man and superman-第19章
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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 abo
