The Apple Cart

and all the other places where we still madly teach our children the mentality of an eighteenth century village school. Lysistrata Never fear, sir. It is not the most ignorant national crowd that will come out on top, but the best power station; for you can’t do without power stations, and you can’t run them on patriotic songs and hatred of the foreigner, and guff and bugaboo, though you can run nationalism on nothing else. But I am heartbroken at your not coming into the House with us to keep old England in front and lead a new Party against Breakages. Tears come into her eyes. Magnus Patting her consolingly on the back. That would have been splendid, wouldn’t it? But I am too old fashioned. This is a farce that younger men must finish. Amanda Taking her arm. Come home with me, dear. I will sing to you until you can’t help laughing. Come. Lysistrata pockets her handkerchief; shakes the King’s hands impulsively; and goes with Amanda. The King plunges into deep thought. Presently the Queen comes back. The Queen Now Magnus: it’s time to dress for dinner. Magnus Much disturbed. Oh, not now. I have something very big to think about. I don’t want any dinner. The Queen Peremptorily. No dinner! Did anyone ever hear of such a thing! You know you will not sleep if you think after seven o’clock. Magnus Worried. But really, Jemima⁠— The Queen Going to him and taking his arm. Now, now, now! don’t be naughty. I mustn’t be late for dinner. Come on, like a good little boy. The King, with a grimace of hopeless tenderness, allows himself to be led away.

Colophon

The Apple Cart
was published in 1930 by
George Bernard Shaw.

This ebook was produced for
Standard Ebooks
by
Asher Smith,
and is based on a transcription produced in 2003 by
Don Lainson for
Project Gutenberg Australia
and on digital scans from the
Internet Archive.

The cover page is adapted from
Portrait de Charles X (1757⁠–⁠1836), roi de France, en costume de sacre,
a painting completed circa 1825 by
François Gérard.
The cover and title pages feature the
League Spartan and Sorts Mill Goudy
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