The Single Standard
1
For a number of generations
men have done as they
pleased -- and women have
done as men pleased --
2
"Hate to send you
home alone, girls --
but our wives are
waiting!"
3
"Holy Smoke -- there's a
witness to the crime!"
4
"Hello, Arden! Playing
hookey?"
5
"Dear John -- attentive
as a bridegroom still --"
6
"I've had three husbands --
and the most attentive
was the biggest liar of
them all!"
7
"I'll bet you saw a lot
tonight -- besides the
moon!"
8
"Don't worry -- I shan't
tell. I know lots more
than that -- about you
men!"
9
"You're a good sport,
Arden. A man would
never need to lie to
you."
10
"Mercedes, where's that
sister of mine hiding?"
11
"Mustn't separate you
honeymooners -- --
I'll get Arden."
12
"Tommy's so unlucky
at cards -- -- he ought
to be a knockout at
love!"
13
"I know I'm being rude,
Tommy -- but I couldn't
stand it in there any
longer!"
14
"I'm sick of cards and
hypocrites! I want life
to be honest -- --
exciting!"
15
"I know I'm not exciting
-- but I love you, Arden
-- I wish you'd marry
me -- --"
16
"Let's go for a drive --
I feel like doing seventy!"
17
"You're not going for a
drive at this hour?"
18
"Arden -- you mustn't be
seen so much with your
chauffeur. What will
people think?"
19
"Confess you're an ace-
aviator -- son of Lord
Kendall -- and they'll
try to marry you to
their daughters!"
20
"I'm no credit to the family.
Your friendship's the first
decent thing I've known
since the war."
21
"I'm a cad, Arden --
I shouldn't allow you
to be here --"
22
"Why shouldn't I be
here -- if you are -- ?"
23
"You're a girl -- you
can't get away with
the things a man
can --"
24
"What difference whether
girl or man? Both have
the right to -- life --"
25
"I don't believe in half
measures -- I want to
live honestly --"
26
"Get out of that car and
pack your things! You're
leaving tonight!"
27
"No -- no -- it was my fault!
I asked him to go!"
28
Thus closed the first
chapter of Arden's
life. Months later
she was still trying to
understand it -- --
29
"Come with us, Arden --
it's a good show. And
poor Tommy will be so
disappointed -- --"
30
"I'm walking alone because
I want to walk alone."
31
"Is that Packy Cannon,
the painter?"
32
"Painter -- ex-sailor --
and prize-fighter -- !"
33
"Sorry, Madam -- the
exhibition is closed."
34
"Make yourself at
home!"
35
"Paintin' pictures -- --
you that was an honest
prize-fighter! Bet you
couldn't knock me out
now!"
36
"Want to see a fight?"
37
"It won't be long now!"
38
"Get me a drink of water."
39
"Still sailing for the South
Seas tomorrow -- -- or
changed your mind?"
40
"I'm still sailing."
41
"Want company?"
42
"I'm sailing alone."
43
"Wait."
44
"If you paint like you
fight -- -- I'll let you
paint my old Buick!"
45
"Most people don't believe
I can read."
46
"Does anyone know the
philosophy of love?"
47
"There are many theories
about love -- but only
one answer: equality --
and perfect freedom!"
48
"That's what I think!"
49
"You can't go now --
in the rain!"
50
"I came in the rain.
I like it."
51
"You're a strange girl --
don't want to let you
go -- --"
52
"I sail at eight. Have
breakfast with me
on the 'All Alone'."
53
"Where's Packy? We
want a story on the
little private knockout
last night!"
54
"Write anything you
like -- -- Packy won't
read it anyway!"
55
"Nine o'clock, sir!"
56
"Five minutes more."
57
"It's Arden Stuart!"
58
Further south....past
pale, dreaming islands
...in eternal sunlight...
59
Weeks....months....
strange lands...lonely
seas....the blazing
Southern Cross...the
fiery tropic sun....
60
"Reverse course!"
61
"Packy, we're turning
back!"
62
"But you're not taking
me home? We'll still
go on -- -- together?"
63
"No, Arden, we must
go on -- alone."
64
"Arden -- I've got work to
do -- work that takes my
life -- -- sooner or later I'd
make you unhappy, and
I couldn't bear that -- --"
65
"But, Packy, we're both
free -- there's nothing to
spoil our love -- "
66
"Arden, don't you under-
stand? Our love has
been so perfect -- -- we
must keep it so always --
in memory -- --"
67
"You're not going to invite
Arden Stuart -- after that
disgraceful scandal -- ?"
68
"You'd be proud to
entertain the famous
Packy Cannon,
wouldn't you?"
69
"Well, what's sauce for
the gander -- -- is no
longer apple-sauce for
the goose!"
70
"You're lovelier than
ever, Arden -- --
dangerously lovely --"
71
"I wonder what men
can see in a girl like
Arden Stuart --"
72
"It's the South Sea
flavor, my dear."
73
"Isn't it all glorious?"
74
"Arden -- -- you don't
have to pretend -- --
with me -- --"
75
"Marry me, Arden -- let
me take care of you.
That's all I ask -- --"
76
"I'd be afraid -- always --
that Packy might come
back -- --"
77
"I'll risk that, Arden --
I'll hold you -- against
everything --"
78
In the fever-haunted
interior of China --
79
"How long do we travel
on this rotten river
before we reach the
'All Alone'?"
80
"Nearly a month, sir."
81
"Daddy says it's time to
go home, Mama --"
82
"Arden -- I had to come
back -- -- I must see
you -- --"
83
"Arden -- are you --
afraid?"
84
"I -- don't -- know."
85
"The stores are aboard,
sir. Are we sailing
tomorrow?"
86
"I'll let you know."
87
"That cat's getting ready
to scratch!"
88
"I told you so! I knew
Arden's marriage
would never last!"
89
"Yes -- -- we saw
Cannon today. Arden's
arranging a dinner for
him tomorrow -- --"
90
"Everything is -- just
the same --"
91
"Everything!"
92
"Arden -- I couldn't work --
I couldn't think! Nothing
in the world counted but
you -- you in my arms --"
93
"You're in my heart -- you
belong to me -- I'll never
let you go again --"
94
"Packy -- I'll go with you
--anywhere -- anywhere
in the world!"
95
"I must be getting old.
The lights are still on --
and I want to go home."
96
"Arden, let me go with
you -- we'll talk to him
-- together."
97
"No -- -- I must see
Tommy -- alone --"
98
"Have you seen Tommy?"
99
"Arden was here
tonight -- ?"
100
"Yes -- -- we're going
away -- -- she went
back to talk to you."
101
"Coffee and pistols
for two?"
102
"For one."
103
"For me?"
104
"When she comes --
you're going to -- --
send her back!"
105
"Tomorrow I'll go on a
hunting trip -- there
will be an accident --
Arden will be honorably
free --"
106
"I won't have a scandal,
Cannon. This time
our emotions don't
matter -- there is a
child to think of --"
107
"If you don't send Arden
back -- you're the one --
that will go!"
108
"I can't go, Packy -- --
I can't! There's my
son -- --"
109
"He'll be grown up some
day -- I couldn't bear to
have him look at me with
the contempt I saw in
people's eyes tonight -- --"
110
"Are you sure, Arden --
deep in your heart?
You'll never be sorry -- ?"
111
"I'm sure, Packy. One man
will always be first in my
life -- and he is --
my son."
112
"Try to understand, Packy --
everything is changed. My
life belongs to others now --
not to myself."
113
"Tommy -- -- there's
something I want to
tell you -- --"
114
"You don't need to tell
me anything, dear --
I understand --"
115
"These guns are full
of rust."
116
"There's some oil in
your cabinet."
117
"No -- I looked there."
118
"Thanks, dear -- -- I'll
fix them later."
119
"Arden -- you've given
me the happiest three
years of my life -- --"
120
"Tommy -- I wanted to
tell you -- -- I am no
longer -- -- afraid."
The End
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