man and superman-第34章

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world。　It　used　to　be　so　straightforward　and　simple；　and　now
nobody　seems　to　think　and　feel　as　they　ought。　Nothing　has　been
right　since　that　speech　that　Professor　Tyndall　made　at　Belfast。

TANNER。　Yes：　life　is　more　complicated　than　we　used　to　think。　But
what　am　I　to　do　for　you？

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　That's　just　what　I　want　to　tell　you。　Of　course
you'll　marry　Ann　whether　I　like　it　myself　or　not

TANNER。　＇starting＇　It　seems　to　me　that　I　shall　presently　be
married　to　Ann　whether　I　like　it　myself　or　not。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇peacefully＇　Oh；　very　likely　you　will：　you　know
what　she　is　when　she　has　set　her　mind　on　anything。　But　don't　put
it　on　me：　that's　all　I　ask。　Tavy　has　just　let　out　that　she's　been
saying　that　I　am　making　her　marry　you；　and　the　poor　boy　is
breaking　his　heart　about　it；　for　he　is　in　love　with　her　himself；
though　what　he　sees　in　her　so　wonderful；　goodness　knows：　I　don't。
It's　no　use　telling　Tavy　that　Ann　puts　things　into　people's　heads
by　telling　them　that　I　want　them　when　the　thought　of　them　never
crossed　my　mind。　It　only　sets　Tavy　against　me。　But　you　know
better　than　that。　So　if　you　marry　her；　don't　put　the　blame　on　me。

TANNER。　＇emphatically＇　I　haven't　the　slightest　intention　of
marrying　her。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇slyly＇　She'd　suit　you　better　than　Tavy。　She'd
meet　her　match　in　you；　Jack。　I'd　like　to　see　her　meet　her　match。

TANNER。　No　man　is　a　match　for　a　woman；　except　with　a　poker　and　a
pair　of　hobnailed　boots。　Not　always　even　then。　Anyhow；　I　can't
take　the　poker　to　her。　I　should　be　a　mere　slave。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　No：　she's　afraid　of　you。　At　all　events；　you　would
tell　her　the　truth　about　herself。　She　wouldn't　be　able　to　slip
out　of　it　as　she　does　with　me。

TANNER。　Everybody　would　call　me　a　brute　if　I　told　Ann　the　truth
about　herself　in　terms　of　her　own　moral　code。　To　begin　with；　Ann
says　things　that　are　not　strictly　true。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　I'm　glad　somebody　sees　she　is　not　an　angel。

TANNER。　In　shortto　put　it　as　a　husband　would　put　it　when
exasperated　to　the　point　of　speaking　outshe　is　a　liar。　And
since　she　has　plunged　Tavy　head　over　ears　in　love　with　her
without　any　intention　of　marrying　him；　she　is　a　coquette；
according　to　the　standard　definition　of　a　coquette　as　a　woman　who
rouses　passions　she　has　no　intention　of　gratifying。　And　as　she
has　now　reduced　you　to　the　point　of　being　willing　to　sacrifice　me
at　the　altar　for　the　mere　satisfaction　of　getting　me　to　call　her
a　liar　to　her　face；　I　may　conclude　that　she　is　a　bully　as　well。
She　can't　bully　men　as　she　bullies　women；　so　she　habitually　and
unscrupulously　uses　her　personal　fascination　to　make　men　give　her
whatever　she　wants。　That　makes　her　almost　something　for　which　I
know　no　polite　name。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇in　mild　expostulation＇　Well；　you　can't　expect
perfection；　Jack。

TANNER。　I　don't。　But　what　annoys　me　is　that　Ann　does。　I　know
perfectly　well　that　all　this　about　her　being　a　liar　and　a　bully
and　a　coquette　and　so　forth　is　a　trumped…up　moral　indictment
which　might　be　brought　against　anybody。　We　all　lie；　we　all　bully
as　much　as　we　dare；　we　all　bid　for　admiration　without　the　least
intention　of　earning　it；　we　all　get　as　much　rent　as　we　can　out　of
our　powers　of　fascination。　If　Ann　would　admit　this　I　shouldn't
quarrel　with　her。　But　she　won't。　If　she　has　children　she'll　take
advantage　of　their　telling　lies　to　amuse　herself　by　whacking
them。　If　another　woman　makes　eyes　at　me；　she'll　refuse　to　know　a
coquette。　She　will　do　just　what　she　likes　herself　whilst
insisting　on　everybody　else　doing　what　the　conventional　code
prescribes。　In　short；　I　can　stand　everything　except　her
confounded　hypocrisy。　That's　what　beats　me。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇carried　away　by　the　relief　of　hearing　her　own
opinion　so　eloquently　expressed＇　Oh；　she　is　a　hypocrite。　She　is：
she　is。　Isn't　she？

TANNER。　Then　why　do　you　want　to　marry　me　to　her？

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇querulously＇　There　now！　put　it　on　me；　of　course。
I　never　thought　of　it　until　Tavy　told　me　she　said　I　did。　But；　you
know；　I'm　very　fond　of　Tavy：　he's　a　sort　of　son　to　me；　and　I
don't　want　him　to　be　trampled　on　and　made　wretched。

TANNER。　Whereas　I　don't　matter；　I　suppose。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　Oh；　you　are　different；　somehow：　you　are　able　to
take　care　of　yourself。　You'd　serve　her　out。　And　anyhow；　she　must
marry　somebody。

TANNER。　Aha！　there　speaks　the　life　instinct。　You　detest　her；　but
you　feel　that　you　must　get　her　married。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇rising；　shocked＇　Do　you　mean　that　I　detest　my
own　daughter！　Surely　you　don't　believe　me　to　be　so　wicked　and
unnatural　as　that；　merely　because　I　see　her　faults。

TANNER。　＇cynically＇　You　love　her；　then？

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　Why；　of　course　I　do。　What　queer　things　you　say；
Jack！　We　can't　help　loving　our　own　blood　relations。

TANNER。　Well；　perhaps　it　saves　unpleasantness　to　say　so。　But　for
my　part；　I　suspect　that　the　tables　of　consanguinity　have　a
natural　basis　in　a　natural　repugnance　＇he　rises＇。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　You　shouldn't　say　things　like　that；　Jack。　I　hope
you　won't　tell　Ann　that　I　have　been　speaking　to　you。　I　only
wanted　to　set　myself　right　with　you　and　Tavy。　I　couldn't　sit
mumchance　and　have　everything　put　on　me。

TANNER。　＇politely＇　Quite　so。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇dissatisfied＇　And　now　I've　only　made　matters
worse。　Tavy's　angry　with　me　because　I　don't　worship　Ann。　And　when
it's　been　put　into　my　head　that　Ann　ought　to　marry　you；　what　can
I　say　except　that　it　would　serve　her　right？

TANNER。　Thank　you。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　Now　don't　be　silly　and　twist　what　I　say　into
something　I　don't　mean。　I　ought　to　have　fair　play

Ann　comes　from　the　villa；　followed　presently　by　Violet；　who　is
dressed　for　driving。

ANN。　＇coming　to　her　mother's　right　hand　with　threatening　suavity＇
Well；　mamma　darling；　you　seem　to　be　having　a　delightful　chat　with
Jack。　We　can　hear　you　all　over　the　place。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇appalled＇　Have　you　overheard

TANNER。　Never　fear：　Ann　is　onlywell；　we　were　discussing　that
habit　of　hers　just　now。　She　hasn't　heard　a　word。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇stoutly＇　I　don't　care　whether　she　has　or　not：　I
have　a　right　to　say　what　I　please。

VIOLET。　＇arriving　on　the　lawn　and　coming　between　Mrs　Whitefield
and　Tanner＇　I've　come　to　say　goodbye。　I'm　off　for　my　honeymoon。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇crying＇　Oh　don't　say　that；　Violet。　And　no
wedding；　no　breakfast；　no　clothes；　nor　anything。

VIOLET。　＇petting　her＇　It　won't　be　for　long。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　Don't　let　him　take　you　to　America。　Promise　me
that　you　won't。

VIOLET。　＇very　decidedly＇　I　should　think　not；　indeed。　Don't　cry；
dear：　I'm　only　going　to　the　hotel。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　But　going　in　that　dress；　with　your　luggage；　makes
one　realize＇she　chokes；　and　then　breaks　out　again＇　How　I　wish
you　were　my　daughter；　Violet！

VIOLET。　＇soothing　her＇　There；　there：　so　I　am。　Ann　will　be
jealous。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　Ann　doesn't　care　a　bit　for　me。

ANN。　Fie；　mother！　Come；　now：　you　mustn't　cry　any　more：　you　know
Violet　doesn't　like　it　＇Mrs　Whitefzeld　dries　her　eyes；　and
subsides＇。

VIOLET。　Goodbye；　Jack。

TANNER。　Goodbye；　Violet。

VIOLET。　The　sooner　you　get　married　too；　the　better。　You　will　be
much　less　misunderstood。

TANNER。　＇restively＇　I　quite　expect　to　get　married　in　the　course
of　the　afternoon。　You　all　seem　to　have　set　your　minds　on　it。

VIOLET。　You　might　do　worse。　＇To　Mrs　Whitefield：　putting　her　arm
round　her＇　Let　me　take　you　to　the　hotel　with　me：　the　drive　will
do　you　good。　Come　in　and　get　a　wrap。　＇She　takes　her　towards　the
villa＇。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　＇as　they　go　up　through　the　garden＇　I　don't　know
what　I　shall　do　when　you　are　gone；　with　no　one　but　Ann　in　the
house；　and　she　always　occupied　with　the　men！　It's　not　to　be
expected　that　your　husband　will　care　to　be　bothered　with　an　old
woman　like　me。　Oh；　you　needn't　tell　me：　politeness　is　all　very
well；　but　I　know　what　people　think＇She　talks　herself　and　Violet
out　of　sight　and　hearing＇。

Ann；　musing　on　Violet's　opportune　advice；　approaches　Tanner；
examines　him　humorously　for　a　moment　from　toe　to　top；　and　finally
delivers　her　opinion。

ANN。　Violet　is　quite　right。　You　ought　to　get　married。

TANNER。　＇explosively＇　Ann：　I　will　not　marry　you。　Do　you　　hear？　I
won't；　won't；　won't；　won't；　WON'T　marry　you。

ANN。　＇placidly＇　Well；　nobody　axd　you；　sir　she　said；　sir　she　said；
sir　she　said。　So　that's　settled。

TANNER。　Yes；　nobody　has　asked　me；　but　everybody　treats　the　thing
as　settled。　It's　in　the　air。　When　we　meet；　the　others　go　away　on
absurd　pretexts　to　leave　us　alone　together。　Ramsden　no　longer
scowls　at　me：　his　eye　beams；　as　if　he　were　already　giving　you
away　to　me　in　church。　Tavy　refers　me　to　your　mother　and　gives　me
his　blessing。　Straker　openly　treats　you　as　his　future　employer：
it　was　he　who　first　told　me　of　it。

ANN。　Was　that　why　you　ran　away？

TANNER。　Yes；　only　to　be　stopped　by　a　lovesick　brigand　and　run
down　like　a　truant　schoolboy。

ANN。　Well；　if　you　don't　want　to　be　married；　you　needn't　be　＇she
turns　away　from　him　and　sits　down；　much　at　her　ease＇。

TANNER。　＇following　her＇　Does　any　man　want　to　be　hanged？　Yet　men
let　themselves　be　hanged　without　a　struggle　for　life；　though　they
could　at　least　give　the　chaplain　a　black　eye。　We　do　the　world's
will；　not　our　own。　I　have　a　frightful　feeling　that　I　shall　let
myself　be　married　because　it　is　the　world's　will　that　you　should
have　a　husband。

ANN。　I　daresay　I　shall；　someday。

TANNER。　But　why　meme　of　all　men？　Marriage　is　to　me　apostasy；
profanation　of　the　sanctuary　of　my　soul；　violation　of　my　manhood；
sale　of　my　birthright；　shameful　surrender；　ignominious
capitulation；　acceptance　of　defeat。　I　shall　decay　like　a　thing
that　has　served　its　purpose　and　is　done　with；　I　shall　change　from
a　man　with　a　future　to　a　man　with　a　past；　I　shall　see　in　the
greasy　eyes　of　all　the　other　husbands　their　relief　at　the　arrival
of　a　new　prisoner　to　share　their　ignominy。　The　young　men　will
scorn　me　as　one　who　has　sold　out：　to　the　young　women　I；　who　have
always　been　an　enigma　and　a　possibility；　shall　be　merely　somebody
else's　propertyand　damaged　goods　at　that：　a　secondhand　man　at
best。

ANN。　Well；　your　wife　can　put　on　a　cap　and　make　herself　ugly　to
keep　you　in　countenance；　like　my　grandmother。

TANNER。　So　that　she　may　make　her　triumph　more　insolent　by
publicly　throwing　away　the　bait　the　moment　the　trap　snaps　on　the
victim！

ANN。　After　all；　though；　what　difference　would　it　make？　Beauty　is
all　very　well　at　first　sight；　but　who　ever　looks　at　it　when　it
has　been　in　the　house　three　days？　I　thought　our　pictures　very
lovely　when　papa　bought　them；　but　I　haven't　looked　at　them　for
years。　You　never　bother　about　my　looks：　you　are　too　well　used　to
me。　I　might　be　the　umbrella　stand。

TANNER。　You　lie；　you　vampire：　you　lie。

ANN。　Flatterer。　Why　are　you　trying　to　fascinate　me；　Jack；　if　you
don't　want　to　marry　me？

TANNER。　The　Life　Force。　I　am　in　the　grip　of　the　Life　Force。

ANN。　I　don't　understand　in　the　least：　it　sounds　like　the　Life
Guards。

TANNER。　Why　don't　you　marry　Tavy？　He　is　willing。　Can　you　not　be
satisfied　unless　your　prey　struggles？

ANN。　＇turning　to　him　as　if　to　let　him　into　a　secret＇　Tavy　will
never　marry。　Haven't　you　noticed　that　that　sort　of　man　never
marries？

TANNER。　What！　a　man　who　idolizes　women　　who　sees　nothing　in
nature　but　roma