the　ring。　　HER　lip　curls。＇
  Sue。　　＇Murmuring　deeply＇　　Ah！
  CURTAIN
  DEFEAT
  A　TINY　DRAMA
  CHARACTERS
  THE　OFFICER。
  THE　GIRL。
  DEFEAT
  During　the　Great　War。　　Evening。
  An　empty　room。　　The　curtains　drawn　and　gas　turned　low。　　The
  furniture　and　walls　give　a　colour…impression　as　of　greens　and
  beetroot。　　There　is　a　prevalence　of　plush。　　A　fireplace　on　the
  Left；　a　sofa；　a　small　table；　the　curtained　window　is　at　the
  back。　　On　the　table；　in　a　common　pot；　stands　a　little　plant　of
  maidenhair　fern；　fresh　and　green。
  Enter　from　the　door　on　the　Right；　a　GIRL　and　a　YOUNG　OFFICER　in
  khaki。　　The　GIRL　wears　a　discreet　dark　dress；　hat；　and　veil；　and
  stained　yellow　gloves。　　The　YOUNG　OFFICER　is　tall；　with　a　fresh
  open　face；　and　kindly　eager　blue　eyes；　he　is　a　little　lame。　　The
  GIRL；　who　is　evidently　at　home；　moves　towards　the　gas　jet　to
  turn　it　up；　then　changes　her　mind；　and　going　to　the　curtains；
  draws　them　apart　and　throws　up　the　window。　　Bright　moonlight
  comes　flooding　in。　　Outside　are　seen　the　trees　of　a　little
  Square。　　She　stands　gazing　out；　suddenly　turns　inward　with　a
  shiver。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　I　say；　what's　the　matter？　　You　were　crying　when　I　spoke
  to　you。
  GIRL。　　＇With　a　movement　of　recovery＇　　Oh！　　nothing。　　The　beautiful
  evening…that's　all。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　＇Looking　at　her＇　　Cheer　up！
  GIRL。　　＇Taking　of　hat　and　veil；　her　hair　is　yellowish　and　crinkly＇
  Cheer　up！　　You　are　not　lonelee；　like　me。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　＇Limping　to　the　windowdoubtfully＇　　I　say；　how　did　you
  how　did　you　get　into　this？　　Isn't　it　an　awfully　hopeless　sort　of
  life？
  GIRL。　　Yees；　it　ees。　　You　haf　been　wounded？
  YOUNG　OFF。　　Just　out　of　hospital　to…day。
  GIRL。　　The　horrible　warall　the　misery　is　because　of　the　war。　　When
  will　it　end？
  YOUNG　OFF。　　＇Leaning　against　the　window…sill；　looking　at　her
  attentively＇　　I　say；　what　nationality　are　you？
  GIRL。　　＇With　a　quick　look　and　away＇　　Rooshian。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　Really！　　I　never　met　a　Russian　girl。　　＇The　GIRL　gives　him
  another　quick　look＇　　I　say；　is　it　as　bad　as　they　make　out？
  GIRL。　　＇Slipping　her　hand　through　his　arm＇　　Not　when　I　haf　anyone　as
  ni…ice　as　you；　I　never　haf　had；　though。　　＇She　smiles；　and　her　smile；
  like　her　speech；　is　slow　and　confining＇　　You　stopped　because　I　was
  sad；　others　stop　because　I　am　gay。　　I　am　not　fond　of　men　at　all。
  When　you　knowyou　are　not　fond　of　them。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　Well；　you　hardly　know　them　at　their　best；　do　you？　　You
  should　see　them　in　the　trenches。　　By　George！　　They're　simply
  splendidofficers　and　men；　every　blessed　soul。　　There's　never　been
  anything　like　itjust　one　long　bit　of　jolly　fine　self…sacrifice；
  it's　perfectly　amazing。
  GIRL。　　＇Turning　her　blue…grey　eyes　on　him＇　　I　expect　you　are　not　the
  last　at　that。　　You　see　in　them　what　you　haf　in　yourself；　I　think。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　Oh；　not　a　bit；　you're　quite　out！　　I　assure　you　when　we
  made　the　attack　where　I　got　wounded　there　wasn't　a　single　man　in　my
  regiment　who　wasn't　an　absolute　hero。　　The　way　they　went　innever
  thinking　of　themselvesit　was　simply　ripping。
  GIRL。　　＇In　a　queer　voice＇　　It　is　the　same　too；　perhaps；　withthe
  enemy。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　Oh；　yes！　　I　know　that。
  GIRL。　　Ah！　　You　are　not　a　mean　man。　　How　I　hate　mean　men！
  YOUNG　OFF。　　Oh！　they're　not　mean　reallythey　simply　don't
  understand。
  GIRL。　　Oh！　　You　are　a　babeea　good　babee　aren't　you？
  ＇The　YOUNG　OFFICER　doesn't　like　this；　and　frowns。　　The　GIRL
  looks　a　little　scared。＇
  GIRL。　　＇Clingingly＇　　But　I　li…ke　you　for　it。　　It　is　so　good　to　find　a
  ni…ice　man。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　＇Abruptly＇　　About　being　lonely？　　Haven't　you　any　Russian
  friends？
  GIRL。　　＇Blankly＇　　Rooshian？　　No。　　＇Quickly＇　　The　town　is　so　beeg。
  Were　you　at　the　concert　before　you　spoke　to　me？
  YOUNG　OFF。　　Yes。
  GIRL。　　I　too。　　I　lofe　music。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　I　suppose　all　Russians　do。
  GIRL。　　＇With　another　quick　look　tat　him＇　　I　go　there　always　when　I
  haf　the　money。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　What！　　Are　you　as　badly　on　the　rocks　as　that？
  GIRL。　　Well；　I　haf　just　one　shilling　now！
  ＇She　laughs　bitterly。　　The　laugh　upsets　him；　he　sits　on　the
  window…sill；　and　leans　forward　towards　her。＇
  YOUNG　OFF。　　I　say；　what's　your　name？
  GIRL。　　May。　　Well；　I　call　myself　that。　　It　is　no　good　asking　yours。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　＇With　a　laugh＇　　You're　a　distrustful　little　soul；　aren't
  you？
  GIRL。　　I　haf　reason　to　be；　don't　you　think？
  YOUNG　OFF。　　Yes。　　I　suppose　you're　bound　to　think　us　all　brutes。
  GIRL。　　＇Sitting　on　a　chair　close　to　the　window　where　the　moonlight
  falls　on　one　powdered　cheek＇　　Well；　I　haf　a　lot　of　reasons　to　be
  afraid　all　my　time。　　I　am　dreadfully　nervous　now；　I　am　not　trusding
  anybody。　　I　suppose　you　haf　been　killing　lots　of　Germans？
  YOUNG　OFF。　　We　never　know；　unless　it　happens　to　be　hand　to　hand；　I
  haven't　come　in　for　that　yet。
  GIRL。　　But　you　would　be　very　glad　if　you　had　killed　some。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　Oh；　glad？　　I　don't　think　so。　　We're　all　in　the　same　boat；
  so　far　as　that's　concerned。　　We're　not　glad　to　kill　each　othernot
  most　of　us。　　We　do　our　jobthat's　all。
  GIRL。　　Oh！　　It　is　frightful。　　I　expect　I　haf　my　brothers　killed。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　Don't　you　get　any　news　ever？
  GIRL。　　News？　　No　indeed；　no　news　of　anybody　in　my　country。　　I　might
  not　haf　a　country；　all　that　I　ever　knew　is　gone；　fader；　moder；
  sisters；　broders；　all；　　never　any　more　I　shall　see　them；　I　suppose；
  now。　　The　war　it　breaks　and　breaks；　it　breaks　hearts。　　＇She　gives　a
  little　snarl＇　　Do　you　know　what　I　was　thinking　when　you　came　up　to
  me？　　I　was　thinking　of　my　native　town；　and　the　river　in　the
  moonlight。　　If　I　could　see　it　again　I　would　be　glad。　　Were　you　ever
  homeseeck？
  YOUNG　OFF。　　Yes；　I　have　beenin　the　trenches。　　But　one's　ashamed
  with　all　the　others。
  GIRL。　　Ah！　　Yees！　　Yees！　　You　are　all　comrades　there。　　What　is　it
  like　for　me　here；　do　you　think；　where　everybody　hates　and　despises
  me；　and　would　catch　me　and　put　me　in　prison；　perhaps。　　＇Her　breast
  heaves。＇
  YOUNG　OFF。　　＇Leaning　forward　and　patting　her　knee＇　　Sorrysorry。
  GIRL。　　＇In　a　smothered　voice＇　　You　are　the　first　who　has　been　kind　to
  me　for　so　long！　　I　will　tell　you　the　truthI　am　not　Rooshian　at　all
  I　am　German。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　＇Staring＇　　My　dear　girl；　who　cares。　　　We　aren't　fighting
  against　women。
  GIRL。　　＇Peering　at　him＇　　Another　man　said　that　to　me。　　But　he　was
  thinkin'　of　his　fun。　　You　are　a　veree　ni…ice　boy；　I　am　so　glad　I　met
  you。　　You　see　the　good　in　people；　don't　you？　　That　is　the　first　thing
  in　the　worldbecausethere　is　really　not　much　good　in　people；　you
  know。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　＇Smiling＇　　You　are　a　dreadful　little　cynic！　　But　of
  course　you　are！
  GIRL。　　Cyneec？　　How　long　do　you　think　I　would　live　if　I　was　not　a
  cyneec？　　I　should　drown　myself　to…morrow。　　Perhaps　there　are　good
  people；　but；　you　see；　I　don't　know　them。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　I　know　lots。
  GIRL。　　＇Leaning　towards　him＇　　Well　nowsee；　ni…ice　boyyou　haf
  never　been　in　a　hole；　haf　you？
  YOUNG　OFF。　　I　suppose　not　a　real　hole。
  GIRL。　　No；　I　should　think　not；　with　your　face。　　Well；　suppose　I　am
  still　a　good　girl；　as　I　was　once；　you　know；　and　you　took　me　to　your
  mother　and　your　sisters　and　you　said：　〃Here　is　a　little　German　girl
  that　has　no　work；　and　no　money；　and　no　friends。〃　　They　will　say：　〃Oh！
  how　sad！　　A　German　girl！〃　　And　they　will　go　and　wash　their　hands。
  ＇The　OFFICER；　is　silent；　staring　at　her。＇
  GIRL。　　You　see。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　＇Muttering＇　　I'm　sure　there　are　people。
  GIRL。　　No。　　They　would　not　take　a　German；　even　if　she　was　good。
  Besides；　I　don't　want　to　be　good　any　moreI　am　not　a　humbug；　I　have
  learned　to　be　bad。　　Aren't　you　going　to　kees　me；　ni…ice　boy？
  She　puts　her　face　close　to　his。　　Her　eyes　trouble　him；　he　draws　back。
  YOUNG　OFF。　　Don't。　　I'd　rather　not；　if　you　don't　mind。　　＇She　looks　at
  him　fixedly；　with　a　curious　inquiring　stare＇　　It's　stupid。　　I　don't
  knowbut　you　see；　out　there；　and　in　hospital；　life's　different。
  It'sit'sit　isn't　mean；　you　know。　　Don't　come　too　close。
  GIRL。　　Oh！　　You　are　fun＇She　stops＇　　Eesn't　it　light。　　No　Zeps
  to…night。　　When　they　burnwhat　a　'orrble　death！　　And　all　the　people
  cheer。　　It　is　natural。　　　Do　you　hate　us　veree　much？
  YOUNG　OFF。　　＇Turning　sharply＇　　Hate？　　I　don't　know；。
  GIRL。　　I　don't　hate　even　the　EnglishI　despise　them。　　I　despise　my
  people　too；　even　more；　because　they　began　this　war。　　Oh！　I　know　that。
  I　despise　all　the　peoples。　　Why　haf　they　made　the　world　so　miserable
  why　haf　they　killed　all　our　liveshundreds　and　thousands　and
  millions　of　livesall　for　noting？　　They　haf　made　a　bad　world
  everybody　hating；　and　looking　for　the　worst　everywhere。　　They　haf
  made　me　bad；　I　know。　　I　believe　no　more　in　anything。　　What　is　there
  to　believe　in？　　Is　there　a　God？　　No！　　Once　I　was　teaching　little
  English　children　their　prayersisn't　that　funnee？　　I　was　reading　to
  them　about　Christ　and　love。　　I　believed　all　those　things。　　Now　I
  believe　noting　at　allno　one　who　is　not　a　fool　or　a　liar　can
  believe。　　I　would　like　to　work　in　a　'ospital；　I　would　like　to　go　and
  'elp　poor　boys　like　you。　　Because　I　am　a　German　they　would　throw　me
  out　a　'undred　times；　even　if　I　was　good。　　It　is