man and superman-第11章

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RAMSDEN。　I　am　not　sure　that　it　is　not　even　worse　than　that。

OCTAVIUS。　Is　she　badly　hurt？　Has　there　been　an　accident？

RAMSDEN。　No：　nothing　of　that　sort。

TANNER。　Ann：　will　you　have　the　common　humanity　to　tell　us　what
the　matter　is？

ANN。　＇half　whispering＇　I　can't。　Violet　has　done　something
dreadful。　We　shall　have　to　get　her　away　somewhere。　＇She　flutters
to　the　writing　table　and　sits　in　Ramsden's　chair；　leaving　the
three　men　to　fight　it　out　between　them＇。

OCTAVIUS。　＇enlightened＇　Is　that　what　you　meant；　Mr　Ramsden？

RAMSDEN。　Yes。　＇Octavius　sinks　upon　a　chair；　crushed＇。　I　am　afraid
there　is　no　doubt　that　Violet　did　not　really　go　to　Eastbourne
three　weeks　ago　when　we　thought　she　was　with　the　Parry
Whitefields。　And　she　called　on　a　strange　doctor　yesterday　with　a
wedding　ring　on　her　finger。　Mrs。　Parry　Whitefield　met　her　there
by　chance；　and　so　the　whole　thing　came　out。

OCTAVIUS。　＇rising　with　his　fists　clenched＇　Who　is　the　scoundrel？

ANN。　She　won't　tell　us。

OCTAVIUS。　＇collapsing　upon　his　chair　again＇　What　a　frightful
thing！

TANNER。　＇with　angry　sarcasm＇　Dreadful。　Appalling。　　Worse　than
death；　as　Ramsden　says。　＇He　comes　to　Octavius＇。　What　would　you
not　give；　Tavy；　to　turn　it　into　a　railway　accident；　with　all　her
bones　broken　or　something　equally　respectable　and　deserving　of
sympathy？

OCTAVIUS。　Don't　be　brutal；　Jack。

TANNER。　Brutal！　Good　Heavens；　man；　what　are　you　crying　for？　Here
is　a　woman　whom　we　all　supposed　to　be　making　bad　water　color
sketches；　practising　Grieg　and　Brahms；　gadding　about　to　concerts
and　parties；　wasting　her　life　and　her　money。　We　suddenly　learn
that　she　has　turned　from　these　sillinesses　to　the　fulfilment　of
her　highest　purpose　and　greatest　functionto　increase；　multiply
and　replenish　the　earth。　And　instead　of　admiring　her　courage　and
rejoicing　in　her　instinct；　instead　of　crowning　the　completed
womanhood　and　raising　the　triumphal　strain　of　〃Unto　us　a　child　is
born：　unto　us　a　son　is　given；〃　here　you　areyou　who　have　been　as
merry　as　Brigs　in　your　mourning　for　the　deadall　pulling　long
faces　and　looking　as　ashamed　and　disgraced　as　if　the　girl　had
committed　the　vilest　of　crimes。

RAMSDEN。　＇roaring　with　rage＇　I　will　not　have　these　abominations
uttered　in　my　house　＇he　smites　the　writing　table　with　his　fist＇。

TANNER。　Look　here：　if　you　insult　me　again　I'll　take　you　at　your
word　and　leave　your　house。　Ann：　where　is　Violet　now？

ANN。　Why？　Are　you　going　to　her？

TANNER。　Of　course　I　am　going　to　her。　She　wants　help；　she　wants
money；　she　wants　respect　and　congratulation。　She　wants　every
chance　for　her　child。　She　does　not　seem　likely　to　get　it　from
you：　she　shall　from　me。　Where　is　she？

ANN。　Don't　be　so　headstrong；　Jack。　She's　upstairs。

TANNER。　What！　Under　Ramsden's　sacred　roof！　Go　and　do　your
miserable　duty；　Ramsden。　Hunt　her　out　into　the　street。　Cleanse
your　threshold　from　her　contamination。　Vindicate　the　purity　of
your　English　home。　I'll　go　for　a　cab；

ANN。　＇alarmed＇　Oh；　Granny；　you　mustn't　do　that。

OCTAVIUS。　＇broken…heartedly；　rising＇　I'll　take　her　away；　Mr
Ramsden。　She　had　no　right　to　come　to　your　house。

RAMSDEN。　＇indignantly＇　But　I　am　only　too　anxious　to　help　her。
＇turning　on　Tanner＇　How　dare　you；　sir；　impute　such　monstrous
intentions　to　me？　I　protest　against　it。　I　am　ready　to　put　down　my
last　penny　to　save　her　from　being　driven　to　run　to　you　for
protection。

TANNER。　＇subsiding＇　It's　all　right；　then。　He's　not　going　to　act
up　to　his　principles。　It's　agreed　that　we　all　stand　by　Violet。

OCTAVIUS。　But　who　is　the　man？　He　can　make　reparation　by　marrying
her；　and　he　shall；　or　he　shall　answer　for　it　to　me。

RAMSDEN。　He　shall；　Octavius。　There　you　speak　like　a　man。

TANNER。　Then　you　don't　think　him　a　scoundrel；　after　all？

OCTAVIUS。　Not　a　scoundrel！　He　is　a　heartless　scoundrel。

RAMSDEN。　A　damned　scoundrel。　I　beg　your　pardon；　Annie；　but　I　can
say　no　less。

TANNER。　So　we　are　to　marry　your　sister　to　a　damned　scoundrel　by
way　of　reforming　her　character！　On　my　soul；　I　think　you　are　all
mad。

ANN。　Don't　be　absurd；　Jack。　Of　course　you　are　quite　right；　Tavy；
but　we　don't　know　who　he　is：　Violet　won't　tell　us。

TANNER。　What　on　earth　does　it　matter　who　he　is？　He's　done　his
part；　and　Violet　must　do　the　rest。

RAMSDEN。　＇beside　himself＇　Stuff！　lunacy！　There　is　a　rascal　in　our
midst；　a　libertine；　a　villain　worse　than　a　murderer；　and　we　are
not　to　learn　who　he　is！　In　our　ignorance　we　are　to　shake　him　by
the　hand；　to　introduce　him　into　our　homes；　to　trust　our　daughters
with　him；　toto

ANN。　＇coaxingly＇　There；　Granny；　don't　talk　so　loud。　It's　most
shocking：　we　must　all　admit　that；　but　if　Violet　won't　tell　us；
what　can　we　do？　Nothing。　Simply　nothing。

RAMSDEN。　Hmph！　I'm　not　so　sure　of　that。　If　any　man　has　paid
Violet　any　special　attention；　we　can　easily　find　that　out。　If
there　is　any　man　of　notoriously　loose　principles　among　us

TANNER。　Ahem！

RAMSDEN。　＇raising　his　voice＇　Yes　sir；　I　repeat；　if　there　is　any
man　of　notoriously　loose　principles　among　us

TANNER。　Or　any　man　notoriously　lacking　in　self…control。

RAMSDEN。　＇aghast＇　Do　you　dare　to　suggest　that　I　am　capable　of
such　an　act？

TANNER。　My　dear　Ramsden；　this　is　an　act　of　which　every　man　is
capable。　That　is　what　comes　of　getting　at　cross　purposes　with
Nature。　The　suspicion　you　have　just　flung　at　me　clings　to　us　all。
It's　a　sort　of　mud　that　sticks　to　the　judge's　ermine　or　the
cardinal's　robe　as　fast　as　to　the　rags　of　the　tramp。　Come；　Tavy：
don't　look　so　bewildered：　it　might　have　been　me：　it　might　have
been　Ramsden；　just　as　it　might　have　been　anybody。　If　it　had；　what
could　we　do　but　lie　and　protest　as　Ramsden　is　going　to　protest。

RAMSDEN。　＇choking＇＇　III

TANNER。　Guilt　itself　could　not　stammer　more　confusedly；　And　yet
you　know　perfectly　well　he's　innocent；　Tavy。

RAMSDEN。　＇exhausted＇　I　am　glad　you　admit　that；　sir。　I　admit；
myself；　that　there　is　an　element　of　truth　in　what　you　say；
grossly　as　you　may　distort　it　to　gratify　your　malicious　humor。　I
hope；　Octavius；　no　suspicion　of　me　is　possible　in　your　mind。

OCTAVIUS。　Of　you！　No；　not　for　a　moment。

TANNER。　＇drily＇　I　think　he　suspects　me　just　a　little。

OCTAVIUS。　Jack：　you　couldn'tyou　wouldn't

TANNER。　Why　not？

OCTAVIUS。　＇appalled＇　Why　not！

TANNER。　Oh；　well；　I'll　tell　you　why　not。　First；　you　would　feel
bound　to　quarrel　with　me。　Second；　Violet　doesn't　like　me。　Third；
if　I　had　the　honor　of　being　the　father　of　Violet's　child；　I
should　boast　of　it　instead　of　denying　it。　So　be　easy：　our
Friendship　is　not　in　danger。

OCTAVIUS。　I　should　have　put　away　the　suspicion　with　horror　if
only　you　would　think　and　feel　naturally　about　it。　I　beg　your
pardon。

TANNER。　MY　pardon！　nonsense！　And　now　let's　sit　down　and　have　a
family　council。　＇He　sits　down。　The　rest　follow　his　example；　more
or　less　under　protest＇。　Violet　is　going　to　do　the　State　a
service；　consequently　she　must　be　packed　abroad　like　a　criminal
until　it's　over。　What's　happening　upstairs？

ANN。　Violet　is　in　the　housekeeper's　roomby　herself；　of　course。

TANNER。　Why　not　in　the　drawingroom？

ANN。　Don't　be　absurd；　Jack。　Miss　Ramsden　is　in　the　drawingroom
with　my　mother；　considering　what　to　do。

TANNER。　Oh！　the　housekeeper's　room　is　the　penitentiary；　I
suppose；　and　the　prisoner　is　waiting　to　be　brought　before　her
judges。　The　old　cats！

ANN。　Oh；　Jack！

RAMSDEN。　You　are　at　present　a　guest　beneath　the　roof　of　one　of
the　old　cats；　sir。　My　sister　is　the　mistress　of　this　house。

TANNER。　She　would　put　me　in　the　housekeeper's　room；　too；　if　she
dared；　Ramsden。　However；　I　withdraw　cats。　Cats　would　have　more
sense。　Ann：　as　your　guardian；　I　order　you　to　go　to　Violet　at　once
and　be　particularly　kind　to　her。

ANN。　I　have　seen　her；　Jack。　And　I　am　sorry　to　say　I　am　afraid　she
is　going　to　be　rather　obstinate　about　going　abroad。　I　think　Tavy
ought　to　speak　to　her　about　it。

OCTAVIUS。　How　can　I　speak　to　her　about　such　a　thing　＇he　breaks
down＇？

ANN。　Don't　break　down；　Ricky。　Try　to　bear　it　for　all　our　sakes。

RAMSDEN。　Life　is　not　all　plays　and　poems；　Octavius。　Come！　face　it
like　a　man。

TANNER。　＇chafing　again＇　Poor　dear　brother！　Poor　dear　friends　of
the　family！　Poor　dear　Tabbies　and　Grimalkins。　Poor　dear　everybody
except　the　woman　who　is　going　to　risk　her　life　to　create　another
life！　Tavy：　don't　you　be　a　selfish　ass。　Away　with　you　and　talk　to
Violet；　and　bring　her　down　here　if　she　cares　to　come。　＇Octavius
rises＇。　Tell　her　we'll　stand　by　her。

RAMSDEN。　＇rising＇　No；　sir

TANNER。　＇rising　also　and　interrupting　him＇　Oh；　we　understand：
it's　against　your　conscience；　but　still　you'll　do　it。

OCTAVIUS。　I　assure　you　all；　on　my　word；　I　never　meant　to　be
selfish。　It's　so　hard　to　know　what　to　do　when　one　wishes
earnestly　to　do　right。

TANNER。　My　dear　Tavy；　your　pious　English　habit　of　regarding　the
world　as　a　moral　gymnasium　built　expressly　to　strengthen　your
character　in；　occasionally　leads　you　to　think　about　your　own
confounded　principles　when　you　should　be　thinking　about　other
people's　necessities。　The　need　of　the　present　hour　is　a　happy
mother　and　a　healthy　baby。　Bend　your　energies　on　that；　and　you
will　see　your　way　clearly　enough。

Octavius；　much　perplexed；　goes　out。

RAMSDEN。　＇facing　Tanner　impressively＇　And　Morality；　sir？　What　is
to　become　of　that？

TANNER。　Meaning　a　weeping　Magdalen　and　an　innocent　child　branded
with　her　shame。　Not　in　our　circle；　thank　you。　Morality　can　go　to
its　father　the　devil。

RAMSDEN。　I　thought　so；　sir。　Morality　sent　to　the　devil　to　please
our　libertines；　male　and　female。　That　is　to　be　the　future　of
England；　is　it？

TANNER。　Oh；　England　will　survive　your　disapproval。　Meanwhile；　I
understand　that　you　agree　with　me　as　to　the　practical　course　we
are　to　take？

RAMSDEN。　Not　in　your　spirit　sir。　Not　for　your　reasons。

TANNER。　You　can　explain　that　if　anybody　calls　you　to　account；
here　or　hereafter。　＇He　turns　away；　and　plants　himself　in　front　of
Mr　Herbert　Spencer；　at　whom　he　stares　gloomily＇。

ANN。　＇rising　and　coming　to　Ramsden＇　Granny：　hadn't　you　better　go
up　to　the　drawingroom　and　tell　them　what　we　intend　to　do？

RAMSDEN。　＇looking　pointedly　at　Tanner＇　I　hardly　like　to　leave　you
alone　with　this　gentleman。　Will　you　not　come　with　me？

ANN。　Miss　Ramsden　would　not　like　to　speak　about　it　before　me；
Granny。　I　ought　not　to　be　present。

RAMSDEN。　You　are　right：　I　should　have　thought　of　that。　You　are　a
good　girl；　Annie。

He　pats　her　on　the　shoulder。　She　looks　up　at　him　with　beaming
eyes　and　he　goes　out；　much　moved。　Having　disposed　of　him；　she
looks　at　Tanner。　His　back　being　turned　to　her；　she　gives　a
moment's　attention　to　her　personal　appearance；　then　softly　goes
to　him　and　speaks　almost　into　his　ear。

ANN。　Jack　＇he　turns　with　a　start＇：　are　you　glad　that　you　are　my
guardian？　You　don't　mind　being　made　responsible　for　me；　I　hope。

TANNER。　The　latest　addition　to　your　collection　of　scapegoats；
eh？

ANN。　Oh；　that　stupid　old　joke　of　yours　about　me！　Do　please　drop
it。　Why　do　you　say　things　that　you　know　must　pain　me？　I　do　my
best　to　please　you；　Jack：　I　suppose　I　may　tell　you　so　now　that
you　are　my　guardian。　You　will　make　me　so　unhappy　if　you　refuse　to
be　friends　with　me。

TANNER。　＇studying　her　as　gloomily　as　he　studied　the　dust＇　You
need　not　go　begging　for　my　regard。　How　u