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

I? Must keep awake. Nothing keeps me awake except danger⁠—remember that⁠—intently danger, danger, danger, dan⁠—Where’s danger? Must find it. He starts of vaguely around the room in search of it. What am I looking for? Sleep⁠—danger⁠—don’t know. He stumbles against the bed. Ah, yes: now I know. All right now. I’m to go to bed, but not to sleep⁠—be sure not to sleep⁠—because of danger. Not to lie down, either, only sit down. He sits on the bed. A blissful expression comes into his face. Ah! With a happy sigh he sinks back at full length; lifts his boots into the bed with a final effort; and falls fast asleep instantly. Catherine comes in, followed by Raina. Raina Looking at the ottoman. He’s gone! I left him here. Catherine Here! Then he must have climbed down from the⁠— Raina Seeing him. Oh! She points. Catherine Scandalized. Well! She strides to the left side of the bed, Raina following and standing opposite her on the right. He’s fast asleep. The brute! Raina Anxiously. Sh! Catherine Shaking him. Sir! Shaking him again, harder. Sir!! Vehemently shaking very bard. Sir!!! Raina Catching her arm. Don’t, mamma: the poor dear is worn out. Let him sleep. Catherine Letting him go and turning amazed to Raina. The poor dear! Raina!!! She looks sternly at her daughter. The man sleeps profoundly. Act II

The sixth of March, 1886. In the garden of major Petkoff’s house. It is a fine spring morning; and the garden looks fresh and pretty. Beyond the paling the tops of a couple of minarets can be seen, showing that there is a valley there, with the little town in it. A few miles further the Balkan mountains rise and shut in the view. Within the garden the side of the house is seen on the right, with a garden door reached by a little flight of steps. On the left the stable yard, with its gateway, encroaches on the garden. There are fruit bushes along the paling and house, covered with washing hung out to dry. A path runs by the house, and rises by two steps at the corner where it turns out of the right along the front. In the middle a small table, with two bent wood chairs at it, is laid for breakfast with Turkish coffee pot, cups, rolls, etc.; but the cups have been used and the bread broken. There is a wooden garden seat against the wall on the left.

Louka, smoking a cigarette, is standing between the table and the house, turning her back with angry disdain on a manservant who is lecturing her. He is a middle-aged man of cool temperament and low but clear and keen intelligence, with the complacency of the servant who values himself on his rank in servility, and the imperturbability of the accurate calculator who has no illusions. He wears a white Bulgarian costume jacket with decorated border, sash, wide knickerbockers, and decorated gaiters. His head is shaved up to the crown, giving him a high Japanese forehead. His name is Nicola. Nicola Be warned in time, Louka: mend your manners. I know the mistress. She is so grand that she never dreams that any servant could dare to be disrespectful to her; but if she once suspects that you are defying her, out you go. Louka I do defy her. I will defy her. What do I care for her? Nicola If you quarrel with the family, I never can marry you. It’s the same as if you quarrelled with me! Louka You take her part against me, do you? Nicola Sedately. I shall always be dependent on the good will of the family. When I leave their service and start a shop in Sofia, their custom will be half my capital: their bad word would ruin me. Louka You have no spirit. I should like to see them dare say a word against me! Nicola Pityingly. I should have expected more sense from you, Louka. But you’re young, you’re young! Louka Yes; and you like me the better for it, don’t you? But I know some family secrets they wouldn’t care to have told, young as I am. Let them quarrel with me if they dare! Nicola With compassionate superiority. Do you know what they would do if they heard you talk like that? Louka What could they do? Nicola Discharge you for untruthfulness. Who would believe any stories you told after that? Who would give you another situation? Who in this house would dare be seen speaking to you ever again? How long would your father be left on his little farm? She impatiently throws away the end of her cigarette, and stamps on it. Child, you don’t know the power such high people have over the like of you and me when we try to rise out of our poverty against them. He goes close to her and lowers his voice. Look at me, ten years in their service. Do you think I know no secrets? I know things about the mistress that she wouldn’t have the master know for a thousand levas. I know things about him that she wouldn’t let him hear the last of for six months if I blabbed them to her. I know things about Raina that would break off her match with Sergius if⁠— Louka Turning on him quickly. How do you know? I never told you! Nicola Opening his eyes cunningly. So that’s your little secret, is it? I thought it might be something like that. Well, you take my advice, and be respectful; and make the mistress feel that no matter what you know or don’t know, they can depend on you to hold your tongue and serve the family faithfully. That’s what they like; and that’s how you’ll make most out of them. Louka With searching scorn. You have