Arms and the Man, George Bernard Shaw [comprehension books txt] 📗

it up. Petkoff What, that Swiss fellow? Sergius: I’ve often thought of that exchange since. He overreached us about those horses. Sergius Of course he overreached us. His father was a hotel and livery stable keeper; and he owed his first step to his knowledge of horse-dealing. With mock enthusiasm. Ah, he was a soldier⁠—every inch a soldier! If only I had bought the horses for my regiment instead of foolishly leading it into danger, I should have been a field-marshal now! Catherine A Swiss? What was he doing in the Serbian army? Petkoff A volunteer of course⁠—keen on picking up his profession. Chuckling. We shouldn’t have been able to begin fighting if these foreigners hadn’t shown us how to do it: we knew nothing about it; and neither did the Serbians. Egad, there’d have been no war without them. Raina Are there many Swiss officers in the Serbian Army? Petkoff No⁠—all Austrians, just as our officers were all Russians. This was the only Swiss I came across. I’ll never trust a Swiss again. He cheated us⁠—humbugged us into giving him fifty able bodied men for two hundred confounded worn out chargers. They weren’t even eatable! Sergius We were two children in the hands of that consummate soldier, Major: simply two innocent little children. Raina What was he like? Catherine Oh, Raina, what a silly question! Sergius He was like a commercial traveller in uniform. Bourgeois to his boots. Petkoff Grinning. Sergius: tell Catherine that queer story his friend told us about him⁠—how he escaped after Slivnitza. You remember?⁠—about his being hid by two women. Sergius With bitter irony. Oh, yes, quite a romance. He was serving in the very battery I so unprofessionally charged. Being a thorough soldier, he ran away like the rest of them, with our cavalry at his heels. To escape their attentions, he had the good taste to take refuge in the chamber of some patriotic young Bulgarian lady. The young lady was enchanted by his persuasive commercial traveller’s manners. She very modestly entertained him for an hour or so and then called in her mother lest her conduct should appear unmaidenly. The old lady was equally fascinated; and the fugitive was sent on his way in the morning, disguised in an old coat belonging to the master of the house, who was away at the war. Raina Rising with marked stateliness. Your life in the camp has made you coarse, Sergius. I did not think you would have repeated such a story before me. She turns away coldly. Catherine Also rising. She is right, Sergius. If such women exist, we should be spared the knowledge of them. Petkoff Pooh! nonsense! what does it matter? Sergius Ashamed. No, Petkoff: I was wrong. To Raina, with earnest humility. I beg your pardon. I have behaved abominably. Forgive me, Raina. She bows reservedly. And you, too, madam. Catherine bows graciously and sits down. He proceeds solemnly, again addressing Raina. The glimpses I have had of the seamy side of life during the last few months have made me cynical; but I should not have brought my cynicism here⁠—least of all into your presence, Raina. I⁠—Here, turning to the others, he is evidently about to begin a long speech when the Major interrupts him. Petkoff Stuff and nonsense, Sergius. That’s quite enough fuss about nothing: a soldier’s daughter should be able to stand up without flinching to a little strong conversation. He rises. Come: it’s time for us to get to business. We have to make up our minds how those three regiments are to get back to Phillipopolis:⁠—there’s no forage for them on the Sofia route. He goes towards the house. Come along. Sergius is about to follow him when Catherine rises and intervenes. Catherine Oh, Paul, can’t you spare Sergius for a few moments? Raina has hardly seen him yet. Perhaps I can help you to settle about the regiments. Sergius Protesting. My dear madam, impossible: you⁠— Catherine Stopping him playfully. You stay here, my dear Sergius: there’s no hurry. I have a word or two to say to Paul. Sergius instantly bows and steps back. Now, dear, taking Petkoff’s arm come and see the electric bell. Petkoff Oh, very well, very well. They go into the house together affectionately. Sergius, left alone with Raina, looks anxiously at her, fearing that she may be still offended. She smiles, and stretches out her arms to him. Exit R. into house, followed by Catherine. Sergius Hastening to her, but refraining from touching her without express permission. Am I forgiven? Raina Placing her hands on his shoulder as she looks up at him with admiration and worship. My hero! My king. Sergius My queen! He kisses her on the forehead with holy awe. Raina How I have envied you, Sergius! You have been out in the world, on the field of battle, able to prove yourself there worthy of any woman in the world; whilst I have had to sit at home inactive⁠—dreaming⁠—useless⁠—doing nothing that could give me the right to call myself worthy of any man. Sergius Dearest, all my deeds have been yours. You inspired me. I have gone through the war like a knight in a tournament with his lady looking on at him! Raina And you have never been absent from my thoughts for a moment. Very solemnly. Sergius: I think we two have found the higher love. When I think of you, I feel that I could never do a base deed, or think an ignoble thought. Sergius My lady, and my saint! Clasping her reverently. Raina Returning his embrace. My lord and my g⁠— Sergius Sh⁠—sh! Let me be the worshipper, dear. You little know how unworthy even the best man is of a girl’s pure passion! Raina I trust you. I love you. You will never disappoint me, Sergius. Louka is heard singing within the house. They quickly release each other. Hush! I can’t