Pygmalion by G. B. Shaw-5/5
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ACTO V. El salón de la Sra. Higgins Ella está en su escritorio como antes. La mucama entra.
La MUCAMA (en la puerta) El señor Henry, señora, está abajo con el coronel Pickering.
SRA. HIGGINS. Bueno, que suban..
LA MUCAMA. Están usando el teléfono, señora. Llamando a la policía, creo.
SRA. HIGGINS. ¡Qué!
LA MUCAMA [entrando y bajando la voz] El Sr. Henry está fuera de sí, señora. Pensé que sería mejor decírselo.
SRA. HIGGINS. Si me hubiera dicho que el Sr. Henry no estaba fuera de sí, habría sido más sorprendente. Dígales que vengan cuando hayan terminado con la policía. Supongo que habrá perdido algo.
LA MUCAMA. Sí, señora [yéndose].
SRA. HIGGINS. Suba las escaleras y dígale a la Srta. Doolittle que el Sr. Henry y el coronel están aquí. Pídale que no baje hasta que la llame.
LA MUCAMA. Sí, señora.
Higgins entra con fuerza. Él está, como lo dijo la criada, fuera de si.
HIGGINS. Mire, madre: ¡aquí hay algo maldito!
SRA. HIGGINS. Sí, querido. Buenos días. [Él controla su impaciencia y la besa, mientras la mucama se va]. ¿Qué pasa?
HIGGINS. Eliza se escapó.
SRA. HIGGINS [continuando con calma su escritura] Debes haberla asustado.
HIGGINS. ¡Asustado! ¡tonterías! Se quedó anoche, como de costumbre, para apagar las luces y todo eso; y en lugar de irse a la cama, se cambió de ropa y se fue: no durmió en su cama. Ella vino en un taxi por sus cosas antes de las siete de la mañana; y esa tonta, la Sra. Pearce, la dejó llevárselas sin decirme una palabra al respecto. ¿Qué puedo hacer?
SRA. HIGGINS. Apañarte sin ella, me temo, Henry. La chica tiene todo el derecho de irse si quiere.
HIGGINS [ andando locamente por la sala] Pero no puedo encontrar nada. No sé que citas tengo. Yo estoy...[Pickering entra]. La Sra Higgins deja su pluma y se aparta del escritorio].
PICKERING [dando la mano] Buenos días, Sra. Higgins. ¿Henry le ha dicho? [Se sienta en la otomana].
HIGGINS. ¿Qué dijo ese idiota de inspector? ¿Has ofrecido una recompensa?
SRA. HIGGINS [levantándose indignada y asombrada] ¡¿No querrás decir que has mandado a la policía a buscar a Eliza?!
HIGGINS. Por supuesto. ¿Para qué sirve la policía? ¿Qué otra cosa podríamos hacer? [Se sienta en la silla isabelina]
PICKERING. El inspector nos hizo pasar un mal rato. Realmente creo que sospechaba que tuviéramos un propósito indecente.
SRA. HIGGINS. Pues claro que sí. ¿Qué derecho tienes de ir a la policía y darle el nombre de la chica como si fuera una ladrona, o un paraguas perdido o algo así ? En serio! [Ella se sienta otra vez, profundamente iritada].
HIGGINS. Pero queremos encontrarla.
PICKERING. No podemos dejarla irse así, usted sabe, Sra. Higgins. ¿Que podíamos hacer?
SRA.HIGGINS. Ninguno de los dos tiene más sentido que dos niños. Porque...La mucana entra y corta la conversación.
LA MUCANA. Sr. Henry: un señor quiere verle en privado. Lo han enviado de la calle Wimpole.
HIGGINS. Oh, ¡qué lata! No puedo ver a nadie ahora. ¿Quién es?
LA MUCAMA. Un señor Doolittle, señor.
PICKERING. ¡Doolittle! ¿Quieres decir el basurero?
LA MUCAMA. ¡Basurero! Oh no, señor: un caballero.
HIGGINS [levantándose con entusiasmo] Cielos, Pick, es algún pariente suyo al que ella ha acudido. Alguien de quien no sabemos nada. [A la mucama] Hazlo subir, rápidamente.
LA MUCAMA. Sí, señor. [Se va].
HIGGINS [ansiosamente, yendo hacia su madre] ¡Familiares refinados! ahora oiremos algo. [Se sienta en la silla chippendale].
SRA. HIGGINS. ¿Conoces a alguien de su familia?
PICKERING. Solo a su padre: el sujeto del que te hablamos.
LA MUCAMA [anunciando] El Sr. Doolittle. [Ella se retira].
Doolittle entra. Está espléndidamente vestido con una nueva levita, chaleco blanco y pantalón gris. Una flor en el ojal, un deslumbrante sombrero de seda y zapatos de charol completan el efecto. Está demasiado preocupado por el asunto por el que ha venido, como para darse cuenta de la Sra.Higgins. Camina directamente hacia Higgins y lo aborda con vehemente reproche.
DOOLITTLE [indicando su propia persona] ¡Mire aquí! ¿Ve esto? Usted ha hecho esto.
HIGGINS. ¿Hecho qué, hombre?
DOOLITTLE. Esto, le digo. Mírelo. Mire este sombrero. Mire este abrigo.
PICKERING. ¿Eliza le ha comprado ropa?
DOOLITTLE. ¡Eliza! ella no. Nada. ¿Por qué habría de comprarme ropa ella?
SRA. HIGGINS. Buenos días, Sr. Doolittle. ¿No quiere sentarse?
DOOLITTLE [desconcertado cuando se percata de que ha olvidado a su anfitriona] Le pido perdón, señora. [Se aproxima a ella y le estrecha la mano que ella le ofrece]. Gracias. [Se sienta en la otomana, a la derecha de Pickering]. Estoy 'tan lleno' de lo que me ha pasado que no puedo pensar en otra cosa.
HIGGINS. ¿Qué demonios le ha pasado?
DOOLITTLE. No me importaría si 'nada más' me hubiera pasado: a cualquiera le puede pasar cualquier cosa y 'no puede echar la culpa a nadie más que a la Providencia, como quien dice'. Pero esto es algo 'que usted ha hecho a mí': sí, usted, Henry Higgins.
HIGGINS. ¿Ha encontrado a Eliza? Se trata de eso.
DOOLITTLE. ¿La ha perdido?
HIGGINS. Sí.
DOOLITTLE. Usted tiene mucha suerte, pues sí. No la he encontrado; pero ella me encontrará a mí bastante rápido ahora después de lo que usted me ha hecho a mí.
SRA. HIGGINS. ¿Pero qué le ha hecho mi hijo, Sr. Doolittle?
DOOLITTLE. ¡Hecho a mí! Me ha arruinado. Destruido mi felicidad. Me ha atado y entregado en las manos de la moralidad de la clase media.
HIGGINS [levantándose con intolerancia y poniéndose de pie frente a Doolittle] Está delirando. Está borracho. Está loco. Le di cinco libras. Después de eso tuve dos conversaciones con usted, a media corona la hora. Desde entonces no he vuelto a verlo.
DOOLITTLE. ¡Oh! ¡Borracho! ¿Yo? ¡Loco! ¿Yo? Dígame eso. ¿Escribió usted una carta o no a un viejo tipo en América que daba cinco millones para fundar Sociedades de Reforma Moral por todo el mundo, y que quería que usted inventara un lenguaje universal para él?
HIGGINS. ¡Qué! ¡Ezra D. Wannafeller! Está muerto. [se sienta otra vez sin cuidado].
DOOLITTLE. Sí: él está muerto; y yo estoy acabado. A ver, le escribió o no una carta para decir que el moralista más original por el momento en Inglaterra, por lo que usted sabía, era Alfred Dolittle, un vulgar basurero.
HIGGINS. Oh, después de su última visita me acuerdo de hacer una broma tonta de ese tipo.
DOOLITTLE ¡Ah! Usted puede bien llamarla una broma tonta. Desde luego a mí me ha afectado. Precisamente le dio la oportunidad que quería para mostrar que los estadounidenses no son como nosotros: que ellos reconocen y respetan el mérito en cada clase de la sociedad, aunque sea humilde. Esas palabras están en su condenado testamento, en el cual, Henry Higgins, gracias a su broma tonta, me deja una participación en su Fideicomiso de Queso fermentado por valor de tres mil al año, a condición de que dé una conferencia para su Liga mundial Wannafeller de reforma moral, tan a menudo como me lo pidan y hasta seis veces al año.
HIGGINS. ¡Es el demonio! ¡Vaya! [Animándose de repente] ¡Qué chiste!
PICKERING. Una cosa es segura para usted, Doolittle No se lo pedirán dos veces.
DOOLITTLE. No es la conferencia lo que me importa. Les daré una conferencia como loco, lo haré, y no se me moverá ni un pelo. Es a hacer un caballero de mí a lo que me opongo. ¿Quién le pidió que me hiciera un caballero? Yo era feliz. Era libre. Recurrí a casi todos por dinero cuando lo necesité, igual que a usted, Higgins. Ahora estoy preocupado; corbata y zapatos; y todos me piden dinero. Es algo bueno para usted, dice mi abogado. ¿Lo es? digo yo. Quiere decir que es algo bueno para usted, digo yo. Cuando era un hombre pobre, una vez encontraron un cochecito en el carro de la basura y tuve un abogado que me sacó, se desentendió y me apartó de él tan rápido como pudo. Lo mismo con los médicos: solían sacarme del hospital antes de que apenas pudiera pararme sobre mis piernas, y sin pagar nada. Ahora descubren que no soy un hombre sano y que no puedo vivir a menos que me atiendan dos veces al día. En la casa, no me dejan hacer nada: algún otro tiene que hacerlo y tengo que pagarle. Hace un año, no tenía ni un pariente en el mundo excepto dos o tres que no querían hablar conmigo. Ahora tengo cincuenta y entre todos, no hay ni uno que gane un salario digno. Tengo que vivir para otros y no para mí mismo: Es la moralidad de la clase media. Usted habla de perder a Eliza. No se preocupe: seguro que está en mi puerta ahora: ella que podía ganarse la vida fácilmente vendiendo flores, si yo no fuera respetable. Y el próximo que va pedirme dinero será usted, Henry Higgins. Tendré que aprender a hablar la lengua de la clase media con usted, en lugar de hablar el inglés correcto. Ahí viene su parte ; y tengo que decir que es por eso que usted lo hizo.
SRA. HIGGINS. Pero, mi querido Sr. Doolittle, no necesita sufrir todo esto si realmente va en serio. Nadie puede obligarle a aceptar este legado. Puede rechazarlo. ¿No es así, Coronel Pickering?
PICKERING. Creo que sí.
DOOLITTLE [suavizando sus modales en deferencia a su género] Esa es la tragedia de esto, señora. Es fácil decir déjelo; pero no tengo valor. ¿Quién de nosotros lo tiene? Todos estamos intimidados. Intimidados, señora: así es como estamos. ¿Qué hay para mí si lo dejo, más que el asilo de pobres en mi vejez? Ya tengo que teñirme el pelo para mantener mi trabajo de basurero. Si fuera uno de los pobres que lo merecen, y hubiera ahorrado un poco, podría tirarlo; pero por qué lo haría, porque los pobres que merecen, bien podrían ser millonarios, por toda la felicidad que siempre tienen. No conocen la felicidad. Pero yo, como uno de los pobres indignos, no tengo nada entre mí y el uniforme de los pobres sino esas malditas tres mil libras al año que me empujan en la clase media. (Disculpe la expresión, señora: usted también la usaría si tuviera la misma provocación). La atrapan de todos modos: es una elección entre la Silky del hospicio y el Char Bydis de la clase media; y no tengo valor para el hospicio. Intimidado: eso es como estoy. Quebrado. Comprado. Hombres más felices vendran a recoger mi basura y me pedirán propina; los miraré indefenso y los envidiaré. Y eso es a lo que me ha llevado su hijo. [Lo embarga la emoción].
SRA. HIGGINS. Bueno, me alegro mucho de que no vaya a hacer ninguna tontería, Sr. Doolittle. Porque eso soluciona el problema del futuro de Eliza. Usted puede mantenerla ahora.
DOOLITTLE [ con resignación melancólica] , Sí señora; ahora todos piensan que mantenga a todos, con tres mil libras al año.
HIGGINS [ saltando] ¡Tonterías! no puede mantenerla. No va a mantenerla. Ella no le pertenece. Le pagué cinco libras por ella. Doolittle: no sé si es un hombre honesto o un bribón.
DOOLITTLE [ con tolerencia] Un poco de ambos, Henry, como todos nosotros; un poco de ambos.
HIGGINS. Bueno, tomó ese dinero por la chica; y no tiene el derecho de llevársela tambien.
SRA. HIGGINS. Henry: no seas ridículo. Si realmente quieres saber donde está Eliza, está arriba.
HIGGINS [sorprendido] ¡¡¡Arriba!!! Enseguida la traeré abajo. [Se va decididamente hacia la puerta].
SRA. HIGGINS [levantándose y siguiéndolo] Cálmate, Henry. Siéntate.
HIGGINS. Yo... SRA. HIGGINS. Siéntate, querido; y escuchame
HIGGINS. Oh muy bien, muy bien, muy bien. [Se lanza sin gracia sobre la otomana, con la cara hacia las ventanas]. Pero creo que podrías haberme dicho esto hace media hora.
SRA. HIGGINS. Eliza ha venido aquí esta mañana. Pasó la noche en parte vagando enfurecida, en parte tratando de lanzarse al río pero sin atreverse, y en parte en el Hotel Carlton. Me contó de la manera brutal en que la tratasteis.
HIGGINS [saltando de nuevo] ¡Qué!
PICKERING [levantándose también] Mi querida señora Higgins, ella le ha estado contando cuentos chinos. Nosotros no la tratamos con brutalidad. Apenas le dirigimos la palabra; y nos despedimos muy amigablemente. [Dirigiéndose a Higgins]. Higgins: ¿la intimidaste después de que me acostara?
HIGGINS. Justo al revés. Ella me tiró mis zapatillas a la cara. Se comportó de la forma más indignante. No la provoqué lo más mínimo. Las zapatillas me golpearon en la cara en el momento en que entré en la habitación, antes de que hubiera pronunciado una palabra. Y usó un lenguaje de lo más horrible.
PICKERING [asombrado] ¿Pero por qué? ¿Qué le hicimos?
SRA. HIGGINS. Creo que sé muy bien lo que le hicisteis. La chica es por naturaleza bastante afectuosa, pienso. ¿No lo es, Sr. Doolittle?
DOOLITTLE. Muy cariñosa, señora. Salió a mí.
SRA. HIGGINS. Eso es. Os había tomado cariño a los dos. ¡Trabajó muy duro para ti, Henry! No creo que os deis cuenta de lo que significa para una chica como esta cualquier cosa relacionada con el trabajo cerebral. Bueno, parece que cuando llegó el gran día de la prueba, y ella lo hizo maravillosamente, sin un solo error, vosotros dos estabais ahí sentados y no le dijisteis a ella ni una sola palabra, sino que hablabais entre vosotros de lo contentos que estabais de que todo hubiera acabado y de lo aburridos que estabais de todo el asunto. ¡Y entonces os sorprendisteis porque os arrojó las zapatillas! Yo os hubiera arrojado las herramientas de la chimenea.
HIGGINS. No dijimos nada, excepto que estábamos cansados y queríamos ir a la cama. ¿No es así, Pick?
PICKERING [encogiendo los hombros] Eso fue todo.
SRA. HIGGINS [con ironía] ¿Completamente seguro?
PICKERING. Por supuesto. De veras, eso fue todo.
SRA. HIGGINS. No le agradeciste, ni la acariciaste o la admiraste, ni le dijiste qué maravillosa había estado.
HIGGINS [con impaciencia] Pero ella sabía todo eso. No hicimos discursos, si te refieres a eso.
PICKERING [arrepentido] Quizás fuimos un poco desconsiderados. ¿Está muy enojada?
SRA HIGGINS [regresando a su sitio en el escritorio] Bueno, me temo que no quiere volver a Wimpole Street, especialmente ahora que el Sr. Doolittle es capaz de mantener la posición a la que la has impulsado; pero dice que está dispuesta a encontrarse contigo en términos amistosos y dejar que el pasado sea pasado.
HIGGINS [furioso] ¿Es lo que ella desea, por Dios? ¡Jo!
SRA.HIGGINS. Si prometes comportarte bien, Henry, le diré que baje. De lo contrario, vuélvete a casa; porque has gastado demasiado de mi tiempo.
HIGGINS. Oh, está bien. Muy bien. Pick: pórtate bien. Pongamos lo mejor de nuestros modales domingueros para esta criatura que sacamos del fango. [ Se arroja de mal humor en la silla isabelina].
DOOLITTLE [protestando] ¡Pare, pare, Henry Higgins! tenga alguna consideración por mis sentimientos como hombre de la clase media.
SRA. HIGGINS. Recuerda tu promesa, Henry.. [Oprime el timbre que está en el escritorio]. Sr. Doolittle: ¿sería tan amable como para salir al balcón por un momento? No quiero que Eliza tenga el golpe emocional de sus noticias hasta que se haya reconciliado con estos dos señores. ¿Le molestaría?
DOOLITTLE. Como usted desee, 'dama'. Todo lo que ayude a Henry para mantenerla lejos de mí. [Desaparece por la ventana].
La mucama responde al timbre. Pickering se sienta en el lugar de Doolittle.
SRA. HIGGINS. Pídale a la Srta. Doolittle que baje, por favor.
LA MUCAMA. Sí, señora. [Sale].
SRA. HIGGINS. Ahora, Henry: sé bueno.
HIGGINS. Me estoy portando de maravilla.
PICKERING. Está haciendo todo lo que puede, Sra. Higgins.
[Una pausa. Higgins echa la cabeza hacia atrás; estira las piernas y comienza a silbar].
SRA. HIGGINS. Henry, querido, no das buena imagen en esa actitud.
HIGGINS [recobrando la compostura] No pretendo dar buena imagen, madre.
SRA. HIGGINS. No importa, querido. Yo solo quería hacerte hablar.
HIGGINS. ¿Por qué?
SRA. HIGGINS. Porque no puedes hablar y silbar al mismo tiempo.
[Higgins refunfuña. Otra pausa muy difícil].
HIGGINS [levantándose de golpe] ¿Dónde diablos está esa chica? ¿Tenemos que esperar todo el día?
Eliza entra, luminosa, serena, y dando una muestra asombrosamente convincente de naturalidad. LLeva una pequeña cesta y se siente como en casa. Pickering está demasiado sorprendido para levantarse.
LIZA. ¿Cómo está usted, Profesor Higgins? ¿Se siente bien?
HIGGINS [ahogándose] Estoy...[No puede hablar más].
LIZA. Pero naturalmente que se encuentra bien: usted nunca está enfermo. Muy contenta de verle otra vez, Coronel Pickering. [Él se levanta rápidamente; y se dan la mano]. ¿Bastante fresco, esta mañana, no piensa? [Ella se sienta a su izquierda. Él se sienta a su lado].
HIGGINS. No te atrevas a probar este juego conmigo. Te lo enseñé; y no voy a picar. Levántate y vuelva a casa; no seas tonta.
Eliza toma una pieza de costura de la cesta, y empieza de coserla, sin prestar la menor atención a este exabrupto.
SRA.HIGGINS. Bien dicho, de verdad, Henry. Niguna mujer podría resistir tal invitación.
HIGGINS. Déjala, madre. Déjala hablar por sí misma. Pronto verás si ella tiene una idea que no haya puesto yo en su cabeza, o una palabra que no haya puesto en su boca. Le digo que he creado esta cosa a partir de las hojas de col aplastadas de Covent Garden; y ahora ella pretende jugar conmigo a la dama refinada.
SRA. HIGGINS [plácidamente] Sí, querido; Pero te sentarás, ¿verdad?
Higgins se sienta de nuevo, salvajemente.
LIZA [a Pickering, aparentemente sin hacer caso a Higgins, y trabajando con destreza] ¿Me dejará por completo ahora que el experimento ha terminado, Coronel Pickering?
PICKERING. Oh no. No debe pensar en ello como un experimento. Eso me conmociona, de alguna manera.
LIZA. Oh, solo soy una hoja de col aplastada.
PICKERING [impulsivamente] No.
LIZA [continúa con calma], pero le debo tanto que sería muy infeliz si usted me olvida.
PICKERING. Es muy amable de su parte decir eso, srta. Doolittle.
LIZA. No es porque pagara mis vestidos. Sé que es generoso con todo el mundo con el dinero. Pero fue de usted de quien realmente aprendí buenos modales; y eso es lo que hace que una sea una dama, ¿no es así? Ya ve usted que era muy difícil para mí con el ejemplo del profesor Higgins siempre delante de mí. Yo fui educada igual que él, incapaz de controlarme a mí misma, y usando palabrotas a la menor provocación. Y yo nunca habría sabido que las damas y caballeros no se comportan de esa forma si usted no hubiera estado allí.
HIGGINS. ¡¡Vaya!!
PICKERING. Oh, eso es solo su forma de ser, ya sabe. No quiere decir eso.
LIZA. Oh, yo tampoco quería hablar así, cuando era una florista. Era solo mi forma de ser. Pero ya ve que cambié; y eso es lo que hace la diferencia después de todo.
PICKERING. Sin duda. Aún así, él le enseñó a hablar; yo no podría haberlo hecho, lo sabe.
LIZA [trivialmente] Por supuesto: esa es su profesión.
HIGGINS. ¡Maldita sea!
LIZA [continuando] Fue como aprender a bailar a la moda: no había nada más en ello. ¿Pero sabe cuándo empezó mi auténtica educación?
PICKERING. ¿Cuándo?
LIZA [dejando su trabajo por un momento] Cuando usted me llamó Srta. Doolittle aquel día en que fui por primera vez a Wimpole Street. Ese fue el comienzo de la autoestima para mí. [Reanuda su costura]. Y hubo cientos de pequeñas cosas de las que nunca se dio cuenta, porque las hacía con naturalidad. Cosas como levantarse y quitarse el sombrero o abrir puertas... PICKERING. Oh, eso no era nada.
LIZA. Sí: cosas que mostraban que usted pensaba y sentía sobre mí como si fuera algo mejor que una fregona; aunque, por supuesto, sé que usted hubiera sido exactamente igual con una fregona si le hubieran permitido entrar en el salón. Nunca se quitó las botas en el comedor cuando yo estaba allí.
PICKERING. No le debe importar eso. Higgins se quita las botas en todos sitios.
LIZA. Lo sé. No le culpo. Es su manera, ¿verdad? Pero me impactó enormemente cuando usted no lo hizo. Mire usted, en realidad, aparte de las cosas que cualquiera puede adquirir (el vestuario, la forma correcta de hablar y demás), la diferencia entre una dama y una florista no es cómo se comporta, sino cómo la tratan. Siempre seré una florista para el profesor Higgins, porque siempre me trata como a una florista y siempre lo hará; pero sé que puedo ser una dama para usted, porque siempre me trata como a una dama, y siempre lo hará.
SRA. HIGGINS. Por favor, no rechines los dientes, Henry.
PICKERING. Bueno, esto es muy amable de su parte, Srta. Doolittle.
LIZA. Me gustaría que ahora me llamara Eliza, si quiere.
PICKERING. Gracias. Eliza, por supuesto.
LIZA. Y quisiera que el profesor Higgins me llamara Srta. Doolittle.
HIGGINS. Antes te veré en el infierno.
SRA. HIGGINS. ¡Henry! ¡Henry!
PICKERING [riendo] ¿Por qué no le contesta en la misma jerga? No lo aguante. Le haría mucho bien.
LIZA. No puedo. Pude haberlo hecho antes; pero ahora no puedo volver a eso. Anoche, cuando estaba vagando por ahí, una chica me habló; y traté de volver a las antiguas formas con ella; pero fue inútil. Mire, usted me dijo que cuando un niño es llevado a un país extranjero, adquiere el idioma en unas pocas semanas y se olvida del suyo. Bueno pues, yo soy una niña en su país He olvidado mi propio lenguaje y no sé hablar más que el suyo. Esa es la verdadera ruptura con la esquina de Tottenham Court Road. El dejar Wimpole Street termina con eso.
PICKERING [muy alarmado] ¡Oh! Pero va a volver a la calle Wimpole, ¿verdad? ¿Perdonará a Higgins?
HIGGINS [levantándose] ¡Perdonar! ¡Va a perdonarme, por Dios! Déjala ir. Déjala aprender como puede seguir adelante sin nosotros. Ella voverá a la cuneta dentro de tres semanas sin mí a su lado.
Doolittle aparece por la ventana central. Con una mirada de crítica hacia Higgins, se acerca despacio y sin ruido a su hija, quien, de espaldas a la ventana, no se da cuenta de su acercamiento.
PICKERING. Es incorregible, Eliza. ¿No recaerás, verdad?
LIZA. No, ahora no. Nunca más. Aprendí la lección. No creo que pudiera pronunciar ni uno de los sonidos de antes si lo intentara. [Doolittle la toca en el hombro izquierdo. Ella deja caer su trabajo, perdiendo su serenidad totalmente ante el espectaculo del esplendor de su padre] ¡A--a-a-a-a-a-ou-ooh!
HIGGINS [con un grito de triunfo] ¡Aha! Aquí está. ¡A-a-a-a-a-houooh! ¡A-a-a-a-ahouooh! ¡A-a--a-a-a-ahouooh! ¡Victoria! ¡Victoria! [Se lanza en el sofá, cruzando los brazos y extendiendo las piernas de manera arrogante].
DOOLITTLE. ¿Puede culpar a la chica? No me mires así, Eliza. No es mi culpa. He conseguido dinero.
LIZA. Debes haber sableado a un millonario esta vez, papá.
DOOLITTLE. Así es. Pero estoy vestido de forma especial hoy. Voy a St. George's, Hanover Square. Tu madrastra se va a casar conmigo.
LIZA [enojada] ¡Te vas a rebajar a casarte con esa mujer ordinaria!
PICKERING [en voz baja] Debe hacerlo, Eliza. [A Doolittle] ¿Por qué ha cambiado ella de opinión?
DOOLITTLE [tristemente] Intimidada, 'jefe'. Intimidada. La moral de clase media reclama su víctima. ¿Te pondrás el sombrero, Liza, y vienes a ver mi declive?
LIZA. Si el Coronel dice que debo hacerlo, yo... yo [casi llorando] me rebajaré. Y seré insultada por mi sufrimiento, como si lo viera.
DOOLITTLE. No tengas miedo: ¡ahora ella nunca discute con nadie, pobre mujer! la respetabilidad le ha sacado todo el ánimo.
PICKERING [apretando suavemente el codo de Eliza] Sea amable con ellos, Eliza. Haga lo mejor de ello.
LIZA [forzando una pequeña sonrisa para él saliendo de su aflicción] Oh, bueno, solo para demostrar que no hay malestar. Regreso en un momento. [Sale].
DOOLITTLE [sentándose al lado de Pickering] Me siento muy nervioso por la ceremonia, coronel. Me gustaría que viniera y me viera salir de esto.
PICKERING. Pero usted ya ha pasado por eso, hombre. Estaba casado con la madre de Eliza.
DOOLITTLE. ¿Quién le dijo eso, coronel?
PICKERING. Bueno, nadie me lo dijo. Pero llegué a la conclusión de forma natural --DOOLITTLE. No: esa no es la forma natural, coronel: es solo la de la clase media. Mi manera fue siempre la impropia. Pero no le diga nada a Eliza. Ella no lo sabe: siempre tuve la delicadeza de no decírselo.
PICKERING. Muy bien Lo dejaremos así, si no le importa.
DOOLITTLE. ¿Y vendrá a la iglesia, Coronel, y me llevará?
PICKERING. Con mucho gusto. Tanto como lo puede hacer un soltero.
SRA. HIGGINS. ¿Puedo ir también, Sr. Doolittle? No me gustaría perderme su boda.
DOOLITTLE. Sería un honor su condescendencia, señora; y mi pobre mujer lo tomaría como un gran cumplido. Ella se siente muy deprimida, pensando en los días felices que no van a volver.
SRA. HIGGINS [levantándose] Voy a encargar el carruaje y a arreglarme. [Los hombres se levantan, excepto Higgins]. No voy tardar más de quince minutos. [Mientras se va a la puerta, Eliza entra, llevando un sombrero y abrochándose los guantes]. Voy a la iglesia para ver a tu padre casarse, Eliza. Sería mejor si vienes en el coche conmigo. El Coronel Pickering puede ir con el novio.
La Sra. Higgins sale. Eliza va hacia el medio de la habitación, entre la ventana central y la otomana. Pickering se une a ella.
DOOLITTLE. ¡Novio! ¡Qué palabra! De alguna manera, hace que un hombre se dé cuenta de su posición. [Toma su sombrero y se dirige hacia la puerta].
PICKERING. Antes de irme, Eliza, perdónele y vuelva con nosotros.
LIZA. No creo que papá me lo permita. ¿Lo harías, papá?
DOOLITTLE [triste pero generoso] Te entrenaron muy astutamente, Eliza, esos dos deportistas. Si hubiera sido solo uno de los dos, lo podrías haber atrapado. Pero ves, son dos; y uno acompañó el otro, se puede decir. [A Pickering] Fue hábil de su parte, coronel; pero no guardo rencor: habría dado lo mismo. :-) He sido víctima de una mujer después de otra toda mi vida; y no tengo resentimiento si ustedes dos han sacado lo mejor de Eliza. No voy a intervenir. Es hora de irnos, coronel. Hasta luego, Henry. Te veré en St. George, Eliza. [Sale].
PICKERING [ persuadiendo] Quédese con nosotros, Eliza. [Sigue a Doolittle].
Eliza sale al balcón para no quedarse sola con Higgins. Él se levanta y se une a ella allí. Inmediatamente ella vuelve la sala y va hacia la puerta; pero él sale rápidamente del balcón y pone la espalda contra la puerta antes de que ella llegue.
HIGGINS. Bueno, Eliza, has tenido un poco de tu propio pasado, como lo llamas. ¿Has tenido suficiente? ¿y vas a ser razonable? ¿O quieres más?
LIZA. Quiere que regrese solo para recoger sus zapatillas y aguante su genio y busque y lleve para usted.
HIGGINS. No he dicho que te quería de vuelta.
LIZA. Oh, no me diga. Entonces, ¿de qué estamos hablando?
HIGGINS. Sobre ti, no sobre mí. Si vuelves, te trataré como te he tratado siempre. No puedo cambiar mi naturaleza; y no tengo la intención de cambiar mis modales. Mis modales son exactamente los mismos que los del coronel Pickering.
LIZA. Eso no es verdad. Él trata a una florista como si fuera una duquesa.
HIGGINS. Y yo trato a una duquesa como si fuera una florista.
LIZA. Ya veo. [Ella se da la vuelta con compostura y se sienta en la otomana, mirando hacia la ventana]. Lo mismo a todos.
HIGGINS. Tal cual.
LIZA. Como mi padre.
HIGGINS [sonriendo, un poco desconcertado] Sin acceptar todos los puntos de la comparación, Eliza, es verdad que tu padre no es un esnob, y que se sentirá como en casa en cualquier situación de vida donde su fortuna excéntrica le conducirá. [Seriamente] El gran secreto, Eliza, no es tener malos o buenos modales, o cualquier otro tipo de modales, sino tener los mismos modales por todas las almas humanas: brevemente, comportarse como si fuera en el cielo, donde no hay carruajes de tercera clase, y una alma es tan buena como otra.
LIZA. Amen. Usted es un predicator nato.
HIGGINS [irritado] La cuestión no es si te trato rudamente sino si alguna vez me has oído tratar a otra persona mejor.
LIZA [ con repentina sinceridad] No me importa como me trata. No me importa que me jura. No me importa un ojo morado: no sería el primero. Pero [ y poniéndose frente a él] No admito que me desprecie.
HIGGINS. Entonces, fuera de mi camino; No voy a parar por tí. Tu hablas de mí como si fuera un autobús.
LIZA. Entonces, es un autobús: viene y va sin ninguna consideración para nadie. Pero puedo vivir sin usted: no creo que no pueda.
HIGGINS. Sé que puedes. Te dije que podías.
LIZA [herida, alejándose de él hacia el otro lado de la otomana mirando hacia el hogar] Sé que lo dijo, bruto. Quería deshacerse de mí.
HIGGINS. Mentirosa.
LIZA. Gracias. [Se sienta con dignidad].
HIGGINS. Supongo que nunca te preguntaste si podría arreglarmelas sin ti.
LIZA [seriamente] No trate de embaucarme. Tendrá que arreglarselas sin mí.
HIGGINS [arrogante] Puedo vivir sin nadie. Tengo mi propia alma; mi propia chispa de fuego divino. Pero [ con modestia repentina] Te echaré de menos, Eliza. [Se sienta junto a ella en la otomana]. He aprendido algo de tus conceptos estúpidos: Lo confieso con humildad y gratitud. Y me he acostumbrado a tu voz y apariencia. Y me agradan bastante.
LIZA. Bueno, tiene las dos en su gramófono y en su libro de fotógrafías. Cuando se sienta solo sin mí, puede encender la máquina. No hará daño a nadie.
HIGGINS. No puedo enceder tu alma. Déjame esos sentimientos; y puedes llevarte la voz y la cara. No son tú.
LIZA. Oh, usted es un demonio. Puede retorcer el corazón de una chica tan fácilmente como otro pudiera retorcerle los brazos para herirla. La Sra. Pearce me advirtió. Muchas veces ella quiso dejarlo; y usted la persuadió cada vez en el último minuto. Y ella no le importa ni un poco. Y no se preocupa ni un poco por mí.
HIGGINS. Me importa la vida, la humanidad; y tú eres una parte de ellas que se ha cruzado en mi camino y se ha construido en mi casa. ¿Qué más puedes pedir tú ni nadie?
LIZA. No me preocuparé por nadie que no se preocupe por mí.
HIGGINS. Principios comerciales, Eliza. Me gusta [reproduciendo su pronunciación de Covent Garden con exactitud profesional] vendiendo violetas, ¿no es así?
LIZA. No se burle de mí. Es mezquino burlarse de mí.
HIGGINS. Nunca me he burlado en mi vida. La burla no favorece ni al rostro ni al alma humanos. Estoy expresando mi justo desprecio por el comercialismo. No hago ni quiero hacer comercio con el afecto. Me llamas un bruto porque no podías adquirir un derecho sobre mí por ir a buscar mis pantuflas y encontrar mis gafas. Eres tonta: creo que una mujer que va a buscar las zapatillas de un hombre es una visión repulsiva: ¿alguna vez fui a buscar TUS zapatillas? Pienso mucho mejor de ti por tirármelas a la cara. No sirve de nada hacer de esclava y luego decir que quieres que te cuiden: ¿a quién le importa una esclava? Si vuelves, vuelve por el bien de la buena amistad; porque no obtendrás nada más. Has sacado mil veces más de mí que yo de ti; y si te atreves a montar los trucos de perrito de buscar y llevar zapatillas en contra de mi creación de una duquesa Eliza, te daré un portazo en tu tonta cara.
LIZA. ¿Por qué lo hizo si yo no le importaba?
¡Vaya! porque era mi trabajo.
LIZA. Nunca pensó en el problema que me causaría.
HIGGINS. ¿El mundo se habría hecho si su creador hubiera tenido miedo de crear problemas? Crear vida significa crear problemas. Solo existe una manera de escapar de los problemas; y esa es matar cosas. Ves que los cobardes siempre gritan que maten a personas problemáticas.
LIZA. No soy predicador: No me doy cuenta de esas cosas. Noto que no me nota.
HIGGINS [saltando y caminando impacientemente] Eliza: eres una idiota. Desperdicio los tesoros de mi mente miltónica extendiéndolos ante ti. De una vez por todas, entiende que yo sigo mi camino y hago mi trabajo sin importarme un comino lo que le ocurra a cualquiera de nosotros. No estoy intimidado, como tu padre y tu madrastra. Así que puedes volver o irte al diablo: lo que te venga en gana.
LIZA. ¿Para qué he de volver?
HIGGINS [rebotando sobre sus rodillas en la otomana e inclinándose sobre ella hacia Liza] Por el gusto de hacerlo. Por eso te tomé a mi cargo.
LIZA [desviando el rostro] ¿Y puede echarme mañana si no hago todo lo que quiere que haga?
HIGGINS. Sí; y tú puedes marcharte mañana si no hago todo lo que TÚ quieres que yo haga.
LIZA. ¿Y vivir con mi madrastra?
HIGGINS. Sí, o vender flores.
LIZA. ¡Oh! ¡Si solo pudiera volver a mi cesta de flores! ¡Sería independiente, tanto de usted como de mi padre y de todo el mundo! ¿Por qué me quitó mi independencia? ¿Por qué lo permití? Soy una esclava ahora, con toda mi ropa fina.
HIGGINS. Ni un poco. Te adoptaré como mi hija y estipularé dinero para ti, si quieres. ¿O preferirías casarte con Pickering?
LIZA [mirándolo con fiereza] No me casaría con USTED si me lo pidiera; y usted está más cerca de mi edad 'de lo que él es'.
HIGGINS [gentilmente] De lo que él lo está: no "de lo que él es".
LIZA [perdiendo la calma y levantándose] Hablaré como me plazca. Ya no es mi maestro.
HIGGINS [pensativamente] Pero no creo que Pickering lo haría. Es un solterón tan empedernido como yo.
LIZA. No es lo que deseo; y usted no lo cree. Siempre he tenido bastantes muchachos que me querían así. Freddy Hill me escribe dos y tres veces por día, páginas y páginas.
HIGGINS [desagradablemente sorprendido]¡Maldita sea su insolencia! [Retrocede y se sienta sobre los tacones].
LIZA. Si lo quiere, él tiene el derecho, pobre chico. Y sí me ama.
HIGGINS [levantándose de la otomana] No tienes derecho de alentarlo.
LIZA. Cada chica tiene el derecho de ser amada.
HIGGINS. ¡Qué! ¿Por tontos como ese?
LIZA. Freddy no es tonto. Y si es débil y pobre y me quiere, quizás me haría más feliz que mis superiores que me intimidan y no me quieren.
HIGGINS. ¿Él podría HACER algo de ti? Esa es la cuestión.
LIZA. Quizás yo podría hacer algo de él. Pero nunca pensé en que nosotros hiciéramos algo el uno del otro; y usted nunca piensa en otra cosa. Yo solo quiero ser natural.
HIGGINS. En resumen, ¿quieres que esté tan enamorado de ti como Freddy? ¿Es asi?
LIZA. No, no es así. Esa no es la clase de sentimiento que quiero de usted. Y no esté demasiado seguro de sí mismo o de mí. Podría haber sido una mala chica si hubiera querido. He visto más de algunas cosas que usted, a pesar de todos sus conocimientos. Las chicas como yo pueden arruinar a los caballeros bastante fácil para hacerles el amor. Y se desean muertos al minuto siguiente.
HIGGINS. Por supuesto que lo hacen. Entonces, ¿por qué diablos estamos peleando?
LIZA [muy afligida] Quiero un poco de amabilidad. Sé que soy una chica vulgar e ignorante, y usted un caballero instruido; pero no soy lodo bajo sus pies. Lo que ‘hací‘ [corrigiéndose a sí misma] lo que hice no fue por los vestidos y los taxis: lo hice porque nos caíamos simpáticos y 'vení' –vine– a interesarme por usted; no a querer que hiciera el amor conmigo, y no olvidando la diferencia entre nosotros, pero más amistosamente.
HIGGINS. Bueno, por supuesto. Así es como yo lo siento. Y como Pickering lo siente. Eliza: estás loca.
LIZA. Esa no es una respuesta apropiada para darme [se hunde en la silla junto al escritorio bañada en lágrimas].
HIGGINS. Es todo lo que conseguirás hasta que dejes de ser una idiota común. Si vas a ser una dama, tendrás que dejar de sentirte desatendida si los hombres que conoces no se pasan la mitad del tiempo lloriqueando por ti y la otra mitad poniéndote los ojos morados. Si no puedes soportar la frialdad de mi tipo de vida, y su presión, vuelve a las alcantarillas. Trabaja hasta que seas más una bestia que un ser humano; y después abraza, pelea y bebe hasta que te duermas. Oh, es una vida muy agradable, la vida de la alcantarilla. Es autentica: es cálida: es violenta:puedes sentirla a través de la piel más gruesa: puedes probarla y olerla sin ningún aprendizaje o trabajo. No como la ciencia y la literatura y la música clásica y la filosofía y el arte. Piensas que soy frío, insensible, egoísta, ¿verdad? Bueno: Vete con el tipo de gente que quieras. Casate con un cerdo sentimental u otro con mucho dinero, y labios carnosos para besarte y con un par de botas gruesas para patearte. Si no puedes apreciar lo que tienes, será mejor que obtengas lo que puedes apreciar.
LIZA [desesperada] Oh, es un tirano cruel. No puedo hablar con usted: lo vuelve todo contra mi: siempre estoy equivocada. Pero todo el tiempo sabe muy bien que no es más que un abusón. Sabe que no puedo volver a la alcantarilla como la llama, y que no tengo otros amigos verdaderos en el mundo sino usted y el coronel. Sabe muy bien que no podría vivir con un hombre vulgar después de ustedes dos; y es malo y cruel que usted me insulte fingiendo que podría. Piensa que tengo que volver a Wimpole Street porque no tengo ningún otro sitio que el hogar de mi padre. Pero no esté tan seguro de tenerme bajo sus pies para ser pisoteada y despreciada. Me casaré con Freddy, lo haré, tan pronto como él pueda mantenerme.
HIGGINS [sentándose a su lado] ¡Tonterías! te casarás con un embajador. Te casarás con el Gobernador General de la India o con el vicelord de Irlanda, o con alguien que quiera una reina adjunta. No voy a tirarle mi obra maestra a Freddy.
LIZA. Cree que me gusta que diga eso. Pero no he olvidado lo que dijo hace un minuto; y no seré persuadida como si fuera un bebé o un cachorro. Si no puedo tener amabilidad, tendré independencia.
HIGGINS. ¿Independencia? Eso es blasfemia de clase media. Todos dependemos el uno del otro, todas nuestras almas en la tierra.
LIZA [levantándose con decisión] Ya verá si dependo de usted. Si usted puede predicar, yo puedo enseñar. Voy a ser profesora.
HIGGINS. ¿Qué enseñarás, en el nombre del cielo?
LIZA. Lo que usted me enseñó. Enseñaré fonética.
HIGGINS. ¡Ja! ¡Ja! ¡Ja!
LIZA. Me ofreceré como asistente al profesor Nepean.
HIGGINS [levantándose hecho una furia] ¡Qué! ¡Ese impostor! ¡ese estafador! ¡ese ignorante lamebotas! ¡Enseñarle mis métodos! ¡mis descubrimientos! Da un paso en su dirección y te retorceré el cuello. [Pone las manos sobre ella]. ¿Oíste?
LIZA [desafiantemente, sin resistirse] Retuerza. ¿Qué me importa? Sabía que me golpearía algún día. [Él la deja ir, golpeando con rabia por haber perdido el control, y retrocede tan apresuradamente que tropieza al retroceder con su asiento en la otomana]. ¡Ajá! Ahora, sé cómo lidiar con usted. ¡ Qué tonta fui de no pensar en esto antes! No puede quitarme el conocimiento que me dio. Me dijo un día que tengo un oído más fino que usted. Y que puedo ser educada y amable con la gente, que es más que usted puede. ¡Aja! Está acabado, Henry Higgins, de verdad. Ahora no me importa más que [chasquea los dedos] sus abusos y su gran charla. Voy a anunciar en los diarios que su duquesa solo es una florista a la que usted enseñó, y que ella va enseñar a cualquiera a ser una duquesa, igual, en seis meses, por mil guineas. Oh, cuando pienso en mí misma arrastrandome a sus pies y siendo pisoteada y insultada, cuando solamente tenía que levantar el dedo para ser tan buena como usted, podría patearme.
Higgins (asombrado) ¡tú maldita mujerzuela insolente, tú! Pero es mejor que lloriquear, mejor que buscar pantuflas y que encontrar gafas, ¿verdad? [Levantándose] Cielos, Eliza, dije que haría de ti una mujer; y lo he hecho. Me gustas así.
LIZA. Sí: cambia y me halaga ahora que no le tengo miedo y puedo prescindir de usted.
HIGGINS. Por supuesto que sí, tontuela. Hace cinco minutos eras como una carga enorme alrededor de mi cuello. Ahora eres una torre de fuerza, un enorme acorazado. Tú, yo y Pickering seremos tres viejos solterones juntos en lugar de solo dos hombres y una chica tonta.
La Sra. Higgins vuelve, vestida para la boda. Eliza se vuelve instantáneamente fría y elegante.
SRA. HIGGINS. El carruaje está esperando, Eliza. ¿Estás preparada?
LIZA. Totalmente. ¿Viene el profesor?
SRA. HIGGINS. De ninguna manera. No sabe comportarse en la iglesia. Hace comentarios en voz alta todo el tiempo sobre la pronunciación del clérigo.
LIZA. Entonces no volveré a verle, profesor. Adiós. [Va hacia la puerta].
SRA. HIGGINS [acercandose a Higgins] Adiós, querido.
HIGGINS. Adiós, madre. [Va a besarla cuando se acuerda de una cosa]. Oh, a propósito, Eliza, encarga un jamón y un queso de Stilton, ¿quieres? Y me compras un par de guantes de piel de reno, número ocho y una corbata que coincida con mi nuevo traje, en Eale & Binman. Puedes eligir el color. [La voz feliz, descuidada, enérgica, muestra que él es incorregible].
LIZA [con desdén] Puede comprarlos usted mismo. [Sale].
SRA. HIGGINS. Me temo que has echado a perder a esa chica, Henry. Pero no pasa nada, querido: Te compraré la corbata y los guantes.
HIGGINS [alegre] Oh, no te molestes. Ella va a comprarlos, seguro. Adiós.
Se besan. La Sra. Higgins sale corriendo. Higgins, quedándose solo, sacude las monedas en su bolsillo; se rie por lo bajo; y se comporta de manera muy satisfecha.


________________________________________ El resto de la historia no tiene por qué mostrarse en acción, y de hecho, difícilmente sería necesario contarlo, si nuestra imaginación no estuviera tan debilitada por su perezosa dependencia a lo listo-para-armar y común del comercio 'Hágalo usted mismo', en el que el romance conserva sus existencias de "finales felices" para desajustar todas las historias. Ahora, la historia de Eliza Doolittle, aunque llamada romance debido a que la transformación que registra parece muy improbable, es bastante común. Cientos de jóvenes decididamente ambiciosas han logrado tales transformaciones desde que Nell Gwynne les dio el ejemplo al representar reinas y fascinar reyes en el teatro en el que comenzó vendiendo naranjas. Sin embargo, en todos lados la gente ha asumido, por la única razón de que se convirtió en la heroína de un romance, que debe haberse casado con el héroe. Esto es insostenible, no sólo porque su pequeño drama tiene que ser estropeado, si se actuó en base a tal suposición irreflexiva, pero porque la verdadera continuación es evidente para cualquier persona con un sentido de la naturaleza humana en general y del instinto femenino en particular.
Cuando Eliza dice a Higgins que no se casaría con él incluso si se lo pidiera, no estaba coqueteando: ella anunciaba una decisión bien considerada. Cuando un soltero interesa, domina y enseña y se vuelve importante para una soltera, como Higgins con Eliza, ella siempre, si tiene carácter suficiente, considera muy seriamente si ella quiere interpretar el papel para ser la esposa de ese soltero, especialmente si él está tan poco interesado en un casamiento que una mujer determinada y dedicada podría capturarle si ella resolviera atraparle. Su decisión dependerá en gran medida de si ella es realmente libre de elegir; y eso, una vez más, dependerá de su edad e ingresos. Si está al final de su juventud y no tiene seguridad para su sustento, se casará con él porque debe casarse con cualquiera que pueda mantenerla. Pero a la edad de Eliza, una chica linda no siente esa presión; ella se siente libre de elegir. Por eso es guiada por su instinto en la materia. El instinto de Eliza le dice que no se case con Higgins. No le dice que lo abandone. No hay la más mínima duda, de que él continuará siendo uno de los intereses más fuertes en la vida de ella. Sería sumamente forzado si hubiera otra mujer que pudiera suplantarla con él. Pero como se siente segura de él en ese último punto, no tiene ninguna duda sobre su curso, y no tendría ninguna, incluso aunque la diferencia de veinte años de edad, que parece tan grande para la juventud, no existiera entre ellos.
Como nuestros propios instintos no son solicitados para su conclusión, veamos si podemos descubrir alguna razón en ello. Cuando Higgins pretextó que su indiferencia hacia las mujeres jóvenes en la escena con el hecho de que tenían un rival irresistible en su madre, él dio la pista de su soltería empedernida. El caso es poco común solo en la medida en que las madres excepcionales son poco comunes. Si un muchacho imaginativo tiene una madre suficientemente rica que tiene inteligencia, gracia personal, dignidad de carácter sin dureza y un cultivado sentido del mejor arte de su tiempo para permitirle embellecer su casa, ella establece un estándar para él contra el cual muy pocas mujeres pueden luchar, además de tener como consecuencia para él una separación de los afectos, su sentido de la belleza y el idealismo de los impulsos específicamente sexuales. Esto lo convierte en un enigma para la enorme cantidad de personas no cultivadas que han sido educadas en hogares insípidos por padres comunes o desagradables, y a quienes, en consecuencia, la literatura, la pintura, la escultura, la música y las relaciones de afecto personales se presentan como formas de sexo, si es que llega alguna. La palabra pasión no significa nada más para ellos; y que Higgins pudiera tener una pasión por la fonética e idealizar a su madre en lugar de a Eliza, les parecería absurdo y antinatural. Sin embargo, cuando miramos a nuestro alrededor y vemos que casi nadie es demasiado feo o desagradable para encontrar una esposa o un marido si él o ella lo desea, mientras que muchas solteronas y solterones están por encima del promedio en calidad y cultura, no podemos dejar de sospechar que el desenredo del sexo de las asociaciones con las que se lo confunde con tanta frecuencia, un desenredo que logran las personas geniales mediante el simple análisis intelectual, a veces es producido o ayudado por la fascinación de los padres.
Ahora, aunque Eliza era incapaz de explicarse a sí misma los formidables poderes de resistencia de Higgins al hechizo que postró a Freddy a primera vista, fue instintivamente consciente de que nunca podría obtener un control completo de él, ni interponerse entre él y su madre (la primera necesidad de la mujer casada). Para decirlo brevemente, ella sabía que, por alguna razón misteriosa, él no tenía las características de un hombre casado, de acuerdo con su concepción de un marido como alguien para quien ella sería su ser más próximo, querido y cálido. Incluso si no hubiera habido una madre rival, ella se habría negado a aceptar un interés en sí misma que fuera secundario a los intereses filosóficos. Si la señora Higgins hubiera muerto, aún habría estado Milton y el alfabeto universal. La observación de Landor de que para aquellos que tienen el mayor poder de amar, el amor es un asunto secundario, no habría sido del agrado de Eliza. Pon eso junto con el resentimiento de Eliza por la superioridad dominante de Higgins y su desconfianza hacia la persuasiva habilidad de este para eludirla y escapar a su ira cuando él había ido demasiado lejos con su acoso impetuoso, y verás que el instinto de Eliza tenía buenas razones para advertirle que no se casara con su Pigmalión.
¿Y ahora, con quién se casó Eliza? Si Higgins era un solterón predestinado, seguro que ella no era una solterona predestinada. Bueno, eso puede ser contado rápidamente a los que no lo han adivinado desde los indicios dados por ella.
Casi inmediatamente después de que Eliza fue obligada a declarar su determinación definida de no casarse con Higgins, ella menciona que el joven Sr. Frederick Eynsford Hill está manifestando todos los día por correo su amor por ella. Ahora, Freddy es joven, tiene casi veinte años menos que Higgins: es un caballero ( o como Eliza le llamaría, un ricachón), y habla como uno; se viste bien, el coronel lo trata como a un igual, él le ama sencillamente y no se considera su maestro, ni probablemente nunca quisiera dominarla aunque no sea de la misma clase social. Eliza no tiene sentido por la tradición tonta romántica que todas a todas mujeres les gustan ser dominadas si no abusadas o golpeadas. ''Cuando vas a las mujeres ", dice Nietzsche," lleva tu látigo contigo''. Los déspotes razonables nunca han limitado esa precaución a las mujeres: Han llevado sus látigos para tratar con hombres, y sido idealizados servilmente por los hombres amenazados por el látigo mucho más que por las mujeres. Sin duda hay mujeres serviles como hay hombres serviles; y las mujeres, como hombres, admiran a los que son más fuertes que sí mismos. Pero admirar a una persona fuerte y vivir bajo el pulgar de esa persona fuerte son dos cosas diferentes. Es posible que los débiles no sean admirados y adorados; pero de ninguna manera disgustan o les rehúyen; y parece que nunca tienen la menor dificultad para casarse con personas que son demasiado buenas para ellos. Pueden fallar en las emergencias; pero la vida no es una emergencia prolongada: es sobre todo una serie de situaciones para las que no se necesita una fuerza excepcional, y a las que incluso las personas más débiles pueden hacer frente si tienen una pareja más fuerte para ayudarlas. En consecuencia, es una verdad generalizada la evidencia de que las personas fuertes, masculinas o femeninas, no solo no se casan con personas más fuertes, sino que no muestran ninguna preferencia por ellas al seleccionar sus amigos. Cuando un león encuentra a un otro con un rugido más fuerte "el primer león piensa que el último es un fastidio". El hombre o la mujer que se siente lo suficientemente fuerte como para dos, busca cualquier otra cualidad en una pareja que no sea la fuerza.
Lo opuesto también es cierto. Las personas débiles quieren casarse con personas fuertes que no las asusten demasiado; y esto con frecuencia las lleva a cometer el error que describimos metafóricamente como "morder más de lo que pueden masticar". Quieren demasiado por muy poco; y cuando el trato no es razonable más allá de lo tolerable, la unión se vuelve imposible: termina cuando la parte más débil es descartada o cargada como una cruz, lo que es peor. Las personas que no solo son débiles, sino también tontas u obtusas, a menudo se encuentran en estas dificultades.
Siendo este el estado de los asuntos humanos, ¿qué es lo que seguramente hará Eliza cuando se coloque entre Freddy y Higgins? ¿Esperará con ansias una vida de búsqueda de las zapatillas de Higgins o una vida de Freddy buscando las de ella? No puede haber duda sobre la respuesta. A menos que Freddy le sea biológicamente repulsivo, y que Higgins le sea biológicamente atractivo en un grado que supere a todos sus otros instintos, ella, si se casa con alguno de ellos, lo hará con Freddy.
Y eso es justo lo que hizo Eliza.
Ocurrieron complicaciones; pero fueron económicas, no románticas. Freddy no tenía dinero ni ocupación. La renta vitalicia de su madre, una última reliquia de la opulencia de Largelady Park, le había permitido vivir con estrecheces en Earlscourt con un aire de elegancia, pero no procurar una educación secundaria seria para sus hijos, y mucho menos dar una profesión al muchacho. Un trabajo de oficina a treinta chelines semanales estaba por debajo de la dignidad de Freddy y, además, era extremadamente desagradable para él. Sus perspectivas consistían en la esperanza de que si mantenía las apariencias alguien haría algo por él. El 'algo' aparecía vagamente en su imaginación como una secretaría privada o un trabajo fácil de algún tipo. A su madre le aparecía quizás como un matrimonio con una dama de medios, que no podría resistir la simpatía de su hijo. ¡Imagínese sus sentimientos cuando se casó con una florista que se había convertido en déclassée en circunstancias insólitas que ahora eran notorias!
Es cierto que la situación de Eliza no parecía del todo inelegible. Su padre, aunque anteriormente era un recolector de basura, y ahora fantásticamente desclasado, se había vuelto extremadamente popular en la sociedad más elegante por un talento social que triunfaba sobre todos los prejuicios y desventajas. Rechazado por la clase media, a la que odiaba, se había disparado de inmediato a los círculos más altos por su ingenio, su habilidad con los residuos (que llevaba como una pancarta), y su trascendencia nietzscheana del bien y el mal. En las íntimas cenas ducales se sentaba a la derecha de la duquesa; y en las casas de campo fumaba en la bodega, y muy considerado por el mayordomo cuando no estaba comiendo en el comedor y siendo consultado por los ministros del gabinete. Pero hacer todo esto con cuatro mil al año le resultaba casi tan difícil como a la Sra. Eynsford Hill vivir en Earlscourt con un ingreso tan miserable que no tengo el corazón para revelar su cifra exacta. Se negó absolutamente a agregar la última gota a su carga por contribuir para el sustento de Eliza.
De esta manera, Freddy y Eliza, ahora el Sr. y la Sra. Eynsford Hill, habrían pasado una luna de miel sin un centavo, si no fuera por un regalo de bodas de 500 libras del coronel a Eliza. Duró mucho tiempo, porque Freddy no sabía cómo gastar dinero, nunca había tenido dinero para gastar, y Eliza, entrenada socialmente por un par de solterones, usaba su ropa mientras se mantuviera unida y se viera bonita, sin considerar que llevaba muchos meses pasada ​​de moda. Aun así, 500 libras no durarán para siempre a dos jóvenes; y ambos lo sabían, y Eliza también sentía que al final deberían cambiar por sí mismos. Podía quedarse en la calle Wimpole porque había llegado a ser su hogar; pero era muy consciente de que no debía alojar allí a Freddy, y que no sería bueno para la personalidad de él, si lo hiciera.
No es que los solteros de la calle Wimpole se opusieran. Cuando los consultó, Higgins se negó a preocuparse por su problema de vivienda cuando la solución era tan simple. El deseo de Eliza de tener a Freddy en la casa con ella no pareció tener mayor importancia que si hubiera querido un mueble extra en el dormitorio. Las súplicas acerca del carácter de Freddy y la obligación moral de él de ganarse la vida se perdieron en Higgins. Negó que Freddy tuviera carácter alguno, y declaró que si intentaba realizar algún trabajo útil, alguna persona competente tendría la molestia de deshacerlo: un procedimiento que implicaba una pérdida neta para la comunidad y una gran contrariedad para el propio Freddy, quien obviamente estaba destinado por la naturaleza para un trabajo tan liviano como el de divertir a Eliza, que, según Higgins, era una ocupación mucho más útil y honorable que trabajar en la ciudad. Cuando Eliza volvió a referirse a su proyecto de enseñanza de fonética, Higgins no disminuyó ni un ápice de su violenta oposición. Él dijo que hasta dentro de diez años ella no estaría calificada para entrometerse con su tema favorito; y como era evidente que el coronel estaba de acuerdo con él, ella sintió que no podía ir contra ambos en este grave asunto, y que no tenía derecho, sin el consentimiento de Higgins, a explotar el conocimiento que él le había dado; el conocimiento de Higgins a ella le parecía tan propiedad privada como su reloj: Eliza no era comunista. Además, ella estaba supersticiosamente dedicada a ambos, más completa y francamente después de su matrimonio que antes.
Fue el coronel quien finalmente resolvió el problema, lo que le había costado una reflexión bastante confusa. Un día le preguntó a Eliza, con bastante timidez, si había renunciado a su idea de tener una florería. Ella respondió que lo había pensado, pero se lo había quitado de la cabeza, porque el coronel había dicho, aquél día en casa de la Sra. Higgins, que nunca lo haría. El coronel confesó que, cuando dijo eso, no se había recuperado del todo de la deslumbrante impresión del día anterior. Esa noche plantearon el asunto a Higgins. El único comentario brindado por él casi llevó a una seria discusión con Eliza. Fue al efecto que ella tendría en Freddy un recadero ideal.
El propio Freddy fue el siguiente en ser sondeado sobre el tema. Dijo que había estado pensando en una tienda propia; aunque debido a sin falta de dinero, lo había pensado como un lugar pequeño, en el que Eliza vendería tabaco en un mostrador, mientras que él vendía periódicos en el opuesto. Pero estuvo de acuerdo en que sería extraordinariamente alegre ir todas las mañanas temprano a Covent Garden con Eliza y comprar flores en la escena de su primer encuentro: un sentimiento que le valió muchos besos de parte de su esposa. Añadió que siempre había tenido miedo de proponer algo por el estilo, porque Clara haría una terrible pelea acerca de dar un paso que dañaría sus posibilidades matrimoniales, y no podía esperarse que, después de aferrarse durante tantos años a eso, que a su madre le gustara ese paso de la escalera social, en la que el comercio minorista es imposible.
Esta dificultad fue eliminada por un evento altamente inesperado por la madre de Freddy. Clara, en el curso de sus incursiones en aquellos círculos artísticos que eran los más elevados a su alcance, descubrió que se suponía que su capacidad coloquial incluía conocimientos básicos en las novelas del Sr. H. G. Wells. Los tomó prestados de varias direcciones con tanta energía que se los devoró en dos meses. El resultado fue una transformación de un tipo bastante común hoy en día. Un Hechos de los Apóstoles moderno llenaría cincuenta Biblias completas si alguien fuera capaz de escribirlo.
La pobre Clara, que se mostraba ante Higgins y su madre como una persona desagradable y ridícula, y para su propia madre como un fracaso social de alguna manera inexplicable, nunca se había visto bajo otro cariz; ya que, aunque hasta cierto punto fue ridiculizada e imitada en West Kensington como todos los demás, fue aceptada como racional y normal, ¿o deberíamos decir inevitable? tipo de ser humano. En el peor de los casos la llamaban La Chupatintas; pero para ellos, no más que para sí misma, se le había ocurrido que estaba empujando el aire, y empujándolo en una dirección equivocada. Sin embargo, no era feliz. Estaba cada vez más desesperada. Su único activo, el hecho de que su madre era lo que el verdulero de Epsom llamaba una dama 'de apariencias', aparentemente no tenía valor de cambio. Le había impedido que se educara, porque la única educación que podía haber afrontado era la educación con la hija del verdulero de Earlscourt. La había llevado a buscar la sociedad de la clase de su madre; y esa clase simplemente no la querría, porque era mucho más pobre que el verdulero y, lejos de poder pagar una mucama, no podía pagar ni una criada, y en casa tenía que arreglárselas con una sirvienta para todo. Bajo tales circunstancias, nada podría darle el aspecto de ser un producto genuino de Largelady Park. Y, sin embargo, su tradición la hacía considerar un matrimonio con cualquiera a su alcance como una humillación insoportable. Los comerciantes y los profesionales en cierto modo la odiaban. Corrió tras pintores y novelistas; pero ella no les encantaba; y sus atrevidos intentos de aprender y practicar la conversación artística y literaria los irritó. En resumen, era un completo fracaso, una ignorante, incompetente, pretenciosa, desagradable, sin un centavo, una pequeña snob inútil; y aunque no admitía estas descalificaciones (porque nadie se enfrenta a verdades desagradables de este tipo hasta que la posibilidad de una salida da cuenta de ellas) sintió sus efectos demasiado agudamente para estar satisfecha con su situación.
Clara abrió los ojos asombrada cuando se le despertó repentinamente el entusiasmo por una chica de su edad que la deslumbró y le provocó el deseo de tomarla como modelo y ganar su amistad y descubrió que esta exquisita aparición había salido de la miseria en unos pocos meses. La sacudió tan violentamente, que cuando el Sr. H.G. Wells la levantó en la punta de su pluma más destacada y la colocó en el ángulo de visión desde el cual la vida que llevaba y la sociedad a la que se aferraba aparecían en su verdadera relación con las necesidades humanas reales y una digna estructura social, efectuó una transformación y un convencimiento de pecado comparables a las hazañas más sensacionales del General Booth o Gypsy Smith. El esnobismo de Clara se reventó. De repente la vida comenzó a moverse con ella. Sin saber cómo ni por qué, comenzó a hacer amigos y enemigos. Algunos de los conocidos para quienes ella había sido un sufrimiento tedioso o indiferente o ridículo, la dejaron: otros se volvieron cordiales. Para su sorpresa, descubrió que algunas personas "bastante agradables" estaban saturadas de Wells, y que esta accesibilidad a las ideas era el secreto de su amabilidad. La gente a la que ella había considerado profundamente religiosa, y había tratado de conciliar en esa táctica con resultados desastrosos, de repente se interesó en ella y reveló una hostilidad a la religión convencional que ella nunca había creído posible, excepto entre los personajes más desesperados. La hicieron leer a Galsworthy; y Galsworthy expuso la vanidad de Largelady Park y la completó. La exasperaba pensar que el calabozo en el que había languidecido durante tantos años infelices había estado desbloqueado todo el tiempo, y que los impulsos con los que tanto había luchado y sofocado con el fin de mantenerse bien con la sociedad, eran precisamente aquellos con los que solo ella podría haber entrado en cualquier tipo de contacto humano sincero. A la luz de estos descubrimientos, y el alboroto de su reacción, ella hizo el ridículo con tanta libertad y de manera tan llamativa como cuando adoptó de manera tan imprudente la palabrota de Eliza en el salón de la señora Higgins; para el recién nacido Wells tuvo que hallar sus modales casi tan ridículamente como un bebé; pero nadie odia a un bebé por sus ineptitudes, o piensa lo peor de él por tratar de comer los fósforos; y Clara no perdió amigos por sus locuras. Se rieron de ella en su cara esta vez; y ella tuvo que defenderse y pelear lo mejor que pudo.
Cuando Freddy devolvió la visita a Earlscourt (lo que nunca hizo cuando podía ayudarlo) para hacer el anuncio desolador de que él y su Eliza estaban pensando en mancillar los blasones de Largelady abriendo una tienda, encontró que la gente de la casa ya estaba convulsionada por un anuncio previo de Clara de que ella también iba a trabajar en una antigua tienda de muebles en Dover Street, que había sido iniciada por un seguidor de Wells. Clara debía este puesto, después de todo, a su antiguo logro social de Presionar. Había decidido que, a pesar de todo, vería al Sr. Wells en persona; y había logrado su fin en una fiesta en el jardín. Había decidido que, a pesar de todo, vería al Sr. Wells en persona; y había logrado su fin en una fiesta en el jardín. El Sr. Wells cumplió con sus expectativas. La edad no lo había marchitado, ni podía agotar su variedad infinita de antiguas costumbres en media hora. Su agradable pulcritud y pequeño tamaño, las manos y los pies pequeños, su cerebro repleto, accesibilidad sin afectación y una cierta fina preocupación que lo rotulaban como susceptible desde la punta del pelo hasta la punta del pie, demostraron ser irresistibles. Clara no habló de nada más durante las semanas y semanas posteriores. Y como hablaba con la señora de la tienda de muebles, y esa señora también deseaba, sobre todo, conocer al Sr. Wells y venderle cosas bonitas, le ofreció a Clara un trabajo, ante la posibilidad de lograr ese fin a través de ella.
Y así ocurrió que la suerte de Eliza se mantuvo, y se desvaneció la esperada oposición a la florería. La tienda está en la galería de una estación de tren no muy lejos de Victoria and Albert Museum; y si usted vive en ese vecindario, puede ir allí cualquier día y comprar a Eliza una flor para el ojal.
Ahora aquí está una última oportunidad para una novela. ¿No le gustaría estar seguro de que la tienda fue un gran éxito, gracias a los encantos de Eliza y su anterior experiencia comercial en Covent Garden? ¡Ay! la verdad es la verdad: la tienda no rindió por mucho tiempo, simplemente porque Eliza y su Freddy no sabían cómo mantenerla. Es cierto que Eliza no tuvo que comenzar desde el principio: conocía los nombres y los precios de las flores más baratas; y su euforia no tuvo límites cuando descubrió que Freddy, como todos los jóvenes educados en escuelas baratas, pretenciosas y completamente ineficientes, sabía un poco de latín. Era muy poco, pero lo suficiente como para que él le pareciera un Porson o Bentley, y para que se sientiera cómodo con la nomenclatura botánica. Lamentablemente él no sabía nada más; y Eliza, aunque podía contar el dinero hasta dieciocho chelines más o menos, y había adquirido cierta familiaridad con el lenguaje de Milton en su lucha por calificar para ganar la apuesta de Higgins, no podía escribir una factura sin deshonrar por completo al establecimiento. La facultad de Freddy de poder decir en latin que Balbus construyó una muralla y que la Galia estaba dividada en tres partes no ayudaba a la contabilidad ni al negocio: el coronel Pickering tuvo que enseñarle todo acerca de la chequera y de la cuenta bancaria. Y la pareja no era fácil de enseñar. Freddy apoyó a Eliza en su obstinada negativa a creer que podrían ahorrar dinero empleando a un contable con algún conocimiento del negocio. ¿Cómo, argumentaron, sería posible ahorrar dinero haciendo gastos extra cuando ya era difícil llegar al final de mes? Pero el coronel, después de ayudarles muchas veces a llegar a final de mes, finalmente insistó amablemente; y Eliza avergonzada por haberle pedido muchas veces, y picada por el divertidísimo escarnio de Higgins, para quien la idea de Freddy teniendo cualquier éxito era una broma que nunca aburría, entendió el hecho de que el negocio, como la fonética, tenía que ser aprendido.
Sobre el lastimoso espectáculo de la pareja pasando las tardes en escuelas de taquigrafía y clases politécnicas, aprendiendo contabilidad y mecanografía con empleados incipientes, varones y mujeres, de las escuelas primarias, permítame no detenerme. Incluso hubo clases en la London School of Economics, y una humilde solicitud personal al director de esa institución para recomendar un curso relacionado con el negocio de las flores. Él, siendo humorista, les explicó el método del célebre ensayo de Dickens sobre la metafísica china del caballero que leyó un artículo sobre China y un artículo sobre la metafísica y combinó la información. Sugirió que deberían combinar la London School con Kew Gardens. Eliza, a quien el procedimiento del caballero de Dickens parecía perfectamente correcto (como en realidad lo era) y no en lo más divertido (que era solo su ignorancia) siguió el consejo con toda seriedad. Pero el esfuerzo que le costó la humillación más profunda fue una petición a Higgins, cuya fantasía artística preferida, junto con el verso de Milton, era la caligrafía, y que él mismo escribiía con una muy hermosa letra italiana, que le enseñara a escribir. Él declaró que ella era congénitamente incapaz de formar una sola letra digna de la menor de las palabras de Milton; pero ella insistió; y nuevamente se lanzó repentinamente a la tarea de enseñarle con una combinación de intensidad tormentosa, paciencia concentrada y ocasionales estallidos de interesantes disquisiciones sobre la belleza y la nobleza, la prestigiosa misión y el destino, de la escritura humana. Eliza terminó adquiriendo una letra extremadamente poco comercial que era una extensión positiva de su belleza personal, y gastando tres veces más en papelería que cualquier otra persona, ya que ciertas calidades y formas del papel se hicieron indispensables para ella. Ni siquiera podía dirigir un sobre de la forma habitual porque hacía que los márgenes fueran todos incorrectos.
Para la joven pareja, sus días de escuela comercial fueron un período de desgracia y desesperación. Parecían no estar aprendiendo nada sobre las florerías. Por fin, lo dejaron como desesperanzados, y se sacudieron para siempre de los pies el polvo de las escuelas de taquigrafía, los politécnicos y la London School of Economics. Además, el negocio, de alguna manera misteriosa, estaba comenzando a cuidarse solo. De alguna manera, habían olvidado sus objeciones para emplear a otras personas. Llegaron a la conclusión de que su propia manera era la mejor, y que tenían un talento realmente notable para los negocios. El Coronel, que había sido obligado durante algunos años a mantener una suma suficiente en la cuenta corriente de sus banqueros para compensar sus déficits, encontró que la provisión era innecesaria: los jóvenes estaban prosperando. Es cierto que no hubo un juego limpio entre ellos y sus competidores en el comercio. Sus fines de semana en el país no les costaron nada y ahorraron el precio de sus cenas dominicales; para el automóvil estaba el del coronel; y él y Higgins pagaron las cuentas del hotel. El Sr. F. Hill, florista y frutero (pronto descubrieron que había dinero en los espárragos; y los espárragos condujeron a otras verduras), tenía un aire que marcaba el negocio como elegante; y en la vida privada todavía era don Frederick Eynsford Hill. No es que hubiera ninguna fanfarronería al respecto: nadie, excepto Eliza, sabía que había sido bautizado como Frederick Challoner. Eliza no presumía de nada.
Eso es todo. Así es como ha resultado. Es asombroso lo mucho que Eliza aún se las arregla para inmiscuirse en la limpieza de la calle Wimpole a pesar de la tienda y de su propia familia. Y es notable que a pesar de que ella nunca regaña a su esposo, y francamente ama al coronel como si fuera su hija favorita, nunca ha abandonado el hábito de regañar a Higgins, establecido en la noche fatal cuando ella ganó la apuesta hecha por él. Ella le quiebra la cabeza a la más mínima provocación, o a ninguna. Él ya no se atreve a burlarse de ella presumiendo una inferioridad abismal de la mente de Freddy respecto de la propia. Él atormenta, acosa y se burla; pero ella lo enfrenta tan despiadadamente que el coronel tiene que pedirle de vez en cuando que sea más amable con Higgins; y esa es la única petición suya que trae una expresión maliciosa a la cara de Eliza. Nada más que alguna emergencia o calamidad lo suficientemente grande como para derribar todos los gustos y disgustos y devolver a ambos a su humanidad común -¡y que puedan ser perdonados de cualquier juicio semejante!- cambiará nunca esto. Ella sabe que Higgins no la necesita, al igual que su padre no la necesitaba. La escrupulosidad con la que le contó ese día que se había acostumbrado a tenerla allí y que dependía de ella para todo tipo de pequeños servicios, y que la echaría de menos si se iba (a Freddy o al coronel nunca se les habría ocurrido decir nada por el estilo), profundiza su certeza interna de que ella "para él no es más que las zapatillas", pero también tiene la sensación de que su indiferencia es más profunda que el capricho de las almas más comunes. Ella está inmensamente interesada en él. Incluso tiene momentos secretos y maliciosos en los que desea poder estar con él a solas, en una isla desierta, lejos de todos los lazos y con nadie más en el mundo para tener en cuenta, y simplemente sacarlo de su pedestal y verlo haciendo el amor como cualquier otro. hombre. Todos tenemos imaginaciones privadas de ese tipo. Pero cuando se trata de negocios, de la vida que ella realmente lleva, a diferencia de la vida de sueños y fantasías, le gusta Freddy y le gusta el coronel; y a ella no le gustan Higgins y el Sr. Doolittle. A Galatea nunca le gusta Pigmalión: su relación con ella es demasiado divina para ser del todo agradable.
unit 1
ACT V. Mrs. Higgins's drawing-room.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 2
She is at her writing-table as before.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 3
The parlor-maid comes in.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 4
THE PARLOR-MAID [at the door] Mr. Henry, mam, is downstairs with Colonel Pickering.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 5
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 6
Well, show them up.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 7
THE PARLOR-MAID.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 8
They're using the telephone, mam.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 9
Telephoning to the police, I think.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 10
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 11
What!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 12
THE PARLOR-MAID [coming further in and lowering her voice] Mr. Henry's in a state, mam.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 13
I thought I'd better tell you.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 14
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 15
If you had told me that Mr. Henry was not in a state it would have been more surprising.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 16
Tell them to come up when they've finished with the police.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 17
I suppose he's lost something.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 18
THE PARLOR-MAID.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 19
Yes, maam [going].
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 20
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 21
Go upstairs and tell Miss Doolittle that Mr. Henry and the Colonel are here.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 22
Ask her not to come down till I send for her.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 23
THE PARLOR-MAID.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 24
Yes, mam.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 25
Higgins bursts in.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 26
He is, as the parlor-maid has said, in a state.
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 27
HIGGINS.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 28
Look here, mother: here's a confounded thing!
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 29
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 30
Yes, dear.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 31
Good-morning.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 32
[He checks his impatience and kisses her, whilst the parlor-maid goes out].
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 33
What is it?
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 34
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 35
Eliza's bolted.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 36
MRS. HIGGINS [calmly continuing her writing] You must have frightened her.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 37
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 38
Frightened her!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 39
nonsense!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 42
What am I to do?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 43
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 44
Do without, I'm afraid, Henry.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 45
The girl has a perfect right to leave if she chooses.
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 46
HIGGINS [wandering distractedly across the room] But I can't find anything.
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 47
I don't know what appointments I've got.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 48
I'm— [Pickering comes in.
2 Translations, 5 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 49
Mrs. Higgins puts down her pen and turns away from the writing-table].
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 50
PICKERING [shaking hands] Good-morning, Mrs. Higgins.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 51
Has Henry told you?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 52
[He sits down on the ottoman].
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 53
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 54
What does that ass of an inspector say?
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 55
Have you offered a reward?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 56
unit 57
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 58
Of course.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 59
What are the police for?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 60
What else could we do?
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 61
[He sits in the Elizabethan chair].
2 Translations, 5 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 62
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 63
The inspector made a lot of difficulties.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 64
I really think he suspected us of some improper purpose.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 65
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 66
Well, of course he did.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 68
Really!
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 69
[She sits down again, deeply vexed].
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 70
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 71
But we want to find her.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 72
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 73
We can't let her go like this, you know, Mrs. Higgins.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 74
What were we to do?
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 75
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 76
You have no more sense, either of you, than two children.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 77
Why— The parlor-maid comes in and breaks off the conversation.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 78
THE PARLOR-MAID.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 79
Mr. Henry: a gentleman wants to see you very particular.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 80
He's been sent on from Wimpole Street.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 81
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 82
Oh, bother!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 83
I can't see anyone now.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 84
Who is it?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 85
THE PARLOR-MAID.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 86
A Mr. Doolittle, Sir.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 87
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 88
Doolittle!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 89
Do you mean the dustman?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 90
THE PARLOR-MAID.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 91
Dustman!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 92
Oh no, sir: a gentleman.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 93
HIGGINS [springing up excitedly] By George, Pick, it's some relative of hers that she's gone to.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 94
Somebody we know nothing about.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 95
[To the parlor-maid] Send him up, quick.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 96
THE PARLOR-MAID.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 97
Yes, Sir.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 98
[She goes].
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 99
HIGGINS [eagerly, going to his mother] Genteel relatives!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 100
now we shall hear something.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 101
[He sits down in the Chippendale chair].
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 102
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 103
Do you know any of her people?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 104
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 105
Only her father: the fellow we told you about.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 106
THE PARLOR-MAID [announcing] Mr. Doolittle.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 107
[She withdraws].
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 108
Doolittle enters.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 109
He is brilliantly dressed in a new fashionable frock-coat, with white waistcoat and grey trousers.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 110
A flower in his buttonhole, a dazzling silk hat, and patent leather shoes complete the effect.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 111
He is too concerned with the business he has come on to notice Mrs. Higgins.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 112
He walks straight to Higgins, and accosts him with vehement reproach.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 113
DOOLITTLE [indicating his own person] See here!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 114
Do you see this?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 115
You done this.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 116
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 117
Done what, man?
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 118
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 119
This, I tell you.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 120
Look at it.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 121
Look at this hat.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 122
Look at this coat.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 123
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 124
Has Eliza been buying you clothes?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 125
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 126
Eliza!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 127
not she.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 128
Not half.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 129
Why would she buy me clothes?
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 130
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 131
Good-morning, Mr. Doolittle.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 132
Won't you sit down?
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 134
[He approaches her and shakes her proffered hand].
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 135
Thank you.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 136
[He sits down on the ottoman, on Pickering's right].
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 137
I am that full of what has happened to me that I can't think of anything else.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 138
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 139
What the dickens has happened to you?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 140
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 142
But this is something that you done to me: yes, you, Henry Higgins.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 143
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 144
Have you found Eliza?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 145
That's the point.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 146
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 147
Have you lost her?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 148
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 149
Yes.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 150
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 151
You have all the luck, you have.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 152
I ain't found her; but she'll find me quick enough now after what you done to me.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 153
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 154
But what has my son done to you, Mr. Doolittle?
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 155
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 156
Done to me!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 157
Ruined me.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 158
Destroyed my happiness.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 159
Tied me up and delivered me into the hands of middle class morality.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 160
HIGGINS [rising intolerantly and standing over Doolittle] You're raving.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 161
You're drunk.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 162
You're mad.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 163
I gave you five pounds.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 164
After that I had two conversations with you, at half-a-crown an hour.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 165
I've never seen you since.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 166
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 167
Oh!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 168
Drunk!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 169
am I?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 170
Mad!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 171
am I?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 172
Tell me this.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 174
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 175
What!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 176
Ezra D. Wannafeller!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 177
He's dead.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 178
[He sits down again carelessly].
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 179
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 180
Yes: he's dead; and I'm done for.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 182
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 183
Oh, after your last visit I remember making some silly joke of the kind.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 184
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 185
Ah!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 186
you may well call it a silly joke.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 187
It put the lid on me right enough.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 190
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 191
The devil he does!
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 192
Whew!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 193
[Brightening suddenly] What a lark!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 194
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 195
A safe thing for you, Doolittle.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 196
They won't ask you twice.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 197
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 198
It ain't the lecturing I mind.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 199
I'll lecture them blue in the face, I will, and not turn a hair.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 200
It's making a gentleman of me that I object to.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 201
Who asked him to make a gentleman of me?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 202
I was happy.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 203
I was free.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 204
I touched pretty nigh everybody for money when I wanted it, same as I touched you, Henry Higgins.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 205
Now I am worrited; tied neck and heels; and everybody touches me for money.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 206
It's a fine thing for you, says my solicitor.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 207
Is it?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 208
says I.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 209
You mean it's a good thing for you, I says.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 212
Now they finds out that I'm not a healthy man and can't live unless they looks after me twice a day.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 213
In the house I'm not let do a hand's turn for myself: somebody else must do it and touch me for it.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 214
A year ago I hadn't a relative in the world except two or three that wouldn't speak to me.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 215
Now I've fifty, and not a decent week's wages among the lot of them.
3 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 216
I have to live for others and not for myself: that's middle class morality.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 217
You talk of losing Eliza.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 219
And the next one to touch me will be you, Henry Higgins.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 220
I'll have to learn to speak middle class language from you, instead of speaking proper English.
2 Translations, 5 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 221
That's where you'll come in; and I daresay that's what you done it for.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 222
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 223
But, my dear Mr. Doolittle, you need not suffer all this if you are really in earnest.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 224
Nobody can force you to accept this bequest.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 225
You can repudiate it.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 226
Isn't that so, Colonel Pickering?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 227
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 228
I believe so.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 229
DOOLITTLE [softening his manner in deference to her sex] That's the tragedy of it, ma'am.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 230
It's easy to say chuck it; but I haven't the nerve.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 231
Which one of us has?
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 232
We're all intimidated.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 233
Intimidated, ma'am: that's what we are.
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 234
What is there for me if I chuck it but the workhouse in my old age?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 235
I have to dye my hair already to keep my job as a dustman.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 237
They don't know what happiness is.
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 239
(Excuse the expression, ma'am: you'd use it yourself if you had my provocation).
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 241
Intimidated: that's what I am.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 242
Broke.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 243
Bought up.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 245
And that's what your son has brought me to.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 246
[He is overcome by emotion].
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 247
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 248
Well, I'm very glad you're not going to do anything foolish, Mr. Doolittle.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 249
For this solves the problem of Eliza's future.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 250
You can provide for her now.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 252
HIGGINS [jumping up] Nonsense!
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 253
he can't provide for her.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 254
He shan't provide for her.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 255
She doesn't belong to him.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 256
I paid him five pounds for her.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 257
Doolittle: either you're an honest man or a rogue.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 258
DOOLITTLE [tolerantly] A little of both, Henry, like the rest of us: a little of both.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 259
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 260
Well, you took that money for the girl; and you have no right to take her as well.
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 261
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 262
Henry: don't be absurd.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 263
If you really want to know where Eliza is, she is upstairs.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 264
HIGGINS [amazed] Upstairs!!!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 265
Then I shall jolly soon fetch her downstairs.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 266
[He makes resolutely for the door].
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 267
MRS. HIGGINS [rising and following him] Be quiet, Henry.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 268
Sit down.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 269
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 270
I— MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 271
Sit down, dear; and listen to me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 272
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 273
Oh very well, very well, very well.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 274
[He throws himself ungraciously on the ottoman, with his face towards the windows].
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 275
But I think you might have told me this half an hour ago.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 276
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 277
Eliza came to me this morning.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 279
She told me of the brutal way you two treated her.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 280
HIGGINS [bounding up again] What!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 281
PICKERING [rising also] My dear Mrs. Higgins, she's been telling you stories.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 282
We didn't treat her brutally.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 283
We hardly said a word to her; and we parted on particularly good terms.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 284
[Turning on Higgins].
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 285
Higgins: did you bully her after I went to bed?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 286
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 287
Just the other way about.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 288
She threw my slippers in my face.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 289
She behaved in the most outrageous way.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 290
I never gave her the slightest provocation.
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 291
The slippers came bang into my face the moment I entered the room—before I had uttered a word.
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 292
And used perfectly awful language.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 293
PICKERING [astonished] But why?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 294
What did we do to her?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 295
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 296
I think I know pretty well what you did.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 297
The girl is naturally rather affectionate, I think.
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 298
Isn't she, Mr. Doolittle?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 299
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 300
Very tender-hearted, ma'am.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 301
Takes after me.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 302
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 303
Just so.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 304
She had become attached to you both.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 305
She worked very hard for you, Henry!
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 306
I don't think you quite realize what anything in the nature of brain work means to a girl like that.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 308
And then you were surprised because she threw your slippers at you!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 309
I should have thrown the fire-irons at you.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 310
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 311
We said nothing except that we were tired and wanted to go to bed.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 312
Did we, Pick?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 313
PICKERING [shrugging his shoulders] That was all.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 314
MRS. HIGGINS [ironically] Quite sure?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 315
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 316
Absolutely.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 317
Really, that was all.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 318
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 319
You didn't thank her, or pet her, or admire her, or tell her how splendid she'd been.
3 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 320
HIGGINS [impatiently] But she knew all about that.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 321
We didn't make speeches to her, if that's what you mean.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 322
PICKERING [conscience stricken] Perhaps we were a little inconsiderate.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 323
Is she very angry?
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 325
HIGGINS [furious] Is she, by George?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 326
Ho!
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 327
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 328
If you promise to behave yourself, Henry, I'll ask her to come down.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 329
If not, go home; for you have taken up quite enough of my time.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 330
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 331
Oh, all right.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 332
Very well.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 333
Pick: you behave yourself.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 334
Let us put on our best Sunday manners for this creature that we picked out of the mud.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 335
[He flings himself sulkily into the Elizabethan chair].
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 336
DOOLITTLE [remonstrating] Now, now, Henry Higgins!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 337
have some consideration for my feelings as a middle class man.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 338
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 339
Remember your promise, Henry.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 340
[She presses the bell-button on the writing-table].
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 341
Mr. Doolittle: will you be so good as to step out on the balcony for a moment.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 342
I don't want Eliza to have the shock of your news until she has made it up with these two gentlemen.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 343
Would you mind?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 344
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 345
As you wish, lady.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 346
Anything to help Henry to keep her off my hands.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 347
[He disappears through the window].
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 348
The parlor-maid answers the bell.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 349
Pickering sits down in Doolittle's place.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 350
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 351
Ask Miss Doolittle to come down, please.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 352
THE PARLOR-MAID.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 353
Yes, mam.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 354
[She goes out].
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 355
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 356
Now, Henry: be good.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 357
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 358
I am behaving myself perfectly.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 359
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 360
He is doing his best, Mrs. Higgins.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 361
A pause.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 362
Higgins throws back his head; stretches out his legs; and begins to whistle.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 363
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 364
Henry, dearest, you don't look at all nice in that attitude.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 365
HIGGINS [pulling himself together] I was not trying to look nice, mother.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 366
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 367
It doesn't matter, dear.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 368
I only wanted to make you speak.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 369
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 370
Why?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 371
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 372
Because you can't speak and whistle at the same time.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 373
Higgins groans.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 374
Another very trying pause.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 375
HIGGINS [springing up, out of patience] Where the devil is that girl?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 376
Are we to wait here all day?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 377
unit 378
She carries a little work-basket, and is very much at home.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 379
Pickering is too much taken aback to rise.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 380
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 381
How do you do, Professor Higgins?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 382
Are you quite well?
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 383
HIGGINS [choking] Am I— [He can say no more].
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 384
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 385
But of course you are: you are never ill.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 386
So glad to see you again, Colonel Pickering.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 387
[He rises hastily; and they shake hands].
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 388
Quite chilly this morning, isn't it?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 389
[She sits down on his left.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 390
He sits beside her].
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 391
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 392
Don't you dare try this game on me.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 393
I taught it to you; and it doesn't take me in.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 394
Get up and come home; and don't be a fool.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 396
MRS. HIGGINS.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 397
Very nicely put, indeed, Henry.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 398
No woman could resist such an invitation.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 399
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 400
You let her alone, mother.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 401
Let her speak for herself.
3 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 404
MRS. HIGGINS [placidly] Yes, dear; but you'll sit down, won't you?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 405
Higgins sits down again, savagely.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 407
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 408
Oh don't.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 409
You mustn't think of it as an experiment.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 410
It shocks me, somehow.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 411
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 412
Oh, I'm only a squashed cabbage leaf.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 413
PICKERING [impulsively] No.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 414
LIZA [continuing quietly]—but I owe so much to you that I should be very unhappy if you forgot me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 415
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 416
It's very kind of you to say so, Miss Doolittle.
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 417
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 418
It's not because you paid for my dresses.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 419
I know you are generous to everybody with money.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 420
But it was from you that I learnt really nice manners; and that is what makes one a lady, isn't it?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 421
You see it was so very difficult for me with the example of Professor Higgins always before me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 423
unit 424
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 425
Well!!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 426
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 427
Oh, that's only his way, you know.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 428
He doesn't mean it.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 429
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 430
Oh, I didn't mean it either, when I was a flower girl.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 431
It was only my way.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 432
But you see I did it; and that's what makes the difference after all.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 433
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 434
No doubt.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 435
Still, he taught you to speak; and I couldn't have done that, you know.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 436
LIZA [trivially] Of course: that is his profession.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 437
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 438
Damnation!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 440
But do you know what began my real education?
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 441
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 442
What?
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 444
That was the beginning of self-respect for me.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 445
[She resumes her stitching].
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 446
And there were a hundred little things you never noticed, because they came naturally to you.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 447
Things about standing up and taking off your hat and opening doors— PICKERING.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 448
Oh, that was nothing.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 449
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 451
You never took off your boots in the dining room when I was there.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 452
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 453
You mustn't mind that.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 454
Higgins takes off his boots all over the place.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 455
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 456
I know.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 457
I am not blaming him.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 458
It is his way, isn't it?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 459
But it made such a difference to me that you didn't do it.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 462
MRS. HIGGINS.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 463
Please don't grind your teeth, Henry.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 464
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 465
Well, this is really very nice of you, Miss Doolittle.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 466
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 467
I should like you to call me Eliza, now, if you would.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 468
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 469
Thank you.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 470
Eliza, of course.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 471
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 472
And I should like Professor Higgins to call me Miss Doolittle.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 473
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 474
I'll see you damned first.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 475
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 476
Henry!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 477
Henry!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 478
PICKERING [laughing] Why don't you slang back at him?
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 479
Don't stand it.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 480
It would do him a lot of good.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 481
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 482
I can't.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 483
I could have done it once; but now I can't go back to it.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 486
Well, I am a child in your country.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 487
I have forgotten my own language, and can speak nothing but yours.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 488
That's the real break-off with the corner of Tottenham Court Road.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 489
Leaving Wimpole Street finishes it.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 490
PICKERING [much alarmed] Oh!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 491
but you're coming back to Wimpole Street, aren't you?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 492
You'll forgive Higgins?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 493
HIGGINS [rising] Forgive!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 494
Will she, by George!
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 495
Let her go.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 496
Let her find out how she can get on without us.
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 497
She will relapse into the gutter in three weeks without me at her elbow.
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 498
Doolittle appears at the centre window.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 500
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 501
He's incorrigible, Eliza.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 502
You won't relapse, will you?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 503
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 504
No: Not now.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 505
Never again.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 506
I have learnt my lesson.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 507
I don't believe I could utter one of the old sounds if I tried.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 508
[Doolittle touches her on her left shoulder.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 510
HIGGINS [with a crow of triumph] Aha!
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 511
Just so.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 512
A—a—a—a—ahowooh!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 513
A—a—a—a—ahowooh !
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 514
A—a—a—a—ahowooh!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 515
Victory!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 516
Victory!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 517
[He throws himself on the divan, folding his arms, and spraddling arrogantly].
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 518
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 519
Can you blame the girl?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 520
Don't look at me like that, Eliza.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 521
It ain't my fault.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 522
I've come into money.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 523
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 524
You must have touched a millionaire this time, dad.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 525
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 526
I have.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 527
But I'm dressed something special today.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 528
I'm going to St. George's, Hanover Square.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 529
Your stepmother is going to marry me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 530
LIZA [angrily] You're going to let yourself down to marry that low common woman!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 531
PICKERING [quietly] He ought to, Eliza.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 532
[To Doolittle] Why has she changed her mind?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 533
DOOLITTLE [sadly] Intimidated, Governor.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 534
Intimidated.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 535
Middle class morality claims its victim.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 536
Won't you put on your hat, Liza, and come and see me turned off?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 537
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 538
If the Colonel says I must, I—I'll [almost sobbing] I'll demean myself.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 539
And get insulted for my pains, like enough.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 540
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 541
Don't be afraid: she never comes to words with anyone now, poor woman!
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 542
respectability has broke all the spirit out of her.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 543
PICKERING [squeezing Eliza's elbow gently] Be kind to them, Eliza.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 544
Make the best of it.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 545
unit 546
I'll be back in a moment.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 547
[She goes out].
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 548
DOOLITTLE [sitting down beside Pickering] I feel uncommon nervous about the ceremony, Colonel.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 549
I wish you'd come and see me through it.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 550
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 551
But you've been through it before, man.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 552
You were married to Eliza's mother.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 553
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 554
Who told you that, Colonel?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 555
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 556
Well, nobody told me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 557
But I concluded naturally— DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 558
No: that ain't the natural way, Colonel: it's only the middle class way.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 559
My way was always the undeserving way.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 560
But don't say nothing to Eliza.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 561
She don't know: I always had a delicacy about telling her.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 562
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 563
Quite right.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 564
We'll leave it so, if you don't mind.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 565
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 566
And you'll come to the church, Colonel, and put me through straight?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 567
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 568
With pleasure.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 569
As far as a bachelor can.
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 570
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 571
May I come, Mr. Doolittle?
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 572
I should be very sorry to miss your wedding.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 573
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 575
She's been very low, thinking of the happy days that are no more.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 576
MRS. HIGGINS [rising] I'll order the carriage and get ready.
3 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 577
[The men rise, except Higgins].
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 578
I shan't be more than fifteen minutes.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 579
[As she goes to the door Eliza comes in, hatted and buttoning her gloves].
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 580
I'm going to the church to see your father married, Eliza.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 581
You had better come in the brougham with me.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 582
Colonel Pickering can go on with the bridegroom.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 583
Mrs. Higgins goes out.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 584
Eliza comes to the middle of the room between the centre window and the ottoman.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 585
Pickering joins her.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 586
DOOLITTLE.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 587
Bridegroom!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 588
What a word!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 589
It makes a man realize his position, somehow.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 590
[He takes up his hat and goes towards the door].
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 591
PICKERING.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 592
Before I go, Eliza, do forgive him and come back to us.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 593
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 594
I don't think papa would allow me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 595
Would you, dad?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 596
DOOLITTLE [sad but magnanimous] They played you off very cunning, Eliza, them two sportsmen.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 597
If it had been only one of them, you could have nailed him.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 598
But you see, there was two; and one of them chaperoned the other, as you might say.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 599
unit 601
I shan't interfere.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 602
It's time for us to go, Colonel.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 603
So long, Henry.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 604
See you in St. George's, Eliza.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 605
[He goes out].
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 606
PICKERING [coaxing] Do stay with us, Eliza.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 607
[He follows Doolittle].
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 608
Eliza goes out on the balcony to avoid being alone with Higgins.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 609
He rises and joins her there.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 611
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 612
Well, Eliza, you've had a bit of your own back, as you call it.
1 Translations, 0 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 613
Have you had enough?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 614
and are you going to be reasonable?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 615
Or do you want any more?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 616
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 617
unit 618
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 619
I haven't said I wanted you back at all.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 620
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 621
Oh, indeed.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 622
Then what are we talking about?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 623
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 624
About you, not about me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 625
If you come back I shall treat you just as I have always treated you.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 626
I can't change my nature; and I don't intend to change my manners.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 627
My manners are exactly the same as Colonel Pickering's.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 628
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 629
That's not true.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 630
He treats a flower girl as if she was a duchess.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 631
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 632
And I treat a duchess as if she was a flower girl.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 633
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 634
I see.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 635
[She turns away composedly, and sits on the ottoman, facing the window].
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 636
The same to everybody.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 637
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 638
Just so.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 639
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 640
Like father.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 643
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 644
Amen.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 645
You are a born preacher.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 647
LIZA [with sudden sincerity] I don't care how you treat me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 648
I don't mind your swearing at me.
1 Translations, 0 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 649
I don't mind a black eye: I've had one before this.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 650
But [standing up and facing him] I won't be passed over.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 651
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 652
Then get out of my way; for I won't stop for you.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 653
You talk about me as if I were a motor bus.
3 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 654
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 655
So you are a motor bus: all bounce and go, and no consideration for anyone.
3 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 656
But I can do without you: don't think I can't.
3 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 657
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 658
I know you can.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 659
I told you you could.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 661
You wanted to get rid of me.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 662
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 663
Liar.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 664
LIZA.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 665
Thank you.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 666
[She sits down with dignity].
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 667
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 668
You never asked yourself, I suppose, whether I could do without YOU.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 669
LIZA [earnestly] Don't you try to get round me.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 670
You'll HAVE to do without me.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 671
HIGGINS [arrogant] I can do without anybody.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 672
I have my own soul: my own spark of divine fire.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 673
But [with sudden humility] I shall miss you, Eliza.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 674
[He sits down near her on the ottoman].
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 675
I have learnt something from your idiotic notions: I confess that humbly and gratefully.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 676
And I have grown accustomed to your voice and appearance.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 677
I like them, rather.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 678
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 679
Well, you have both of them on your gramophone and in your book of photographs.
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 680
When you feel lonely without me, you can turn the machine on.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 681
It's got no feelings to hurt.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 682
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 683
I can't turn your soul on.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 684
Leave me those feelings; and you can take away the voice and the face.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 685
They are not you.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 686
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 687
Oh, you ARE a devil.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 688
You can twist the heart in a girl as easy as some could twist her arms to hurt her.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 689
Mrs. Pearce warned me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 690
Time and again she has wanted to leave you; and you always got round her at the last minute.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 691
And you don't care a bit for her.
3 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 692
And you don't care a bit for me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 693
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 694
unit 695
What more can you or anyone ask?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 696
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 697
I won't care for anybody that doesn't care for me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 698
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 699
Commercial principles, Eliza.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 701
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 702
Don't sneer at me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 703
It's mean to sneer at me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 704
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 705
I have never sneered in my life.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 706
Sneering doesn't become either the human face or the human soul.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 707
I am expressing my righteous contempt for Commercialism.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 708
I don't and won't trade in affection.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 711
I think a good deal more of you for throwing them in my face.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 712
No use slaving for me and then saying you want to be cared for: who cares for a slave?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 713
If you come back, come back for the sake of good fellowship; for you'll get nothing else.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 715
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 716
What did you do it for if you didn't care for me?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 717
HIGGINS [heartily] Why, because it was my job.
3 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 718
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 719
You never thought of the trouble it would make for me.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 720
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 721
Would the world ever have been made if its maker had been afraid of making trouble?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 722
Making life means making trouble.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 723
There's only one way of escaping trouble; and that's killing things.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 724
Cowards, you notice, are always shrieking to have troublesome people killed.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 725
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 726
I'm no preacher: I don't notice things like that.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 727
I notice that you don't notice me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 5 months ago
unit 728
HIGGINS [jumping up and walking about intolerantly] Eliza: you're an idiot.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 729
I waste the treasures of my Miltonic mind by spreading them before you.
3 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 731
I am not intimidated, like your father and your stepmother.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 732
So you can come back or go to the devil: which you please.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 733
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 734
What am I to come back for?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 735
HIGGINS [bouncing up on his knees on the ottoman and leaning over it to her] For the fun of it.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 736
That's why I took you on.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 737
LIZA [with averted face] And you may throw me out tomorrow if I don't do everything you want me to?
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 738
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 739
Yes; and you may walk out tomorrow if I don't do everything YOU want me to.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 740
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 741
And live with my stepmother?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 742
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 743
Yes, or sell flowers.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 744
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 745
Oh!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 746
if I only COULD go back to my flower basket!
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 747
I should be independent of both you and father and all the world!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 748
Why did you take my independence from me?
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 749
Why did I give it up?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 750
I'm a slave now, for all my fine clothes.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 751
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 752
Not a bit.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 753
I'll adopt you as my daughter and settle money on you if you like.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 754
Or would you rather marry Pickering?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 756
HIGGINS [gently] Than he is: not "than what he is."
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 757
LIZA [losing her temper and rising] I'll talk as I like.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 758
You're not my teacher now.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 759
HIGGINS [reflectively] I don't suppose Pickering would, though.
3 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 760
He's as confirmed an old bachelor as I am.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 761
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 762
That's not what I want; and don't you think it.
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 763
I've always had chaps enough wanting me that way.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 764
Freddy Hill writes to me twice and three times a day, sheets and sheets.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 765
HIGGINS [disagreeably surprised] Damn his impudence!
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 766
[He recoils and finds himself sitting on his heels].
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 767
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 768
He has a right to if he likes, poor lad.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 769
And he does love me.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 770
HIGGINS [getting off the ottoman] You have no right to encourage him.
1 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 771
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 772
Every girl has a right to be loved.
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 773
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 774
What!
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 775
By fools like that?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 776
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 777
Freddy's not a fool.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 779
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 780
Can he MAKE anything of you?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 781
That's the point.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 782
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 783
Perhaps I could make something of him.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 784
But I never thought of us making anything of one another; and you never think of anything else.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 785
I only want to be natural.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 786
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 787
In short, you want me to be as infatuated about you as Freddy?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 788
Is that it?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 789
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 790
No I don't.
2 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 791
That's not the sort of feeling I want from you.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 792
And don't you be too sure of yourself or of me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 793
I could have been a bad girl if I'd liked.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 794
I've seen more of some things than you, for all your learning.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 795
Girls like me can drag gentlemen down to make love to them easy enough.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 796
And they wish each other dead the next minute.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 797
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 798
Of course they do.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 799
Then what in thunder are we quarrelling about?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 800
LIZA [much troubled] I want a little kindness.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 801
unit 803
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 804
Well, of course.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 805
That's just how I feel.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 806
And how Pickering feels.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 807
Eliza: you're a fool.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 808
LIZA.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 809
That's not a proper answer to give me [she sinks on the chair at the writing-table in tears].
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 810
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 811
It's all you'll get until you stop being a common idiot.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 813
If you can't stand the coldness of my sort of life, and the strain of it, go back to the gutter.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 815
Oh, it's a fine life, the life of the gutter.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 817
Not like Science and Literature and Classical Music and Philosophy and Art.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 818
You find me cold, unfeeling, selfish, don't you?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 819
Very well: be off with you to the sort of people you like.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 821
If you can't appreciate what you've got, you'd better get what you can appreciate.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 822
LIZA [desperate] Oh, you are a cruel tyrant.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 823
I can't talk to you: you turn everything against me: I'm always in the wrong.
2 Translations, 4 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 824
But you know very well all the time that you're nothing but a bully.
3 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 827
You think I must go back to Wimpole Street because I have nowhere else to go but father's.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 828
But don't you be too sure that you have me under your feet to be trampled on and talked down.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 829
I'll marry Freddy, I will, as soon as he's able to support me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 830
HIGGINS [sitting down beside her] Rubbish!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 831
you shall marry an ambassador.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 833
I'm not going to have my masterpiece thrown away on Freddy.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 834
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 835
You think I like you to say that.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 837
If I can't have kindness, I'll have independence.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 838
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 839
Independence?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 840
That's middle class blasphemy.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 841
We are all dependent on one another, every soul of us on earth.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 842
LIZA [rising determinedly] I'll let you see whether I'm dependent on you.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 843
If you can preach, I can teach.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 844
I'll go and be a teacher.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 845
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 846
What'll you teach, in heaven's name?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 847
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 848
What you taught me.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 849
I'll teach phonetics.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 850
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 851
Ha!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 852
Ha!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 853
Ha!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 854
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 855
I'll offer myself as an assistant to Professor Nepean.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 856
HIGGINS [rising in a fury] What!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 857
That impostor!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 858
that humbug!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 859
that toadying ignoramus!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 860
Teach him my methods!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 861
my discoveries!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 862
You take one step in his direction and I'll wring your neck.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 863
[He lays hands on her].
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 864
Do you hear?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 865
LIZA [defiantly non-resistant] Wring away.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 866
What do I care?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 867
I knew you'd strike me some day.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 869
Aha!
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 870
Now I know how to deal with you.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 871
What a fool I was not to think of it before!
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 872
You can't take away the knowledge you gave me.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 873
You said I had a finer ear than you.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 874
And I can be civil and kind to people, which is more than you can.
1 Translations, 0 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 875
Aha!
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 876
That's done you, Henry Higgins, it has.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 877
Now I don't care that [snapping her fingers] for your bullying and your big talk.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 880
HIGGINS [wondering at her] You damned impudent slut, you!
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 881
But it's better than snivelling; better than fetching slippers and finding spectacles, isn't it?
3 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 882
[Rising] By George, Eliza, I said I'd make a woman of you; and I have.
3 Translations, 5 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 883
I like you like this.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 884
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 885
Yes: you turn round and make up to me now that I'm not afraid of you, and can do without you.
3 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 886
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 887
Of course I do, you little fool.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 888
Five minutes ago you were like a millstone round my neck.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 889
Now you're a tower of strength: a consort battleship.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 890
unit 891
Mrs. Higgins returns, dressed for the wedding.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 892
Eliza instantly becomes cool and elegant.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 893
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 894
The carriage is waiting, Eliza.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 895
Are you ready?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 896
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 897
Quite.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 898
Is the Professor coming?
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 899
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 900
Certainly not.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 901
He can't behave himself in church.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 902
He makes remarks out loud all the time on the clergyman's pronunciation.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 903
LIZA.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 904
Then I shall not see you again, Professor.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 905
Good bye.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 906
[She goes to the door].
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 907
MRS. HIGGINS [coming to Higgins] Good-bye, dear.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 908
HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 909
Good-bye, mother.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 910
[He is about to kiss her, when he recollects something].
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 911
Oh, by the way, Eliza, order a ham and a Stilton cheese, will you?
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 913
You can choose the color.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 914
[His cheerful, careless, vigorous voice shows that he is incorrigible].
3 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 915
LIZA [disdainfully] Buy them yourself.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 916
[She sweeps out].
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 917
MRS. HIGGINS.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 918
I'm afraid you've spoiled that girl, Henry.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 919
But never mind, dear: I'll buy you the tie and gloves.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 920
HIGGINS [sunnily] Oh, don't bother.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 921
She'll buy em all right enough.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 922
Good-bye.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 923
They kiss.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 924
Mrs. Higgins runs out.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 935
unit 936
She is therefore guided by her instinct in the matter.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 937
Eliza's instinct tells her not to marry Higgins.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 938
It does not tell her to give him up.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 939
unit 940
It would be very sorely strained if there was another woman likely to supplant her with him.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 944
The case is uncommon only to the extent that remarkable mothers are uncommon.
2 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 952
Had Mrs. Higgins died, there would still have been Milton and the Universal Alphabet.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 955
And now, whom did Eliza marry?
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 956
For if Higgins was a predestinate old bachelor, she was most certainly not a predestinate old maid.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 961
"When you go to women," says Nietzsche, "take your whip with you."
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 964
But to admire a strong person and to live under that strong person's thumb are two different things.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 968
When a lion meets another with a louder roar "the first lion thinks the last a bore."
2 Translations, 0 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 970
The converse is also true.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 973
People who are not only weak, but silly or obtuse as well, are often in these difficulties.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 976
There can be no doubt about the answer.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 978
And that is just what Eliza did.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 979
Complications ensued; but they were economic, not romantic.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 980
Freddy had no money and no occupation.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 983
unit 984
unit 987
It is true that Eliza's situation did not seem wholly ineligible.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 992
He absolutely refused to add the last straw to his burden by contributing to Eliza's support.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 997
Not that the Wimpole Street bachelors objected.
1 Translations, 0 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1005
It was the Colonel who finally solved the problem, which had cost him much perplexed cogitation.
1 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1006
unit 1009
They broke the matter to Higgins that evening.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1010
The sole comment vouchsafed by him very nearly led to a serious quarrel with Eliza.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1011
It was to the effect that she would have in Freddy an ideal errand boy.
1 Translations, 0 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1012
Freddy himself was next sounded on the subject.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1016
This difficulty was removed by an event highly unexpected by Freddy's mother.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1018
Wells.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1019
unit 1020
The result was a conversion of a kind quite common today.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1021
A modern Acts of the Apostles would fill fifty whole Bibles if anyone were capable of writing it.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1024
Still, she was not happy.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1025
She was growing desperate.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1029
Under such circumstances nothing could give her an air of being a genuine product of Largelady Park.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1030
unit 1031
Commercial people and professional people in a small way were odious to her.
1 Translations, 0 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1036
Clara's snobbery went bang.
2 Translations, 0 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1037
Life suddenly began to move with her.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1038
Without knowing how or why, she began to make friends and enemies.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1042
They made her read Galsworthy; and Galsworthy exposed the vanity of Largelady Park and finished her.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1045
unit 1047
This appointment Clara owed, after all, to her old social accomplishment of Push.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1049
She had better luck than so rash an enterprise deserved.
1 Translations, 0 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1050
Mr. Wells came up to her expectations.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1051
Age had not withered him, nor could custom stale his infinite variety in half an hour.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1053
Clara talked of nothing else for weeks and weeks afterwards.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1055
unit 1057
Now here is a last opportunity for romance.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1059
Alas!
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1065
And the pair were by no means easily teachable.
2 Translations, 3 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1072
He suggested that they should combine the London School with Kew Gardens.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1077
She could not even address an envelope in the usual way because it made the margins all wrong.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1078
Their commercial school days were a period of disgrace and despair for the young couple.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1079
They seemed to be learning nothing about flower shops.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1081
Besides, the business was in some mysterious way beginning to take care of itself.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1082
They had somehow forgotten their objections to employing other people.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1085
It is true that there was not quite fair play between them and their competitors in trade.
1 Translations, 2 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1089
Eliza herself swanked like anything.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1090
That is all.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1091
That is how it has turned out.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1094
She snaps his head off on the faintest provocation, or on none.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1095
He no longer dares to tease her by assuming an abysmal inferiority of Freddy's mind to his own.
1 Translations, 0 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1098
She knows that Higgins does not need her, just as her father did not need her.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1100
She is immensely interested in him.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1102
We all have private imaginations of that sort.
1 Translations, 1 Upvotes, Last Activity 6 years, 4 months ago
unit 1104

Pigmalión, de G. B. Shaw-Ubicación en el sitio de los capítulos de este libro:
0-https://translatihan.com/couples/en-es/articles/1617/
1-https://translatihan.com/couples/en-es/articles/1625/
2-https://translatihan.com/couples/en-es/articles/1631/
3-https://translatihan.com/couples/en-es/articles/1680/
4-https://translatihan.com/couples/en-es/articles/1721/
5- https://translatihan.com/couples/en-es/articles/1731/

by soybeba 6 years, 4 months ago

Extraído de The Project Gutenberg EBook of Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3825/3825-h/3825-h.htm

by soybeba 6 years, 4 months ago

ACT V.
Mrs. Higgins's drawing-room. She is at her writing-table as before. The parlor-maid comes in.
THE PARLOR-MAID [at the door] Mr. Henry, mam, is downstairs with Colonel Pickering.
MRS. HIGGINS. Well, show them up.
THE PARLOR-MAID. They're using the telephone, mam. Telephoning to the police, I think.
MRS. HIGGINS. What!
THE PARLOR-MAID [coming further in and lowering her voice] Mr. Henry's in a state, mam. I thought I'd better tell you.
MRS. HIGGINS. If you had told me that Mr. Henry was not in a state it would have been more surprising. Tell them to come up when they've finished with the police. I suppose he's lost something.
THE PARLOR-MAID. Yes, maam [going].
MRS. HIGGINS. Go upstairs and tell Miss Doolittle that Mr. Henry and the Colonel are here. Ask her not to come down till I send for her.
THE PARLOR-MAID. Yes, mam.
Higgins bursts in. He is, as the parlor-maid has said, in a state.
HIGGINS. Look here, mother: here's a confounded thing!
MRS. HIGGINS. Yes, dear. Good-morning. [He checks his impatience and kisses her, whilst the parlor-maid goes out]. What is it?
HIGGINS. Eliza's bolted.
MRS. HIGGINS [calmly continuing her writing] You must have frightened her.
HIGGINS. Frightened her! nonsense! She was left last night, as usual, to turn out the lights and all that; and instead of going to bed she changed her clothes and went right off: her bed wasn't slept in. She came in a cab for her things before seven this morning; and that fool Mrs. Pearce let her have them without telling me a word about it. What am I to do?
MRS. HIGGINS. Do without, I'm afraid, Henry. The girl has a perfect right to leave if she chooses.
HIGGINS [wandering distractedly across the room] But I can't find anything. I don't know what appointments I've got. I'm— [Pickering comes in. Mrs. Higgins puts down her pen and turns away from the writing-table].
PICKERING [shaking hands] Good-morning, Mrs. Higgins. Has Henry told you? [He sits down on the ottoman].
HIGGINS. What does that ass of an inspector say? Have you offered a reward?
MRS. HIGGINS [rising in indignant amazement] You don't mean to say you have set the police after Eliza?
HIGGINS. Of course. What are the police for? What else could we do? [He sits in the Elizabethan chair].
PICKERING. The inspector made a lot of difficulties. I really think he suspected us of some improper purpose.
MRS. HIGGINS. Well, of course he did. What right have you to go to the police and give the girl's name as if she were a thief, or a lost umbrella, or something? Really! [She sits down again, deeply vexed].
HIGGINS. But we want to find her.
PICKERING. We can't let her go like this, you know, Mrs. Higgins. What were we to do?
MRS. HIGGINS. You have no more sense, either of you, than two children. Why—
The parlor-maid comes in and breaks off the conversation.
THE PARLOR-MAID. Mr. Henry: a gentleman wants to see you very particular. He's been sent on from Wimpole Street.
HIGGINS. Oh, bother! I can't see anyone now. Who is it?
THE PARLOR-MAID. A Mr. Doolittle, Sir.
PICKERING. Doolittle! Do you mean the dustman?
THE PARLOR-MAID. Dustman! Oh no, sir: a gentleman.
HIGGINS [springing up excitedly] By George, Pick, it's some relative of hers that she's gone to. Somebody we know nothing about. [To the parlor-maid] Send him up, quick.
THE PARLOR-MAID. Yes, Sir. [She goes].
HIGGINS [eagerly, going to his mother] Genteel relatives! now we shall hear something. [He sits down in the Chippendale chair].
MRS. HIGGINS. Do you know any of her people?
PICKERING. Only her father: the fellow we told you about.
THE PARLOR-MAID [announcing] Mr. Doolittle. [She withdraws].
Doolittle enters. He is brilliantly dressed in a new fashionable frock-coat, with white waistcoat and grey trousers. A flower in his buttonhole, a dazzling silk hat, and patent leather shoes complete the effect. He is too concerned with the business he has come on to notice Mrs. Higgins. He walks straight to Higgins, and accosts him with vehement reproach.
DOOLITTLE [indicating his own person] See here! Do you see this? You done this.
HIGGINS. Done what, man?
DOOLITTLE. This, I tell you. Look at it. Look at this hat. Look at this coat.
PICKERING. Has Eliza been buying you clothes?
DOOLITTLE. Eliza! not she. Not half. Why would she buy me clothes?
MRS. HIGGINS. Good-morning, Mr. Doolittle. Won't you sit down?
DOOLITTLE [taken aback as he becomes conscious that he has forgotten his hostess] Asking your pardon, ma'am. [He approaches her and shakes her proffered hand]. Thank you. [He sits down on the ottoman, on Pickering's right]. I am that full of what has happened to me that I can't think of anything else.
HIGGINS. What the dickens has happened to you?
DOOLITTLE. I shouldn't mind if it had only happened to me: anything might happen to anybody and nobody to blame but Providence, as you might say. But this is something that you done to me: yes, you, Henry Higgins.
HIGGINS. Have you found Eliza? That's the point.
DOOLITTLE. Have you lost her?
HIGGINS. Yes.
DOOLITTLE. You have all the luck, you have. I ain't found her; but she'll find me quick enough now after what you done to me.
MRS. HIGGINS. But what has my son done to you, Mr. Doolittle?
DOOLITTLE. Done to me! Ruined me. Destroyed my happiness. Tied me up and delivered me into the hands of middle class morality.
HIGGINS [rising intolerantly and standing over Doolittle] You're raving. You're drunk. You're mad. I gave you five pounds. After that I had two conversations with you, at half-a-crown an hour. I've never seen you since.
DOOLITTLE. Oh! Drunk! am I? Mad! am I? Tell me this. Did you or did you not write a letter to an old blighter in America that was giving five millions to found Moral Reform Societies all over the world, and that wanted you to invent a universal language for him?
HIGGINS. What! Ezra D. Wannafeller! He's dead. [He sits down again carelessly].
DOOLITTLE. Yes: he's dead; and I'm done for. Now did you or did you not write a letter to him to say that the most original moralist at present in England, to the best of your knowledge, was Alfred Doolittle, a common dustman.
HIGGINS. Oh, after your last visit I remember making some silly joke of the kind.
DOOLITTLE. Ah! you may well call it a silly joke. It put the lid on me right enough. Just give him the chance he wanted to show that Americans is not like us: that they recognize and respect merit in every class of life, however humble. Them words is in his blooming will, in which, Henry Higgins, thanks to your silly joking, he leaves me a share in his Pre-digested Cheese Trust worth three thousand a year on condition that I lecture for his Wannafeller Moral Reform World League as often as they ask me up to six times a year.
HIGGINS. The devil he does! Whew! [Brightening suddenly] What a lark!
PICKERING. A safe thing for you, Doolittle. They won't ask you twice.
DOOLITTLE. It ain't the lecturing I mind. I'll lecture them blue in the face, I will, and not turn a hair. It's making a gentleman of me that I object to. Who asked him to make a gentleman of me? I was happy. I was free. I touched pretty nigh everybody for money when I wanted it, same as I touched you, Henry Higgins. Now I am worrited; tied neck and heels; and everybody touches me for money. It's a fine thing for you, says my solicitor. Is it? says I. You mean it's a good thing for you, I says. When I was a poor man and had a solicitor once when they found a pram in the dust cart, he got me off, and got shut of me and got me shut of him as quick as he could. Same with the doctors: used to shove me out of the hospital before I could hardly stand on my legs, and nothing to pay. Now they finds out that I'm not a healthy man and can't live unless they looks after me twice a day. In the house I'm not let do a hand's turn for myself: somebody else must do it and touch me for it. A year ago I hadn't a relative in the world except two or three that wouldn't speak to me. Now I've fifty, and not a decent week's wages among the lot of them. I have to live for others and not for myself: that's middle class morality. You talk of losing Eliza. Don't you be anxious: I bet she's on my doorstep by this: she that could support herself easy by selling flowers if I wasn't respectable. And the next one to touch me will be you, Henry Higgins. I'll have to learn to speak middle class language from you, instead of speaking proper English. That's where you'll come in; and I daresay that's what you done it for.
MRS. HIGGINS. But, my dear Mr. Doolittle, you need not suffer all this if you are really in earnest. Nobody can force you to accept this bequest. You can repudiate it. Isn't that so, Colonel Pickering?
PICKERING. I believe so.
DOOLITTLE [softening his manner in deference to her sex] That's the tragedy of it, ma'am. It's easy to say chuck it; but I haven't the nerve. Which one of us has? We're all intimidated. Intimidated, ma'am: that's what we are. What is there for me if I chuck it but the workhouse in my old age? I have to dye my hair already to keep my job as a dustman. If I was one of the deserving poor, and had put by a bit, I could chuck it; but then why should I, acause the deserving poor might as well be millionaires for all the happiness they ever has. They don't know what happiness is. But I, as one of the undeserving poor, have nothing between me and the pauper's uniform but this here blasted three thousand a year that shoves me into the middle class. (Excuse the expression, ma'am: you'd use it yourself if you had my provocation). They've got you every way you turn: it's a choice between the Skilly of the workhouse and the Char Bydis of the middle class; and I haven't the nerve for the workhouse. Intimidated: that's what I am. Broke. Bought up. Happier men than me will call for my dust, and touch me for their tip; and I'll look on helpless, and envy them. And that's what your son has brought me to. [He is overcome by emotion].
MRS. HIGGINS. Well, I'm very glad you're not going to do anything foolish, Mr. Doolittle. For this solves the problem of Eliza's future. You can provide for her now.
DOOLITTLE [with melancholy resignation] Yes, ma'am; I'm expected to provide for everyone now, out of three thousand a year.
HIGGINS [jumping up] Nonsense! he can't provide for her. He shan't provide for her. She doesn't belong to him. I paid him five pounds for her. Doolittle: either you're an honest man or a rogue.
DOOLITTLE [tolerantly] A little of both, Henry, like the rest of us: a little of both.
HIGGINS. Well, you took that money for the girl; and you have no right to take her as well.
MRS. HIGGINS. Henry: don't be absurd. If you really want to know where Eliza is, she is upstairs.
HIGGINS [amazed] Upstairs!!! Then I shall jolly soon fetch her downstairs. [He makes resolutely for the door].
MRS. HIGGINS [rising and following him] Be quiet, Henry. Sit down.
HIGGINS. I—
MRS. HIGGINS. Sit down, dear; and listen to me.
HIGGINS. Oh very well, very well, very well. [He throws himself ungraciously on the ottoman, with his face towards the windows]. But I think you might have told me this half an hour ago.
MRS. HIGGINS. Eliza came to me this morning. She passed the night partly walking about in a rage, partly trying to throw herself into the river and being afraid to, and partly in the Carlton Hotel. She told me of the brutal way you two treated her.
HIGGINS [bounding up again] What!
PICKERING [rising also] My dear Mrs. Higgins, she's been telling you stories. We didn't treat her brutally. We hardly said a word to her; and we parted on particularly good terms. [Turning on Higgins]. Higgins: did you bully her after I went to bed?
HIGGINS. Just the other way about. She threw my slippers in my face. She behaved in the most outrageous way. I never gave her the slightest provocation. The slippers came bang into my face the moment I entered the room—before I had uttered a word. And used perfectly awful language.
PICKERING [astonished] But why? What did we do to her?
MRS. HIGGINS. I think I know pretty well what you did. The girl is naturally rather affectionate, I think. Isn't she, Mr. Doolittle?
DOOLITTLE. Very tender-hearted, ma'am. Takes after me.
MRS. HIGGINS. Just so. She had become attached to you both. She worked very hard for you, Henry! I don't think you quite realize what anything in the nature of brain work means to a girl like that. Well, it seems that when the great day of trial came, and she did this wonderful thing for you without making a single mistake, you two sat there and never said a word to her, but talked together of how glad you were that it was all over and how you had been bored with the whole thing. And then you were surprised because she threw your slippers at you! I should have thrown the fire-irons at you.
HIGGINS. We said nothing except that we were tired and wanted to go to bed. Did we, Pick?
PICKERING [shrugging his shoulders] That was all.
MRS. HIGGINS [ironically] Quite sure?
PICKERING. Absolutely. Really, that was all.
MRS. HIGGINS. You didn't thank her, or pet her, or admire her, or tell her how splendid she'd been.
HIGGINS [impatiently] But she knew all about that. We didn't make speeches to her, if that's what you mean.
PICKERING [conscience stricken] Perhaps we were a little inconsiderate. Is she very angry?
MRS. HIGGINS [returning to her place at the writing-table] Well, I'm afraid she won't go back to Wimpole Street, especially now that Mr. Doolittle is able to keep up the position you have thrust on her; but she says she is quite willing to meet you on friendly terms and to let bygones be bygones.
HIGGINS [furious] Is she, by George? Ho!
MRS. HIGGINS. If you promise to behave yourself, Henry, I'll ask her to come down. If not, go home; for you have taken up quite enough of my time.
HIGGINS. Oh, all right. Very well. Pick: you behave yourself. Let us put on our best Sunday manners for this creature that we picked out of the mud. [He flings himself sulkily into the Elizabethan chair].
DOOLITTLE [remonstrating] Now, now, Henry Higgins! have some consideration for my feelings as a middle class man.
MRS. HIGGINS. Remember your promise, Henry. [She presses the bell-button on the writing-table]. Mr. Doolittle: will you be so good as to step out on the balcony for a moment. I don't want Eliza to have the shock of your news until she has made it up with these two gentlemen. Would you mind?
DOOLITTLE. As you wish, lady. Anything to help Henry to keep her off my hands. [He disappears through the window].
The parlor-maid answers the bell. Pickering sits down in Doolittle's place.
MRS. HIGGINS. Ask Miss Doolittle to come down, please.
THE PARLOR-MAID. Yes, mam. [She goes out].
MRS. HIGGINS. Now, Henry: be good.
HIGGINS. I am behaving myself perfectly.
PICKERING. He is doing his best, Mrs. Higgins.
A pause. Higgins throws back his head; stretches out his legs; and begins to whistle.
MRS. HIGGINS. Henry, dearest, you don't look at all nice in that attitude.
HIGGINS [pulling himself together] I was not trying to look nice, mother.
MRS. HIGGINS. It doesn't matter, dear. I only wanted to make you speak.
HIGGINS. Why?
MRS. HIGGINS. Because you can't speak and whistle at the same time.
Higgins groans. Another very trying pause.
HIGGINS [springing up, out of patience] Where the devil is that girl? Are we to wait here all day?
Eliza enters, sunny, self-possessed, and giving a staggeringly convincing exhibition of ease of manner. She carries a little work-basket, and is very much at home. Pickering is too much taken aback to rise.
LIZA. How do you do, Professor Higgins? Are you quite well?
HIGGINS [choking] Am I— [He can say no more].
LIZA. But of course you are: you are never ill. So glad to see you again, Colonel Pickering. [He rises hastily; and they shake hands]. Quite chilly this morning, isn't it? [She sits down on his left. He sits beside her].
HIGGINS. Don't you dare try this game on me. I taught it to you; and it doesn't take me in. Get up and come home; and don't be a fool.
Eliza takes a piece of needlework from her basket, and begins to stitch at it, without taking the least notice of this outburst.
MRS. HIGGINS. Very nicely put, indeed, Henry. No woman could resist such an invitation.
HIGGINS. You let her alone, mother. Let her speak for herself. You will jolly soon see whether she has an idea that I haven't put into her head or a word that I haven't put into her mouth. I tell you I have created this thing out of the squashed cabbage leaves of Covent Garden; and now she pretends to play the fine lady with me.
MRS. HIGGINS [placidly] Yes, dear; but you'll sit down, won't you?
Higgins sits down again, savagely.
LIZA [to Pickering, taking no apparent notice of Higgins, and working away deftly] Will you drop me altogether now that the experiment is over, Colonel Pickering?
PICKERING. Oh don't. You mustn't think of it as an experiment. It shocks me, somehow.
LIZA. Oh, I'm only a squashed cabbage leaf.
PICKERING [impulsively] No.
LIZA [continuing quietly]—but I owe so much to you that I should be very unhappy if you forgot me.
PICKERING. It's very kind of you to say so, Miss Doolittle.
LIZA. It's not because you paid for my dresses. I know you are generous to everybody with money. But it was from you that I learnt really nice manners; and that is what makes one a lady, isn't it? You see it was so very difficult for me with the example of Professor Higgins always before me. I was brought up to be just like him, unable to control myself, and using bad language on the slightest provocation. And I should never have known that ladies and gentlemen didn't behave like that if you hadn't been there.
HIGGINS. Well!!
PICKERING. Oh, that's only his way, you know. He doesn't mean it.
LIZA. Oh, I didn't mean it either, when I was a flower girl. It was only my way. But you see I did it; and that's what makes the difference after all.
PICKERING. No doubt. Still, he taught you to speak; and I couldn't have done that, you know.
LIZA [trivially] Of course: that is his profession.
HIGGINS. Damnation!
LIZA [continuing] It was just like learning to dance in the fashionable way: there was nothing more than that in it. But do you know what began my real education?
PICKERING. What?
LIZA [stopping her work for a moment] Your calling me Miss Doolittle that day when I first came to Wimpole Street. That was the beginning of self-respect for me. [She resumes her stitching]. And there were a hundred little things you never noticed, because they came naturally to you. Things about standing up and taking off your hat and opening doors—
PICKERING. Oh, that was nothing.
LIZA. Yes: things that showed you thought and felt about me as if I were something better than a scullerymaid; though of course I know you would have been just the same to a scullery-maid if she had been let in the drawing-room. You never took off your boots in the dining room when I was there.
PICKERING. You mustn't mind that. Higgins takes off his boots all over the place.
LIZA. I know. I am not blaming him. It is his way, isn't it? But it made such a difference to me that you didn't do it. You see, really and truly, apart from the things anyone can pick up (the dressing and the proper way of speaking, and so on), the difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she's treated. I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins, because he always treats me as a flower girl, and always will; but I know I can be a lady to you, because you always treat me as a lady, and always will.
MRS. HIGGINS. Please don't grind your teeth, Henry.
PICKERING. Well, this is really very nice of you, Miss Doolittle.
LIZA. I should like you to call me Eliza, now, if you would.
PICKERING. Thank you. Eliza, of course.
LIZA. And I should like Professor Higgins to call me Miss Doolittle.
HIGGINS. I'll see you damned first.
MRS. HIGGINS. Henry! Henry!
PICKERING [laughing] Why don't you slang back at him? Don't stand it. It would do him a lot of good.
LIZA. I can't. I could have done it once; but now I can't go back to it. Last night, when I was wandering about, a girl spoke to me; and I tried to get back into the old way with her; but it was no use. You told me, you know, that when a child is brought to a foreign country, it picks up the language in a few weeks, and forgets its own. Well, I am a child in your country. I have forgotten my own language, and can speak nothing but yours. That's the real break-off with the corner of Tottenham Court Road. Leaving Wimpole Street finishes it.
PICKERING [much alarmed] Oh! but you're coming back to Wimpole Street, aren't you? You'll forgive Higgins?
HIGGINS [rising] Forgive! Will she, by George! Let her go. Let her find out how she can get on without us. She will relapse into the gutter in three weeks without me at her elbow.
Doolittle appears at the centre window. With a look of dignified reproach at Higgins, he comes slowly and silently to his daughter, who, with her back to the window, is unconscious of his approach.
PICKERING. He's incorrigible, Eliza. You won't relapse, will you?
LIZA. No: Not now. Never again. I have learnt my lesson. I don't believe I could utter one of the old sounds if I tried. [Doolittle touches her on her left shoulder. She drops her work, losing her self-possession utterly at the spectacle of her father's splendor] A—a—a—a—a—ah—ow—ooh!
HIGGINS [with a crow of triumph] Aha! Just so. A—a—a—a—ahowooh! A—a—a—a—ahowooh ! A—a—a—a—ahowooh! Victory! Victory! [He throws himself on the divan, folding his arms, and spraddling arrogantly].
DOOLITTLE. Can you blame the girl? Don't look at me like that, Eliza. It ain't my fault. I've come into money.
LIZA. You must have touched a millionaire this time, dad.
DOOLITTLE. I have. But I'm dressed something special today. I'm going to St. George's, Hanover Square. Your stepmother is going to marry me.
LIZA [angrily] You're going to let yourself down to marry that low common woman!
PICKERING [quietly] He ought to, Eliza. [To Doolittle] Why has she changed her mind?
DOOLITTLE [sadly] Intimidated, Governor. Intimidated. Middle class morality claims its victim. Won't you put on your hat, Liza, and come and see me turned off?
LIZA. If the Colonel says I must, I—I'll [almost sobbing] I'll demean myself. And get insulted for my pains, like enough.
DOOLITTLE. Don't be afraid: she never comes to words with anyone now, poor woman! respectability has broke all the spirit out of her.
PICKERING [squeezing Eliza's elbow gently] Be kind to them, Eliza. Make the best of it.
LIZA [forcing a little smile for him through her vexation] Oh well, just to show there's no ill feeling. I'll be back in a moment. [She goes out].
DOOLITTLE [sitting down beside Pickering] I feel uncommon nervous about the ceremony, Colonel. I wish you'd come and see me through it.
PICKERING. But you've been through it before, man. You were married to Eliza's mother.
DOOLITTLE. Who told you that, Colonel?
PICKERING. Well, nobody told me. But I concluded naturally—
DOOLITTLE. No: that ain't the natural way, Colonel: it's only the middle class way. My way was always the undeserving way. But don't say nothing to Eliza. She don't know: I always had a delicacy about telling her.
PICKERING. Quite right. We'll leave it so, if you don't mind.
DOOLITTLE. And you'll come to the church, Colonel, and put me through straight?
PICKERING. With pleasure. As far as a bachelor can.
MRS. HIGGINS. May I come, Mr. Doolittle? I should be very sorry to miss your wedding.
DOOLITTLE. I should indeed be honored by your condescension, ma'am; and my poor old woman would take it as a tremenjous compliment. She's been very low, thinking of the happy days that are no more.
MRS. HIGGINS [rising] I'll order the carriage and get ready. [The men rise, except Higgins]. I shan't be more than fifteen minutes. [As she goes to the door Eliza comes in, hatted and buttoning her gloves]. I'm going to the church to see your father married, Eliza. You had better come in the brougham with me. Colonel Pickering can go on with the bridegroom.
Mrs. Higgins goes out. Eliza comes to the middle of the room between the centre window and the ottoman. Pickering joins her.
DOOLITTLE. Bridegroom! What a word! It makes a man realize his position, somehow. [He takes up his hat and goes towards the door].
PICKERING. Before I go, Eliza, do forgive him and come back to us.
LIZA. I don't think papa would allow me. Would you, dad?
DOOLITTLE [sad but magnanimous] They played you off very cunning, Eliza, them two sportsmen. If it had been only one of them, you could have nailed him. But you see, there was two; and one of them chaperoned the other, as you might say. [To Pickering] It was artful of you, Colonel; but I bear no malice: I should have done the same myself. I been the victim of one woman after another all my life; and I don't grudge you two getting the better of Eliza. I shan't interfere. It's time for us to go, Colonel. So long, Henry. See you in St. George's, Eliza. [He goes out].
PICKERING [coaxing] Do stay with us, Eliza. [He follows Doolittle].
Eliza goes out on the balcony to avoid being alone with Higgins. He rises and joins her there. She immediately comes back into the room and makes for the door; but he goes along the balcony quickly and gets his back to the door before she reaches it.
HIGGINS. Well, Eliza, you've had a bit of your own back, as you call it. Have you had enough? and are you going to be reasonable? Or do you want any more?
LIZA. You want me back only to pick up your slippers and put up with your tempers and fetch and carry for you.
HIGGINS. I haven't said I wanted you back at all.
LIZA. Oh, indeed. Then what are we talking about?
HIGGINS. About you, not about me. If you come back I shall treat you just as I have always treated you. I can't change my nature; and I don't intend to change my manners. My manners are exactly the same as Colonel Pickering's.
LIZA. That's not true. He treats a flower girl as if she was a duchess.
HIGGINS. And I treat a duchess as if she was a flower girl.
LIZA. I see. [She turns away composedly, and sits on the ottoman, facing the window]. The same to everybody.
HIGGINS. Just so.
LIZA. Like father.
HIGGINS [grinning, a little taken down] Without accepting the comparison at all points, Eliza, it's quite true that your father is not a snob, and that he will be quite at home in any station of life to which his eccentric destiny may call him. [Seriously] The great secret, Eliza, is not having bad manners or good manners or any other particular sort of manners, but having the same manner for all human souls: in short, behaving as if you were in Heaven, where there are no third-class carriages, and one soul is as good as another.
LIZA. Amen. You are a born preacher.
HIGGINS [irritated] The question is not whether I treat you rudely, but whether you ever heard me treat anyone else better.
LIZA [with sudden sincerity] I don't care how you treat me. I don't mind your swearing at me. I don't mind a black eye: I've had one before this. But [standing up and facing him] I won't be passed over.
HIGGINS. Then get out of my way; for I won't stop for you. You talk about me as if I were a motor bus.
LIZA. So you are a motor bus: all bounce and go, and no consideration for anyone. But I can do without you: don't think I can't.
HIGGINS. I know you can. I told you you could.
LIZA [wounded, getting away from him to the other side of the ottoman with her face to the hearth] I know you did, you brute. You wanted to get rid of me.
HIGGINS. Liar.
LIZA. Thank you. [She sits down with dignity].
HIGGINS. You never asked yourself, I suppose, whether I could do without YOU.
LIZA [earnestly] Don't you try to get round me. You'll HAVE to do without me.
HIGGINS [arrogant] I can do without anybody. I have my own soul: my own spark of divine fire. But [with sudden humility] I shall miss you, Eliza. [He sits down near her on the ottoman]. I have learnt something from your idiotic notions: I confess that humbly and gratefully. And I have grown accustomed to your voice and appearance. I like them, rather.
LIZA. Well, you have both of them on your gramophone and in your book of photographs. When you feel lonely without me, you can turn the machine on. It's got no feelings to hurt.
HIGGINS. I can't turn your soul on. Leave me those feelings; and you can take away the voice and the face. They are not you.
LIZA. Oh, you ARE a devil. You can twist the heart in a girl as easy as some could twist her arms to hurt her. Mrs. Pearce warned me. Time and again she has wanted to leave you; and you always got round her at the last minute. And you don't care a bit for her. And you don't care a bit for me.
HIGGINS. I care for life, for humanity; and you are a part of it that has come my way and been built into my house. What more can you or anyone ask?
LIZA. I won't care for anybody that doesn't care for me.
HIGGINS. Commercial principles, Eliza. Like [reproducing her Covent Garden pronunciation with professional exactness] s'yollin voylets [selling violets], isn't it?
LIZA. Don't sneer at me. It's mean to sneer at me.
HIGGINS. I have never sneered in my life. Sneering doesn't become either the human face or the human soul. I am expressing my righteous contempt for Commercialism. I don't and won't trade in affection. You call me a brute because you couldn't buy a claim on me by fetching my slippers and finding my spectacles. You were a fool: I think a woman fetching a man's slippers is a disgusting sight: did I ever fetch YOUR slippers? I think a good deal more of you for throwing them in my face. No use slaving for me and then saying you want to be cared for: who cares for a slave? If you come back, come back for the sake of good fellowship; for you'll get nothing else. You've had a thousand times as much out of me as I have out of you; and if you dare to set up your little dog's tricks of fetching and carrying slippers against my creation of a Duchess Eliza, I'll slam the door in your silly face.
LIZA. What did you do it for if you didn't care for me?
HIGGINS [heartily] Why, because it was my job.
LIZA. You never thought of the trouble it would make for me.
HIGGINS. Would the world ever have been made if its maker had been afraid of making trouble? Making life means making trouble. There's only one way of escaping trouble; and that's killing things. Cowards, you notice, are always shrieking to have troublesome people killed.
LIZA. I'm no preacher: I don't notice things like that. I notice that you don't notice me.
HIGGINS [jumping up and walking about intolerantly] Eliza: you're an idiot. I waste the treasures of my Miltonic mind by spreading them before you. Once for all, understand that I go my way and do my work without caring twopence what happens to either of us. I am not intimidated, like your father and your stepmother. So you can come back or go to the devil: which you please.
LIZA. What am I to come back for?
HIGGINS [bouncing up on his knees on the ottoman and leaning over it to her] For the fun of it. That's why I took you on.
LIZA [with averted face] And you may throw me out tomorrow if I don't do everything you want me to?
HIGGINS. Yes; and you may walk out tomorrow if I don't do everything YOU want me to.
LIZA. And live with my stepmother?
HIGGINS. Yes, or sell flowers.
LIZA. Oh! if I only COULD go back to my flower basket! I should be independent of both you and father and all the world! Why did you take my independence from me? Why did I give it up? I'm a slave now, for all my fine clothes.
HIGGINS. Not a bit. I'll adopt you as my daughter and settle money on you if you like. Or would you rather marry Pickering?
LIZA [looking fiercely round at him] I wouldn't marry YOU if you asked me; and you're nearer my age than what he is.
HIGGINS [gently] Than he is: not "than what he is."
LIZA [losing her temper and rising] I'll talk as I like. You're not my teacher now.
HIGGINS [reflectively] I don't suppose Pickering would, though. He's as confirmed an old bachelor as I am.
LIZA. That's not what I want; and don't you think it. I've always had chaps enough wanting me that way. Freddy Hill writes to me twice and three times a day, sheets and sheets.
HIGGINS [disagreeably surprised] Damn his impudence! [He recoils and finds himself sitting on his heels].
LIZA. He has a right to if he likes, poor lad. And he does love me.
HIGGINS [getting off the ottoman] You have no right to encourage him.
LIZA. Every girl has a right to be loved.
HIGGINS. What! By fools like that?
LIZA. Freddy's not a fool. And if he's weak and poor and wants me, may be he'd make me happier than my betters that bully me and don't want me.
HIGGINS. Can he MAKE anything of you? That's the point.
LIZA. Perhaps I could make something of him. But I never thought of us making anything of one another; and you never think of anything else. I only want to be natural.
HIGGINS. In short, you want me to be as infatuated about you as Freddy? Is that it?
LIZA. No I don't. That's not the sort of feeling I want from you. And don't you be too sure of yourself or of me. I could have been a bad girl if I'd liked. I've seen more of some things than you, for all your learning. Girls like me can drag gentlemen down to make love to them easy enough. And they wish each other dead the next minute.
HIGGINS. Of course they do. Then what in thunder are we quarrelling about?
LIZA [much troubled] I want a little kindness. I know I'm a common ignorant girl, and you a book-learned gentleman; but I'm not dirt under your feet. What I done [correcting herself] what I did was not for the dresses and the taxis: I did it because we were pleasant together and I come—came—to care for you; not to want you to make love to me, and not forgetting the difference between us, but more friendly like.
HIGGINS. Well, of course. That's just how I feel. And how Pickering feels. Eliza: you're a fool.
LIZA. That's not a proper answer to give me [she sinks on the chair at the writing-table in tears].
HIGGINS. It's all you'll get until you stop being a common idiot. If you're going to be a lady, you'll have to give up feeling neglected if the men you know don't spend half their time snivelling over you and the other half giving you black eyes. If you can't stand the coldness of my sort of life, and the strain of it, go back to the gutter. Work til you are more a brute than a human being; and then cuddle and squabble and drink til you fall asleep. Oh, it's a fine life, the life of the gutter. It's real: it's warm: it's violent: you can feel it through the thickest skin: you can taste it and smell it without any training or any work. Not like Science and Literature and Classical Music and Philosophy and Art. You find me cold, unfeeling, selfish, don't you? Very well: be off with you to the sort of people you like. Marry some sentimental hog or other with lots of money, and a thick pair of lips to kiss you with and a thick pair of boots to kick you with. If you can't appreciate what you've got, you'd better get what you can appreciate.
LIZA [desperate] Oh, you are a cruel tyrant. I can't talk to you: you turn everything against me: I'm always in the wrong. But you know very well all the time that you're nothing but a bully. You know I can't go back to the gutter, as you call it, and that I have no real friends in the world but you and the Colonel. You know well I couldn't bear to live with a low common man after you two; and it's wicked and cruel of you to insult me by pretending I could. You think I must go back to Wimpole Street because I have nowhere else to go but father's. But don't you be too sure that you have me under your feet to be trampled on and talked down. I'll marry Freddy, I will, as soon as he's able to support me.
HIGGINS [sitting down beside her] Rubbish! you shall marry an ambassador. You shall marry the Governor-General of India or the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, or somebody who wants a deputy-queen. I'm not going to have my masterpiece thrown away on Freddy.
LIZA. You think I like you to say that. But I haven't forgot what you said a minute ago; and I won't be coaxed round as if I was a baby or a puppy. If I can't have kindness, I'll have independence.
HIGGINS. Independence? That's middle class blasphemy. We are all dependent on one another, every soul of us on earth.
LIZA [rising determinedly] I'll let you see whether I'm dependent on you. If you can preach, I can teach. I'll go and be a teacher.
HIGGINS. What'll you teach, in heaven's name?
LIZA. What you taught me. I'll teach phonetics.
HIGGINS. Ha! Ha! Ha!
LIZA. I'll offer myself as an assistant to Professor Nepean.
HIGGINS [rising in a fury] What! That impostor! that humbug! that toadying ignoramus! Teach him my methods! my discoveries! You take one step in his direction and I'll wring your neck. [He lays hands on her]. Do you hear?
LIZA [defiantly non-resistant] Wring away. What do I care? I knew you'd strike me some day. [He lets her go, stamping with rage at having forgotten himself, and recoils so hastily that he stumbles back into his seat on the ottoman]. Aha! Now I know how to deal with you. What a fool I was not to think of it before! You can't take away the knowledge you gave me. You said I had a finer ear than you. And I can be civil and kind to people, which is more than you can. Aha! That's done you, Henry Higgins, it has. Now I don't care that [snapping her fingers] for your bullying and your big talk. I'll advertize it in the papers that your duchess is only a flower girl that you taught, and that she'll teach anybody to be a duchess just the same in six months for a thousand guineas. Oh, when I think of myself crawling under your feet and being trampled on and called names, when all the time I had only to lift up my finger to be as good as you, I could just kick myself.
HIGGINS [wondering at her] You damned impudent slut, you! But it's better than snivelling; better than fetching slippers and finding spectacles, isn't it? [Rising] By George, Eliza, I said I'd make a woman of you; and I have. I like you like this.
LIZA. Yes: you turn round and make up to me now that I'm not afraid of you, and can do without you.
HIGGINS. Of course I do, you little fool. Five minutes ago you were like a millstone round my neck. Now you're a tower of strength: a consort battleship. You and I and Pickering will be three old bachelors together instead of only two men and a silly girl.
Mrs. Higgins returns, dressed for the wedding. Eliza instantly becomes cool and elegant.
MRS. HIGGINS. The carriage is waiting, Eliza. Are you ready?
LIZA. Quite. Is the Professor coming?
MRS. HIGGINS. Certainly not. He can't behave himself in church. He makes remarks out loud all the time on the clergyman's pronunciation.
LIZA. Then I shall not see you again, Professor. Good bye. [She goes to the door].
MRS. HIGGINS [coming to Higgins] Good-bye, dear.
HIGGINS. Good-bye, mother. [He is about to kiss her, when he recollects something]. Oh, by the way, Eliza, order a ham and a Stilton cheese, will you? And buy me a pair of reindeer gloves, number eights, and a tie to match that new suit of mine, at Eale & Binman's. You can choose the color. [His cheerful, careless, vigorous voice shows that he is incorrigible].
LIZA [disdainfully] Buy them yourself. [She sweeps out].
MRS. HIGGINS. I'm afraid you've spoiled that girl, Henry. But never mind, dear: I'll buy you the tie and gloves.
HIGGINS [sunnily] Oh, don't bother. She'll buy em all right enough. Good-bye.
They kiss. Mrs. Higgins runs out. Higgins, left alone, rattles his cash in his pocket; chuckles; and disports himself in a highly self-satisfied manner.

________________________________________

The rest of the story need not be shown in action, and indeed, would hardly need telling if our imaginations were not so enfeebled by their lazy dependence on the ready-makes and reach-me-downs of the ragshop in which Romance keeps its stock of "happy endings" to misfit all stories. Now, the history of Eliza Doolittle, though called a romance because of the transfiguration it records seems exceedingly improbable, is common enough. Such transfigurations have been achieved by hundreds of resolutely ambitious young women since Nell Gwynne set them the example by playing queens and fascinating kings in the theatre in which she began by selling oranges. Nevertheless, people in all directions have assumed, for no other reason than that she became the heroine of a romance, that she must have married the hero of it. This is unbearable, not only because her little drama, if acted on such a thoughtless assumption, must be spoiled, but because the true sequel is patent to anyone with a sense of human nature in general, and of feminine instinct in particular.
Eliza, in telling Higgins she would not marry him if he asked her, was not coquetting: she was announcing a well-considered decision. When a bachelor interests, and dominates, and teaches, and becomes important to a spinster, as Higgins with Eliza, she always, if she has character enough to be capable of it, considers very seriously indeed whether she will play for becoming that bachelor's wife, especially if he is so little interested in marriage that a determined and devoted woman might capture him if she set herself resolutely to do it. Her decision will depend a good deal on whether she is really free to choose; and that, again, will depend on her age and income. If she is at the end of her youth, and has no security for her livelihood, she will marry him because she must marry anybody who will provide for her. But at Eliza's age a good-looking girl does not feel that pressure; she feels free to pick and choose. She is therefore guided by her instinct in the matter. Eliza's instinct tells her not to marry Higgins. It does not tell her to give him up. It is not in the slightest doubt as to his remaining one of the strongest personal interests in her life. It would be very sorely strained if there was another woman likely to supplant her with him. But as she feels sure of him on that last point, she has no doubt at all as to her course, and would not have any, even if the difference of twenty years in age, which seems so great to youth, did not exist between them.
As our own instincts are not appealed to by her conclusion, let us see whether we cannot discover some reason in it. When Higgins excused his indifference to young women on the ground that they had an irresistible rival in his mother, he gave the clue to his inveterate old-bachelordom. The case is uncommon only to the extent that remarkable mothers are uncommon. If an imaginative boy has a sufficiently rich mother who has intelligence, personal grace, dignity of character without harshness, and a cultivated sense of the best art of her time to enable her to make her house beautiful, she sets a standard for him against which very few women can struggle, besides effecting for him a disengagement of his affections, his sense of beauty, and his idealism from his specifically sexual impulses. This makes him a standing puzzle to the huge number of uncultivated people who have been brought up in tasteless homes by commonplace or disagreeable parents, and to whom, consequently, literature, painting, sculpture, music, and affectionate personal relations come as modes of sex if they come at all. The word passion means nothing else to them; and that Higgins could have a passion for phonetics and idealize his mother instead of Eliza, would seem to them absurd and unnatural. Nevertheless, when we look round and see that hardly anyone is too ugly or disagreeable to find a wife or a husband if he or she wants one, whilst many old maids and bachelors are above the average in quality and culture, we cannot help suspecting that the disentanglement of sex from the associations with which it is so commonly confused, a disentanglement which persons of genius achieve by sheer intellectual analysis, is sometimes produced or aided by parental fascination.
Now, though Eliza was incapable of thus explaining to herself Higgins's formidable powers of resistance to the charm that prostrated Freddy at the first glance, she was instinctively aware that she could never obtain a complete grip of him, or come between him and his mother (the first necessity of the married woman). To put it shortly, she knew that for some mysterious reason he had not the makings of a married man in him, according to her conception of a husband as one to whom she would be his nearest and fondest and warmest interest. Even had there been no mother-rival, she would still have refused to accept an interest in herself that was secondary to philosophic interests. Had Mrs. Higgins died, there would still have been Milton and the Universal Alphabet. Landor's remark that to those who have the greatest power of loving, love is a secondary affair, would not have recommended Landor to Eliza. Put that along with her resentment of Higgins's domineering superiority, and her mistrust of his coaxing cleverness in getting round her and evading her wrath when he had gone too far with his impetuous bullying, and you will see that Eliza's instinct had good grounds for warning her not to marry her Pygmalion.
And now, whom did Eliza marry? For if Higgins was a predestinate old bachelor, she was most certainly not a predestinate old maid. Well, that can be told very shortly to those who have not guessed it from the indications she has herself given them.
Almost immediately after Eliza is stung into proclaiming her considered determination not to marry Higgins, she mentions the fact that young Mr. Frederick Eynsford Hill is pouring out his love for her daily through the post. Now Freddy is young, practically twenty years younger than Higgins: he is a gentleman (or, as Eliza would qualify him, a toff), and speaks like one; he is nicely dressed, is treated by the Colonel as an equal, loves her unaffectedly, and is not her master, nor ever likely to dominate her in spite of his advantage of social standing. Eliza has no use for the foolish romantic tradition that all women love to be mastered, if not actually bullied and beaten. "When you go to women," says Nietzsche, "take your whip with you." Sensible despots have never confined that precaution to women: they have taken their whips with them when they have dealt with men, and been slavishly idealized by the men over whom they have flourished the whip much more than by women. No doubt there are slavish women as well as slavish men; and women, like men, admire those that are stronger than themselves. But to admire a strong person and to live under that strong person's thumb are two different things. The weak may not be admired and hero-worshipped; but they are by no means disliked or shunned; and they never seem to have the least difficulty in marrying people who are too good for them. They may fail in emergencies; but life is not one long emergency: it is mostly a string of situations for which no exceptional strength is needed, and with which even rather weak people can cope if they have a stronger partner to help them out. Accordingly, it is a truth everywhere in evidence that strong people, masculine or feminine, not only do not marry stronger people, but do not show any preference for them in selecting their friends. When a lion meets another with a louder roar "the first lion thinks the last a bore." The man or woman who feels strong enough for two, seeks for every other quality in a partner than strength.
The converse is also true. Weak people want to marry strong people who do not frighten them too much; and this often leads them to make the mistake we describe metaphorically as "biting off more than they can chew." They want too much for too little; and when the bargain is unreasonable beyond all bearing, the union becomes impossible: it ends in the weaker party being either discarded or borne as a cross, which is worse. People who are not only weak, but silly or obtuse as well, are often in these difficulties.
This being the state of human affairs, what is Eliza fairly sure to do when she is placed between Freddy and Higgins? Will she look forward to a lifetime of fetching Higgins's slippers or to a lifetime of Freddy fetching hers? There can be no doubt about the answer. Unless Freddy is biologically repulsive to her, and Higgins biologically attractive to a degree that overwhelms all her other instincts, she will, if she marries either of them, marry Freddy.
And that is just what Eliza did.
Complications ensued; but they were economic, not romantic. Freddy had no money and no occupation. His mother's jointure, a last relic of the opulence of Largelady Park, had enabled her to struggle along in Earlscourt with an air of gentility, but not to procure any serious secondary education for her children, much less give the boy a profession. A clerkship at thirty shillings a week was beneath Freddy's dignity, and extremely distasteful to him besides. His prospects consisted of a hope that if he kept up appearances somebody would do something for him. The something appeared vaguely to his imagination as a private secretaryship or a sinecure of some sort. To his mother it perhaps appeared as a marriage to some lady of means who could not resist her boy's niceness. Fancy her feelings when he married a flower girl who had become declassee under extraordinary circumstances which were now notorious!
It is true that Eliza's situation did not seem wholly ineligible. Her father, though formerly a dustman, and now fantastically disclassed, had become extremely popular in the smartest society by a social talent which triumphed over every prejudice and every disadvantage. Rejected by the middle class, which he loathed, he had shot up at once into the highest circles by his wit, his dustmanship (which he carried like a banner), and his Nietzschean transcendence of good and evil. At intimate ducal dinners he sat on the right hand of the Duchess; and in country houses he smoked in the pantry and was made much of by the butler when he was not feeding in the dining-room and being consulted by cabinet ministers. But he found it almost as hard to do all this on four thousand a year as Mrs. Eynsford Hill to live in Earlscourt on an income so pitiably smaller that I have not the heart to disclose its exact figure. He absolutely refused to add the last straw to his burden by contributing to Eliza's support.
Thus Freddy and Eliza, now Mr. and Mrs. Eynsford Hill, would have spent a penniless honeymoon but for a wedding present of 500 pounds from the Colonel to Eliza. It lasted a long time because Freddy did not know how to spend money, never having had any to spend, and Eliza, socially trained by a pair of old bachelors, wore her clothes as long as they held together and looked pretty, without the least regard to their being many months out of fashion. Still, 500 pounds will not last two young people for ever; and they both knew, and Eliza felt as well, that they must shift for themselves in the end. She could quarter herself on Wimpole Street because it had come to be her home; but she was quite aware that she ought not to quarter Freddy there, and that it would not be good for his character if she did.
Not that the Wimpole Street bachelors objected. When she consulted them, Higgins declined to be bothered about her housing problem when that solution was so simple. Eliza's desire to have Freddy in the house with her seemed of no more importance than if she had wanted an extra piece of bedroom furniture. Pleas as to Freddy's character, and the moral obligation on him to earn his own living, were lost on Higgins. He denied that Freddy had any character, and declared that if he tried to do any useful work some competent person would have the trouble of undoing it: a procedure involving a net loss to the community, and great unhappiness to Freddy himself, who was obviously intended by Nature for such light work as amusing Eliza, which, Higgins declared, was a much more useful and honorable occupation than working in the city. When Eliza referred again to her project of teaching phonetics, Higgins abated not a jot of his violent opposition to it. He said she was not within ten years of being qualified to meddle with his pet subject; and as it was evident that the Colonel agreed with him, she felt she could not go against them in this grave matter, and that she had no right, without Higgins's consent, to exploit the knowledge he had given her; for his knowledge seemed to her as much his private property as his watch: Eliza was no communist. Besides, she was superstitiously devoted to them both, more entirely and frankly after her marriage than before it.
It was the Colonel who finally solved the problem, which had cost him much perplexed cogitation. He one day asked Eliza, rather shyly, whether she had quite given up her notion of keeping a flower shop. She replied that she had thought of it, but had put it out of her head, because the Colonel had said, that day at Mrs. Higgins's, that it would never do. The Colonel confessed that when he said that, he had not quite recovered from the dazzling impression of the day before. They broke the matter to Higgins that evening. The sole comment vouchsafed by him very nearly led to a serious quarrel with Eliza. It was to the effect that she would have in Freddy an ideal errand boy.
Freddy himself was next sounded on the subject. He said he had been thinking of a shop himself; though it had presented itself to his pennilessness as a small place in which Eliza should sell tobacco at one counter whilst he sold newspapers at the opposite one. But he agreed that it would be extraordinarily jolly to go early every morning with Eliza to Covent Garden and buy flowers on the scene of their first meeting: a sentiment which earned him many kisses from his wife. He added that he had always been afraid to propose anything of the sort, because Clara would make an awful row about a step that must damage her matrimonial chances, and his mother could not be expected to like it after clinging for so many years to that step of the social ladder on which retail trade is impossible.
This difficulty was removed by an event highly unexpected by Freddy's mother. Clara, in the course of her incursions into those artistic circles which were the highest within her reach, discovered that her conversational qualifications were expected to include a grounding in the novels of Mr. H.G. Wells. She borrowed them in various directions so energetically that she swallowed them all within two months. The result was a conversion of a kind quite common today. A modern Acts of the Apostles would fill fifty whole Bibles if anyone were capable of writing it.
Poor Clara, who appeared to Higgins and his mother as a disagreeable and ridiculous person, and to her own mother as in some inexplicable way a social failure, had never seen herself in either light; for, though to some extent ridiculed and mimicked in West Kensington like everybody else there, she was accepted as a rational and normal—or shall we say inevitable?—sort of human being. At worst they called her The Pusher; but to them no more than to herself had it ever occurred that she was pushing the air, and pushing it in a wrong direction. Still, she was not happy. She was growing desperate. Her one asset, the fact that her mother was what the Epsom greengrocer called a carriage lady had no exchange value, apparently. It had prevented her from getting educated, because the only education she could have afforded was education with the Earlscourt green grocer's daughter. It had led her to seek the society of her mother's class; and that class simply would not have her, because she was much poorer than the greengrocer, and, far from being able to afford a maid, could not afford even a housemaid, and had to scrape along at home with an illiberally treated general servant. Under such circumstances nothing could give her an air of being a genuine product of Largelady Park. And yet its tradition made her regard a marriage with anyone within her reach as an unbearable humiliation. Commercial people and professional people in a small way were odious to her. She ran after painters and novelists; but she did not charm them; and her bold attempts to pick up and practise artistic and literary talk irritated them. She was, in short, an utter failure, an ignorant, incompetent, pretentious, unwelcome, penniless, useless little snob; and though she did not admit these disqualifications (for nobody ever faces unpleasant truths of this kind until the possibility of a way out dawns on them) she felt their effects too keenly to be satisfied with her position.
Clara had a startling eyeopener when, on being suddenly wakened to enthusiasm by a girl of her own age who dazzled her and produced in her a gushing desire to take her for a model, and gain her friendship, she discovered that this exquisite apparition had graduated from the gutter in a few months' time. It shook her so violently, that when Mr. H. G. Wells lifted her on the point of his puissant pen, and placed her at the angle of view from which the life she was leading and the society to which she clung appeared in its true relation to real human needs and worthy social structure, he effected a conversion and a conviction of sin comparable to the most sensational feats of General Booth or Gypsy Smith. Clara's snobbery went bang. Life suddenly began to move with her. Without knowing how or why, she began to make friends and enemies. Some of the acquaintances to whom she had been a tedious or indifferent or ridiculous affliction, dropped her: others became cordial. To her amazement she found that some "quite nice" people were saturated with Wells, and that this accessibility to ideas was the secret of their niceness. People she had thought deeply religious, and had tried to conciliate on that tack with disastrous results, suddenly took an interest in her, and revealed a hostility to conventional religion which she had never conceived possible except among the most desperate characters. They made her read Galsworthy; and Galsworthy exposed the vanity of Largelady Park and finished her. It exasperated her to think that the dungeon in which she had languished for so many unhappy years had been unlocked all the time, and that the impulses she had so carefully struggled with and stifled for the sake of keeping well with society, were precisely those by which alone she could have come into any sort of sincere human contact. In the radiance of these discoveries, and the tumult of their reaction, she made a fool of herself as freely and conspicuously as when she so rashly adopted Eliza's expletive in Mrs. Higgins's drawing-room; for the new-born Wellsian had to find her bearings almost as ridiculously as a baby; but nobody hates a baby for its ineptitudes, or thinks the worse of it for trying to eat the matches; and Clara lost no friends by her follies. They laughed at her to her face this time; and she had to defend herself and fight it out as best she could.
When Freddy paid a visit to Earlscourt (which he never did when he could possibly help it) to make the desolating announcement that he and his Eliza were thinking of blackening the Largelady scutcheon by opening a shop, he found the little household already convulsed by a prior announcement from Clara that she also was going to work in an old furniture shop in Dover Street, which had been started by a fellow Wellsian. This appointment Clara owed, after all, to her old social accomplishment of Push. She had made up her mind that, cost what it might, she would see Mr. Wells in the flesh; and she had achieved her end at a garden party. She had better luck than so rash an enterprise deserved. Mr. Wells came up to her expectations. Age had not withered him, nor could custom stale his infinite variety in half an hour. His pleasant neatness and compactness, his small hands and feet, his teeming ready brain, his unaffected accessibility, and a certain fine apprehensiveness which stamped him as susceptible from his topmost hair to his tipmost toe, proved irresistible. Clara talked of nothing else for weeks and weeks afterwards. And as she happened to talk to the lady of the furniture shop, and that lady also desired above all things to know Mr. Wells and sell pretty things to him, she offered Clara a job on the chance of achieving that end through her.
And so it came about that Eliza's luck held, and the expected opposition to the flower shop melted away. The shop is in the arcade of a railway station not very far from the Victoria and Albert Museum; and if you live in that neighborhood you may go there any day and buy a buttonhole from Eliza.
Now here is a last opportunity for romance. Would you not like to be assured that the shop was an immense success, thanks to Eliza's charms and her early business experience in Covent Garden? Alas! the truth is the truth: the shop did not pay for a long time, simply because Eliza and her Freddy did not know how to keep it. True, Eliza had not to begin at the very beginning: she knew the names and prices of the cheaper flowers; and her elation was unbounded when she found that Freddy, like all youths educated at cheap, pretentious, and thoroughly inefficient schools, knew a little Latin. It was very little, but enough to make him appear to her a Porson or Bentley, and to put him at his ease with botanical nomenclature. Unfortunately he knew nothing else; and Eliza, though she could count money up to eighteen shillings or so, and had acquired a certain familiarity with the language of Milton from her struggles to qualify herself for winning Higgins's bet, could not write out a bill without utterly disgracing the establishment. Freddy's power of stating in Latin that Balbus built a wall and that Gaul was divided into three parts did not carry with it the slightest knowledge of accounts or business: Colonel Pickering had to explain to him what a cheque book and a bank account meant. And the pair were by no means easily teachable. Freddy backed up Eliza in her obstinate refusal to believe that they could save money by engaging a bookkeeper with some knowledge of the business. How, they argued, could you possibly save money by going to extra expense when you already could not make both ends meet? But the Colonel, after making the ends meet over and over again, at last gently insisted; and Eliza, humbled to the dust by having to beg from him so often, and stung by the uproarious derision of Higgins, to whom the notion of Freddy succeeding at anything was a joke that never palled, grasped the fact that business, like phonetics, has to be learned.
On the piteous spectacle of the pair spending their evenings in shorthand schools and polytechnic classes, learning bookkeeping and typewriting with incipient junior clerks, male and female, from the elementary schools, let me not dwell. There were even classes at the London School of Economics, and a humble personal appeal to the director of that institution to recommend a course bearing on the flower business. He, being a humorist, explained to them the method of the celebrated Dickensian essay on Chinese Metaphysics by the gentleman who read an article on China and an article on Metaphysics and combined the information. He suggested that they should combine the London School with Kew Gardens. Eliza, to whom the procedure of the Dickensian gentleman seemed perfectly correct (as in fact it was) and not in the least funny (which was only her ignorance) took his advice with entire gravity. But the effort that cost her the deepest humiliation was a request to Higgins, whose pet artistic fancy, next to Milton's verse, was calligraphy, and who himself wrote a most beautiful Italian hand, that he would teach her to write. He declared that she was congenitally incapable of forming a single letter worthy of the least of Milton's words; but she persisted; and again he suddenly threw himself into the task of teaching her with a combination of stormy intensity, concentrated patience, and occasional bursts of interesting disquisition on the beauty and nobility, the august mission and destiny, of human handwriting. Eliza ended by acquiring an extremely uncommercial script which was a positive extension of her personal beauty, and spending three times as much on stationery as anyone else because certain qualities and shapes of paper became indispensable to her. She could not even address an envelope in the usual way because it made the margins all wrong.
Their commercial school days were a period of disgrace and despair for the young couple. They seemed to be learning nothing about flower shops. At last they gave it up as hopeless, and shook the dust of the shorthand schools, and the polytechnics, and the London School of Economics from their feet for ever. Besides, the business was in some mysterious way beginning to take care of itself. They had somehow forgotten their objections to employing other people. They came to the conclusion that their own way was the best, and that they had really a remarkable talent for business. The Colonel, who had been compelled for some years to keep a sufficient sum on current account at his bankers to make up their deficits, found that the provision was unnecessary: the young people were prospering. It is true that there was not quite fair play between them and their competitors in trade. Their week-ends in the country cost them nothing, and saved them the price of their Sunday dinners; for the motor car was the Colonel's; and he and Higgins paid the hotel bills. Mr. F. Hill, florist and greengrocer (they soon discovered that there was money in asparagus; and asparagus led to other vegetables), had an air which stamped the business as classy; and in private life he was still Frederick Eynsford Hill, Esquire. Not that there was any swank about him: nobody but Eliza knew that he had been christened Frederick Challoner. Eliza herself swanked like anything.
That is all. That is how it has turned out. It is astonishing how much Eliza still manages to meddle in the housekeeping at Wimpole Street in spite of the shop and her own family. And it is notable that though she never nags her husband, and frankly loves the Colonel as if she were his favorite daughter, she has never got out of the habit of nagging Higgins that was established on the fatal night when she won his bet for him. She snaps his head off on the faintest provocation, or on none. He no longer dares to tease her by assuming an abysmal inferiority of Freddy's mind to his own. He storms and bullies and derides; but she stands up to him so ruthlessly that the Colonel has to ask her from time to time to be kinder to Higgins; and it is the only request of his that brings a mulish expression into her face. Nothing but some emergency or calamity great enough to break down all likes and dislikes, and throw them both back on their common humanity—and may they be spared any such trial!—will ever alter this. She knows that Higgins does not need her, just as her father did not need her. The very scrupulousness with which he told her that day that he had become used to having her there, and dependent on her for all sorts of little services, and that he should miss her if she went away (it would never have occurred to Freddy or the Colonel to say anything of the sort) deepens her inner certainty that she is "no more to him than them slippers", yet she has a sense, too, that his indifference is deeper than the infatuation of commoner souls. She is immensely interested in him. She has even secret mischievous moments in which she wishes she could get him alone, on a desert island, away from all ties and with nobody else in the world to consider, and just drag him off his pedestal and see him making love like any common man. We all have private imaginations of that sort. But when it comes to business, to the life that she really leads as distinguished from the life of dreams and fancies, she likes Freddy and she likes the Colonel; and she does not like Higgins and Mr. Doolittle. Galatea never does quite like Pygmalion: his relation to her is too godlike to be altogether agreeable.