man and superman-第14章

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this　woman　none；　perhaps　no　mercy　either：　if　anything　restrains
her；　it　is　intelligence　and　pride；　not　compassion。　Her　voice
might　be　the　voice　of　a　schoolmistress　addressing　a　class　of
girls　who　had　disgraced　themselves；　as　she　proceeds　with　complete
composure　and　some　disgust　to　say　what　she　has　come　to　say。

VIOLET。　I　have　only　looked　in　to　tell　Miss　Ramsden　that　she　will
find　her　birthday　present　to　me；　the　filagree　bracelet；　in　the
housekeeper's　room。

TANNER。　Do　come　in；　Violet；　and　talk　to　us　sensibly。

VIOLET。　Thank　you：　I　have　had　quite　enough　of　the　family
conversation　this　morning。　So　has　your　mother；　Ann：　she　has　gone
home　crying。　But　at　all　events；　I　have　found　out　what　some　of　my
pretended　friends　are　worth。　Good　bye。

TANNER。　No；　no：　one　moment。　I　have　something　to　say　which　I　beg
you　to　hear。　＇She　looks　at　him　without　the　slightest　curiosity；
but　waits；　apparently　as　much　to　finish　getting　her　glove　on　as
to　hear　what　he　has　to　say＇。　I　am　altogether　on　your　side　in　this
matter。　I　congratulate　you；　with　the　sincerest　respect；　on　having
the　courage　to　do　what　you　have　done。　You　are　entirely　in　the
right；　and　the　family　is　entirely　in　the　wrong。

Sensation。　Ann　and　Miss　Ramsden　rise　and　turn　toward　the　two。
Violet；　more　surprised　than　any　of　the　others；　forgets　her　glove；
and　comes　forward　into　the　middle　of　the　room；　both　puzzled　and
displeased。　Qctavius　alone　does　not　move　or　raise　his　head；　he　is
overwhelmed　with　shame。

ANN。　＇pleading　to　Tanner　to　be　sensible＇　Jack！

MISS　RAMSDEN。　＇outraged｝　Well；　I　must　say！

VIOLET。　＇sharply　to　Tanner＇　Who　told　you？

TANNER。　Why；　Ramsden　and　Tavy　of　course。　Why　should　they　not？

VIOLET。　But　they　don't　know。

TANNER。　Don't　know　what？

VIOLET。　They　don't　know　that　I　am　in　the　right；　I　mean。

TANNER。　Oh；　they　know　it　in　their　hearts；　though　they　think
themselves　bound　to　blame　you　by　their　silly　superstitions　about
morality　and　propriety　and　so　forth。　But　I　know；　and　the　whole
world　really　knows；　though　it　dare　not　say　so；　that　you　were
right　to　follow　your　instinct；　that　vitality　and　bravery　are　the
greatest　qualities　a　woman　can　have；　and　motherhood　her　solemn
initiation　into　womanhood；　and　that　the　fact　of　your　not　being
legally　married　matters　not　one　scrap　either　to　your　own　worth　or
to　our　real　regard　for　you。

VIOLET。　＇flushing　with　indignation＇　Oh！　You　think　me　a　wicked
woman；　like　the　rest。　You　think　I　have　not　only　been　vile；　but
that　I　share　your　abominable　opinions。　Miss　Ramsden：　I　have　borne
your　hard　words　because　I　knew　you　would　be　sorry　for　them　when
you　found　out　the　truth。　But　I　won't　bear　such　a　horrible　insult
as　to　be　complimented　by　Jack　on　being　one　of　the　wretches　of
whom　he　approves。　I　have　kept　my　marriage　a　secret　for　my
husband's　sake。　But　now　I　claim　my　right　as　a　married　woman　not
to　be　insulted。

OCTAVIUS。　＇raising　his　head　with　inexpressible　relief＇　You　are
married！

VIOLET。　Yes；　and　I　think　you　might　have　guessed　it。　What　business
had　you　all　to　take　it　for　granted　that　I　had　no　right　to　wear　my
wedding　ring？　Not　one　of　you　even　asked　me：　I　cannot　forget　that。

TANNER。　＇in　ruins＇　I　am　utterly　crushed。　I　meant　wellI
apologizeabjectly　apologize。

VIOLET。　I　hope　you　will　be　more　careful　in　future　about　the
things　you　say。　Of　course　one　does　not　take　them　seriously。　But
they　are　very　disagreeable；　and　rather　in　bad　taste。

TANNER。　＇bowing　to　the　storm＇　I　have　no　defence：　I　shall　know
better　in　future　than　to　take　any　woman's　part。　We　have　all
disgraced　ourselves　in　your　eyes；　I　am　afraid；　except　Ann；　SHE
befriended　you。　For　Ann's　sake；　forgive　us。

VIOLET。　Yes：　Ann　has　been　very　kind；　but　then　Ann　knew。

TANNER。　Oh！

MISS　RAMSDEN。　＇stiffly＇　And　who；　pray；　is　the　gentleman　who　does
not　acknowledge　his　wife？

VIOLET。　＇promptly＇　That　is　my　business；　Miss　Ramsden；　and　not
yours。　I　have　my　reasons　for　keeping　my　marriage　a　secret　for　the
present。

RAMSDEN。　All　I　can　say　is　that　we　are　extremely　sorry；　Violet。　I
am　shocked　to　think　of　how　we　have　treated　you。

OCTAVIUS。　＇awkwardly＇　I　beg　your　pardon；　Violet。　I　can　say　no
more。

MISS　RAMSDEN。　＇still　loth　to　surrender＇　Of　course　what　you　say
puts　a　very　different　complexion　on　the　matter。　All　the　same；　I
owe　it　to　myself

VIOLET。　＇cutting　her　short＇　You　owe　me　an　apology；　Miss　Ramsden：
that's　what　you　owe　both　to　yourself　and　to　me。　If　you　were　a
married　woman　you　would　not　like　sitting　in　the　housekeeper's
room　and　being　treated　like　a　naughty　child　by　young　girls　and
old　ladies　without　any　serious　duties　and　responsibilities。

TANNER。　Don't　hit　us　when　we're　down；　Violet。　We　seem　to　have
made　fools　of　ourselves；　but　really　it　was　you　who　made　fools　of
us。

VIOLET。　It　was　no　business　of　yours；　Jack；　in　any　case。

TANNER。　No　business　of　mine！　Why；　Ramsden　as　good　as　accused　me
of　being　the　unknown　gentleman。

Ramsden　makes　a　frantic　demonstration；　but　Violet's　cool　keen
anger　extinguishes　it。

VIOLET。　You！　Oh；　how　infamous！　how　abominable！　How　disgracefully
you　have　all　been　talking　about　me！　If　my　husband　knew　it　he
would　never　let　me　speak　to　any　of　you　again。　＇To　Ramsden＇　I
think　you　might　have　spared　me；　at　least。

RAMSDEN。　But　I　assure　you　I　neverat　least　it　is　a　monstrous
perversion　of　something　I　said　that

MISS　RAMSDEN。　You　needn't　apologize；　Roebuck。　She　brought　it　all
on　herself。　It　is　for　her　to　apologize　for　having　deceived　us。

VIOLET。　I　can　make　allowances　for　you；　Miss　Ramsden：　you　cannot
understand　how　I　feel　on　this　subject　though　I　should　have
expected　rather　better　taste　from　people　of　greater　experience。
However；　I　quite　feel　that　you　have　all　placed　yourselves　in　a
very　painful　position；　and　the　most　truly　considerate　thing　for
me　to　do　is　to　go　at　once。　Good　morning。

She　goes；　leaving　them　staring。

Miss　RAMSDEN。　Well；　I　must　say！

RAMSDEN。　＇plaintively＇　I　don't　think　she　is　quite　fair　to　us。

TANNER。　You　must　cower　before　the　wedding　ring　like　the　rest　of
us；　Ramsden。　The　cup　of　our　ignominy　is　full。




Act　II

On　the　carriage　drive　in　the　park　of　a　country　house　near
Richmond　a　motor　car　has　broken　down。　It　stands　in　front　of　a
clump　of　trees　round　which　the　drive　sweeps　to　the　house；　which
is　partly　visible　through　them：　indeed　Tanner；　standing　in　the
drive　with　the　car　on　his　right　hand；　could　get　an　unobstructed
view　of　the　west　corner　of　the　house　on　his　left　were　he　not　far
too　much　interested　in　a　pair　of　supine　legs　in　blue　serge
trousers　which　protrude　from　beneath　the　machine。　He　is　watching
them　intently　with　bent　back　and　hands　supported　on　his　knees。
His　leathern　overcoat　and　peaked　cap　proclaim　him　one　of　the
dismounted　passengers。

THE　LEGS。　Aha！　I　got　him。

TANNER。　All　right　now？

THE　LEGS。　All　right　now。

Tanner　stoops　and　takes　the　legs　by　the　ankles；　drawing　their
owner　forth　like　a　wheelbarrow；　walking　on　his　hands；　with　a
hammer　in　his　mouth。　He　is　a　young　man　in　a　neat　suit　of　blue
serge；　clean　shaven；　dark　eyed；　square　fingered；　with　short　well
brushed　black　hair　and　rather　irregular　sceptically　turned
eyebrows。　When　he　is　manipulating　the　car　his　movements　are　swift
and　sudden；　yet　attentive　and　deliberate。　With　Tanner　and
Tanner's　friends　his　manner　is　not　in　the　least　deferential；　but
cool　and　reticent；　keeping　them　quite　effectually　at　a　distance
whilst　giving　them　no　excuse　for　complaining　of　him。　Nevertheless
he　has　a　vigilant　eye　on　them　always；　and　that；　too；　rather
cynically；　like　a　man　who　knows　the　world　well　from　its　seamy
side。　He　speaks　slowly　and　with　a　touch　of　sarcasm；　and　as　he
does　not　at　all　affect　the　gentleman　in　his　speech；　it　may　be
inferred　that　his　smart　appearance　is　a　mark　of　respect　to
himself　and　his　own　class；　not　to　that　which　employs　him。

He　now　gets　into　the　car　to　test　his　machinery　and　put　his　cap
and　overcoat　on　again。　Tanner　takes　off　his　leather　overcoat　and
pitches　it　into　the　car。　The　chauffeur　（or　automobilist　or
motoreer　or　whatever　England　may　presently　decide　to　call　him）
looks　round　inquiringly　in　the　act　of　stowing　away　his　hammer。

THE　CHAUFFEUR。　Had　enough　of　it；　eh？

TANNER。　I　may　as　well　walk　to　the　house　and　stretch　my　legs　and
calm　my　nerves　a　little。　＇Looking　at　his　watch＇　I　suppose　you
know　that　we　have　come　from　Hyde　Park　Corner　to　Richmond　in
twenty…one　minutes。

THE　CHAUFFEUR。　I'd　have　done　it　under　fifteen　if　I'd　had　a　clear
road　all　the　way。

TANNER。　Why　do　you　do　it？　Is　it　for　love　of　sport　or　for　the　fun
of　terrifying　your　unfortunate　employer？

THE　CHAUFFEUR。　What　are　you　afraid　of？

TANNER。　The　police；　and　breaking　my　neck。

THE　CHAUFFEUR。　Well；　if　you　like　easy　going；　you　can　take　a　bus；
you　know。　It's　cheaper。　You　pay　me　to　save　your　time　and　give　you
the　value　of　your　thousand　pound　car。　＇He　sits　down　calmly＇。

TANNER。　I　am　the　slave　of　that　car　and　of　you　too。　I　dream　of　the
accursed　thing　at　night。

THE　CHAUFFEUR。　You'll　get　over　that。　If　you're　going　up　to　the
house；　may　I　ask　how　long　you're　goin　to　stay　there？　Because　if
you　mean　to　put　in　the　whole　morning　talkin　to　the　ladies；　I'11
put　the　car　in　the　stables　and　make　myself　comfortable。　If　not；
I'll　keep　the　car　on　the　go　about　here　til　you　come。

TANNER。　Better　wait　here。　We　shan't　be　long。　There's　a　young
American　gentleman；　a　Mr　Malone；　who　is　driving　Mr　Robinson　down
in　his　new　American　steam　car。

THE　CHAUFFEUR。　＇springing　up　and　coming　hastily　out　of　the　car　to
Tanner＇　American　steam　car！　Wot！　racin　us　down　from　London！

TANNER。　Perhaps　they're　here　already。

THE　CHAUFFEUR。　If　I'd　known　it！　＇with　deep　reproach＇　Why　didn't
you　tell　me；　Mr　Tanner？

TANNER。　Because　I've　been　told　that　this　car　is　capable　of　84
miles　an　hour；　and　I　already　know　what　YOU　are　capable　of　when
there　is　a　rival　car　on　the　road。　No；　Henry：　there　are　things　it
is　not　good　for　you　to　know；　and　this　was　one　of　them。　However；
cheer　up：　we　are　going　to　have　a　day　after　your　own　heart。　The
American　is　to　take　Mr　Robinson　and　his　sister　and　Miss
Whitefield。　We　are　to　take　Miss　Rhoda。

THE　CHAUFFEUR。　＇consoled；　and　musing　on　another　matter＇　That's
Miss　Whitefield's　sister；　isn't　it？

TANNER。　Yes。

THE　CHAUFFEUR。　And　Miss　Whitefield　herself　is　goin　in　the　other
car？　Not　with　you？

TANNER。　Why　the　devil　should　she　come　with　me？　Mr　Robinson　will
be　in　the　other　car。　＇The　Chauffeur　looks　at　Tanner　with　cool
incredulity；　and　turns　to　the　car；　whistling　a　popular　air　softly
to　himself。　Tanner；　a　little　annoyed；　is　about　to　pursue　the
subject　when　he　hears　the　footsteps　of　Octavius　on　the　gravel。
Octavius　is　coming　from　the　house；　dressed　for　motoring；　but
without　his　overcoat＇。　We've　lost　the　race；　thank　Heaven：　here's
Mr　Robinson。　Well；　Tavy；　is　the　steam　car　a　success？

OCTAVIUS。　I　think　so。　We　came　from　Hyde　Park　Corner　here　in
seventeen　minutes。　＇The　Chauffeur；　furious；　kicks　the　car　with　a
groan　of　vexation＇。　How　long　were　you？

TANNER。　Oh；　about　three　quarters　of　an　hour　or　so。

THE　CHAUFFEUR。　＇remonstrating＇　Now；　now；　Mr　Tanner；　come　now！　We
could　ha　done　it　easy　under　fifteen。

TANNER。　By　the　way；　let　me　introduce　you。　Mr　Octavius　Robinson：
Mr　Enry　Straker。

STRAKER。　Pleased　to　meet　you；　sir。　Mr　Tanner　is　gittin