man and superman-第33章

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MALONE。　If　you'll　be　so　kind；　yes。　And　may　I　ask　who

TANNER。　Mr　Roebuck　Ramsden；　a　very　old　friend　of　your
daughter…in…law。

MALONE。　Happy　to　meet　you；　Mr　Ramsden。

RAMSDEN。　Thank　you。　Mr　Tanner　is　also　one　of　our　circle。

MALONE。　Glad　to　know　you　also；　Mr　Tanner。

TANNER。　Thanks。　＇Malone　and　Ramsden　go　out　very　amicably　through
the　little　gate。　Tanner　calls　to　Octavius；　who　is　wandering　in
the　garden　with　Ann＇　Tavy！　＇Tavy　comes　to　the　steps；　Tanner
whispers　loudly　to　him＇　Violet　has　married　a　financier　of
brigands。　＇Tanner　hurries　away　to　overtake　Malone　and　Ramsden。
Ann　strolls　to　the　steps　with　an　idle　impulse　to　torment
Octavius＇。

ANN。　Won't　you　go　with　them；　Tavy？

OCTAVIUS。　＇tears　suddenly　flushing　his　eyes＇　You　cut　me　to　the
heart；　Ann；　by　wanting　me　to　go　＇he　comes　down　on　the　lawn　to
hide　his　face　from　her。　She　follows　him　caressingly＇。

ANN。　Poor　Ricky　Ticky　Tavy！　Poor　heart！

OCTAVIUS。　It　belongs　to　you；　Ann。　Forgive　me：　I　must　speak　of　it。
I　love　you。　You　know　I　love　you。

ANN。　What's　the　good；　Tavy？　You　know　that　my　mother　is　determined
that　I　shall　marry　Jack。

OCTAVIUS。　＇amazed＇　Jack！

ANN。　It　seems　absurd；　doesn't　it？

OCTAVIUS。　＇with　growing　resentment＇　Do　you　mean　to　say　that　Jack
has　been　playing　with　me　all　this　time？　That　he　has　been　urging
me　not　to　marry　you　because　he　intends　to　marry　you　himself？

ANN。　＇alarmed＇　No　no：　you　mustn't　lead　him　to　believe　that　I　said
that：　I　don't　for　a　moment　think　that　Jack　knows　his　own　mind。
But　it's　clear　from　my　father's　will　that　he　wished　me　to　marry
Jack。　And　my　mother　is　set　on　it。

OCTAVIUS。　But　you　are　not　bound　to　sacrifice　yourself　always　to
the　wishes　of　your　parents。

ANN。　My　father　loved　me。　My　mother　loves　me。　Surely　their　wishes
are　a　better　guide　than　my　own　selfishness。

OCTAVIUS。　Oh；　I　know　how　unselfish　you　are；　Ann。　But　believe　me
though　I　know　I　am　speaking　in　my　own　interestthere　is　another
side　to　this　question。　Is　it　fair　to　Jack　to　marry　him　if　you　do
not　love　him？　Is　it　fair　to　destroy　my　happiness　as　well　as　your
own　if　you　can　bring　yourself　to　love　me？

ANN。　＇looking　at　him　with　a　faint　impulse　of　pity＇　Tavy；　my
dear；　you　are　a　nice　creaturea　good　boy。

OCTAVIUS。　＇humiliated＇　Is　that　all？

ANN。　＇mischievously　in　spite　of　her　pity＇　That's　a　great　deal；　I
assure　you。　You　would　always　worship　the　ground　I　trod　on；
wouldn't　you？

OCTAVIUS。　I　do。　It　sounds　ridiculous；　but　it's　no　exaggeration。　I
do；　and　I　always　shall。

ANN。　Always　is　a　long　word；　Tavy。　You　see；　I　shall　have　to　live
up　always　to　your　idea　of　my　divinity；　and　I　don't　think　I　could　do
that　if　we　were　married。　But　if　I　marry　Jack；　you'll　never　be
disillusionedat　least　not　until　I　grow　too　old。

OCTAVIUS。　I　too　shall　grow　old；　Ann。　And　when　I　am　eighty；　one
white　hair　of　the　woman　I　love　will　make　me　tremble　more　than　the
thickest　gold　tress　from　the　most　beautiful　young　head。

ANN。　＇quite　touched＇　Oh；　that's　poetry；　Tavy；　real　poetry。　It
gives　me　that　strange　sudden　sense　of　an　echo　from　a　former
existence　which　always　seems　to　me　such　a　striking　proof　that　we
have　immortal　souls。

OCTAVIUS。　Do　you　believe　that　is　true？

ANN。　Tavy；　if　it　is　to　become　true　you　must　lose　me　as　well　as
love　me。

OCTAVIUS。　Oh！　＇he　hastily　sits　down　at　the　little　table　and
covers　his　face　with　his　hands＇。

ANN。　＇with　conviction＇　Tavy：　I　wouldn't　for　worlds　destroy　your
illusions。　I　can　neither　take　you　nor　let　you　go。　I　can　see
exactly　what　will　suit　you。　You　must　be　a　sentimental　old
bachelor　for　my　sake。

OCTAVIUS。　＇desperately＇　Ann：　I'll　kill　myself。

ANN。　Oh　no　you　won't：　that　wouldn't　be　kind。　You　won't　have　a　bad
time。　You　will　be　very　nice　to　women；　and　you　will　go　a　good　deal
to　the　opera。　A　broken　heart　is　a　very　pleasant　complaint　for　a
man　in　London　if　he　has　a　comfortable　income。

OCTAVIUS。　＇considerably　cooled；　but　believing　that　he　is　only
recovering　his　self…control＇　I　know　you　mean　to　be　kind；　Ann。
Jack　has　persuaded　you　that　cynicism　is　a　good　tonic　for　me。　＇He
rises　with　quiet　dignity＇。

ANN。　＇studying　him　slyly＇　You　see；　I'm　disillusionizing　you
already。　That's　what　I　dread。

OCTAVIUS。　You　do　not　dread　disillusionizing　Jack。

ANN。　＇her　face　lighting　up　with　mischievous　ecstasywhispering＇　I
can't：　he　has　no　illusions　about　me。　I　shall　surprise　Jack　the
other　way。　Getting　over　an　unfavorable　impression　is　ever　so　much
easier　than　living　up　to　an　ideal。　Oh；　I　shall　enrapture　Jack
sometimes！

OCTAVIUS。　＇resuming　the　calm　phase　of　despair；　and　beginning　to
enjoy　his　broken　heart　and　delicate　attitude　without　knowing　it＇
I　don't　doubt　that。　You　will　enrapture　him　always。　And　hethe
fool！thinks　you　would　make　him　wretched。

ANN。　Yes：　that's　the　difficulty；　so　far。

OCTAVIUS。　＇heroically＇　Shall　I　tell　him　that　you　love？

ANN。　＇quickly＇　Oh　no：　he'd　run　away　again。

OCTAVIUS。　＇shocked＇　Ann：　would　you　marry　an　unwilling　man？

ANN。　What　a　queer　creature　you　are；　Tavy！　There's　no　such　thing
as　a　willing　man　when　you　really　go　for　him。　＇She　laughs
naughtily＇。　I'm　shocking　you；　I　suppose。　But　you　know　you　are
really　getting　a　sort　of　satisfaction　already　in　being　out　of
danger　yourself。

OCTAVIUS　＇startled＇　Satisfaction！　＇Reproachfully＇　You　say　that　to
me！

ANN。　Well；　if　it　were　really　agony；　would　you　ask　for　more　of　it？

OCTAVIUS。　Have　I　asked　for　more　of　it？

ANN。　You　have　offered　to　tell　Jack　that　I　love　him。　That's
self…sacrifice；　I　suppose；　but　there　must　be　some　satisfaction　in
it。　Perhaps　it's　because　you're　a　poet。　You　are　like　the　bird
that　presses　its　breast　against　the　sharp　thorn　to　make　itself
sing。

OCTAVIUS。　It's　quite　simple。　I　love　you；　and　I　want　you　to　be
happy。　You　don't　love　me；　so　I　can't　make　you　happy　myself；　but　I
can　help　another　man　to　do　it。

ANN。　Yes：　it　seems　quite　simple。　But　I　doubt　if　we　ever　know　why
we　do　things。　The　only　really　simple　thing　is　to　go　straight　for
what　you　want　and　grab　it。　I　suppose　I　don't　love　you；　Tavy；　but
sometimes　I　feel　as　if　I　should　like　to　make　a　man　of　you
somehow。　You　are　very　foolish　about　women。

OCTAVIUS。　＇almost　coldly＇　I　am　content　to　be　what　I　am　in　that
respect。

ANN。　Then　you　must　keep　away　from　them；　and　only　dream　about
them。　I　wouldn't　marry　you　for　worlds；　Tavy。

OCTAVIUS。　I　have　no　hope；　Ann：　I　accept　my　ill　luck。　But　I　don't
think　you　quite　know　how　much　it　hurts。

ANN。　You　are　so　softhearted！　It's　queer　that　you　should　be　so
different　from　Violet。　Violet's　as　hard　as　nails。

OCTAVIUS。　Oh　no。　I　am　sure　Violet　is　thoroughly　womanly　at　heart。

ANN。　＇with　some　impatience＇　Why　do　you　say　that？　Is　it　unwomanly
to　be　thoughtful　and　businesslike　and　sensible？　Do　you　want
Violet　to　be　an　idiotor　something　worse；　like　me？

OCTAVIUS。　Something　worselike　you！　What　do　you　mean；　Ann？

ANN。　Oh　well；　I　don't　mean　that；　of　course。　But　I　have　a　great
respect　for　Violet。　She　gets　her　own　way　always。

OCTAVIUS。　＇sighing＇　So　do　you。

ANN。　Yes；　but　somehow　she　gets　it　without　coaxingwithout　having
to　make　people　sentimental　about　her。

OCTAVIUS。　＇with　brotherly　callousness＇　Nobody　could　get　very
sentimental　about　Violet；　I　think；　pretty　as　she　is。

ANN。　Oh　yes　they　could；　if　she　made　them。

OCTAVIUS。　But　surely　no　really　nice　woman　would　deliberately
practise　on　men's　instincts　in　that　way。

ANN。　＇throwing　up　her　hands＇　Oh　Tavy；　Tavy；　Ricky　Ticky　Tavy；
heaven　help　the　woman　who　marries　you！

OCTAVIUS。　＇his　passion　reviving　at　the　name＇　Oh　why；　why；　why　do
you　say　that？　Don't　torment　me。　I　don't　understand。

ANN。　Suppose　she　were　to　tell　fibs；　and　lay　snares　for　men？

OCTAVIUS。　Do　you　think　I　could　marry　such　a　womanI；　who　have
known　and　loved　you？

ANN。　Hm！　Well；　at　all　events；　she　wouldn't　let　you　if　she　were
wise。　So　that's　settled。　And　now　I　can't　talk　any　more。　Say　you
forgive　me；　and　that　the　subject　is　closed。

OCTAVIUS。　I　have　nothing　to　forgive；　and　the　subject　is　closed。
And　if　the　wound　is　open；　at　least　you　shall　never　see　it　bleed。

ANN。　Poetic　to　the　last；　Tavy。　Goodbye；　dear。　＇She　pats　his
check；　has　an　impulse　to　kiss　him　and　then　another　impulse　of
distaste　which　prevents　her；　finally　runs　away　through　the　garden
and　into　the　villa＇。

Octavius　again　takes　refuge　at　the　table；　bowing　his　head　on　his
arms　and　sobbing　softly。　Mrs　Whitefield；　who　has　been　pottering
round　the　Granada　shops；　and　has　a　net　full　of　little　parcels　in
her　hand；　comes　in　through　the　gate　and　sees　him。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇running　to　him　and　lifting　his　head＇　What's　the
matter；　Tavy？　Are　you　ill？

OCTAVIUS。　No；　nothing；　nothing。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇still　holding　his　head；　anxiously＇　But　you're
crying。　Is　it　about　Violet's　marriage？

OCTAVIUS。　No；　no。　Who　told　you　about　Violet？

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇restoring　the　head　to　its　owner＇　I　met　Roebuck
and　that　awful　old　Irishman。　Are　you　sure　you're　not　ill？　What's
the　matter？

OCTAVIUS。　＇affectionately＇　It's　nothingonly　a　man's　broken
heart。　Doesn't　that　sound　ridiculous？

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　But　what　is　it　all　about？　Has　Ann　been　doing
anything　to　you？

OCTAVIUS。　It's　not　Ann's　fault。　And　don't　think　for　a　moment　that
I　blame　you。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇startled＇　For　what？

OCTAVIUS。　＇pressing　her　hand　consolingly＇　For　nothing。　I　said　I
didn't　blame　you。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　But　I　haven't　done　anything。　What's　the　matter？

OCTAVIUS。　＇smiling　sadly＇　Can't　you　guess？　I　daresay　you　are
right　to　prefer　Jack　to　me　as　a　husband　for　Ann；　but　I　love　Ann；
and　it　hurts　rather。　＇He　rises　and　moves　away　from　her　towards　the
middle　of　the　lawn＇。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇following　him　hastily＇　Does　Ann　say　that　I　want
her　to　marry　Jack？

OCTAVIUS。　Yes：　she　has　told　me。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇thoughtfully＇　Then　I'm　very　sorry　for　you；　Tavy。
It's　only　her　way　of　saying　SHE　wants　to　marry　Jack。　Little　she
cares　what　I　say　or　what　I　want！

OCTAVIUS。　But　she　would　not　say　it　unless　she　believed　it。　Surely
you　don't　suspect　Ann　ofof　DECEIT！！

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　Well；　never　mind；　Tavy。　I　don't　know　which　is
best　for　a　young　man：　to　know　too　little；　like　you；　or　too　much；
like　Jack。

Tanner　returns。

TANNER。　Well；　I've　disposed　of　old　Malone。　I've　introduced　him　to
Mendoza；　Limited；　and　left　the　two　brigands　together　to　talk　it
out。　Hullo；　Tavy！　anything　wrong？

OCTAVIUS。　I　must　go　wash　my　face；　I　see。　＇To　Mrs　Whitefield＇　Tell
him　what　you　wish。　＇To　Tanner＇　You　may　take　it　from　me；　Jack；
that　Ann　approves　of　it。

TANNER。　＇puzzled　by　his　manner＇　Approves　of　what？

OCTAVIUS。　Of　what　Mrs　Whitefield　wishes。　＇He　goes　his　way　with
sad　dignity　to　the　villa＇。

TANNER。　＇to　Mrs　Whitefield＇　This　is　very　mysterious。　What　is　it
you　wish？　It　shall　be　done；　whatever　it　is。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇with　snivelling　gratitude＇　Thank　you；　Jack。　＇She
sits　down。　Tanner　brings　the　other　chair　from　the　table　and　sits
close　to　her　with　his　elbows　on　his　knees；　giving　her　his　whole
attention＇。　I　don't　know　why　it　is　that　other　people's　children
are　so　nice　to　me；　and　that　my　own　have　so　little　consideration
for　me。　It's　no　wonder　I　don't　seem　able　to　care　for　Ann　and
Rhoda　as　I　do　for　you　and　Tavy　and　Violet。　It's　a　very　queer
world。　It　used　to　be　so　straightforward　and　simple；　and　now
nobody　seems　to　think　and　feel　as