heartbreak house-第22章
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brute！ Think of poor weak innocent Ellie in the clutches of this
slavedriver； who spends his life making thousands of rough
violent workmen bend to his will and sweat for him： a man
accustomed to have great masses of iron beaten into shape for him
by steam…hammers！ to fight with women and girls over a halfpenny
an hour ruthlessly！ a captain of industry； I think you call him；
don't you？ Are you going to fling your delicate； sweet； helpless
child into such a beast's claws just because he will keep her in
an expensive house and make her wear diamonds to show how rich he
is？
MAZZINI ＇staring at her in wide…eyed amazement＇。 Bless you； dear
Mrs Hushabye； what romantic ideas of business you have！ Poor dear
Mangan isn't a bit like that。
MRS HUSHABYE ＇scornfully＇。 Poor dear Mangan indeed！
MAZZINI。 But he doesn't know anything about machinery。 He never
goes near the men： he couldn't manage them： he is afraid of them。
I never can get him to take the least interest in the works： he
hardly knows more about them than you do。 People are cruelly
unjust to Mangan： they think he is all rugged strength just
because his manners are bad。
MRS HUSHABYE。 Do you mean to tell me he isn't strong enough to
crush poor little Ellie？
MAZZINI。 Of course it's very hard to say how any marriage will
turn out； but speaking for myself； I should say that he won't
have a dog's chance against Ellie。 You know； Ellie has remarkable
strength of character。 I think it is because I taught her to like
Shakespeare when she was very young。
MRS HUSHABYE ＇contemptuously＇。 Shakespeare！ The next thing you
will tell me is that you could have made a great deal more money
than Mangan。 ＇She retires to the sofa； and sits down at the port
end of it in the worst of humors＇。
MAZZINI ＇following her and taking the other end＇。 No： I'm no good
at making money。 I don't care enough for it； somehow。 I'm not
ambitious！ that must be it。 Mangan is wonderful about money： he
thinks of nothing else。 He is so dreadfully afraid of being poor。
I am always thinking of other things： even at the works I think
of the things we are doing and not of what they cost。 And the
worst of it is； poor Mangan doesn't know what to do with his
money when he gets it。 He is such a baby that he doesn't know
even what to eat and drink： he has ruined his liver eating and
drinking the wrong things； and now he can hardly eat at all。
Ellie will diet him splendidly。 You will be surprised when you
come to know him better： he is really the most helpless of
mortals。 You get quite a protective feeling towards him。
MRS HUSHABYE。 Then who manages his business； pray？
MAZZINI。 I do。 And of course other people like me。
MRS HUSHABYE。 Footling people； you mean。
MAZZINI。 I suppose you'd think us so。
MRS HUSHABYE。 And pray why don't you do without him if you're all
so much cleverer？
MAZZINI。 Oh； we couldn't： we should ruin the business in a year。
I've tried； and I know。 We should spend too much on everything。
We should improve the quality of the goods and make them too
dear。 We should be sentimental about the hard cases among the
work people。 But Mangan keeps us in order。 He is down on us about
every extra halfpenny。 We could never do without him。 You see； he
will sit up all night thinking of how to save sixpence。 Won't
Ellie make him jump； though； when she takes his house in hand！
MRS HUSHABYE。 Then the creature is a fraud even as a captain of
industry！
MAZZINI。 I am afraid all the captains of industry are what you
call frauds； Mrs Hushabye。 Of course there are some manufacturers
who really do understand their own works； but they don't make as
high a rate of profit as Mangan does。 I assure you Mangan is
quite a good fellow in his way。 He means well。
MRS HUSHABYE。 He doesn't look well。 He is not in his first youth；
is he？
MAZZINI。 After all； no husband is in his first youth for very
long； Mrs Hushabye。 And men can't afford to marry in their first
youth nowadays。
MRS HUSHABYE。 Now if I said that； it would sound witty。 Why can't
you say it wittily？ What on earth is the matter with you？ Why
don't you inspire everybody with confidence？ with respect？
MAZZINI ＇humbly＇。 I think that what is the matter with me is that
I am poor。 You don't know what that means at home。 Mind： I don't
say they have ever complained。 They've all been wonderful：
they've been proud of my poverty。 They've even joked about it
quite often。 But my wife has had a very poor time of it。 She has
been quite resigned
MRS HUSHABYE ＇shuddering involuntarily！！
MAZZINI。 There！ You see； Mrs Hushabye。 I don't want Ellie to live
on resignation。
MRS HUSHABYE。 Do you want her to have to resign herself to living
with a man she doesn't love？
MAZZINI ＇wistfully＇。 Are you sure that would be worse than living
with a man she did love； if he was a footling person？
MRS HUSHABYE ＇relaxing her contemptuous attitude； quite
interested in Mazzini now＇。 You know； I really think you must
love Ellie very much； for you become quite clever when you talk
about her。
MAZZINI。 I didn't know I was so very stupid on other subjects。
MRS HUSHABYE。 You are； sometimes。
MAZZINI ＇turning his head away； for his eyes are wet＇。 I have
learnt a good deal about myself from you； Mrs Hushabye； and I'm
afraid I shall not be the happier for your plain speaking。 But if
you thought I needed it to make me think of Ellie's happiness you
were very much mistaken。
MRS HUSHABYE ＇leaning towards him kindly＇。 Have I been a beast？
MAZZINI ＇pulling himself together＇。 It doesn't matter about me；
Mrs Hushabye。 I think you like Ellie； and that is enough for me。
MRS HUSHABYE。 I'm beginning to like you a little。 I perfectly
loathed you at first。 I thought you the most odious；
self…satisfied； boresome elderly prig I ever met。
MAZZINI ＇resigned； and now quite cheerful＇。 I daresay I am all
that。 I never have been a favorite with gorgeous women like you。
They always frighten me。
MRS HUSHABYE ＇pleased＇。 Am I a gorgeous woman； Mazzini？ I shall
fall in love with you presently。
MAZZINI ＇with placid gallantry＇。 No； you won't； Hesione。 But you
would be quite safe。 Would you believe it that quite a lot of
women have flirted with me because I am quite safe？ But they get
tired of me for the same reason。
MRS HUSHABYE ＇mischievously＇。 Take care。 You may not be so safe
as you think。
MAZZINI。 Oh yes； quite safe。 You see； I have been in love really：
the sort of love that only happens once。 ＇Softly＇。 That's why
Ellie is such a lovely girl。
MRS HUSHABYE。 Well； really； you are coming out。 Are you quite
sure you won't let me tempt you into a second grand passion？
MAZZINI。 Quite。 It wouldn't be natural。 The fact is； you don't
strike on my box； Mrs Hushabye； and I certainly don't strike on
yours。
MRS HUSHABYE。 I see。 Your marriage was a safety match。
MAZZINI。 What a very witty application of the expression I used！
I should never have thought of it。
Ellie comes in from the garden； looking anything but happy。
MRS HUSHABYE ＇rising＇。 Oh！ here is Ellie at last。 ＇She goes
behind the sofa＇。
ELLIE ＇on the threshold of the starboard door＇。 Guinness said you
wanted me： you and papa。
MRS HUSHABYE。 You have kept us waiting so long that it almost
came towell； never mind。 Your father is a very wonderful man
＇she ruffles his hair affectionately＇： the only one I ever met
who could resist me when I made myself really agreeable。 ＇She
comes to the big chair； on Mangan's left＇。 Come here。 I have
something to show you。 ＇Ellie strolls listlessly to the other
side of the chair＇。 Look。
ELLIE ＇contemplating Mangan without interest＇。 I know。 He is only
asleep。 We had a talk after dinner； and he fell asleep in the
middle of it。
MRS HUSHABYE。 You did it； Ellie。 You put him asleep。
MAZZINI ＇rising quickly and coming to the back of the chair＇。 Oh；
I hope not。 Did you； Ellie？
ELLIE ＇wearily＇。 He asked me to。
MAZZINI。 But it's dangerous。 You know what happened to me。
ELLIE ＇utterly indifferent＇。 Oh； I daresay I can wake him。 If
not； somebody else can。
MRS HUSHABYE。 It doesn't matter； anyhow； because I have at last
persuaded your father that you don't want to marry
