man and superman-第16章

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slave。

STRAKER。　＇exasperated＇　Garn！　I　wish　I　had　a　car　that　would　go　as
fast　as　you　can　talk；　Mr　Tanner。　What　I　say　is　that　you　lose
money　by　a　motor　car　unless　you　keep　it　workin。　Might　as　well　ave
a　pram　and　a　nussmaid　to　wheel　you　in　it　as　that　car　and　me　if
you　don't　git　the　last　inch　out　of　us　both。

TANNER。　＇soothingly＇　All　right；　Henry；　all　right。　We'll　go　out
for　half　an　hour　presently。

STRAKER。　＇in　disgust＇　Arf　an　ahr！　＇He　returns　to　his　machine；
seats　himself　in　it；　and　turns　up　a　fresh　page　of　his　paper　in
search　of　more　news＇。

OCTAVIUS。　Oh；　that　reminds　me。　I　have　a　note　for　you　from
Rhoda。　＇He　gives　Tanner　a　note＇。

TANNER。　＇opening　it＇　I　rather　think　Rhoda　is　heading　for　a　row
with　Ann。　As　a　rule　there　is　only　one　person　an　English　girl
hates　more　than　she　hates　her　mother；　and　that's　her　eldest
sister。　But　Rhoda　positively　prefers　her　mother　to　Ann。　She
＇indignantly＇　Oh；　I　say！

OCTAVIUS。　What's　the　matter？

TANNER。　Rhoda　was　to　have　come　with　me　for　a　ride　in　the　motor
car。　She　says　Ann　has　forbidden　her　to　go　out　with　me。

Straker　suddenly　begins　whistling　his　favorite　air　with
remarkable　deliberation。　Surprised　by　this　burst　of　larklike
melody；　and　jarred　by　a　sardonic　note　in　its　cheerfulness；　they
turn　and　look　inquiringly　at　him。　But　he　is　busy　with　his　paper；
and　nothing　comes　of　their　movement。

OCTAVIUS。　＇recovering　himself＇　Does　she　give　any　reason？

TANNER。　Reason！　An　insult　is　not　a　reason。　Ann　forbids　her　to　be
alone　with　me　on　any　occasion。　Says　I　am　not　a　fit　person　for　a
young　girl　to　be　with。　What　do　you　think　of　your　paragon　now？

OCTAVIUS。　You　must　remember　that　she　has　a　very　heavy
responsibility　now　that　her　father　is　dead。　Mrs　Whitefield　is
too　weak　to　control　Rhoda。

TANNER。　＇staring　at　him＇　In　short；　you　agree　with　Ann。

OCTAVIUS。　No；　but　I　think　I　understand　her。　You　must　admit　that
your　views　are　hardly　suited　for　the　formation　of　a　young　girl's
mind　and　character。

TANNER。　I　admit　nothing　of　the　sort。　I　admit　that　the　formation
of　a　young　lady's　mind　and　character　usually　consists　in　telling
her　lies；　but　I　object　to　the　particular　lie　that　I　am　in　the
habit　of　abusing　the　confidence　of　girls。

OCTAVIUS。　Ann　doesn't　say　that；　Jack。

TANNER。　What　else　does　she　mean？

STRAKER。　＇catching　sight　of　Ann　coming　from　the　house＇　Miss
Whitefield；　gentlemen。　＇He　dismounts　and　strolls　away　down　the
avenue　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　knows　he　is　no　longer　wanted＇。

ANN。　＇coming　between　Octavius　and　Tanner＇。　Good　morning；　Jack。　I
have　come　to　tell　you　that　poor　Rhoda　has　got　one　of　her
headaches　and　cannot　go　out　with　you　to…day　in　the　car。　It　is　a
cruel　disappointment　to　her；　poor　child！

TANNER。　What　do　you　say　now；　Tavy；

OCTAVIUS。　Surely　you　cannot　misunderstand；　Jack。　Ann　is　showing
you　the　kindest　consideration；　even　at　the　cost　of　deceiving　you。

ANN。　What　do　you　mean？

TANNER。　Would　you　like　to　cure　Rhoda's　headache；　Ann？

ANN。　Of　course。

TANNER。　Then　tell　her　what　you　said　just　now；　and　add　that　you
arrived　about　two　minutes　after　I　had　received　her　letter　and
read　it。

ANN。　Rhoda　has　written　to　you！

TANNER。　With　full　particulars。

OCTAVIUS。　Never　mind　him；　Ann。　You　were　right；　quite　right。　Ann
was　only　doing　her　duty；　Jack；　and　you　know　it。　Doing　it　in　the
kindest　way；　too。

ANN。　＇going　to　Octavius＇　How　kind　you　are；　Tavy！　How　helpful！
How　well　you　understand！

Octavius　beams。

TANNER。　Ay：　tighten　the　coils。　You　love　her；　Tavy；　don't　you？

OCTAVIUS。　She　knows　I　do。

ANN。　Hush。　For　shame；　Tavy！

TANNER。　Oh；　I　give　you　leave。　I　am　your　guardian；　and　I　commit
you　to　Tavy's　care　for　the　next　hour。

ANN。　No；　Jack。　I　must　speak　to　you　about　Rhoda。　Ricky：　will　you
go　back　to　the　house　and　entertain　your　American　friend？　He's
rather　on　Mamma's　hands　so　early　in　the　morning。　She　wants　to
finish　her　housekeeping。

OCTAVIUS。　I　fly；　dearest　Ann　＇he　kisses　her　hand＇。

ANN。　＇tenderly＇　Ricky　Ticky　Tavy！

He　looks　at　her　with　an　eloquent　blush；　and　runs　off。

TANNER。　＇bluntly＇　Now　look　here；　Ann。　This　time　you've　landed
yourself；　and　if　Tavy　were　not　in　love　with　you　past　all
salvation　he'd　have　found　out　what　an　incorrigible　liar　you　are。

ANN。　You　misunderstand；　Jack。　I　didn't　dare　tell　Tavy　the　truth。

TANNER。　No：　your　daring　is　generally　in　the　opposite　direction。
What　the　devil　do　you　mean　by　telling　Rhoda　that　I　am　too　vicious
to　associate　with　her？　How　can　I　ever　have　any　human　or　decent
relations　with　her　again；　now　that　you　have　poisoned　her　mind　in
that　abominable　way？

ANN。　I　know　you　are　incapable　of　behaving　badly。

TANNER。　Then　why　did　you　lie　to　her？

ANN。　I　had　to。

TANNER。　Had　to！

ANN。　Mother　made　me。

TANNER。　＇his　eye　flashing＇　Ha！　I　might　have　known　it。　The　mother！
Always　the　mother！

ANN。　It　was　that　dreadful　book　of　yours。　You　know　how　timid
mother　is。　All　timid　women　are　conventional：　we　must　be
conventional；　Jack；　or　we　are　so　cruelly；　so　vilely　misunderstood。
Even　you；　who　are　a　man；　cannot　say　what　you　think　without　being
misunderstood　and　vilifiedyes：　I　admit　it：　I　have　had　to　vilify
you。　Do　you　want　to　have　poor　Rhoda　misunderstood　and　vilified　to
the　same　way？　Would　it　be　right　for　mother　to　let　her　expose
herself　to　such　treatment　before　she　is　old　enough　to　judge　for
herself？

TANNER。　In　short；　the　way　to　avoid　misunderstanding　is　for
everybody　to　lie　and　slander　and　insinuate　and　pretend　as　hard　as
they　can。　That　is　what　obeying　your　mother　comes　to。

ANN。　I　love　my　mother；　Jack。

TANNER。　＇working　himself　up　into　a　sociological　rage＇　Is　that　any
reason　why　you　are　not　to　call　your　soul　your　own？　Oh；　I　protest
against　this　vile　abjection　of　youth　to　age！　look　at　fashionable
society　as　you　know　it。　What　does　it　pretend　to　be？　An　exquisite
dance　of　nymphs。　What　is　it？　A　horrible　procession　of　wretched
girls；　each　in　the　claws　of　a　cynical；　cunning；　avaricious；
disillusioned；　ignorantly　experienced；　foul…minded　old　woman　whom
she　calls　mother；　and　whose　duty　it　is　to　corrupt　her　mind　and
sell　her　to　the　highest　bidder。　Why　do　these　unhappy　slaves　marry
anybody；　however　old　and　vile；　sooner　than　not　marry　at　all？
Because　marriage　is　their　only　means　of　escape　from　these
decrepit　fiends　who　hide　their　selfish　ambitions；　their　jealous
hatreds　of　the　young　rivals　who　have　supplanted　them；　under　the
mask　of　maternal　duty　and　family　affection。　Such　things　are
abominable：　the　voice　of　nature　proclaims　for　the　daughter　a
father's　care　and　for　the　son　a　mother's。　The　law　for　father　and
son　and　mother　and　daughter　is　not　the　law　of　love：　it　is　the
law　of　revolution；　of　emancipation；　of　final　supersession　of　the
old　and　worn…out　by　the　young　and　capable。　I　tell　you；　the　first
duty　of　manhood　and　womanhood　is　a　Declaration　of　Independence：
the　man　who　pleads　his　father's　authority　is　no　man：　the　woman
who　pleads　her　mother's　authority　is　unfit　to　bear　citizens　to　a
free　people。

ANN。　＇watching　him　with　quiet　curiosity＇　I　suppose　you　will　go　in
seriously　for　politics　some　day；　Jack。

TANNER。　＇heavily　let　down＇　Eh？　What？　Wh？　＇Collecting　his
scattered　wits＇　What　has　that　got　to　do　with　what　I　have　been
saying？

ANN。　You　talk　so　well。

TANNER。　Talk！　Talk！　It　means　nothing　to　you　but　talk。　Well；　go
back　to　your　mother；　and　help　her　to　poison　Rhoda's　imagination
as　she　has　poisoned　yours。　It　is　the　tame　elephants　who　enjoy
capturing　the　wild　ones。

ANN。　I　am　getting　on。　Yesterday　I　was　a　boa　constrictor：　to…day　I
am　an　elephant。

TANNER。　Yes。　So　pack　your　trunk　and　begone；　I　have　no　more　to　say
to　you。

ANN。　You　are　so　utterly　unreasonable　and　impracticable。　What　can
I　do？

TANNER。　Do！　Break　your　chains。　Go　your　way　according　to　your　own
conscience　and　not　according　to　your　mother's。　Get　your　mind
clean　and　vigorous；　and　learn　to　enjoy　a　fast　ride　in　a　motor　car
instead　of　seeing　nothing　in　it　but　an　excuse　for　a　detestable
intrigue。　Come　with　me　to　Marseilles　and　across　to　Algiers　and　to
Biskra；　at　sixty　miles　an　hour。　Come　right　down　to　the　Cape　if
you　like。　That　will　be　a　Declaration　of　Independence　with　a
vengeance。　You　can　write　a　book　about　it　afterwards。　That　will
finish　your　mother　and　make　a　woman　of　you。

ANN。　＇thoughtfully＇　I　don't　think　there　would　be　any　harm　in
that；　Jack。　You　are　my　guardian：　you　stand　in　my　father's　place；
by　his　own　wish。　Nobody　could　say　a　word　against　our　travelling
together。　It　would　be　delightful：　thank　you　a　thousand　times；
Jack。　I'll　come。

TANNER。　＇aghast＇　You'll　come！！！

ANN。　Of　course。

TANNER。　But　＇he　stops；　utterly　appalled；　then　resumes　feebly＇
No：　look　here；　Ann：　if　there's　no　harm　in　it　there's　no　point　in
doing　it。

ANN。　How　absurd　you　are！　You　don't　want　to　compromise　me；　do　you？

TANNER。　Yes：　that's　the　whole　sense　of　my　proposal。

ANN。　You　are　talking　the　greatest　nonsense；　and　you　know　it。　You
would　never　do　anything　to　hurt　me。

TANNER。　Well；　if　you　don't　want　to　be　compromised；　don't　come。

ANN。　＇with　simple　earnestness＇　Yes；　I　will　come；　Jack；　since　you
wish　it。　You　are　my　guardian；　and　think　we　ought　to　see　more　of
one　another　and　come　to　know　one　another　better。　＇Gratefully＇
It's　very　thoughtful　and　very　kind　of　you；　Jack；　to　offer　me　this
lovely　holiday；　especially　after　what　I　said　about　Rhoda。　You
really　are　goodmuch　better　than　you　think。　When　do　we　start？

TANNER。　But

The　conversation　is　interrupted　by　the　arrival　of　Mrs　Whitefield
from　the　house。　She　is　accompanied　by　the　American　gentleman；　and
followed　by　Ramsden　and　Octavius。

Hector　Malone　is　an　Eastern　American；　but　he　is　not　at　all
ashamed　of　his　nationality。　This　makes　English　people　of　fashion
think　well　of　him；　as　of　a　young　fellow　who　is　manly　enough　to
confess　to　an　obvious　disadvantage　without　any　attempt　to　conceal
or　extenuate　it。　They　feel　that　he　ought　not　to　be　made　to　suffer
for　what　is　clearly　not　his　fault；　and　make　a　point　of　being
specially　kind　to　him。　His　chivalrous　manners　to　women；　and　his
elevated　moral　sentiments；　being　both　gratuitous　and　unusual；
strike　them　as　being　a　little　unfortunate；　and　though　they　find
his　vein　of　easy　humor　rather　amusing　when　it　has　ceased　to
puzzle　them　（as　it　does　at　first）；　they　have　had　to　make　him
understand　that　he　really　must　not　tell　anecdotes　unless　they
are　strictly　personal　and　scandalous；　and　also　that　oratory　is　an
accomplishment　which　belongs　to　a　cruder　stage　of　civilization
than　that　in　which　his　migration　has　landed　him。　On　these　points
Hector　is　not　quite　convinced：　he　still　thinks　that　the　British
are　apt　to　make　merits　of　their　stupidities；　and　to　represent
their　various　incapacities　as　points　of　good　breeding。　English
life　seems　to　him　to　suffer　from　a　lack　of　edifying　rhetoric
（which　he　calls　moral　tone）；　English　behavior　to　show　a　want　of
respect　for　womanhood；　English　pronunciation　to　fail　very
vulgarly　in　tackling　such　words　as　world；　girl；　bird；　etc。；
English　society　to　be　plain　spoken　to　an　extent　which　stretches
occasionally　to　intolerable　coarseness；　and　English　intercourse
to　need　enlivening　by　games　and　stories　and　other　pastimes；　so　he
does　not　feel　called　upon　to　acquire　these　defects　after　taking
great　paths　to　cultivate　himself　in　a　firs