CRAWSHAW (kindly). The cases are rather different, Margaret.
Naturally a woman, who from her cradle looks forward to the day
when she will change her name, cannot have this feeling for the--
ah--honour of his name, which every man--ah--feels. Such a feeling
is naturally more present in my own case since I have been
privileged to make the name of Crawshaw in some degree--ah--
well-known, I might almost say famous.
MARGARET (wistfully). I used to be called "the beautiful Miss
Debenham of Leamington." Everybody in Leamington knew of me. Of
course, I am very proud to be Mrs. Robert Crawshaw.
CRAWSHAW (getting up and walking over to the fireplace). In a way
it would mean beginning all over again. It is half the battle in
politics to get your name before the public. "Whoever is this man
Wurzel-Flummery?" people will say.
MARGARET. Anyhow, dear, let us look on the bright side. Fifty
thousand pounds is fifty thousand pounds.
CRAWSHAW. It is, Margaret. And no doubt it is my duty to accept it.
But--well, all I say is that a _gentleman_ would have left it
without any conditions. Or at least he would merely have expressed
his _wish_ that I should take the name, without going so far as to
enforce it. Then I could have looked at the matter all round in an
impartial spirit.
MARGARET (pursuing her thoughts).
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