ls.

In the struggle of society with the criminal it is very difficult,
perhaps impossible, for the legislator to hold in equal balance the
rights of the individual as against the interests of society. The
balance sometimes leans one way and sometimes the other; and had I been
an English citizen, instead of writing a play against the abuse of
justice by a judge, I might have had to illustrate the same abuse by the
lawyer.

I wish most sincerely that these three plays may interest the people of
England and America. The problems which I have studied I am sure I have
not brought to their final solutions. My ambition was to draw and keep
the attention of honest people on them by means of the theatre.

BRIEUX.

WOMAN ON HER OWN

[LA FEMME SEULE]

TRANSLATED BY MRS. BERNARD SHAW

CHARACTERS

THERESE
MADAME NERISSE
MADAME GUERET
MOTHER BOUGNE
CAROLINE LEGRAND
MADAME CHANTEUIL
LUCIENNE
MADEMOISELLE GREGOIRE
MADEMOISELLE BARON
MADEMOISELLE DE MEURIOT
ANTOINETTE
BERTHE
CONSTANCe
MAID
WORKWOMEN
NERISSE
FELIAT
RENE CHARTON
GUERET
MAFFLU
VINCENT
A DELEGATE
PAGE BOY
GIRARD
CHARPIN
DESCHAUME
WORKMEN

WOMAN ON HER OWN

ACT I

SCENE:--_A Louis XV sitting-room. To the right a large
recessed window with small panes of glass which forms a
partition dividing the sitting-room from an inner room. A
heavy curtain on the further side shuts out this other room.
There are a table and piano and doors to the right and at the
back. The place is in disorder. One of the panes in the large
window has been taken out and replaced by a movable panel. It
is October._

_Madame Gueret is sitting at a table. She is a woman of
forty-five, dressed for the afternoon, cold and distinguished
looking. Monsieur Gueret, who is with her, is about
fifty-five and is wearing a frock coat. He is standing beside
his wife._

GUERET. Then you really don't want me to go and hear the third act?

MADAME GUERET [_dryly_] I think as I've been let in for these
theatricals solely to please your goddaughter you may very well keep me
company. Besides, my brother is coming back and he has something to say
to you.

GUERET [_resignedly_] Very well, my dear.

_A pause._

MADAME GUERET. I can't get over it.

GUERET. Over what?

MADAME GUE