ELIZABETH. Yes. So many men are; not having to bear the pain and inconvenience themselves. ANNYS. Oh, well, they have to provide for them when they do come. That’s fair enough division, I su— (_Suddenly she turns fiercely_.) Why do you talk like that? As if we women were cowards. Do you think if God sent me a child I should grudge Him the price! ELIZABETH. Do you want Him to? ANNYS. I don’t know; prayed Him to, once. ELIZABETH. (_She lays her hand upon her_.) It isn’t a few more mothers that the world has need of. It is the women whom God has appointed—to whom He has given freedom, that they may champion the cause of the mothers, helpless by reason of their motherhood. (_A moment_. GEOFFREY _enters_.) GEOFFREY. Good evening. ANNYS. (_Rises_; _a smile struggles for possession_. _But he only shakes hands_, _and it dies away_.) ELIZABETH. Good evening. (_They shake hands_.) GEOFFREY. You are not interested in the counting? ANNYS. The room is rather crowded. Mamma thought I would be better out here. How have you been? GEOFFREY. Oh, all right. It’s going to be a very near thing, they tell me. ANNYS. Yes, I shall be glad when it’s over. GEOFFREY. It’s always a trying time. What are you going to do, if you win? (LADY MOGTON _looks in_.) LADY MOGTON. (_Seeing_ GEOFFREY.) Oh, good evening. GEOFFREY. Good evening. LADY MOGTON. Chilvers, 2,960—Annys Chilvers, 2,874. (_She disappears—closes door_.) ANNYS. Perhaps I’m not going to win. (_She goes to him_, _smiling_.) I hope you’ll win. I would so much rather you won. GEOFFREY. Very kind of you. I’m afraid that won’t make it a certainty. ANNYS. (_His answer has hardened her again_.) How can I? It would not be fair. Without your consent I should never have entered upon it. It was understood that the seat, in any case, would be yours. GEOFFREY. I would rather you considered yourself quite free. In warfare it doesn’t pay to be “fair” to one’s enemy. ANNYS. (_Still hardening_.) Besides, there is no need. There will be other opportunities. I can contest some other constituency. If I win, claim the seat for that. (_A moment_.) GEOFFREY. So this is only the beginning? You have decided to devote yourself to a political career? ANNYS. Why not? GEOFFREY. If I were to ask you to abandon it, to come back to your place at my side—helping me, strengthening me? ANNYS. You mean you would have me abandon my own task—merge myself in you? GEOFFREY. Be my wife. ANNYS. It would not be right. I, too, have my work. GEOFFREY. If it takes you away from me? ANNYS. Why need it take me away from you? Why cannot we work together for common ends, each in our own way? GEOFFREY. We talked like that before we tried it. Marriage is not a partnership; it is a leadership.