is . They 'll be said by me to-night , Mendip . You can tell people that to-morrow , Mendip . Give it a leader in ‘ The Parthenon ’ . I 've made no secret of my feelings all along . I 'm against this war , and against the annexation we all know it will lead to . I 'm not out for advertisement . Must speak the truth sometimes , even at that risk . Nations are bad judges of their honour , Dean . No . It 's an awkward word . Is a man only to hold beliefs when they 're popular ? You 've stood up to be shot at often enough , Sir John . You admit the show-up ? My country , right or wrong ! Guilty — still my country ! I 'll have no truck with tyranny . Sir John , we great Powers have got to change our ways in dealing with weaker nations . The very dogs can give us lessons — watch a big dog with a little one . There 's no reason in the world , Mendip , why the rules of chivalry should not apply to nations at least as well as to — - dogs . This cause is not lost . Because general sentiment 's against me , I — a public man — am to deny my faith ? The point is not whether I 'm right or wrong , Mendip , but whether I 'm to sneak out of my conviction because it 's unpopular . I am not ! But I prefer to fight some one my own size . What ? When d'you sail ? Poor Helen ! I must speak , Hubert . You 're not shirking your duty because of your wife . Must risk something , sometimes , Hubert — even in my profession ! You know my feeling . I tell you , Kit , some one must raise a voice . Two or three reverses — certain to come — and the whole country will go wild . And one more little nation will cease to live . Is that your faith ? I respect it ; I even understand it ; but — I can n't hold it . Dogs will bark . These things soon blow over . History wo n't say : “ And this they did without a single protest from their public men ! ” Poets ? Love her ! Would you have asked me — then , Kit ? Kit ! This is n't fair . Do you want me to feel myself a cur ? A cur ! He seems about to tear his notes across . Then , changing his mind , turns them over and over , muttering . His voice gradually grows louder , till he is declaiming to the empty room the peroration of his speech . We have arrogated to our land the title Champion of Freedom , Foe of Oppression . Is that indeed a bygone glory ? Is it not worth some sacrifice of our pettier dignity , to avoid laying another stone upon its grave ; to avoid placing before the searchlight eyes of History the spectacle of yet one more piece of national cynicism ? We are about to force our will and our dominion on a race that has always been free , that loves its country , and its independence , as much as ever we love ours . I cannot sit silent to-night and see this begin . As we are tender of our own land , so we should be of the lands of others . I love my country . It is because I love my country that I raise my voice . Warlike in spirit these people may be — but they have no chance against ourselves . And war on such , however agreeable to the blind moment , is odious to the future . The great heart of mankind ever beats in sense and sympathy with the weaker . It is against this great heart of mankind that we are going . In the name of Justice and Civilization we pursue this policy ; but by Justice we shall hereafter be judged , and by Civilization — condemned . While he is speaking , a little figure has flown along the terrace outside , in the direction of the music , but has stopped at the sound of his voice , and stands in the open window , listening — a dark-haired , dark-eyed child , in a blue dressing-gown caught up in her hand . The street musicians , having reached the end of a tune , are silent . In the intensity of MORES feeling , a wine-glass , gripped too strongly , breaks and falls in pieces onto a finger-bowl . The child starts forward into the room . Olive ! The wind , sweetheart ! What blew you down , then ? Now my sprite ! Upstairs again , before Nurse catches you . Fly ! Fly ! You 're right there ! Hello , Steel ! “ The ball is opened . ” He stands brooding over the note , and STEEL looks at him anxiously . He is a dark , sallow , thin-faced young man , with the eyes of one who can attach himself to people , and suffer with them . You too , Steel ! Yes . Keep that to yourself . Answer these . Nice quiet night ! No . STEEL writes ; then looking up and seeing that MORE is no longer there , he goes to the window , looks to right and left , returns to the bureau , and is about to sit down again when a thought seems to strike him with consternation . He goes again to the window . Then snatching up his hat , he passes hurriedly out along the terrace . As he vanishes , KATHERINE comes in from the hall . After looking out on to the terrace she goes to the bay window ; stands there listening ; then comes restlessly back into the room . OLIVE , creeping quietly from behind the curtain , clasps her round the waist . Open them ! KATHERINE opens one after the other , and lets them fall on the table . Well ? ‘ Ware Mob !I must write to the Chief . KATHERINE makes an impulsive movement towards him ; then quietly goes to the bureau , sits down and takes up a pen . “ July 15th . “ DEAR SIR CHARLES , After my speech to-night , embodying my most unalterable convictionsI have no alternative but to place the resignation of my Under-Secretaryship in your hands . My view , my faith in this matter may be wrong — but I am surely right to keep the flag of my faith flying . I imagine I need not enlarge on the reasons —— ” THE CURTAIN FALLS . Good-morning , gentlemen . As everybody else does , Banning . Sit down again , please . Do me the justice to remember that even then I was against our policy . It cost me three weeks ’ hard struggle to make up my mind to that speech . One comes slowly to these things , Banning . Such things have happened , Shelder , even in politics . I 'm sorry ; but I can n't help my convictions , Banning . Muzzling order ? Give up my principles to save my Parliamentary skin . Then , indeed , they might call me a degenerate !KATHERINE makes an abrupt and painful movement , then remains as still as before , leaning against the corner of the window-seat . Conspiracy of silence ! And have it said that a mob of newspapers have hounded me to it . But I do . I can n't betray the dignity and courage of public men . If popular opinion is to control the utterances of her politicians , then good-bye indeed to this country ! I understand your feeling , Banning . I tender you my resignation . I can n't and wo n't hold on where I 'm not wanted . I do n't make cheap promises . You ask too much . There are always excellent reasons for having your way with the weak . Better lift cattle than lift freedom . But that is just what I must do . Is it ? To try to muzzle me like this — is going too far . I 've held my seat with you in all weathers for nine years . You 've all been bricks to me . My heart 's in my work , Banning ; I 'm not eager to undergo political eclipse at forty . I am trying to . Mr. Home a great country such as ours — is trustee for the highest sentiments of mankind . Do these few outrages justify us in stealing the freedom of this little people ? Ah , Banning ! now we come to it . In your hearts you 're none of you for that — neither by force nor fraud . And yet you all know that we 've gone in there to stay , as we 've gone into other lands — as all we big Powers go into other lands , when they 're little and weak . The Prime Minister 's words the other night were these : “ If we are forced to spend this blood and money now , we must never again be forced . ” What does that mean but swallowing this country ? We are not forced . We shall not agree there , Shelder ; and we might argue it all day . But the point is , not whether you or I are right — the point is : What is a man who holds a faith with all his heart to do ? Please tell me . I can see them , as well as you , Banning . But , imagine ! Up in our own country — the Black Valley — twelve hundred foreign devils dead and dying — the crows busy over them — in our own country , our own valley — ours — ours — violated . Would you care about “ the poor fellows ” in that Pass ?— Invading , stealing dogs ! Kill them — kill them ! You would , and I would , too ! The passion of those words touches and grips as no arguments could ; and they are silent . Well ! What 's the difference out there ? I 'm not so inhuman as not to want to see this disaster in the Pass wiped out . But once that 's done , in spite of my affection for you ; my ambitions , and they 're not few ;in spite of my own wife 's feeling , I must be free to raise my voice against this war . Thank you , Shelder . I — I —— The drum-tap of a regiment marching is heard . I give you —— Then , sharp and clear above all other sounds , the words : “ Give the beggars hell , boys ! ” “ Wipe your feet on their dirty country ! ” “ Do n't leave ‘ em a gory acre ! ” And a burst of hoarse cheering . That 's reality ! By Heaven ! No ! It sticks in my gizzard , Steel . All right ; do n't dislocate my arm . They move down the steps , and away to the left , as a boy comes running down the alley . Sighting MORE , he stops dead , spins round , and crying shrilly : “ ‘ Ere ‘ e is ! That 's ‘ im ! ‘ Ere ‘ e is ! ” he bolts back in the direction whence he came . That is the end of the limit , as the foreign ambassador remarked . Well , what do you want ? Indeed ! That 's new . You shall have it in a nutshell ! Go home , and think ! If foreigners invaded us , would n't you be fighting tooth and nail like those tribesmen , out there ? They fight the best way they can . My friend there in khaki led that hooting . I 've never said a word against our soldiers . It 's the Government I condemn for putting them to this , and the Press for hounding on the Government , and all of you for being led by the nose to do what none of you would do , left to yourselves . The TALL YOUTH leads a somewhat unspontaneous burst of execration . I say not one of you would go for a weaker man . VOICES IN THE CROWD . Stop that ! Stop that ! You — -  ! Those tribesmen are defending their homes . Defending their homes ! Not mobbing unarmed men ! Ah ! Do me in by all means ! You 'd deal such a blow at cowardly mobs as would n't be forgotten in your time . Well ! There is an ugly rush , checked by the fall of the foremost figures , thrown too suddenly against the bottom step . The crowd recoils . There is a momentary lull , and MORE stares steadily down at them . Well , Steel ! And followed by STEEL , he descends the steps and moves away . Two policemen pass glancing up at the broken glass . One of them stops and makes a note . THE CURTAIN FALLS . Kit ! Catching sight of her figure in the window , he goes quickly to her . Let me look at you ! He draws her from the window to the candle-light , and looks long at her . What have you done to your hair ? It 's wonderful to-night . At last ! How is she ? And you ? Six weeks ! Why ! Kit ! What 's come to you ? Put that away to-night .This is what travellers feel when they come out of the desert to-water . It 's nothing . No , dear ! It 's all right . Poor child ! Hide ? Because of me ? I see . I thought from your letters you were coming to feel ——. Kit ! You look so lovely ! My dear , do n't cry ! God knows I do n't want to make things worse for you . I 'll go away . She draws away from him a little , and after looking long at her , he sits down at the dressing-table and begins turning over the brushes and articles of toilet , trying to find words . Never look forward . After the time I 've had — I thought — tonight — it would be summer — I thought it would be you — and everything ! While he is speaking KATHERINE has stolen closer . She suddenly drops on her knees by his side and wraps his hand in her hair . He turns and clasps her . Kit ! My darling ! God ! You 're not making terms ? Bargaining ? For God 's sake , Kit ! You !— of all people — you ! A bargain ! It 's selling my soul ! He struggles out of her arms , gets up , and stands without speaking , staring at her , and wiping the sweat from his forehead . KATHERINE remains some seconds on her knees , gazing up at him , not realizing . Then her head droops ; she too gets up and stands apart , with her wrapper drawn close round her . It is as if a cold and deadly shame had come to them both . Quite suddenly MORE turns , and , without looking back , feebly makes his way out of the room . When he is gone KATHERINE drops on her knees and remains there motionless , huddled in her hair . THE CURTAIN FALLS They will . Poor Henry ! Patriotism . Quite ! they 'll do the next smashing themselves . That reminds me — to-morrow you begin holiday , Steel . My dear fellow — yes . Last night ended your sulphur cure . Truly sorry ever to have let you in for it . There 's lots of kick in me . To fight to a finish ; knowing you must be beaten — is anything better worth it ? This is my private hell , Steel ; you do n't roast in it any longer . Believe me , it 's a great comfort to hurt no one but yourself . My dear boy , you 're a brick — but we 've got off by a miracle so far , and I can n't have the responsibility of you any longer . Hand me over that correspondence about to-morrow 's meeting . STEEL takes some papers from his pocket , but does not hand them . Come !Give them to me , Steel !Now , that ends it , d'you see ? They stand looking at each other ; then STEEL , very much upset , turns and goes out of the room . MORE , who has watched him with a sorry smile , puts the papers into a dispatch-case . As he is closing the bureau , the footman HENRY enters , announcing : “ Mr. Mendip , sir . ” MENDIP comes in , and the FOOTMAN withdraws . MORE turns to his visitor , but does not hold out his hand . What ? Thank God ! Yes ! So — even you defend the mob ! Conglomerate excrescence . Mud of street and market-place gathered in a torrent — This blind howling “ patriotism ” — what each man feels in here ?No ! This used to be the country of free speech . It used to be the country where a man was expected to hold to his faith . Let no man stand to his guns in face of popular attack . Still your advice , is it ? Thanks ! I 'll see that Katherine and Olive go . There 's the comfort of not running away . And — I want comfort . Down the steps , and through the gate . Good-bye ? KATHERINE has come in followed by NURSE , hatted and cloaked , with a small bag in her hand . KATHERINE takes from the bureau a cheque which she hands to the NURSE . MORE comes in from the terrace . You 're wise to go , Nurse . In full use . Enough , please ! NURSE stands for a moment doubtful ; looks long at KATHERINE ; then goes . There has been a victory . Yes , Sir John . You wanted me ? Hubert ! Chose ! I would willingly change places with any one of them . Yes ! Do you imagine I think myself better than the humblest private fighting out there ? Not for a minute . Sir John , you believe that country comes before wife and child ? So do I . I would give all I have — for that creed . Vision of what might be . Sir John , imagine what the last two months have been to me ! To see people turn away in the street — old friends pass me as if I were a wall ! To dread the post ! To go to bed every night with the sound of hooting in my ears ! To know that my name is never referred to without contempt —— Does that make up for being spat at as I was last night ? Your battles are fool 's play to it . The stir and rustle of the crowd in the street grows louder . SIR JOHN turns his head towards it . Sir John ! Our men are dying out there for , the faith that 's in them ! I believe my faith the higher , the better for mankind — Am I to slink away ? Since I began this campaign I 've found hundreds who 've thanked me for taking this stand . They look on me now as their leader . Am I to desert them ? When you led your forlorn hope — did you ask yourself what good you were doing , or , whether you 'd come through alive ? It 's my forlorn hope not to betray those who are following me ; and not to help let die a fire — a fire that 's sacred — not only now in this country , but in all countries , for all time . For them to shut this room up . I see . Good ! You prefer that to an hotel ?Will you let me say , Kit , how terribly I feel for you — Hubert 's —— Not ? Not while the house —— Kit ! Do you understand what this means ? After ten years — and all — our love ! This is madness , Kit — Kit ! Do n't be so terribly cruel ! In God 's name , how can I help the difference in our faiths ? God knows — I never meant —— For God 's sake , put your pride away , and see ! I 'm fighting for the faith that 's in me . What else can a man do ? What else ? Ah ! Kit ! Do see ! And Olive ? That I shall not do — you know very well . You are free to go , and to take her . And drown in — that ? KATHERINE turns swiftly to the door . There she stands and again looks at him . Her face is mysterious , from the conflicting currents of her emotions . So — you 're going ? Never mind , my dicky bird . Go along , my pretty ! Trot , my soul !MORE follows her to the door , but stops there . Then , as full realization begins to dawn on him , he runs to the bay window , craning his head to catch sight of the front door . There is the sound of a vehicle starting , and the continual hooting of its horn as it makes its way among the crowd . He turns from the window . Alone as the last man on earth ! Ah ! Henry , I thought you 'd gone . Good fellow ! Very well . You are here by the law that governs the action of all mobs — the law of Force . By that law , you can do what you like to this body of mine . I do n't doubt it . But before that , I 've a word to say . You — Mob — are the most contemptible thing under the sun . When you walk the street — God goes in . My fine friends , I 'm not afraid of you . You 've forced your way into my house , and you 've asked me to speak . Put up with the truth for once !You are the thing that pelts the weak ; kicks women ; howls down free speech . This to-day , and that to-morrow . Brain — you have none . Spirit — not the ghost of it ! If you 're not meanness , there 's no such thing . If you 're not cowardice , there is no cowardicePatriotism — there are two kinds — that of our soldiers , and this of mine . You have neither ! My country is not yours . Mine is that great country which shall never take toll from the weakness of others .Ah ! you can break my head and my windows ; but do n't think that you can break my faith . You could never break or shake it , if you were a million to one . A girl with dark eyes and hair all wild , leaps out from the crowd and shakes her fist at him .