The Second Mrs. Tanqueray

By Arthur W. Pinero.

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The Persons of the Play

Aubrey Tanqueray

Paula

Ellean

Cayley Drummle

Mrs. Cortelyon

Captain Hugh Ardale

Gordon Jayne, M.D.

Frank Misquith, Q.C., M.P.

Sir George Orreyed, Bart.

Lady Orreyed

Morse

The Present Day.

The Scene of the First Act is laid at Mr. Tanqueray’s rooms, No. 2x, The Albany, in the month of November; the occurrences of the succeeding Acts take place at his house, Highercoombe, near Willowmere, Surrey, during the early part of the following year.

The Second Mrs. Tanqueray

Act I

Aubrey Tanqueray’s Chambers in the Albany⁠—a richly and tastefully decorated room, elegantly and luxuriously furnished: on the right a large pair of doors opening into another room, on the left at the further end of the room a small door leading to a bedchamber. A circular table is laid for a dinner for four persons which has now reached the stage of dessert and coffee. Everything in the apartment suggests wealth and refinement. The fire is burning brightly.

Aubrey Tanqueray, Misquith, and Jayne are seated at the dinner table. Aubrey is forty-two, handsome, winning in manner, his speech and bearing retaining some of the qualities of young-manhood. Misquith is about forty-seven, genial and portly. Jayne is a year or two Misquith’s senior; soft-speaking and precise⁠—in appearance a type of the prosperous town physician. Morse, Aubrey’s servant, places a little cabinet of cigars and the spirit-lamp on the table beside Aubrey, and goes out.

Misquith
Aubrey, it is a pleasant yet dreadful fact to contemplate, but it’s nearly fifteen years since I first dined with you. You lodged in Piccadilly in those days, over a hat-shop. Jayne, I met you at that dinner, and Cayley Drummle.

Jayne
Yes, yes. What a pity it is that Cayley isn’t here tonight.

Aubrey
Confound the old gossip! His empty chair has been staring us in the face all through dinner. I ought to have told Morse to take it away.

Misquith
Odd, his sending no excuse.

Aubrey
I’ll walk round to his lodgings later on and ask after him.

Misquith
I’ll go with you.

Jayne
So will I.

Aubrey
Opening the cigar-cabinet. Doctor, it’s useless to tempt you, I know. Frank⁠—Misquith and Aubrey smoke. I particularly wished Cayley Drummle to be one of us tonight. You two fellows and Cayley are my closest, my best friends⁠—

Misquith
My dear Aubrey!

Jayne
I rejoice to hear you say so.

Aubrey
And I wanted to see the three of you round this table. You can’t guess the reason.

Misquith
You desired to give us a most excellent dinner.

Jayne
Obviously.

Aubrey
Hesitatingly. Well⁠—I⁠—Glancing at the clock⁠—Cayley won’t turn up now.

Jayne
H’m, hardly.

Aubrey
Then you two shall hear it. Doctor, Frank, this is the last time we are to meet in these rooms.

Jayne
The last time?

Misquith
You’re going to leave the Albany?

Aubrey
Yes. You’ve heard me speak of a house I built in the country years ago, haven’t you?

Misquith
In Surrey.

Aubrey
Well, when my wife died I cleared out of that house and let it. I think of trying the place again.

Misquith
But you’ll go raving mad if ever you find yourself down there alone.

Aubrey
Ah, but I shan’t be alone, and that’s what I wanted to tell you. I’m going to be married.

Jayne
Going to be married?

Misquith
Married?

Aubrey
Yes⁠—tomorrow.

Jayne
Tomorrow?

Misquith
You take my breath away! My dear fellow, I⁠—I⁠—of course, I congratulate you.

Jayne
And⁠—and so do I⁠—heartily.

Aubrey
Thanks⁠—thanks.

There is a moment or two of embarrassment.

Misquith
Er⁠—ah⁠—this is an excellent cigar.

Jayne
Ah⁠—um⁠—your coffee is remarkable.

Aubrey
Look here; I daresay you two old friends think this treatment very strange, very unkind. So I want you to understand me. You know a marriage often cools friendships. What’s the usual course of things? A man’s engagement is given out, he is congratulated, complimented upon his choice; the church is filled with troops of friends, and he goes away happily to a chorus of good wishes. He comes back, sets up house in town or country, and thinks to resume the old associations, the old companionships. My dear Frank, my dear good doctor, it’s very seldom that it can be done. Generally, a worm has begun to eat its way into those hearty, unreserved, prenuptial friendships; a damnable constraint sets in and acts like a wasting disease; and so, believe me, in nine cases out of ten a man’s marriage severs for him more close ties than it forms.

Misquith
Well, my dear Aubrey, I earnestly hope⁠—

Aubrey
I know what you’re going to say, Frank. I hope so, too. In the meantime let’s face dangers. I’ve reminded you of the usual course of things, but my marriage isn’t even the conventional sort of marriage likely to satisfy society. Now, Cayley’s a bachelor, but you two men have wives. By the by, my love to Mrs. Misquith and to Mrs. Jayne when you get home⁠—don’t forget that. Well, your wives may not⁠—like⁠—the lady I’m going to marry.

Jayne
Aubrey, forgive me for suggesting that the lady you are going to marry may not like our wives⁠—mine at least; I beg your pardon, Frank.

Aubrey
Quite so; then I must go the way my wife goes.

Misquith
Come, come, pray don’t let us anticipate that either side will be called upon to make such a sacrifice.

Aubrey
Yes, yes, let us anticipate it. And let us make up our minds to have no slow bleeding-to-death of our friendship. We’ll end a pleasant chapter here tonight, and after tonight start afresh. When my wife and I settle down at Willowmere it’s possible that we shall all come together. But if this isn’t to be, for Heaven’s sake let us recognise that it is simply because it can’t be, and not wear hypocritical faces and suffer and be wretched. Doctor, Frank⁠—Holding out his hands, one to Misquith, the other to Jayne⁠—good luck to all of us!

Misquith
But⁠—but⁠—do I understand we are to ask nothing? Not even the lady’s name, Aubrey?

Aubrey
The lady, my dear Frank, belongs to the next chapter, and in that her name is Mrs. Aubrey Tanqueray.

Jayne
Raising his coffee cup. Then, in an old-fashioned way, I propose a toast. Aubrey, Frank, I give you “The Next Chapter!”

They drink the toast, saying, “The Next Chapter!”

Aubrey
Doctor, find a comfortable chair; Frank, you too. As we’re going to turn out by-and-by, let me scribble a couple of notes now while I think of them.

Misquith and Jayne
Certainly⁠—yes, yes.

Aubrey
It might slip my memory when I get back.

Aubrey sits at a writing-table at the other end of the room, and writes.

Jayne
To Misquith, in a whisper. Frank⁠—Misquith quietly leaves his chair and sits nearer to Jayne. What is all this? Simply a morbid crank of Aubrey’s with regard to ante-nuptial acquaintances?

Misquith
H’m! Did you notice one expression he used?

Jayne
Let me think⁠—

Misquith
“My marriage is not even the conventional sort of marriage likely to satisfy society.”

Jayne
Bless me, yes! What does that suggest?

Misquith
That he has a particular rather than a general reason for anticipating estrangement from his friends, I’m afraid.

Jayne
A horrible mésalliance! A dairymaid who has given him a glass of milk during a day’s hunting, or a little anemic shopgirl! Frank, I’m utterly wretched!

Misquith
My dear Jayne, speaking in absolute confidence, I have never been more profoundly depressed in my life.

Morse enters.

Morse
Announcing. Mr. Drummle.

Cayley Drummle enters briskly. He is a neat little man of about five-and-forty, in manner bright, airy, debonair, but with an undercurrent of seriousness.

Morse retires.

Drummle
I’m in disgrace; nobody realises that more thoroughly than I do. Where’s my host?

Aubrey
Who has risen. Cayley.

Drummle
Shaking hands with him. Don’t speak to me till I have tendered my explanation. A harsh word from anybody would unman me.

Misquith and Jayne shake hands with Drummle.

Aubrey
Have you dined?

Drummle
No⁠—unless you call a bit of fish, a cutlet, and a pancake dining.

Aubrey
Cayley, this is disgraceful.

Jayne
Fish, a cutlet, and a pancake will require a great deal of explanation.

Misquith
Especially the pancake. My dear friend, your case looks miserably weak.

Drummle
Hear me! hear me!

Jayne
Now then!

Misquith
Come!

Aubrey
Well!

Drummle
It so happens that tonight I was exceptionally early in dressing for dinner.

Misquith
For which dinner⁠—the fish and cutlet?

Drummle
For this dinner, of course⁠—really, Frank! At a quarter to eight, in fact, I found myself trimming my nails, with ten minutes to spare. Just then enter my man with a note⁠—would I hasten, as fast as cab could carry me, to old Lady Orreyed in Bruton Street?⁠—“sad trouble.” Now, recollect, please, I had ten minutes on my hands, old Lady Orreyed was a very dear friend of my mother’s, and was in some distress.

Aubrey
Cayley, come to the fish and cutlet?

Misquith and Jayne
Yes, yes, and the pancake!

Drummle
Upon my word! Well, the scene in Bruton Street beggars description; the women servants looked scared, the men drunk; and there was poor old Lady Orreyed on the floor of her boudoir like Queen Bess among her pillows.

Aubrey
What’s the matter?

Drummle
To everybody. You know George Orreyed?

Misquith
Yes.

Jayne
I’ve met him.

Drummle
Well, he’s a thing of the past.

Aubrey
Not dead!

Drummle
Certainly, in the worst sense. He’s married Mabel Hervey.

Misquith
What!

Drummle
It’s true⁠—this morning. The poor mother showed me his letter⁠—a dozen curt words, and some of those ill-spelt.

Misquith
Walking up to the fireplace. I’m very sorry.

Jayne
Pardon my ignorance⁠—who was Mabel Hervey?

Drummle
You don’t⁠—? Oh, of course not. Miss Hervey⁠—Lady Orreyed, as she now is⁠—was a lady who would have been, perhaps has been, described in the reports of the Police or the Divorce Court as an actress. Had she belonged to a lower stratum of our advanced civilisation she would, in the event of judicial inquiry, have defined her calling with equal justification as that of a dressmaker. To do her justice, she is a type of a class which is immortal. Physically, by the strange caprice of creation, curiously beautiful; mentally, she lacks even the strength of deliberate viciousness. Paint her portrait, it would symbolise a creature perfectly patrician; lance a vein of her superbly-modelled arm, you would get the poorest vin ordinaire! Her affections, emotions, impulses, her very existence⁠—a burlesque! Flaxen, five-and-twenty, and feebly frolicsome; anybody’s, in less gentle society I should say everybody’s, property! That, doctor, was Miss Hervey who is the new Lady Orreyed. Dost thou like the picture?

Misquith
Very good, Cayley! Bravo!

Aubrey
Laying his hand on Drummle’s shoulder. You’d scarcely believe it, Jayne, but none of us really know anything about this lady, our gay young friend here, I suspect, least of all.

Drummle
Aubrey, I applaud your chivalry.

Aubrey
And perhaps you’ll let me finish a couple of letters which Frank and Jayne have given me leave to write. Returning to the writing-table. Ring for what you want, like a good fellow!

Aubrey resumes his writing.

Misquith
To Drummle. Still, the fish and cutlet remain unexplained.

Drummle
Oh, the poor old woman was so weak that I insisted upon her taking some food, and felt there was nothing for it but to sit down opposite her. The fool! the blackguard!

Misquith
Poor Orreyed! Well, he’s gone under for a time.

Drummle
For a time! My dear Frank, I tell you he has absolutely ceased to be. Aubrey, who has been writing busily, turns his head towards the speakers and listens. His lips are set, and there is a frown upon his face. For all practical purposes you may regard him as the late George Orreyed. Tomorrow the very characteristics of his speech, as we remember them, will have become obsolete.

Jayne
But surely, in the course of years, he and his wife will outlive⁠—

Drummle
No, no, doctor, don’t try to upset one of my settled beliefs. You may dive into many waters, but there is one social Dead Sea⁠—!

Jayne
Perhaps you’re right.

Drummle
Right! Good God! I wish you could prove me otherwise! Why, for years I’ve been sitting, and watching and waiting.

Misquith
You’re in form tonight, Cayley. May we ask where you’ve been in the habit of squandering your useful leisure?

Drummle
Where? On the shore of that same sea.

Misquith
And, pray, what have you been waiting for?

Drummle
For some of my best friends to come up. Aubrey utters a half-stifled exclamation of impatience; then he hurriedly gathers up his papers from the writing-table. The three men turn to him. Eh?

Aubrey
Oh, I⁠—I’ll finish my letters in the other room if you’ll excuse me for five minutes. Tell Cayley the news.

He goes out.

Drummle
Hurrying to the door. My dear fellow, my jabbering has disturbed you! I’ll never talk again as long as I live!

Misquith
Close the door, Cayley.

Drummle shuts the door.

Jayne
Cayley⁠—

Drummle
Advancing to the dinner table. A smoke, a smoke, or I perish!

Selects a cigar from the little cabinet.

Jayne
Cayley, marriages are in the air.

Drummle
Are they? Discover the bacillus, doctor, and destroy it.

Jayne
I mean, among our friends.

Drummle
Oh, Nugent Warrinder’s engagement to Lady Alice Tring. I’ve heard of that. They’re not to be married till the spring.

Jayne
Another marriage that concerns us a little takes place tomorrow.

Drummle
Whose marriage?

Jayne
Aubrey’s.

Drummle
Aub⁠—! Looking towards Misquith. Is it a joke?

Misquith
No.

Drummle
Looking from Misquith to Jayne. To whom?

Misquith
He doesn’t tell us.

Jayne
We three were asked here tonight to receive the announcement. Aubrey has some theory that marriage is likely to alienate a man from his friends, and it seems to me he has taken the precaution to wish us goodbye.

Misquith
No, no.

Jayne
Practically, surely.

Drummle
Thoughtfully. Marriage in general, does he mean, or this marriage?

Jayne
That’s the point. Frank says⁠—

Misquith
No, no, no; I feared it suggested⁠—

Jayne
Well, well. To Drummle. What do you think of it?

Drummle
After a slight pause. Is there a light there? Lighting his cigar. He⁠—wraps the lady⁠—in mystery⁠—you say?

Misquith
Most modestly.

Drummle
Aubrey’s⁠—not⁠—a very⁠—young man.

Jayne
Forty-three.

Drummle
Ah! L’age critique!

Misquith
A dangerous age⁠—yes, yes.

Drummle
When you two fellows go home, do you mind leaving me behind here?

Misquith
Not at all.

Jayne
By all means.

Drummle
All right. Anxiously. Deuce take it, the man’s second marriage mustn’t be another mistake!

With his head bent he walks up to the fireplace.

Jayne
You knew him in his short married life, Cayley. Terribly unsatisfactory, wasn’t it?

Drummle
Well⁠—Looking at the door. I quite closed that door?

Misquith
Yes.

Settles himself on the sofa; Jayne is seated in an armchair.

Drummle
Smoking, with his back to the fire. He married a Miss Herriott; that was in the year eighteen⁠—confound dates⁠—twenty years ago. She was a lovely creature⁠—by Jove, she was; by religion a Roman Catholic. She was one of your cold sort, you know⁠—all marble arms and black velvet. I remember her with painful distinctness as the only woman who ever made me nervous.

Misquith
Ha, ha!

Drummle
He loved her⁠—to distraction, as they say. Jupiter, how fervently that poor devil courted her! But I don’t believe she allowed him even to squeeze her fingers. She was an iceberg! As for kissing, the mere contact would have given him chapped lips. However, he married her and took her away, the latter greatly to my relief.

Jayne
Abroad, you mean?

Drummle
Eh? Yes. I imagine he gratified her by renting a villa in Lapland, but I don’t know. After a while they returned, and then I saw how woefully Aubrey had miscalculated results.

Jayne
Miscalculated⁠—?

Drummle
He had reckoned, poor wretch, that in the early days of marriage she would thaw. But she didn’t. I used to picture him closing his doors and making up the fire in the hope of seeing her features relax. Bless her, the thaw never set in! I believe she kept a thermometer in her stays and always registered ten degrees below zero. However, in time a child came⁠—a daughter.

Jayne
Didn’t that⁠—?

Drummle
Not a bit of it; it made matters worse. Frightened at her failure to stir up in him some sympathetic religious belief, she determined upon strong measures with regard to the child. He opposed her for a miserable year or so, but she wore him down, and the insensible little brat was placed in a convent, first in France, then in Ireland. Not long afterwards the mother died, strangely enough, of fever, the only warmth, I believe, that ever came to that woman’s body.

Misquith
Don’t, Cayley!

Jayne
The child is living, we know.

Drummle
Yes, if you choose to call it living. Miss Tanqueray⁠—a young woman of nineteen now⁠—is in the Loretto convent at Armagh. She professes to have found her true vocation in a religious life, and within a month or two will take final vows.

Misquith
He ought to have removed his daughter from the convent when the mother died.

Drummle
Yes, yes, but absolutely at the end there was reconciliation between husband and wife, and she won his promise that the child should complete her conventual education. He reaped his reward. When he attempted to gain his girl’s confidence and affection he was too late; he found he was dealing with the spirit of the mother. You remember his visit to Ireland last month?

Jayne
Yes.

Drummle
That was to wish his girl goodbye.

Misquith
Poor fellow?

Drummle
He sent for me when he came back. I think he must have had a lingering hope that the girl would relent⁠—would come to life, as it were⁠—at the last moment, for, for an hour or so, in this room, he was terribly shaken. I’m sure he’d clung to that hope from the persistent way in which he kept breaking off in his talk to repeat one dismal word, as if he couldn’t realise his position without dinning this damned word into his head.

Jayne
What word was that?

Drummle
Alone⁠—alone.

Aubrey enters.

Aubrey
A thousand apologies!

Drummle
Gaily. We are talking about you, my dear Aubrey.

During the telling of the story, Misquith has risen and gone to the fire, and Drummle has thrown himself full-length on the sofa. Aubrey now joins Misquith and Jayne.

Aubrey
Well, Cayley, are you surprised?

Drummle
Surp⁠—! I haven’t been surprised for twenty years.

Aubrey
And you’re not angry with me?

Drummle
Angry! Rising. Because you considerately withhold the name of a lady with whom it is now the object of my life to become acquainted? My dear fellow, you pique my curiosity, you give zest to my existence! And as for a wedding, who on earth wants to attend that familiar and probably draughty function? Ugh! My cigar’s out.

Aubrey
Let’s talk about something else.

Misquith
Looking at his watch. Not tonight, Aubrey.

Aubrey
My dear Frank!

Misquith
I go up to Scotland tomorrow, and there are some little matters⁠—

Jayne
I am off too.

Aubrey
No, no.

Jayne
I must: I have to give a look to a case in Clifford Street on my way home.

Aubrey
Going to the door. Well! Misquith and Jayne exchange looks with Drummle. Opening the door and calling. Morse, hats and coats! I shall write to you all next week from Genoa or Florence. Now, doctor, Frank, remember, my love to Mrs. Misquith and to Mrs. Jayne!

Morse enters with hats and coats.

Misquith and Jayne
Yes, yes⁠—yes, yes.

Aubrey
And your young people!

As Misquith and Jayne put on their coats there is the clatter of careless talk.

Jayne
Cayley, I meet you at dinner on Sunday.

Drummle
At the Stratfields’. That’s very pleasant.

Misquith
Putting on his coat with Aubrey’s aid. Ah-h!

Aubrey
What’s wrong?

Misquith
A twinge. Why didn’t I go to Aix in August?

Jayne
Shaking hands with Drummle. Good night, Cayley.

Drummle
Good night, my dear doctor!

Misquith
Shaking hands with Drummle. Cayley, are you in town for long?

Drummle
Dear friend, I’m nowhere for long. Good night.

Misquith
Good night.

Aubrey, Jayne, and Misquith go out, followed by Morse; the hum of talk is continued outside.

Aubrey
A cigar, Frank?

Misquith
No, thank you.

Aubrey
Going to walk, doctor?

Jayne
If Frank will.

Misquith
By all means.

Aubrey
It’s a cold night.

The door is closed. Drummle remains standing with his coat on his arm and his hat in his hand.

Drummle
To himself, thoughtfully. Now then! What the devil⁠—!

Aubrey returns.

Aubrey
Eyeing Drummle a little awkwardly. Well, Cayley?

Drummle
Well, Aubrey?

Aubrey walks up to the fire and stands looking into it.

Aubrey
You’re not going, old chap?

Drummle
Sitting. No.

Aubrey
After a slight pause, with a forced laugh. Hah! Cayley, I never thought I should feel⁠—shy⁠—with you.

Drummle
Why do you?

Aubrey
Never mind.

Drummle
Now, I can quite understand a man wishing to be married in the dark, as it were.

Aubrey
You can?

Drummle
In your place I should very likely adopt the same course.

Aubrey
You think so?

Drummle
And if I intended marrying a lady not prominently in Society, as I presume you do⁠—as I presume you do⁠—

Aubrey
Well?

Drummle
As I presume you do, I’m not sure that I should tender her for preliminary dissection at afternoon tea-tables.

Aubrey
No?

Drummle
In fact, there is probably only one person⁠—were I in your position tonight⁠—with whom I should care to chat the matter over.

Aubrey
Who’s that?

Drummle
Yourself, of course. Going to Aubrey and standing beside him. Of course, yourself, old friend.

Aubrey
After a pause. I must seem a brute to you, Cayley. But there are some acts which are hard to explain, hard to defend⁠—

Drummle
To defend⁠—?

Aubrey
Some acts which one must trust to time to put right.

Drummle watches him for a moment, then takes up his hat and coat.

Drummle
Well, I’ll be moving.

Aubrey
Cayley! Confound you and your old friendship! Do you think I forget it? Put your coat down! Why did you stay behind here? Cayley, the lady I am going to marry is the lady⁠—who is known as⁠—Mrs. Jarman.

There is a pause.

Drummle
In a low voice. Mrs. Jarman! are you serious?

He walks up to the fireplace, where he leans upon the mantelpiece uttering something like a groan.

Aubrey
As you’ve got this out of me I give you leave to say all you care to say. Come, we’ll be plain with each other. You know Mrs. Jarman?

Drummle
I first met her at⁠—what does it matter?

Aubrey
Yes, yes, everything! Come!

Drummle
I met her at Homburg, two⁠—three seasons ago.

Aubrey
Not as Mrs. Jarman?

Drummle
No.

Aubrey
She was then⁠—?

Drummle
Mrs. Dartry.

Aubrey
Yes. She has also seen you in London, she says.

Drummle
Certainly.

Aubrey
In Aldford Street. Go on.

Drummle
Please!

Aubrey
I insist.

Drummle
With a slight shrug of the shoulders. Some time last year I was asked by a man to sup at his house, one night after the theatre.

Aubrey
Mr. Selwyn Ethurst⁠—a bachelor.

Drummle
Yes.

Aubrey
You were surprised therefore to find Mr. Ethurst aided in his cursed hospitality by a lady.

Drummle
I was unprepared.

Aubrey
The lady you had known as Mrs. Dartry? Drummle inclines his head silently. There is something of a yachting cruise in the Mediterranean too, is there not?

Drummle
I joined Peter Jarman’s yacht at Marseilles, in the Spring, a month before he died.

Aubrey
Mrs. Jarman was on board?

Drummle
She was a kind hostess.

Aubrey
And an old acquaintance?

Drummle
Yes.

Aubrey
You have told your story.

Drummle
With your assistance.

Aubrey
I have put you to the pain of telling it to show you that this is not the case of a blind man entrapped by an artful woman. Let me add that Mrs. Jarman has no legal right to that name, that she is simply Miss Ray⁠—Miss Paula Ray.

Drummle
After a pause. I should like to express my regret, Aubrey, for the way in which I spoke of George Orreyed’s marriage.

Aubrey
You mean you compare Lady Orreyed with Miss Ray? Drummle is silent. Oh, of course! To you, Cayley, all women who have been roughly treated, and who dare to survive by borrowing a little of our philosophy, are alike. You see in the crowd of the ill-used only one pattern; you can’t detect the shades of goodness, intelligence, even nobility there. Well, how should you? The crowd is dimly lighted! And, besides, yours is the way of the world.

Drummle
My dear Aubrey, I live in the world.

Aubrey
The name we give our little parish of St. James’s.

Drummle
Laying a hand on Aubrey’s shoulder. And you are quite prepared, my friend, to forfeit the esteem of your little parish?

Aubrey
I avoid mortification by shifting from one parish to another. I give up Pall Mall for the Surrey hills; leave off varnishing my boots and double the thickness of the soles.

Drummle
And your skin⁠—do you double the thickness of that also?

Aubrey
I know you think me a fool, Cayley⁠—you needn’t infer that I’m a coward into the bargain. No! I know what I’m doing, and I do it deliberately, defiantly. I’m alone; I injure no living soul by the step I’m going to take; and so you can’t urge the one argument which might restrain me. Of course, I don’t expect you to think compassionately, fairly even, of the woman whom I⁠—whom I am drawn to⁠—

Drummle
My dear Aubrey, I assure you I consider Mrs.⁠—Miss Jarman⁠—Mrs. Ray⁠—Miss Ray⁠—delightful. But I confess there is a form of chivalry which I gravely distrust, especially in a man of⁠—our age.

Aubrey
Thanks. I’ve heard you say that from forty till fifty a man is at heart either a stoic or a satyr.

Drummle
Protestingly. Ah! now⁠—

Aubrey
I am neither. I have a temperate, honourable affection for Mrs. Jarman. She has never met a man who has treated her well⁠—I intend to treat her well. That’s all. And in a few years, Cayley, if you’ve not quite forsaken me, I’ll prove to you that it’s possible to rear a life of happiness, of good repute, on a⁠—miserable foundation.

Drummle
Offering his hand. Do prove it!

Aubrey
Taking his hand. We have spoken too freely of⁠—of Mrs. Jarman. I was excited⁠—angry. Please forget it!

Drummle
My dear Aubrey, when we next meet I shall remember nothing but my respect for the lady who bears your name.

Morse enters, closing the door behind him carefully.

Aubrey
What is it?

Morse
Hesitatingly. May I speak to you, Sir? In an undertone. Mrs. Jarman, sir.

Aubrey
Softly to Morse. Mrs. Jarman! Do you mean she is at the lodge in her carriage?

Morse
No, sir⁠—here. Aubrey looks towards Drummle, perplexed. There’s a nice fire in your⁠—in that room, sir. Glancing in the direction of the door leading to the bedroom.

Aubrey
Between his teeth, angrily. Very well.

Morse retires.

Drummle
Looking at his watch. A quarter to eleven⁠—horrible! Taking up his hat and coat. Must get to bed⁠—up late every night this week. Aubrey assists Drummle with his coat. Thank you. Well, good night, Aubrey. I feel I’ve been dooced serious, quite out of keeping with myself; pray overlook it.

Aubrey
Kindly. Ah, Cayley!

Drummle
Putting on a neck-handkerchief. And remember that, after all, I’m merely a spectator in life; nothing more than a man at a play, in fact; only, like the old-fashioned playgoer, I love to see certain characters happy and comfortable at the finish. You understand?

Aubrey
I think I do.

Drummle
Then, for as long as you can, old friend, will you⁠—keep a stall for me?

Aubrey
Yes, Cayley.

Drummle
Gaily. Ah, ha! Good night! Bustling to the door. Don’t bother! I’ll let myself out! Good night! God bless yer!

He goes out; Aubrey follows him. Morse enters by the other door, carrying some unopened letters which after a little consideration he places on the mantelpiece against the clock. Aubrey returns.

Aubrey
Yes?

Morse
You hadn’t seen your letters that came by the nine o’clock post, sir; I’ve put ’em where they’ll catch your eye by-and-by.

Aubrey
Thank you.

Morse
Hesitatingly. Gunter’s cook and waiter have gone, sir. Would you prefer me to go to bed?

Aubrey
Frowning. Certainly not.

Morse
Very well, sir.

He goes out.

Aubrey
Opening the upper door. Paula! Paula!

Paula enters and throws her arms round his neck. She is a young woman of about twenty-seven: beautiful, fresh, innocent-looking. She is in superb evening dress.

Paula
Dearest!

Aubrey
Why have you come here?

Paula
Angry?

Aubrey
Yes⁠—no. But it’s eleven o’clock.

Paula
Laughing. I know.

Aubrey
What on earth will Morse think?

Paula
Do you trouble yourself about what servants think?

Aubrey
Of course.

Paula
Goose! They’re only machines made to wait upon people⁠—and to give evidence in the Divorce Court. Looking round. Oh, indeed! A snug little dinner!

Aubrey
Three men.

Paula
Suspiciously. Men?

Aubrey
Men.

Paula
Penitently. Ah! Sitting at the table. I’m so hungry.

Aubrey
Let me get you some game pie, or some⁠—

Paula
No, no, hungry for this. What beautiful fruit! I love fruit when it’s expensive. He clears a space on the table, places a plate before her, and helps her to fruit. I haven’t dined, Aubrey dear.

Aubrey
My poor girl! Why?

Paula
In the first place, I forgot to order any dinner, and my cook, who has always loathed me, thought he’d pay me out before he departed.

Aubrey
The beast!

Paula
That’s precisely what I⁠—

Aubrey
No, Paula!

Paula
What I told my maid to call him. What next will you think of me?

Aubrey
Forgive me. You must be starved.

Paula
Eating fruit. I didn’t care. As there was nothing to eat, I sat in my best frock, with my toes on the dining-room fender, and dreamt, oh, such a lovely dinner-party.

Aubrey
Dear lonely little woman!

Paula
It was perfect. I saw you at the end of a very long table, opposite me, and we exchanged sly glances now and again over the flowers. We were host and hostess, Aubrey, and had been married about five years.

Aubrey
Kissing her hand. Five years.

Paula
And on each side of us was the nicest set imaginable⁠—you know, dearest, the sort of men and women that can’t be imitated.

Aubrey
Yes, yes. Eat some more fruit.

Paula
But I haven’t told you the best part of my dream.

Aubrey
Tell me.

Paula
Well, although we had been married only such a few years, I seemed to know by the look on their faces that none of our guests had ever heard anything⁠—anything⁠—anything peculiar about the fascinating hostess.

Aubrey
That’s just how it will be, Paula. The world moves so quickly. That’s just how it will be.

Paula
With a little grimace. I wonder! Glancing at the fire. Ugh! do throw another log on.

Aubrey
Mending the fire. There. But you mustn’t be here long.

Paula
Hospitable wretch! I’ve something important to tell you. No, stay where you are. Turning from him, her face averted. Look here, that was my dream, Aubrey; but the fire went out while I was dozing, and I woke up with a regular fit of the shivers. And the result of it all was that I ran upstairs and scribbled you a letter.

Aubrey
Dear baby!

Paula
Remain where you are. Taking a letter from her pocket. This is it. I’ve given you an account of myself, furnished you with a list of my adventures since I⁠—you know. Weighing the letter in her hand. I wonder if it would go for a penny. Most of it you’re acquainted with; I’ve told you a good deal, haven’t I?

Aubrey
Oh, Paula!

Paula
What I haven’t told you I daresay you’ve heard from others. But in case they’ve omitted anything⁠—the dears⁠—it’s all here.

Aubrey
In Heaven’s name, why must you talk like this tonight?

Paula
It may save discussion by-and-by, don’t you think? Holding out the letter. There you are.

Aubrey
No, dear, no.

Paula
Take it. He takes the letter. Read it through after I’ve gone, and then⁠—read it again, and turn the matter over in your mind finally. And if, even at the very last moment, you feel you⁠—oughtn’t to go to church with me, send a messenger to Pont Street, any time before eleven tomorrow, telling me that you’re afraid, and I⁠—I’ll take the blow.

Aubrey
Why, what⁠—what do you think I am?

Paula
That’s it. It’s because I know you’re such a dear good fellow that I want to save you the chance of ever feeling sorry you married me. I really love you so much, Aubrey, that to save you that I’d rather you treated me as⁠—as the others have done.

Aubrey
Turning from her with a cry. Oh!

Paula
After a slight pause. I suppose I’ve shocked you. I can’t help it if I have.

She sits, with assumed languor and indifference. He turns to her, advances, and kneels by her.

Aubrey
My dearest, you don’t understand me. I⁠—I can’t bear to hear you always talking about⁠—what’s done with. I tell you I’ll never remember it; Paula, can’t you dismiss it? Try. Darling, if we promise each other to forget, to forget, we’re bound to be happy. After all, it’s a mechanical matter; the moment a wretched thought enters your head, you quickly think of something bright⁠—it depends on one’s will. Shall I burn this, dear? Referring to the letter he holds in his hand. Let me, let me!

Paula
With a shrug of the shoulders. I don’t suppose there’s much that’s new to you in it⁠—just as you like.

He goes to the fire and burns the letter.

Aubrey
There’s an end of it. Returning to her. What’s the matter?

Paula
Rising, coldly. Oh, nothing! I’ll go and put my cloak on.

Aubrey
Detaining her. What is the matter?

Paula
Well, I think you might have said, “You’re very generous, Paula,” or at least, “Thank you, dear,” when I offered to set you free.

Aubrey
Catching her in his arms. Ah!

Paula
Ah! ah! Ha, ha! It’s all very well, but you don’t know what it cost me to make such an offer. I do so want to be married.

Aubrey
But you never imagined⁠—?

Paula
Perhaps not. And yet I did think of what I’d do at the end of our acquaintance if you had preferred to behave like the rest.

Taking a flower from her bodice.

Aubrey
Hush!

Paula
Oh, I forgot!

Aubrey
What would you have done when we parted?

Paula
Why, killed myself.

Aubrey
Paula, dear!

Paula
It’s true. Putting the flower in his buttonhole. Do you know I feel certain I should make away with myself if anything serious happened to me.

Aubrey
Anything serious! What, has nothing ever been serious to you, Paula?

Paula
Not lately; not since a long while ago. I made up my mind then to have done with taking things seriously. If I hadn’t, I⁠—However, we won’t talk about that.

Aubrey
But now, now, life will be different to you, won’t it⁠—quite different? Eh, dear?

Paula
Oh yes, now. Only, Aubrey, mind you keep me always happy.

Aubrey
I will try to.

Paula
I know I couldn’t swallow a second big dose of misery. I know that if ever I felt wretched again⁠—truly wretched⁠—I should take a leaf out of Connie Tirlemont’s book. You remember? They found her⁠—With a look of horror.

Aubrey
For God’s sake, don’t let your thoughts run on such things!

Paula
Laughing. Ha, ha, how scared you look! There, think of the time! Dearest, what will my coachman say! My cloak!

She runs off, gaily, by the upper door. Aubrey looks after her for a moment, then he walks up to the fire and stands warming his feet at the bars. As he does so he raises his head and observes the letters upon the mantelpiece. He takes one down quickly.

Aubrey
Ah! Ellean! Opening the letter and reading. “My dear father⁠—A great change has come over me. I believe my mother in Heaven has spoken to me, and counselled me to turn to you in your loneliness. At any rate, your words have reached my heart, and I no longer feel fitted for this solemn life. I am ready to take my place by you. Dear father, will you receive me?⁠—Ellean.”

Paula reenters, dressed in a handsome cloak. He stares at her as if he hardly realised her presence.

Paula
What are you staring at? Don’t you admire my cloak?

Aubrey
Yes.

Paula
Couldn’t you wait till I’d gone before reading your letters?

Aubrey
Putting the letter away. I beg your pardon.

Paula
Take me downstairs to the carriage. Slipping her arm through his. How I tease you! Tomorrow! I’m so happy!

They go out.

Act II

A morning-room in Aubrey Tanqueray’s house, “Highercoombe,” near Willowmere, Surrey⁠—a bright and prettily furnished apartment of irregular shape, with double doors opening into a small hall at the back, another door on the left, and a large recessed window through which is obtained a view of extensive grounds. Everything about the room is charming and graceful. The fire is burning in the grate, and a small table is tastefully laid for breakfast. It is a morning in early Spring, and the sun is streaming in through the window.

Aubrey and Paula are seated at breakfast, and Aubrey is silently reading his letters. Two servants, a man and a woman, hand dishes and then retire. After a little while Aubrey puts his letters aside and looks across to the window.

Aubrey
Sunshine! Spring!

Paula
Glancing at the clock. Exactly six minutes.

Aubrey
Six minutes?

Paula
Six minutes, Aubrey dear, since you made your last remark.

Aubrey
I beg your pardon; I was reading my letters. Have you seen Ellean this morning?

Paula
Coldly. Your last observation but one was about Ellean.

Aubrey
Dearest, what shall I talk about?

Paula
Ellean breakfasted two hours ago, Morgan tells me, and then went out walking with her dog.

Aubrey
She wraps up warmly, I hope; this sunshine is deceptive.

Paula
I ran about the lawn last night, after dinner, in satin shoes. Were you anxious about me?

Aubrey
Certainly.

Paula
Melting. Really?

Aubrey
You make me wretchedly anxious; you delight in doing incautious things. You are incurable.

Paula
Ah, what a beast I am! Going to him and kissing him, then glancing at the letters by his side. A letter from Cayley?

Aubrey
He is staying very near here, with Mrs.⁠—Very near here.

Paula
With the lady whose chimneys we have the honour of contemplating from our windows?

Aubrey
With Mrs. Cortelyon⁠—yes.

Paula
Mrs. Cortelyon! The woman who might have set the example of calling on me when we first threw out roots in this deadly-lively soil! Deuce take Mrs. Cortelyon!

Aubrey
Hush! my dear girl!

Paula
Returning to her seat. Oh, I know she’s an old acquaintance of yours⁠—and of the first Mrs. Tanqueray. And she joins the rest of ’em in slapping the second Mrs. Tanqueray in the face. However, I have my revenge⁠—she’s six-and-forty, and I wish nothing worse to happen to any woman.

Aubrey
Well, she’s going to town, Cayley says here, and his visit’s at an end. He’s coming over this morning to call on you. Shall we ask him to transfer himself to us? Do say yes.

Paula
Yes.

Aubrey
Gladly. Ah, ha! old Cayley!

Paula
Coldly. He’ll amuse you.

Aubrey
And you too.

Paula
Because you find a companion, shall I be boisterously hilarious?

Aubrey
Come, come! He talks London, and you know you like that.

Paula
London! London or Heaven! which is farther from me!

Aubrey
Paula!

Paula
Oh! Oh, I am so bored, Aubrey!

Aubrey
Gathering up his letters and going to her, leaning over her shoulder. Baby, what can I do for you?

Paula
I suppose, nothing. You have done all you can for me.

Aubrey
What do you mean?

Paula
You have married me.

He walks away from her thoughtfully, to the writing-table. As he places his letters on the table he sees an addressed letter, stamped for the post, lying on the blotting-book; he picks it up.

Aubrey
In an altered tone. You’ve been writing this morning before breakfast?

Paula
Looking at him quickly, then away again. Er⁠—that letter.

Aubrey
With the letter in his hand. To Lady Orreyed. Why?

Paula
Why not? Mabel’s an old friend of mine.

Aubrey
Are you⁠—corresponding?

Paula
I heard from her yesterday. They’ve just returned from the Riviera. She seems happy.

Aubrey
Sarcastically. That’s good news.

Paula
Why are you always so cutting about Mabel? She’s a kindhearted girl. Everything’s altered; she even thinks of letting her hair go back to brown. She’s Lady Orreyed. She’s married to George. What’s the matter with her?

Aubrey
Turning away. Oh!

Paula
You drive me mad sometimes with the tone you take about things! Great goodness, if you come to that, George Orreyed’s wife isn’t a bit worse than yours! He faces her suddenly. I suppose I needn’t have made that observation.

Aubrey
No, there was scarcely a necessity.

He throws the letter on to the table, and takes up the newspaper.

Paula
I am very sorry.

Aubrey
All right, dear.

Paula
Trifling with the letter. I⁠—I’d better tell you what I’ve written. I meant to do so, of course. I⁠—I’ve asked the Orreyeds to come and stay with us. He looks at her and lets the paper fall to the ground in a helpless way. George was a great friend of Cayley’s; I’m sure he would be delighted to meet them here.

Aubrey
Laughing mirthlessly. Ha, ha, ha! They say Orreyed has taken to tippling at dinner. Heavens above!

Paula
Oh! I’ve no patience with you! You’ll kill me with this life! She selects some flowers from a vase on the table, cuts and arranges them, and fastens them in her bodice. What is my existence, Sunday to Saturday? In the morning, a drive down to the village, with the groom, to give my orders to the tradespeople. At lunch, you and Ellean. In the afternoon, a novel, the newspapers; if fine, another drive⁠—if fine! Tea⁠—you and Ellean. Then two hours of dusk; then dinner⁠—you and Ellean. Then a game of Bésique, you and I, while Ellean reads a religious book in a dull corner. Then a yawn from me, another from you, a sigh from Ellean; three figures suddenly rise⁠—“Good night, good night, good night!” Imitating a kiss. “God bless you!” Ah!

Aubrey
Yes, yes, Paula⁠—yes, dearest⁠—that’s what it is now. But, by-and-by, if people begin to come round us⁠—

Paula
Hah! That’s where we’ve made the mistake, my friend Aubrey! Pointing to the window. Do you believe these people will ever come round us? Your former crony, Mrs. Cortelyon? Or the grim old vicar, or that wife of his whose huge nose is positively indecent? Or the Ullathornes, or the Gollans, or Lady William Petres? I know better! And when the young ones gradually take the place of the old, there will still remain the sacred tradition that the dreadful person who lives at the top of the hill is never, under any circumstances, to be called upon! And so we shall go on here, year in and year out, until the sap is run out of our lives, and we’re stale and dry and withered from sheer, solitary respectability. Upon my word, I wonder we didn’t see that we should have been far happier if we’d gone in for the devil-may-care, café-living sort of life in town! After all, I have a set and you might have joined it. It’s true I did want, dearly, dearly, to be a married woman, but where’s the pride in being a married woman among married women who are⁠—married! If⁠—Seeing that Aubrey’s head has sunk into his hands. Aubrey! My dear boy! You’re not⁠—crying?

He looks up, with a flushed face. Ellean enters, dressed very simply for walking. She is a low voiced, grave girl of about nineteen, with a face somewhat resembling a Madonna. Towards Paula her manner is cold and distant.

Aubrey
In an undertone. Ellean!

Ellean
Good morning, papa. Good morning, Paula.

Paula puts her arms round Ellean and kisses her. Ellean makes little response.

Paula
Good morning. Brightly. We’ve been breakfasting this side of the house, to get the sun.

She sits at the piano and rattles at a gay melody. Seeing that Paula’s back is turned to them, Ellean goes to Aubrey and kisses him; he returns the kiss almost furtively. As they separate, the servants reenter, and proceed to carry out the breakfast-table.

Aubrey
To Ellean. I guess where you’ve been: there’s some gorse clinging to your frock.

Ellean
Removing a sprig of gorse from her skirt. Rover and I walked nearly as far as Black Moor. The poor fellow has a thorn in his pad; I am going upstairs for my tweezers.

Aubrey
Ellean! She returns to him. Paula is a little depressed⁠—out of sorts. She complains that she has no companion.

Ellean
I am with Paula nearly all the day, papa.

Aubrey
Ah, but you’re such a little mouse. Paula likes cheerful people about her.

Ellean
I’m afraid I am naturally rather silent; and it’s so difficult to seem to be what one is not.

Aubrey
I don’t wish that, Ellean.

Ellean
I will offer to go down to the village with Paula this morning⁠—shall I?

Aubrey
Touching her hand gently. Thank you⁠—do.

Ellean
When I’ve looked after Rover, I’ll come back to her.

She goes out; Paula ceases playing, and turns on the music-stool looking at Aubrey.

Paula
Well, have you and Ellean had your little confidence?

Aubrey
Confidence?

Paula
Do you think I couldn’t feel it, like a pain between my shoulders?

Aubrey
Ellean is coming back in a few minutes to be with you. Bending over her. Paula, Paula dear, is this how you keep your promise?

Paula
Oh! Rising impatiently and crossing swiftly to the settee, where she sits, moving restlessly. I can’t keep my promise; I am jealous; it won’t be smothered. I see you looking at her, watching her; your voice drops when you speak to her. I know how fond you are of that girl, Aubrey.

Aubrey
What would you have? I’ve no other home for her. She is my daughter.

Paula
She is your saint. Saint Ellean!

Aubrey
You have often told me how good and sweet you think her.

Paula
Good!⁠—yes! Do you imagine that makes me less jealous? Going to him and clinging to his arm. Aubrey, there are two sorts of affection⁠—the love for a woman you respect, and the love for a woman you⁠—love. She gets the first from you: I never can.

Aubrey
Hush, hush! you don’t realise what you say.

Paula
If Ellean cared for me only a little, it would be different. I shouldn’t be jealous then. Why doesn’t she care for me?

Aubrey
She⁠—she⁠—she will, in time.

Paula
You can’t say that without stuttering.

Aubrey
Her disposition seems a little unresponsive; she resembles her mother in many ways; I can see it every day.

Paula
She’s marble. It’s a shame. There’s not the slightest excuse; for all she knows, I’m as much a saint as she⁠—only married. Dearest, help me to win her over!

Aubrey
Help you?

Paula
You can. Teach her that it is her duty to love me; she hangs on to every word you speak. I’m sure, Aubrey, that the love of a nice woman who believed me to be like herself would do me a world of good. You’d get the benefit of it as well as I. It would soothe me; it would make me less horribly restless; it would take this⁠—this⁠—mischievous feeling from me. Coaxingly. Aubrey!

Aubrey
Have patience; everything will come right.

Paula
Yes, if you help me.

Aubrey
In the meantime you will tear up your letter to Lady Orreyed, won’t you?

Paula
Kissing his hand. Of course I will⁠—anything!

Aubrey
Ah, thank you, dearest! Laughing. Why, good gracious!⁠—ha, ha!⁠—just imagine “Saint Ellean” and that woman side by side!

Paula
Going back with a cry. Ah!

Aubrey
What?

Paula
Passionately. It’s Ellean you’re considering, not me? It’s all Ellean with you! Ellean! Ellean!

Ellean reenters.

Ellean
Did you call me, Paula? Clenching his hands, Aubrey turns away and goes out. Is papa angry?

Paula
I drive him distracted sometimes. There, I confess it!

Ellean
Do you? Oh, why do you?

Paula
Because I⁠—because I’m jealous.

Ellean
Jealous?

Paula
Yes⁠—of you. Ellean is silent. Well, what do you think of that?

Ellean
I knew it; I’ve seen it. It hurts me dreadfully. What do you wish me to do? Go away?

Paula
Leave us! Beckoning her with a motion of the head. Look here! Ellean goes to Paula slowly and unresponsively. You could cure me of my jealousy very easily. Why don’t you⁠—like me?

Ellean
What do you mean by⁠—like you? I don’t understand.

Paula
Love me.

Ellean
Love is not a feeling that is under one’s control. I shall alter as time goes on, perhaps. I didn’t begin to love my father deeply till a few months ago, and then I obeyed my mother.

Paula
Ah, yes, you dream things, don’t you⁠—see them in your sleep? You fancy your mother speaks to you?

Ellean
When you have lost your mother it is a comfort to believe that she is dead only to this life, that she still watches over her child. I do believe that of my mother.

Paula
Well, and so you haven’t been bidden to love me?

Ellean
After a pause, almost inaudibly. No.

Paula
Dreams are only a hash-up of one’s day-thoughts, I suppose you know. Think intently of anything, and it’s bound to come back to you at night. I don’t cultivate dreams myself.

Ellean
Ah, I knew you would only sneer!

Paula
I’m not sneering; I’m speaking the truth. I say that if you cared for me in the daytime I should soon make friends with those nightmares of yours. Ellean, why don’t you try to look on me as your second mother? Of course there are not many years between us, but I’m ever so much older than you⁠—in experience. I shall have no children of my own, I know that; it would be a real comfort to me if you would make me feel we belonged to each other. Won’t you? Perhaps you think I’m odd⁠—not nice. Well, the fact is I’ve two sides to my nature, and I’ve let the one almost smother the other. A few years ago I went through some trouble, and since then I haven’t shed a tear. I believe if you put your arms round me just once I should run upstairs and have a good cry. There, I’ve talked to you as I’ve never talked to a woman in my life. Ellean, you seem to fear me. Don’t! Kiss me!

With a cry, almost of despair, Ellean turns from Paula and sinks on to the settee, covering her face with her hands.

Paula
Indignantly. Oh! Why is it! How dare you treat me like this? What do you mean by it? What do you mean?

A Servant enters.

Servant
Mr. Drummle, ma’am.

Cayley Drummle, in riding dress, enters briskly.

The Servant retires.

Paula
Recovering herself. Well, Cayley!

Drummle
Shaking hands with her cordially. How are you? Shaking hands with Ellean, who rises. I saw you in the distance an hour ago, in the gorse near Stapleton’s.

Ellean
I didn’t see you, Mr. Drummle.

Drummle
My dear Ellean, it is my experience that no charming young lady of nineteen ever does see a man of forty-five. Laughing. Ha, Ha!

Ellean
Going to the door. Paula, papa wishes me to drive down to the village with you this morning. Do you care to take me?

Paula
Coldly. Oh, by all means. Pray tell Watts to balance the cart for three.

Ellean goes out.

Drummle
How’s Aubrey?

Paula
Very well⁠—when Ellean’s about the house.

Drummle
And you? I needn’t ask.

Paula
Walking away to the window. Oh, a dog’s life, my dear Cayley, mine.

Drummle
Eh?

Paula
Doesn’t that define a happy marriage? I’m sleek, well-kept, well-fed, never without a bone to gnaw and fresh straw to lie upon. Gazing out of the window. Oh, dear me!

Drummle
H’m! Well, I heartily congratulate you on your kennel. The view from the terrace here is superb.

Paula
Yes, I can see London.

Drummle
London! Not quite so far, surely?

Paula
I can. Also the Mediterranean, on a fine day. I wonder what Algiers looks like this morning from the sea! Impulsively. Oh, Cayley, do you remember those jolly times on board Peter Jarman’s yacht when we lay off⁠—? Stopping suddenly, seeing Drummle staring at her. Good gracious! What are we talking about!

Aubrey enters.

Aubrey
To Drummle. Dear old chap! Has Paula asked you?

Paula
Not yet.

Aubrey
We want you to come to us, now that you’re leaving Mrs. Cortelyon⁠—at once, today. Stay a month, as long as you please⁠—eh, Paula?

Paula
As long as you can possibly endure it⁠—do, Cayley.

Drummle
Looking at Aubrey. Delighted. To Paula. Charming of you to have me.

Paula
My dear man, you’re a blessing. I must telegraph to London for more fish! A strange appetite to cater for! Something to do, to do, to do!

She goes out in a mood of almost childish delight.

Drummle
Eyeing Aubrey. Well?

Aubrey
With a wearied, anxious look. Well, Cayley?

Drummle
How are you getting on?

Aubrey
My position doesn’t grow less difficult. I told you, when I met you last week, of this feverish, jealous attachment of Paula’s for Ellean?

Drummle
Yes. I hardly know why, but I came to the conclusion that you don’t consider it an altogether fortunate attachment.

Aubrey
Ellean doesn’t respond to it.

Drummle
These are early days. Ellean will warm towards your wife by-and-by.

Aubrey
Ah, but there’s the question, Cayley!

Drummle
What question?

Aubrey
The question which positively distracts me. Ellean is so different from⁠—most women; I don’t believe a purer creature exists out of heaven. And I⁠—I ask myself, am I doing right in exposing her to the influence of poor Paula’s light, careless nature?

Drummle
My dear Aubrey!

Aubrey
That shocks you! So it does me. I assure you I long to urge my girl to break down the reserve which keeps her apart from Paula, but somehow I can’t do it⁠—well, I don’t do it. How can I make you understand? But when you come to us you’ll understand quickly enough. Cayley, there’s hardly a subject you can broach on which poor Paula hasn’t some strange, out-of-the-way thought to give utterance to; some curious, warped notion. They are not mere worldly thoughts⁠—unless, good God! they belong to the little hellish world which our blackguardism has created: no, her ideas have too little calculation in them to be called worldly. But it makes it the more dreadful that such thoughts should be ready, spontaneous; that expressing them has become a perfectly natural process; that her words, acts even, have almost lost their proper significance for her, and seem beyond her control. Ah, and the pain of listening to it all from the woman one loves, the woman one hoped to make happy and contented, who is really and truly a good woman, as it were, maimed! Well, this is my burden, and I shouldn’t speak to you of it but for my anxiety about Ellean. Ellean! What is to be her future? It is in my hands; what am I to do? Cayley, when I remember how Ellean comes to me, from another world I always think, when I realise the charge that’s laid on me, I find myself wishing, in a sort of terror, that my child were safe under the ground!

Drummle
My dear Aubrey, aren’t you making a mistake?

Aubrey
Very likely. What is it?

Drummle
A mistake, not in regarding your Ellean as an angel, but in believing that, under any circumstances, it would be possible for her to go through life without getting her white robe⁠—shall we say, a little dusty at the hem? Don’t take me for a cynic. I am sure there are many women upon earth who are almost divinely innocent; but being on earth, they must send their robes to the laundry occasionally. Ah, and it’s right that they should have to do so, for what can they learn from the checking of their little washing-bills but lessons of charity? Now I see but two courses open to you for the disposal of your angel.

Aubrey
Yes?

Drummle
You must either restrict her to a paradise which is, like every earthly paradise, necessarily somewhat imperfect, or treat her as an ordinary flesh-and-blood young woman, and give her the advantages of that society to which she properly belongs.

Aubrey
Advantages?

Drummle
My dear Aubrey, of all forms of innocence mere ignorance is the least admirable. Take my advice, let her walk and talk and suffer and be healed with the great crowd. Do it, and hope that she’ll some day meet a good, honest fellow who’ll make her life complete, happy, secure. Now you see what I’m driving at.

Aubrey
A sanguine programme, my dear Cayley! Oh, I’m not pooh-poohing it. Putting sentiment aside, of course I know that a fortunate marriage for Ellean would be the best⁠—perhaps the only⁠—solution of my difficulty. But you forget the danger of the course you suggest.

Drummle
Danger?

Aubrey
If Ellean goes among men and women, how can she escape from learning, sooner or later, the history of⁠—poor Paula’s⁠—old life?

Drummle
H’m! You remember the episode of the Jeweller’s Son in the Arabian Nights? Of course you don’t. Well, if your daughter lives, she can’t escape⁠—what you’re afraid of. Aubrey gives a half stifled exclamation of pain. And when she does hear the story, surely it would be better that she should have some knowledge of the world to help her to understand it.

Aubrey
To understand!

Drummle
To understand, to⁠—to philosophise.

Aubrey
To philosophise?

Drummle
Philosophy is toleration, and it is only one step from toleration to forgiveness.

Aubrey
You’re right, Cayley; I believe you always are. Yes, yes. But, even if I had the courage to attempt to solve the problem of Ellean’s future in this way, I⁠—I’m helpless.

Drummle
How?

Aubrey
What means have I now of placing my daughter in the world I’ve left?

Drummle
Oh, some friend⁠—some woman friend.

Aubrey
I have none; they’re gone.

Drummle
You’re wrong there; I know one⁠—

Aubrey
Listening. That’s Paula’s cart. Let’s discuss this again.

Drummle
Going up to the window and looking out. It isn’t the dogcart. Turning to Aubrey. I hope you’ll forgive me, old chap.

Aubrey
What for?

Drummle
Whose wheels do you think have been cutting ruts in your immaculate drive?

A Servant enters.

Servant
To Aubrey. Mrs. Cortelyon, sir.

Aubrey
Mrs. Cortelyon! After a short pause. Very well. The Servant withdraws. What on earth is the meaning of this?

Drummle
Ahem! While I’ve been our old friend’s guest, Aubrey, we have very naturally talked a good deal about you and yours.

Aubrey
Indeed, have you?

Drummle
Yes, and Alice Cortelyon has arrived at the conclusion that it would have been far kinder had she called on Mrs. Tanqueray long ago. She’s going abroad for Easter before settling down in London for the season, and I believe she has come over this morning to ask for Ellean’s companionship.

Aubrey
Oh, I see! Frowning. Quite a friendly little conspiracy, my dear Cayley!

Drummle
Conspiracy! Not at all, I assure you. Laughing. Ha, ha!

Ellean enters from the hall with Mrs. Cortelyon, a handsome, good humoured, spirited woman of about forty-five.

Ellean
Papa⁠—

Mrs. Cortelyon
To Aubrey, shaking hands with him heartily. Well, Aubrey, how are you? I’ve just been telling this great girl of yours that I knew her when she was a sad-faced, pale baby. How is Mrs. Tanqueray? I have been a bad neighbour, and I’m here to beg forgiveness. Is she indoors?

Aubrey
She’s upstairs putting on a hat, I believe.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Sitting comfortably. Ah! She looks round: Drummle and Ellean are talking together in the hall. We used to be very frank with each other, Aubrey. I suppose the old footing is no longer possible, eh?

Aubrey
If so, I’m not entirely to blame, Mrs. Cortelyon.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Mrs. Cortelyon? H’m! No, I admit it. But you must make some little allowance for me, Mr. Tanqueray. Your first wife and I, as girls, were like two cherries on one stalk, and then I was the confidential friend of your married life. That post, perhaps, wasn’t altogether a sinecure. And now⁠—well, when a woman gets to my age I suppose she’s a stupid, prejudiced, conventional creature. However, I’ve got over it and⁠—Giving him her hand⁠—I hope you’ll be enormously happy and let me be a friend once more.

Aubrey
Thank you, Alice.

Mrs. Cortelyon
That’s right. I feel more cheerful than I’ve done for weeks. But I suppose it would serve me right if the second Mrs. Tanqueray showed me the door. Do you think she will?

Aubrey
Listening. Here is my wife. Mrs. Cortelyon rises, and Paula enters, dressed for driving; she stops abruptly on seeing Mrs. Cortelyon. Paula dear, Mrs. Cortelyon has called to see you.

Paula starts, looks at Mrs. Cortelyon irresolutely, then after a slight pause barely touches Mrs. Cortelyon’s extended hand.

Paula
Whose manner now alternates between deliberate insolence and assumed sweetness. Mrs.⁠—? What name, Aubrey?

Aubrey
Mrs. Cortelyon.

Paula
Cortelyon? Oh, yes. Cortelyon.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Carefully guarding herself throughout against any expression of resentment. Aubrey ought to have told you that Alice Cortelyon and he are very old friends.

Paula
Oh, very likely he has mentioned the circumstance. I have quite a wretched memory.

Mrs. Cortelyon
You know we are neighbours, Mrs. Tanqueray.

Paula
Neighbours? Are we really? Won’t you sit down? They both sit. Neighbours! That’s most interesting!

Mrs. Cortelyon
Very near neighbours. You can see my roof from your windows.

Paula
I fancy I have observed a roof. But you have been away from home; you have only just returned.

Mrs. Cortelyon
I? What makes you think that?

Paula
Why, because it is two months since we came to Highercoombe, and I don’t remember your having called.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Your memory is now terribly accurate. No, I’ve not been away from home, and it is to explain my neglect that I am here, rather unceremoniously, this morning.

Paula
Oh, to explain⁠—quite so. With mock solicitude. Ah, you’ve been very ill; I ought to have seen that before.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Ill!

Paula
You look dreadfully pulled down. We poor women show illness so plainly in our faces, don’t we?

Aubrey
Anxiously. Paula dear, Mrs. Cortelyon is the picture of health.

Mrs. Cortelyon
With some asperity. I have never felt better in my life.

Paula
Looking round innocently. Have I said anything awkward? Aubrey, tell Mrs. Cortelyon how stupid and thoughtless I always am!

Mrs. Cortelyon
To Drummle who is now standing close to her. Really, Cayley⁠—! He soothes her with a nod and smile and a motion of his finger to his lip. Mrs. Tanqueray, I am afraid my explanation will not be quite so satisfactory as either of those you have just helped me to. You may have heard⁠—but, if you have heard, you have doubtless forgotten⁠—that twenty years ago, when your husband first lived here, I was a constant visitor at Highercoombe.

Paula
Twenty years ago⁠—fancy. I was a naughty little child then.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Possibly. Well, at that time, and till the end of her life, my affections were centred upon the lady of this house.

Paula
Were they? That was very sweet of you.

Ellean approaches Mrs. Cortelyon, listening intently to her.

Mrs. Cortelyon
I will say no more on that score, but I must add this: when, two months ago, you came here, I realised, perhaps for the first time, that I was a middle-aged woman, and that it had become impossible for me to accept without some effort a breaking-in upon many tender associations. There, Mrs. Tanqueray, that is my confession. Will you try to understand it and pardon me?

Paula
Watching Ellean⁠—sneeringly. Ellean dear, you appear to be very interested in Mrs. Cortelyon’s reminiscences; I don’t think I can do better than make you my mouthpiece⁠—there is such sympathy between us. What do you say⁠—can we bring ourselves to forgive Mrs. Cortelyon for neglecting us for two weary months?

Mrs. Cortelyon
To Ellean, pleasantly. Well, Ellean? With a little cry of tenderness Ellean impulsively sits beside Mrs. Cortelyon and takes her hand. My dear child!

Paula
In an undertone to Aubrey. Ellean isn’t so very slow in taking to Mrs. Cortelyon!

Mrs. Cortelyon
To Paula and Aubrey. Come, this encourages me to broach my scheme. Mrs. Tanqueray, it strikes me that you two good people are just now excellent company for each other, while Ellean would perhaps be glad of a little peep into the world you are anxious to avoid. Now, I’m going to Paris tomorrow for a week or two before settling down in Chester Square, so⁠—don’t gasp, both of you!⁠—if this girl is willing, and you have made no other arrangements for her, will you let her come with me to Paris, and afterwards remain with me in town during the Season? Ellean utters an exclamation of surprise. Paula is silent. What do you say?

Aubrey
Paula⁠—Paula dear. Hesitatingly. My dear Mrs. Cortelyon, this is wonderfully kind of you; I am really at a loss to⁠—eh, Cayley?

Drummle
Watching Paula apprehensively. Kind! Now I must say I don’t think so! I begged Alice to take me to Paris, and she declined. I am thrown over for Ellean! Ha! ha!

Mrs. Cortelyon
Laughing. What nonsense you talk, Cayley!

The laughter dies out. Paula remains quite still.

Aubrey
Paula dear.

Paula
Slowly collecting herself. One moment. I⁠—I don’t quite⁠—To Mrs. Cortelyon. You propose that Ellean leaves Highercoombe almost at once and remains with you some months?

Mrs. Cortelyon
It would be a mercy to me. You can afford to be generous to a desolate old widow. Come, Mrs. Tanqueray, won’t you spare her?

Paula
Won’t I spare her. Suspiciously. Have you mentioned your plan to Aubrey⁠—before I came in?

Mrs. Cortelyon
No, I had no opportunity.

Paula
Nor to Ellean?

Mrs. Cortelyon
Oh, no.

Paula
Looking about her, in suppressed excitement. This hasn’t been discussed at all, behind my back?

Mrs. Cortelyon
My dear Mrs. Tanqueray!

Paula
Ellean, let us hear your voice in the matter!

Ellean
I should like to go with Mrs. Cortelyon⁠—

Paula
Ah!

Ellean
That is, if⁠—if⁠—

Paula
If⁠—if what?

Ellean
Looking towards Aubrey, appealingly. Papa!

Paula
In a hard voice. Oh, of course⁠—I forgot. To Aubrey. My dear Aubrey, it rests with you, naturally, whether I am⁠—to lose⁠—Ellean.

Aubrey
Lose Ellean! Advancing to Paula. There is no question of losing Ellean. You would see Ellean in town constantly when she returned from Paris; isn’t that so, Mrs. Cortelyon?

Mrs. Cortelyon
Certainly.

Paula
Laughing softly. Oh, I didn’t know I should be allowed that privilege.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Privilege, my dear Mrs. Tanqueray!

Paula
Ha, ha! that makes all the difference, doesn’t it?

Aubrey
With assumed gaiety. All the difference? I should think so! To Ellean, laying his hand upon her head, tenderly. And you are quite certain you wish to see what the world is like on the other side of Black Moor?

Ellean
If you are willing, papa, I am quite certain.

Aubrey
Looking at Paula irresolutely, then speaking with an effort. Then I⁠—I am willing.

Paula
Rising and striking the table lightly with her clenched hand. That decides it! There is a general movement. Excitedly to Mrs. Cortelyon, who advances towards her. When do you want her?

Mrs. Cortelyon
We go to town this afternoon at five o’clock, and sleep tonight at Bayliss’s. There is barely time for her to make her preparations.

Paula
I will undertake that she is ready.

Mrs. Cortelyon
I’ve a great deal to scramble through at home too, as you may guess. Goodbye!

Paula
Turning away. Mrs. Cortelyon is going.

Paula stands looking out of the window, with her back to those in the room.

Mrs. Cortelyon
To Drummle. Cayley⁠—

Drummle
To her. Eh?

Mrs. Cortelyon
I’ve gone through it, for the sake of Aubrey and his child, but I⁠—I feel a hundred. Is that a madwoman?

Drummle
Of course; all jealous women are mad.

He goes out with Aubrey.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Hesitatingly, to Paula. Goodbye, Mrs. Tanqueray.

Paula inclines her head with the slightest possible movement, then resumes her former position. Ellean comes from the hall and takes Mrs. Cortelyon out of the room. After a brief silence, Paula turns with a fierce cry, and hurriedly takes off her coat and hat, and tosses them upon the settee.

Paula
Oh! Oh! Oh! She drops into the chair as Aubrey returns; he stands looking at her. Who’s that?

Aubrey
I. You have altered your mind about going out?

Paula
Yes. Please to ring the bell.

Aubrey
Touching the bell. You are angry about Mrs. Cortelyon and Ellean. Let me try to explain my reasons⁠—

Paula
Be careful what you say to me just now! I have never felt like this⁠—except once⁠—in my life. Be careful what you say to me!

A Servant enters.

Paula
Rising. Is Watts at the door with the cart?

Servant
Yes, ma’am.

Paula
Tell him to drive down to the post-office directly, with this.

Picking up the letter which has been lying upon the table.

Aubrey
With that?

Paula
Yes. My letter to Lady Orreyed.

Giving the letter to the Servant, who goes out.

Aubrey
Surely you don’t wish me to countermand any order of yours to a servant? Call the man back⁠—take the letter from him!

Paula
I have not the slightest intention of doing so.

Aubrey
I must, then. Going to the door. She snatches up her hat and coat and follows him. What are you going to do?

Paula
If you stop that letter, walk out of the house.

He hesitates, then leaves the door.

Aubrey
I am right in believing that to be the letter inviting George Orreyed and his wife to stay here, am I not?

Paula
Oh yes⁠—quite right.

Aubrey
Let it go; I’ll write to him by-and-by.

Paula
Facing him. You dare!

Aubrey
Hush, Paula!

Paula
Insult me again and, upon my word, I’ll go straight out of the house!

Aubrey
Insult you?

Paula
Insult me! What else is it? My God! what else is it? What do you mean by taking Ellean from me?

Aubrey
Listen⁠—!

Paula
Listen to me! And how do you take her? You pack her off in the care of a woman who has deliberately held aloof from me, who’s thrown mud at me! Yet this Cortelyon creature has only to put foot here once to be entrusted with the charge of the girl you know I dearly want to keep near me!

Aubrey
Paula dear! hear me⁠—!

Paula
Ah! of course, of course! I can’t be so useful to your daughter as such people as this; and so I’m to be given the go-by for any town friend of yours who turns up and chooses to patronise us! Hah! Very well, at any rate, as you take Ellean from me you justify my looking for companions where I can most readily find ’em.

Aubrey
You wish me to fully appreciate your reason for sending that letter to Lady Orreyed?

Paula
Precisely⁠—I do.

Aubrey
And could you, after all, go back to associates of that order? It’s not possible!

Paula
Mockingly. What, not after the refining influence of these intensely respectable surroundings? Going to the door. We’ll see!

Aubrey
Paula!

Paula
Violently. We’ll see!

She goes out. He stands still looking after her.

Act III

The drawing-room at “Highercoombe.” Facing the spectator are two large French windows, sheltered by a verandah, leading into the garden; on the right is a door opening into a small hall. The fireplace, with a large mirror above it, is on the left-hand side of the room, and higher up in the same wall are double doors recessed. The room is richly furnished, and everything betokens taste and luxury. The windows are open, and there is moonlight in the garden.

Lady Orreyed, a pretty, affected doll of a woman with a mincing voice and flaxen hair, is sitting on the ottoman, her head resting against the drum, and her eyes closed. Paula, looking pale, worn, and thoroughly unhappy, is sitting at a table. Both are in sumptuous dinner-gowns.

Lady Orreyed
Opening her eyes. Well, I never! I dropped off! Feeling her hair. Just fancy! Where are the men?

Paula
Icily. Outside, smoking.

A Servant enters with coffee, which he hands to Lady Orreyed. Sir George Orreyed comes in by the window. He is a man of about thirty-five, with a low forehead, a receding chin, a vacuous expression, and an ominous redness about the nose.

Lady Orreyed
Taking coffee. Here’s Dodo.

Sir George
I say, the flies under the verandah make you swear. The Servant hands coffee to Paula, who declines it, then to Sir George, who takes a cup. Hi! wait a bit! He looks at the tray searchingly, then puts back his cup. Never mind. Quietly to Lady Orreyed. I say, they’re dooced sparin’ with their liqueur, ain’t they?

The Servant goes out at window.

Paula
To Sir George. Won’t you take coffee, George?

Sir George
No, thanks. It’s gettin’ near time for a whisky and potass. Approaching Paula, regarding Lady Orreyed admiringly. I say, Birdie looks rippin’ tonight, don’t she?

Paula
Your wife?

Sir George
Yaas⁠—Birdie.

Paula
Rippin’?

Sir George
Yaas.

Paula
Quite⁠—quite rippin’.

He moves round to the settee. Paula watches him with distaste, then rises and walks away. Sir George falls asleep on the settee.

Lady Orreyed
Paula love, I fancied you and Aubrey were a little more friendly at dinner. You haven’t made it up, have you?

Paula
We? Oh, no. We speak before others, that’s all.

Lady Orreyed
And how long do you intend to carry on this game, dear?

Paula
Turning away impatiently. I really can’t tell you.

Lady Orreyed
Sit down, old girl; don’t be so fidgety. Paula sits on the upper seat of the ottoman with her back to Lady Orreyed. Of course, it’s my duty, as an old friend, to give you a good talking-to⁠—Paula glares at her suddenly and fiercely⁠—but really I’ve found one gets so many smacks in the face through interfering in matrimonial squabbles that I’ve determined to drop it.

Paula
I think you’re wise.

Lady Orreyed
However, I must say that I do wish you’d look at marriage in a more solemn light⁠—just as I do, in fact. It is such a beautiful thing⁠—marriage, and if people in our position don’t respect it, and set a good example by living happily with their husbands, what can you expect from the middle classes? When did this sad state of affairs between you and Aubrey actually begin?

Paula
Actually, a fortnight and three days ago; I haven’t calculated the minutes.

Lady Orreyed
A day or two before Dodo and I turned up⁠—arrived.

Paula
Yes. One always remembers one thing by another; we left off speaking to each other the morning I wrote asking you to visit us.

Lady Orreyed
Lucky for you I was able to pop down, wasn’t it, dear?

Paula
Glaring at her again. Most fortunate.

Lady Orreyed
A serious split with your husband without a pal on the premises⁠—I should say, without a friend in the house⁠—would be most unpleasant.

Paula
Turning to her abruptly. This place must be horribly doleful for you and George just now. At least you ought to consider him before me. Why don’t you leave me to my difficulties?

Lady Orreyed
Oh, we’re quite comfortable, dear, thank you⁠—both of us. George and me are so wrapped up in each other, it doesn’t matter where we are. I don’t want to crow over you, old girl, but I’ve got a perfect husband.

Sir George is now fast asleep, his head thrown back and his mouth open, looking hideous.

Paula
Glancing at Sir George. So you’ve given me to understand.

Lady Orreyed
Not that we don’t have our little differences. Why, we fell out only this very morning. You remember the diamond and ruby tiara Charley Prestwick gave poor dear Connie Tirlemont years ago, don’t you?

Paula
No, I do not.

Lady Orreyed
No? Well, it’s in the market. Benjamin of Piccadilly has got it in his shopwindow, and I’ve set my heart on it.

Paula
You consider it quite necessary?

Lady Orreyed
Yes, because what I say to Dodo is this⁠—a lady of my station must smother herself with hair ornaments. It’s different with you, love⁠—people don’t look for so much blaze from you, but I’ve got rank to keep up; haven’t I?

Paula
Yes.

Lady Orreyed
Well, that was the cause of the little set-to between I and Dodo this morning. He broke two chairs, he was in such a rage. I forgot, they’re your chairs; do you mind?

Paula
No.

Lady Orreyed
You know, poor Dodo can’t lose his temper without smashing something; if it isn’t a chair, it’s a mirror; if it isn’t that, it’s china⁠—a bit of Dresden for choice. Dear old pet! he loves a bit of Dresden when he’s furious. He doesn’t really throw things at me, dear; he simply lifts them up and drops them, like a gentleman. I expect our room upstairs will look rather wrecky before I get that tiara.

Paula
Excuse the suggestion, perhaps your husband can’t afford it.

Lady Orreyed
Oh, how dreadfully changed you are, Paula! Dodo can always mortgage something, or borrow of his ma. What is coming to you!

Paula
Ah!

She sits at the piano and touches the keys.

Lady Orreyed
Oh, yes, do play! That’s the one thing I envy you for.

Paula
What shall I play?

Lady Orreyed
What was that heavenly piece you gave us last night, dear?

Paula
A bit of Schubert. Would you like to hear it again?

Lady Orreyed
You don’t know any comic songs, do you?

Paula
I’m afraid not.

Lady Orreyed
I leave it to you, then.

Paula plays. Aubrey and Cayley Drummle appear outside the window; they look into the room.

Aubrey
To Drummle. You can see her face in that mirror. Poor girl, how ill and wretched she looks.

Drummle
When are the Orreyeds going?

Aubrey
Heaven knows!

Entering the room.

Drummle
But you’re entertaining them; what’s it to do with Heaven?

Following Aubrey.

Aubrey
Do you know, Cayley, that even the Orreyeds serve a useful purpose? My wife actually speaks to me before our guests⁠—think of that! I’ve come to rejoice at the presence of the Orreyeds!

Drummle
I daresay; we’re taught that beetles are sent for a benign end.

Aubrey
Cayley, talk to Paula again tonight.

Drummle
Certainly, if I get the chance.

Aubrey
Let’s contrive it. George is asleep; perhaps I can get that doll out of the way. As they advance into the room, Paula abruptly ceases playing and finds interest in a volume of music. Sir George is now nodding and snoring apoplectically. Lady Orreyed, whenever you feel inclined for a game of billiards I’m at your service.

Lady Orreyed
Jumping up. Charmed, I’m sure! I really thought you’d forgotten poor little me. Oh, look at Dodo!

Aubrey
No, no, don’t wake him; he’s tired.

Lady Orreyed
I must, he looks so plain. Rousing Sir George. Dodo! Dodo!

Sir George
Stupidly. ’Ullo!

Lady Orreyed
Dodo, dear, you were snoring.

Sir George
Oh, I say, you could ’a told me that by-and-by.

Aubrey
You want a cigar, George; come into the billiard room. Giving his arm to Lady Orreyed. Cayley, bring Paula.

Aubrey and Lady Orreyed go out.

Sir George
Rising. Hey, what! billiard room! Looking at his watch. How goes the⁠—? Phew! ’Ullo, ’Ullo! Whisky and potass!

He goes rapidly after Aubrey and Lady Orreyed. Paula resumes playing.

Paula
After a pause. Don’t moon about after me, Cayley; follow the others.

Drummle
Thanks, by-and-by. Sitting. That’s pretty.

Paula
After another pause, still playing. I wish you wouldn’t stare so.

Drummle
Was I staring? I’m sorry. She plays a little longer, then stops suddenly, rises, and goes to the window, where she stands looking out. Drummle moves from the ottoman to the settee. A lovely night.

Paula
Startled. Oh! Without turning to him. Why do you hop about like a monkey?

Drummle
Hot rooms play the deuce with the nerves. Now, it would have done you good to have walked in the garden with us after dinner and made merry. Why didn’t you?

Paula
You know why.

Drummle
Ah, you’re thinking of the⁠—difference between you and Aubrey?

Paula
Yes, I am thinking of it.

Drummle
Well, so am I. How long⁠—?

Paula
Getting on for three weeks.

Drummle
Bless me, it must be! And this would have been such a night to have healed it! Moonlight, the stars, the scent of flowers; and yet enough darkness to enable a kind woman to rest her hand for an instant on the arm of a good fellow who loves her. Ah, ha! it’s a wonderful power, dear Mrs. Aubrey, the power of an offended woman! Only realise it! Just that one touch⁠—the mere tips of her fingers⁠—and, for herself and another, she changes the colour of the whole world!

Paula
Turning to him, calmly. Cayley, my dear man, you talk exactly like a very romantic old lady.

She leaves the window and sits playing with the knickknacks on the table.

Drummle
To himself. H’m, that hasn’t done it! Well⁠—ha, ha!⁠—I accept the suggestion. An old woman, eh?

Paula
Oh, I didn’t intend⁠—

Drummle
But why not? I’ve every qualification⁠—well, almost. And I confess it would have given this withered bosom a throb of grandmotherly satisfaction if I could have seen you and Aubrey at peace before I take my leave tomorrow.

Paula
Tomorrow, Cayley!

Drummle
I must.

Paula
Oh, this house is becoming unendurable.

Drummle
You’re very kind. But you’ve got the Orreyeds.

Paula
Fiercely. The Orreyeds! I⁠—I hate the Orreyeds! I lie awake at night, hating them!

Drummle
Pardon me, I’ve understood that their visit is, in some degree, owing to⁠—hem!⁠—your suggestion.

Paula
Heavens! that doesn’t make me like them better. Somehow or another, I⁠—I’ve outgrown these people. This woman⁠—I used to think her “jolly!”⁠—sickens me. I can’t breathe when she’s near me: the whiff of her handkerchief turns me faint! And she patronises me by the hour, until I⁠—I feel my nails growing longer with every word she speaks!

Drummle
My dear lady, why on earth don’t you say all this to Aubrey?

Paula
Oh, I’ve been such an utter fool, Cayley!

Drummle
Soothingly. Well, well, mention it to Aubrey!

Paula
No, no, you don’t understand. What do you think I’ve done?

Drummle
Done! What, since you invited the Orreyeds?

Paula
Yes; I must tell you⁠—

Drummle
Perhaps you’d better not.

Paula
Look here. I’ve intercepted some letters from Mrs. Cortelyon and Ellean to⁠—him. Producing three unopened letters from the bodice of her dress. There are the accursed things! From Paris⁠—two from the Cortelyon woman, the other from Ellean!

Drummle
But why⁠—why?

Paula
I don’t know. Yes, I do! I saw letters coming from Ellean to her father; not a line to me⁠—not a line. And one morning it happened I was downstairs before he was, and I spied this one lying with his heap on the breakfast-table, and I slipped it into my pocket⁠—out of malice, Cayley, pure devilry! And a day or two afterwards I met Elwes the postman at the Lodge, and took the letters from him, and found these others amongst ’em. I felt simply fiendish when I saw them⁠—fiendish! Returning the letters to her bodice. And now I carry them about with me, and they’re scorching me like a mustard plaster!

Drummle
Oh, this accounts for Aubrey not hearing from Paris lately!

Paula
That’s an ingenious conclusion to arrive at! Of course it does! With an hysterical laugh. Ha, ha!

Drummle
Well, well! Laughing. Ha, ha, ha!

Paula
Turning upon him. I suppose it is amusing!

Drummle
I beg pardon.

Paula
Heaven knows I’ve little enough to brag about! I’m a bad lot, but not in mean tricks of this sort. In all my life this is the most caddish thing I’ve done. How am I to get rid of these letters⁠—that’s what I want to know? How am I to get rid of them?

Drummle
If I were you I should take Aubrey aside and put them into his hands as soon as possible.

Paula
What! and tell him to his face that I⁠—! No, thank you. I suppose you wouldn’t like to⁠—

Drummle
No, no; I won’t touch ’em!

Paula
And you call yourself my friend?

Drummle
Good-humouredly. No, I don’t!

Paula
Perhaps I’ll tie them together and give them to his man in the morning.

Drummle
That won’t avoid an explanation.

Paula
Recklessly. Oh, then he must miss them⁠—

Drummle
And trace them.

Paula
Throwing herself upon the ottoman. I don’t care!

Drummle
I know you don’t; but let me send him to you now, may I?

Paula
Now! What do you think a woman’s made of? I couldn’t stand it, Cayley. I haven’t slept for nights; and last night there was thunder, too! I believe I’ve got the horrors.

Drummle
Taking the little hand-mirror from the table. You’ll sleep well enough when you deliver those letters. Come, come, Mrs. Aubrey⁠—a good night’s rest! Holding the mirror before her face. It’s quite time.

She looks at herself for a moment, then snatches the mirror from him.

Paula
You brute, Cayley, to show me that!

Drummle
Then⁠—may I? Be guided by a fr⁠—a poor old woman! May I?

Paula
You’ll kill me, amongst you!

Drummle
What do you say?

Paula
After a pause. Very well. He nods his head and goes out rapidly. She looks after him for a moment, and calls “Cayley! Cayley!” Then she again produces the letters, deliberately, one by one, fingering them with aversion. Suddenly she starts, turning her head towards the door. Ah!

Aubrey enters quickly.

Aubrey
Paula!

Paula
Handing him the letters, her face averted. There! He examines the letters, puzzled, and looks at her inquiringly. They are many days old. I stole them, I suppose to make you anxious and unhappy.

He looks at the letters again, then lays them aside on the table.

Aubrey
Gently. Paula, dear, it doesn’t matter.

Paula
After a short pause. Why⁠—why do you take it like this?

Aubrey
What did you expect?

Paula
Oh, but I suppose silent reproaches are really the severest. And then, naturally, you are itching to open your letters.

She crosses the room as if to go.

Aubrey
Paula! She pauses. Surely, surely it’s all over now?

Paula
All over! Mockingly. Has my stepdaughter returned then? When did she arrive? I haven’t heard of it!

Aubrey
You can be very cruel.

Paula
That word’s always on a man’s lips; he uses it if his soup’s cold. With another movement as if to go. Need we⁠—

Aubrey
I know I’ve wounded you, Paula. But isn’t there any way out of this?

Paula
When does Ellean return? Tomorrow? Next week?

Aubrey
Wearily. Oh! Why should we grudge Ellean the little pleasure she is likely to find in Paris and in London.

Paula
I grudge her nothing, if that’s a hit at me. But with that woman⁠—!

Aubrey
It must be that woman or another. You know that at present we are unable to give Ellean the opportunity of⁠—of⁠—

Paula
Of mixing with respectable people.

Aubrey
The opportunity of gaining friends, experience, ordinary knowledge of the world. If you are interested in Ellean, can’t you see how useful Mrs. Cortelyon’s good offices are?

Paula
May I put one question? At the end of the London season, when Mrs. Cortelyon has done with Ellean, is it quite understood that the girl comes back to us? Aubrey is silent. Is it? Is it?

Aubrey
Let us wait till the end of the season⁠—

Paula
Oh! I knew it. You’re only fooling me; you put me off with any trash. I believe you’ve sent Ellean away, not for the reasons you give, but because you don’t consider me a decent companion for her, because you’re afraid she might get a little of her innocence rubbed off in my company? Come, isn’t that the truth? Be honest! Isn’t that it?

Aubrey
Yes.

There is a moment’s silence on both sides.

Paula
With uplifted hands as if to strike him. Oh!

Aubrey
Taking her by the wrists. Sit down. Sit down. He puts her into a chair; she shakes herself free with a cry. Now listen to me. Fond as you are, Paula, of harking back to your past, there’s one chapter of it you always let alone. I’ve never asked you to speak of it; you’ve never offered to speak of it. I mean the chapter that relates to the time when you were⁠—like Ellean. She attempts to rise; he restrains her. No, no.

Paula
I don’t choose to talk about that time. I won’t satisfy your curiosity.

Aubrey
My dear Paula, I have no curiosity⁠—I know what you were at Ellean’s age. I’ll tell you. You hadn’t a thought that wasn’t a wholesome one, you hadn’t an impulse that didn’t tend towards good, you never harboured a notion you couldn’t have gossiped about to a parcel of children. She makes another effort to rise: he lays his hand lightly on her shoulder. And this was a very few years back⁠—there are days now when you look like a schoolgirl⁠—but think of the difference between the two Paulas. You’ll have to think hard, because after a cruel life one’s perceptions grow a thick skin. But, for God’s sake, do think till you get these two images clearly in your mind, and then ask yourself what sort of a friend such a woman as you are today would have been for the girl of seven or eight years ago.

Paula
Rising. How dare you? I could be almost as good a friend to Ellean as her own mother would have been had she lived. I know what you mean. How dare you?

Aubrey
You say that; very likely you believe it. But you’re blind, Paula; you’re blind. You! Every belief that a young, pure-minded girl holds sacred⁠—that you once held sacred⁠—you now make a target for a jest, a sneer, a paltry cynicism. I tell you, you’re not mistress any longer of your thoughts or your tongue. Why, how often, sitting between you and Ellean, have I seen her cheeks turn scarlet as you’ve rattled off some tale that belongs by right to the club or the smoking-room! Have you noticed the blush? If you have, has the cause of it ever struck you? And this is the girl you say you love, I admit that you do love, whose love you expect in return! Oh, Paula, I make the best, the only, excuse for you when I tell you you’re blind!

Paula
Ellean⁠—Ellean blushes easily.

Aubrey
You blushed as easily a few years ago.

Paula
After a short pause. Well! Have you finished your sermon?

Aubrey
With a gesture of despair. Oh, Paula!

Going up to the window and standing with his back to the room.

Paula
To herself. A few⁠—years ago! She walks slowly towards the door, then suddenly drops upon the ottoman in a paroxysm of weeping. O God! A few years ago!

Aubrey
Going to her. Paula!

Paula
Sobbing. Oh, don’t touch me!

Aubrey
Paula!

Paula
Oh, go away from me! He goes back a few steps, and after a little while she becomes calmer and rises unsteadily; then in an altered tone. Look here⁠—! He advances a step; she checks him with a quick gesture. Look here! Get rid of these people⁠—Mabel and her husband⁠—as soon as possible! I⁠—I’ve done with them!

Aubrey
In a whisper. Paula!

Paula
And then⁠—then⁠—when the time comes for Ellean to leave Mrs. Cortelyon, give me⁠—give me another chance! He advances again, but she shrinks away. No, no!

She goes out by the door on the right. He sinks on to the settee, covering his eyes with his hands. There is a brief silence, then a Servant enters.

Servant
Mrs. Cortelyon, sir, with Miss Ellean.

Aubrey rises to meet Mrs. Cortelyon, who enters, followed by Ellean, both being in travelling dresses. The Servant withdraws.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Shaking hands with Aubrey. Oh, my dear Aubrey!

Aubrey
Mrs. Cortelyon! Kissing Ellean. Ellean dear!

Ellean
Papa, is all well at home?

Mrs. Cortelyon
We’re shockingly anxious.

Aubrey
Yes, yes, all’s well. This is quite unexpected. To Mrs. Cortelyon. You’ve found Paris insufferably hot?

Mrs. Cortelyon
Insufferably hot! Paris is pleasant enough. We’ve had no letter from you!

Aubrey
I wrote to Ellean a week ago.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Without alluding to the subject I had written to you upon.

Aubrey
Thinking. Ah, of course⁠—

Mrs. Cortelyon
And since then we’ve both written and you’ve been absolutely silent. Oh, it’s too bad!

Aubrey
Picking up the letters from the table. It isn’t altogether my fault. Here are the letters⁠—

Ellean
Papa!

Mrs. Cortelyon
They’re unopened.

Aubrey
An accident delayed their reaching me till this evening. I’m afraid this has upset you very much.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Upset me!

Ellean
In an undertone to Mrs. Cortelyon. Never mind. Not now, dear⁠—not tonight.

Aubrey
Eh?

Mrs. Cortelyon
To Ellean aloud. Child, run away and take your things off. She doesn’t look as if she’d journeyed from Paris today.

Aubrey
I’ve never seen her with such a colour.

Taking Ellean’s hands.

Ellean
To Aubrey, in a faint voice. Papa, Mrs. Cortelyon has been so very, very kind to me, but I⁠—I have come home.

She goes out.

Aubrey
Come home! To Mrs. Cortelyon. Ellean returns to us, then?

Mrs. Cortelyon
That’s the very point I put to you in my letters, and you oblige me to travel from Paris to Willowmere on a warm day to settle it. I think perhaps it’s right that Ellean should be with you just now, although I⁠—My dear friend, circumstances are a little altered.

Aubrey
Alice, you’re in some trouble.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Well⁠—yes, I am in trouble. You remember pretty little Mrs. Brereton who was once Caroline Ardale?

Aubrey
Quite well.

Mrs. Cortelyon
She’s a widow now, poor thing. She has the entresol of the house where we’ve been lodging in the Avenue de Friedland. Caroline’s a dear chum of mine; she formed a great liking for Ellean.

Aubrey
I’m very glad.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Yes, it’s nice for her to meet her mother’s friends. Er⁠—that young Hugh Ardale the papers were full of some time ago⁠—he’s Caroline Brereton’s brother, you know.

Aubrey
No, I didn’t know. What did he do? I forget.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Checked one of those horrid mutinies at some faraway station in India, marched down with a handful of his men and a few faithful natives, and held the place until he was relieved. They gave him his company and a V.C. for it.

Aubrey
And he’s Mrs. Brereton’s brother?

Mrs. Cortelyon
Yes. He’s with his sister⁠—was, rather⁠—in Paris. He’s home⁠—invalided. Good gracious, Aubrey, why don’t you help me out? Can’t you guess what has occurred?

Aubrey
Alice!

Mrs. Cortelyon
Young Ardale⁠—Ellean!

Aubrey
An attachment?

Mrs. Cortelyon
Yes, Aubrey. After a little pause. Well, I suppose I’ve got myself into sad disgrace. But really I didn’t foresee anything of this kind. A serious, reserved child like Ellean, and a boyish, high-spirited soldier⁠—it never struck me as being likely. Aubrey paces to and fro thoughtfully. I did all I could directly Captain Ardale spoke⁠—wrote to you at once. Why on earth don’t you receive your letters promptly, and when you do get them why can’t you open them? I endured the anxiety till last night, and then made up my mind⁠—home! Of course, it has worried me terribly. My head’s bursting. Are there any salts about? Aubrey fetches a bottle from the cabinet and hands it to her. We’ve had one of those hateful smooth crossings that won’t let you be properly indisposed.

Aubrey
My dear Alice, I assure you I’ve no thought of blaming you.

Mrs. Cortelyon
That statement always precedes a quarrel.

Aubrey
I don’t know whether this is the worst or the best luck. How will my wife regard it? Is Captain Ardale a good fellow?

Mrs. Cortelyon
My dear Aubrey, you’d better read up the accounts of his wonderful heroism. Face to face with death for a whole week; always with a smile and a cheering word for the poor helpless souls depending on him! Of course, it’s that that has stirred the depths of your child’s nature. I’ve watched her while we’ve been dragging the story out of him, and if angels look different from Ellean at that moment, I don’t desire to meet any, that’s all!

Aubrey
If you were in my position⁠—? But you can’t judge.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Why, if I had a marriageable daughter of my own and Captain Ardale proposed for her, naturally I should cry my eyes out all night⁠—but I should thank Heaven in the morning.

Aubrey
You believe so thoroughly in him?

Mrs. Cortelyon
Do you think I should have only a headache at this minute if I didn’t! Look here, you’ve got to see me down the lane; that’s the least you can do, my friend. Come into my house for a moment and shake hands with Hugh.

Aubrey
What, is he here?

Mrs. Cortelyon
He came through with us, to present himself formally tomorrow. Where are my gloves? Aubrey fetches them from the ottoman. Make my apologies to Mrs. Tanqueray, please. She’s well, I hope? Going towards the door. I can’t feel sorry she hasn’t seen me in this condition.

Ellean enters.

Ellean
To Mrs. Cortelyon. I’ve been waiting to wish you good night. I was afraid I’d missed you.

Mrs. Cortelyon
Good night, Ellean.

Ellean
In a low voice, embracing Mrs. Cortelyon. I can’t thank you. Dear Mrs. Cortelyon!

Mrs. Cortelyon
Her arms round Ellean, in a whisper to Aubrey. Speak a word to her.

Mrs. Cortelyon goes out.

Aubrey
To Ellean. Ellean, I’m going to see Mrs. Cortelyon home. Tell Paula where I am; explain, dear.

Going to the door.

Ellean
Her head drooping. Yes. Quickly. Father! You are angry with me⁠—disappointed?

Aubrey
Angry?⁠—no.

Ellean
Disappointed?

Aubrey
Smiling and going to her and taking her hand. If so, it’s only because you’ve shaken my belief in my discernment. I thought you took after your poor mother a little, Ellean; but there’s a look on your face tonight, dear, that I never saw on hers⁠—never, never.

Ellean
Leaning her head on his shoulder. Perhaps I ought not to have gone away?

Aubrey
Hush! You’re quite happy?

Ellean
Yes.

Aubrey
That’s right. Then, as you are quite happy there is something I particularly want you to do for me Ellean.

Ellean
What is that?

Aubrey
Be very gentle with Paula. Will you?

Ellean
You think I have been unkind.

Aubrey
Kissing her upon the forehead. Be very gentle with Paula.

He goes out and she stands looking after him, then, as she turns thoughtfully from the door, a rose is thrown through the window and falls at her feet. She picks up the flower wonderingly and goes to the window.

Ellean
Starting back. Hugh!

Hugh Ardale, a handsome young man of about seven-and-twenty, with a boyish face and manner, appears outside the window.

Hugh
Nelly! Nelly dear!

Ellean
What’s the matter?

Hugh
Hush! Nothing. It’s only fun. Laughing. Ha, ha, ha! I’ve found out that Mrs. Cortelyon’s meadow runs up to your father’s plantation; I’ve come through a gap in the hedge.

Ellean
Why, Hugh?

Hugh
I’m miserable at The Warren; it’s so different from the Avenue de Friedland. Don’t look like that! Upon my word I meant just to peep at your home and go back, but I saw figures moving about here, and came nearer, hoping to get a glimpse of you. Was that your father?

Entering the room.

Ellean
Yes.

Hugh
Isn’t this fun! A rabbit ran across my foot while I was hiding behind that old yew.

Ellean
You must go away; it’s not right for you to be here like this.

Hugh
But it’s only fun, I tell you. You take everything so seriously. Do wish me good night.

Ellean
We have said good night.

Hugh
In the hall at The Warren before Mrs. Cortelyon and a manservant. Oh, it’s so different from the Avenue de Friedland!

Ellean
Giving him her hand hastily. Good night, Hugh.

Hugh
Is that all? We might be the merest acquaintances.

He momentarily embraces her, but she releases herself.

Ellean
It’s when you’re like this that you make me feel utterly miserable. Throwing the rose from her angrily. Oh!

Hugh
I’ve offended you now, I suppose?

Ellean
Yes.

Hugh
Forgive me, Nelly. Come into the garden for five minutes; we’ll stroll down to the plantation.

Ellean
No, no.

Hugh
For two minutes⁠—to tell me you forgive me.

Ellean
I forgive you.

Hugh
Evidently. I shan’t sleep a wink tonight after this. What a fool I am! Come down to the plantation. Make it up with me.

Ellean
There is somebody coming into this room. Do you wish to be seen here?

Hugh
I shall wait for you behind that yew tree. You must speak to me. Nelly!

He disappears. Paula enters.

Paula
Ellean!

Ellean
You⁠—you are very surprised to see me, Paula, of course.

Paula
Why are you here? Why aren’t you with⁠—your friend?

Ellean
I’ve come home⁠—if you’ll have me. We left Paris this morning; Mrs. Cortelyon brought me back. She was here a minute or two ago; papa has just gone with her to The Warren. He asked me to tell you.

Paula
There are some people staying with us that I’d rather you didn’t meet. It was hardly worth your while to return for a few hours.

Ellean
A few hours?

Paula
Well, when do you go to London?

Ellean
I don’t think I go to London, after all.

Paula
Eagerly. You⁠—you’ve quarrelled with her?

Ellean
No, no, no, not that; but⁠—Paula! In an altered tone. Paula.

Paula
Startled. Eh? Ellean goes deliberately to Paula and kisses her. Ellean!

Ellean
Kiss me.

Paula
What⁠—what’s come to you?

Ellean
I want to behave differently to you in the future. Is it too late?

Paula
Too⁠—late! Impulsively kissing Ellean and crying. No⁠—no⁠—no! No⁠—no!

Ellean
Paula, don’t cry.

Paula
Wiping her eyes. I’m a little shaky; I haven’t been sleeping. It’s all right⁠—talk to me.

Ellean
There is something I want to tell you⁠—

Paula
Is there⁠—is there?

They sit together on the ottoman, Paula taking Ellean’s hand.

Ellean
Paula, in our house in the Avenue de Friedland, on the floor below us, there was a Mrs. Brereton. She used to be a friend of my mother’s. Mrs. Cortelyon and I spent a great deal of our time with her.

Paula
Suspiciously. Oh! Letting Ellean’s hand fall. Is this lady going to take you up in place of Mrs. Cortelyon?

Ellean
No, no. Her brother is staying with her⁠—was staying with her. Her brother⁠—

Breaking off in confusion.

Paula
Well?

Ellean
Almost inaudibly. Paula⁠—

She rises and walks away, Paula following her.

Paula
Ellean! Taking hold of her. You’re not in love!

Ellean looks at Paula appealingly.

Paula
Oh! You in love! You! Oh, this is why you’ve come home! Of course, you can make friends with me now! You’ll leave us for good soon, I suppose; so it doesn’t much matter being civil to me for a little while!

Ellean
Oh, Paula!

Paula
Why, how you have deceived us⁠—all of us! We’ve taken you for a cold-blooded little saint. The fools you’ve made of us! Saint Ellean! Saint Ellean!

Ellean
Ah, I might have known you’d only mock me!

Paula
Her tone changing. Eh?

Ellean
I⁠—I can’t talk to you. Sitting on the settee. You do nothing else but mock and sneer, nothing else.

Paula
Ellean dear! Ellean! I didn’t mean it. I’m so horribly jealous, it’s a sort of curse on me. Kneeling beside Ellean and embracing her. My tongue runs away with me. I’m going to alter, I swear I am. I’ve made some good resolutions, and, as God’s above me, I’ll keep them! If you are in love, if you do ever marry, that’s no reason why we shouldn’t be fond of each other. Come, you’ve kissed me of your own accord⁠—you can’t take it back. Now we’re friends again, aren’t we? Ellean dear! I want to know everything, everything. Ellean dear, Ellean!

Ellean
Paula, Hugh has done something that makes me very angry. He came with us from Paris today, to see papa. He is staying with Mrs. Cortelyon and⁠—I ought to tell you⁠—

Paula
Yes, yes. What?

Ellean
He has found his way by The Warren meadow through the plantation up to this house. He is waiting to bid me good night. Glancing towards the garden. He is⁠—out there.

Paula
Oh!

Ellean
What shall I do?

Paula
Bring him in to see me! Will you?

Ellean
No, no.

Paula
But I’m dying to know him. Oh, yes, you must. I shall meet him before Aubrey does. Excitedly running her hands over her hair. I’m so glad. Ellean goes out by the window. The mirror⁠—mirror. What a fright I must look! Not finding the hand-glass on the table, she jumps on to the settee, and surveys herself in the mirror over the mantelpiece, then sits quietly down and waits. Ellean! Just fancy! Ellean!

After a pause Ellean enters by the window with Hugh.

Ellean
Paula, this is Captain Ardale⁠—Mrs. Tanqueray.

Paula risen and turns, and she and Hugh stand staring blankly at each other for a moment or two; then Paula advances and gives him her hand.

Paula
In a strange voice, but calmly. How do you do?

Hugh
How do you do?

Paula
To Ellean. Mr. Ardale and I have met in London, Ellean. Er⁠—Captain Ardale, now?

Hugh
Yes.

Ellean
In London?

Paula
They say the world’s very small, don’t they?

Hugh
Yes.

Paula
Ellean, dear, I want to have a little talk about you to Mr. Ardale⁠—Captain Ardale⁠—alone. Putting her arms round Ellean, and leading her to the door. Come back in a little while. Ellean nods to Paula with a smile and goes out, while Paula stands watching her at the open door. In a little while⁠—in a little⁠—Closing the door and then taking a seat facing Hugh. Be quick! Mr. Tanqueray has only gone down to The Warren with Mrs. Cortelyon. What is to be done?

Hugh
Blankly. Done?

Paula
Done⁠—done. Something must be done.

Hugh
I understood that Mr. Tanqueray had married a Mrs.⁠—Mrs.⁠—

Paula
Jarman?

Hugh
Yes.

Paula
I’d been going by that name. You didn’t follow my doings after we separated.

Hugh
No.

Paula
Sneeringly. No.

Hugh
I went out to India.

Paula
What’s to be done?

Hugh
Damn this chance!

Paula
Oh, my God!

Hugh
Your husband doesn’t know, does he?

Paula
That you and I⁠—?

Hugh
Yes.

Paula
No. He knows about others.

Hugh
Not about me. How long were we⁠—?

Paula
I don’t remember, exactly.

Hugh
Do you⁠—do you think it matters?

Paula
His⁠—his daughter. With a muttered exclamation he turns away and sits with his head in his hands. What’s to be done?

Hugh
I wish I could think.

Paula
Oh! Oh! What happened to that flat of ours in Ethelbert Street?

Hugh
I let it.

Paula
All that pretty furniture?

Hugh
Sold it.

Paula
I came across the key of the escritoire the other day in an old purse! Suddenly realising the horror and hopelessness of her position, and starting to her feet with an hysterical cry of rage. What am I maundering about?

Hugh
For God’s sake, be quiet! Do let me think.

Paula
This will send me mad! Suddenly turning and standing over him. You⁠—you beast, to crop up in my life again like this!

Hugh
I always treated you fairly.

Paula
Weakly. Oh! I beg your pardon⁠—I know you did⁠—I⁠—

She sinks on to the settee, crying hysterically.

Hugh
Hush!

Paula
She kissed me tonight! I’d won her over! I’ve had such a fight to make her love me! And now⁠—just as she’s beginning to love me, to bring this on her!

Hugh
Hush, hush! Don’t break down!

Paula
Sobbing. You don’t know! I⁠—I haven’t been getting on well in my marriage. It’s been my fault. The life I used to lead spoilt me completely. But I’d made up my mind to turn over a new life from tonight. From tonight!

Hugh
Paula⁠—

Paula
Don’t you call me that!

Hugh
Mrs. Tanqueray, there is no cause for you to despair in this way. It’s all right, I tell you⁠—it shall be all right.

Paula
Shivering. What are we to do?

Hugh
Hold our tongues.

Paula
Eh?

Staring vacantly.

Hugh
The chances are a hundred to one against anyone ever turning up who knew us when we were together. Besides, no one would be such a brute as to split on us. If anybody did do such a thing we should have to lie! What are we upsetting ourselves like this for, when we’ve simply got to hold our tongues?

Paula
You’re as mad as I am!

Hugh
Can you think of a better plan?

Paula
There’s only one plan possible⁠—let’s come to our senses!⁠—Mr. Tanqueray must be told.

Hugh
Your husband! What, and I lose Ellean! I lose Ellean!

Paula
You’ve got to lose her.

Hugh
I won’t lose her! I can’t lose her!

Paula
Didn’t I read of your doing any number of brave things in India? Why, you seem to be an awful coward!

Hugh
That’s another sort of pluck altogether; I haven’t this sort of pluck.

Paula
Oh, I don’t ask you to tell Mr. Tanqueray. That’s my job.

Hugh
Standing over her. You⁠—you⁠—you’d better! You⁠—!

Paula
Rising. Don’t bully me! I intend to.

Hugh
Taking hold of her; she wrenches herself free. Look here, Paula! I never treated you badly⁠—you’ve owned it. Why should you want to pay me out like this? You don’t know how I love Ellean!

Paula
Yes, that’s just what I do know.

Hugh
I say you don’t! She’s as good as my own mother. I’ve been downright honest with her too. I told her, in Paris, that I’d been a bit wild at one time, and, after a damned wretched day, she promised to forgive me because of what I’d done since in India. She’s behaved like an angel to me! Surely I oughtn’t to lose her, after all, just because I’ve been like other fellows! No; I haven’t been half as rackety as a hundred men we could think of. Paula, don’t pay me out for nothing; be fair to me, there’s a good girl⁠—be fair to me!

Paula
Oh, I’m not considering you at all! I advise you not to stay here any longer; Mr. Tanqueray is sure to be back soon.

Hugh
Taking up his hat. What’s the understanding between us then? What have we arranged to do?

Paula
I don’t know what you’re going to do; I’ve got to tell Mr. Tanqueray.

Hugh
By God, you shall do nothing of the sort!

Approaching her fiercely.

Paula
You shocking coward!

Hugh
If you dare! Going up to the window. Mind! If you dare!

Paula
Following him. Why, what would you do?

Hugh
After a short pause, sullenly. Nothing. I’d shoot myself⁠—that’s nothing. Good night.

Paula
Good night.

He disappears. She walks unsteadily to the ottoman, and sits; and as she does so her hand falls upon the little silver mirror, which she takes up, staring at her own reflection.

Act IV

The Drawing room at “Highercoombe,” the same evening.

Paula is still seated on the ottoman, looking vacantly before her, with the little mirror in her hand. Lady Orreyed enters.

Lady Orreyed
There you are! You never came into the billiard room. Isn’t it maddening⁠—Cayley Drummle gives me sixty out of a hundred and beats me. I must be out of form, because I know I play remarkably well for a lady. Only last month⁠—Paula rises. Whatever is the matter with you, old girl?

Paula
Why?

Lady Orreyed
Staring. It’s the light, I suppose. Paula replaces the mirror on the table. By Aubrey’s bolting from the billiard table in that fashion I thought perhaps⁠—

Paula
Yes; it’s all right.

Lady Orreyed
You’ve patched it up? Paula nods. Oh, I am jolly glad⁠—! I mean⁠—

Paula
Yes, I know what you mean. Thanks, Mabel.

Lady Orreyed
Kissing Paula. Now take my advice; for the future⁠—

Paula
Mabel, if I’ve been disagreeable to you while you’ve been staying here, I⁠—I beg your pardon.

Walking away and sitting down.

Lady Orreyed
You disagreeable, my dear? I haven’t noticed it. Dodo and me both consider you make a first-class hostess, but then you’ve had such practice, haven’t you? Dropping on to the ottoman and gaping. Oh, talk about being sleepy⁠—!

Paula
Why don’t you⁠—!

Lady Orreyed
Why, dear, I must hang about for Dodo. You may as well know it; he’s in one of his moods.

Paula
Under her breath. Oh⁠—!

Lady Orreyed
Now, it’s not his fault; it was deadly dull for him while we were playing billiards. Cayley Drummle did ask him to mark, but I stopped that; it’s so easy to make a gentleman look like a billiard-marker. This is just how it always is; if poor old Dodo has nothing to do, he loses count, as you may say.

Paula
Hark!

Sir George Orreyed enters, walking slowly and deliberately; he looks pale and watery-eyed.

Sir George
With mournful indistinctness. I’m ’fraid we’ve lef’ you a grea’ deal to yourself tonight, Mrs. Tanqueray. Attra’tions of billiards. I apol’gise. I say, where’s ol’ Aubrey?

Paula
My husband has been obliged to go out to a neighbour’s house.

Sir George
I want his advice on a rather pressing matter connected with my family⁠—my family. Sitting. Tomorrow will do just as well.

Lady Orreyed
To Paula. This is the mood I hate so⁠—drivelling about his precious family.

Sir George
The fact is, Mrs. Tanqueray, I am not easy in my min’ ’bout the way I am treatin’ my poor ol’ mother.

Lady Orreyed
To Paula. Do you hear that? That’s his mother, but my mother he won’t so much as look at!

Sir George
I shall write to Bruton Street firs’ thing in the morning.

Lady Orreyed
To Paula. Mamma has stuck to me through everything⁠—well, you know!

Sir George
I’ll get ol’ Aubrey to figure out a letter. I’ll drop line to Uncle Fitz too⁠—dooced shame of the ol’ feller to chuck me over in this manner. Wiping his eyes. All my family have chucked me over.

Lady Orreyed
Rising. Dodo!

Sir George
Jus’ because I’ve married beneath me, to be chucked over! Aunt Lydia, the General, Hooky Whitgrave, Lady Sugnall⁠—my own dear sister!⁠—all turn their backs on me. It’s more than I can stan’!

Lady Orreyed
Approaching him with dignity. Sir George, wish Mrs. Tanqueray good night at once and come upstairs. Do you hear me?

Sir George
Rising angrily. Wha’⁠—

Lady Orreyed
Be quiet!

Sir George
You presoom to order me about!

Lady Orreyed
You’re making an exhibition of yourself!

Sir George
Look ’ere⁠—!

Lady Orreyed
Come along, I tell you!

He hesitates, utters a few inarticulate sounds, then snatches up a fragile ornament from the table, and is about to dash it on to the ground. Lady Orreyed retreats, and Paula goes to him.

Paula
George!

He replaces the ornament.

Sir George
Shaking Paula’s hand. Good ni’, Mrs. Tanqueray.

Lady Orreyed
To Paula. Good night, darling. Wish Aubrey good night for me. Now, Dodo?

She goes out.

Sir George
To Paula. I say, are you goin’ to sit up for ol’ Aubrey?

Paula
Yes.

Sir George
Shall I keep you comp’ny?

Paula
No, thank you, George.

Sir George
Sure?

Paula
Yes, sure.

Sir George
Shaking hands. Good night again.

Paula
Good night.

She turns away. He goes out, steadying himself carefully. Drummle appears outside the window, smoking.

Drummle
Looking into the room, and seeing Paula. My last cigar. Where’s Aubrey?

Paula
Gone down to The Warren, to see Mrs. Cortelyon home.

Drummle
Entering the room. Eh? Did you say Mrs. Cortelyon?

Paula
Yes. She has brought Ellean back.

Drummle
Bless my soul! Why?

Paula
I⁠—I’m too tired to tell you, Cayley. If you stroll along the lane you’ll meet Aubrey. Get the news from him.

Drummle
Going up to the window. Yes, yes. Returning to Paula. I don’t want to bother you, only⁠—the anxious old woman, you know. Are you and Aubrey⁠—?

Paula
Good friends again?

Drummle
Nodding. Um.

Paula
Giving him her hand. Quite, Cayley, quite.

Drummle
Retaining her hand. That’s capital. As I’m off so early tomorrow morning, let me say now⁠—thank you for your hospitality.

He bends over her hand gallantly, then goes out by the window.

Paula
To herself. “Are you and Aubrey⁠—?” “Good friends again?” “Yes.” “Quite, Cayley, quite.”

There is a brief pause, then Aubrey enters hurriedly, wearing a light overcoat and carrying a cap.

Aubrey
Paula dear! Have you seen Ellean?

Paula
I found her here when I came down.

Aubrey
She⁠—she’s told you?

Paula
Yes, Aubrey.

Aubrey
It’s extraordinary, isn’t it! Not that somebody should fall in love with Ellean or that Ellean herself should fall in love. All that’s natural enough and was bound to happen, I suppose, sooner or later. But this young fellow! You know his history?

Paula
His history?

Aubrey
You remember the papers were full of his name a few months ago?

Paula
Oh, yes.

Aubrey
The man’s as brave as a lion, there’s no doubt about that; and, at the same time, he’s like a big good-natured schoolboy, Mrs. Cortelyon says. Have you ever pictured the kind of man Ellean would marry some day?

Paula
I can’t say that I have.

Aubrey
A grave, sedate fellow I’ve thought about⁠—hah! She has fallen in love with the way in which Ardale practically laid down his life to save those poor people shut up in the Residency. Taking off his coat. Well, I suppose if a man can do that sort of thing, one ought to be content. And yet⁠—Throwing his coat on the settee. I should have met him tonight, but he’d gone out. Paula dear, tell me how you look upon this business.

Paula
Yes, I will⁠—I must. To begin with, I⁠—I’ve seen Mr. Ardale.

Aubrey
Captain Ardale?

Paula
Captain Ardale.

Aubrey
Seen him?

Paula
While you were away he came up here, through our grounds, to try to get a word with Ellean. I made her fetch him in and present him to me.

Aubrey
Frowning. Doesn’t Captain Ardale know there’s a lodge and a front door to this place? Never mind! What is your impression of him?

Paula
Aubrey, do you recollect my bringing you a letter⁠—a letter giving you an account of myself⁠—to the Albany late one night⁠—the night before we got married?

Aubrey
A letter?

Paula
You burnt it; don’t you know?

Aubrey
Yes; I know.

Paula
His name was in that letter.

Aubrey
Going back from her slowly, and staring at her. I don’t understand.

Paula
Well⁠—Ardale and I once kept house together. He remains silent, not moving. Why don’t you strike me? Hit me in the face⁠—I’d rather you did! Hurt me! hurt me!

Aubrey
After a pause. What did you⁠—and this man⁠—say to each other⁠—just now?

Paula
I⁠—hardly⁠—know.

Aubrey
Think!

Paula
The end of it all was that I⁠—I told him I must inform you of⁠—what had happened⁠ ⁠… he didn’t want me to do that⁠ ⁠… I declared that I would⁠ ⁠… he dared me to. Breaking down. Let me alone!⁠—oh!

Aubrey
Where was my daughter while this went on?

Paula
I⁠—I had sent her out of the room⁠ ⁠… that is all right.

Aubrey
Yes, yes⁠—yes, yes.

He turns his head towards the door.

Paula
Who’s that?

A Servant enters with a letter.

Servant
The coachman has just run up with this from The Warren, sir. Aubrey takes the letter. It’s for Mrs. Tanqueray, sir; there’s no answer.

The Servant withdraws. Aubrey goes to Paula and drops the letter into her lap; she opens it with uncertain hands.

Paula
Reading it to herself. It’s from⁠—him. He’s going away⁠—or gone⁠—I think. Rising in a weak way. What does it say? I never could make out his writing.

She gives the letter to Aubrey and stands near him, looking at the letter over his shoulder as he reads.

Aubrey
Reading. “I shall be in Paris by tomorrow evening. Shall wait there, at Meurice’s, for a week, ready to receive any communication you or your husband may address to me. Please invent some explanation to Ellean. Mrs. Tanqueray, for God’s sake, do what you can for me.”

Paula and Aubrey speak in low voices, both still looking at the letter.

Paula
Has he left The Warren, I wonder, already?

Aubrey
That doesn’t matter.

Paula
No, but I can picture him going quietly off. Very likely he’s walking on to Bridgeford or Cottering tonight, to get the first train in the morning. A pleasant stroll for him.

Aubrey
We’ll reckon he’s gone, that’s enough.

Paula
That isn’t to be answered in any way?

Aubrey
Silence will answer that.

Paula
He’ll soon recover his spirits, I know.

Aubrey
You know. Offering her the letter. You don’t want this, I suppose?

Paula
No.

Aubrey
It’s done with⁠—done with.

He tears the letter into small pieces. She has dropped the envelope; she searches for it, finds it, and gives it to him.

Paula
Here!

Aubrey
Looking at the remnants of the letter. This is no good; I must burn it.

Paula
Burn it in your room.

Aubrey
Yes.

Paula
Put it in your pocket for now.

Aubrey
Yes.

He does so. Ellean enters and they both turn, guiltily, and stare at her.

Ellean
After a short silence, wonderingly. Papa⁠—

Aubrey
What do you want, Ellean?

Ellean
I heard from Willis that you had come in; I only want to wish you good night. Paula steals away, without looking back. What’s the matter? Ah! Of course, Paula has told you about Captain Ardale?

Aubrey
Well?

Ellean
Have you and he met?

Aubrey
No.

Ellean
You are angry with him; so was I. But tomorrow when he calls and expresses his regret⁠—tomorrow⁠—

Aubrey
Ellean⁠—Ellean!

Ellean
Yes, papa?

Aubrey
I⁠—I can’t let you see this man again. He walks away from her in a paroxysm of distress, then, after a moment or two, he returns to her and takes her to his arms. Ellean! my child!

Ellean
Releasing herself. What has happened, papa? What is it?

Aubrey
Thinking out his words deliberately. Something has occurred, something has come to my knowledge, in relation to Captain Ardale, which puts any further acquaintanceship between you two out of the question.

Ellean
Any further acquaintanceship⁠ ⁠… out of the question?

Aubrey
Yes.

Advancing to her quickly, but she shrinks from him.

Ellean
No, no⁠—I am quite well. After a short pause. It’s not an hour ago since Mrs. Cortelyon left you and me together here; you had nothing to urge against Captain Ardale then.

Aubrey
No.

Ellean
You don’t know each other; you haven’t even seen him this evening. Father!

Aubrey
I have told you he and I have not met.

Ellean
Mrs. Cortelyon couldn’t have spoken against him to you just now. No, no, no; she’s too good a friend to both of us. Aren’t you going to give me some explanation? You can’t take this position towards me⁠—towards Captain Ardale⁠—without affording me the fullest explanation.

Aubrey
Ellean, there are circumstances connected with Captain Ardale’s career which you had better remain ignorant of. It must be sufficient for you that I consider these circumstances render him unfit to be your husband.

Ellean
Father!

Aubrey
You must trust me, Ellean; you must try to understand the depth of my love for you and the⁠—the agony it gives me to hurt you. You must trust me.

Ellean
I will, father; but you must trust me a little too. Circumstances connected with Captain Ardale’s career?

Aubrey
Yes.

Ellean
When he presents himself here tomorrow of course you will see him and let him defend himself?

Aubrey
Captain Ardale will not be here tomorrow.

Ellean
Not! You have stopped his coming here?

Aubrey
Indirectly⁠—yes.

Ellean
But just now he was talking to me at that window! Nothing had taken place then! And since then nothing can have⁠—! Oh! Why⁠—you have heard something against him from Paula.

Aubrey
From⁠—Paula!

Ellean
She knows him.

Aubrey
She has told you so?

Ellean
When I introduced Captain Ardale to her she said she had met him in London. Of course! It is Paula who has done this!

Aubrey
In a hard voice. I⁠—I hope you⁠—you’ll refrain from rushing at conclusions. There’s nothing to be gained by trying to avoid the main point, which is that you must drive Captain Ardale out of your thoughts. Understand that! You’re able to obtain comfort from your religion, aren’t you? I’m glad to think that’s so. I talk to you in a harsh way, Ellean, but I feel your pain almost as acutely as you do. Going to the door. I⁠—I can’t say anything more to you tonight.

Ellean
Father! He pauses at the door. Father, I’m obliged to ask you this; there’s no help for it⁠—I’ve no mother to go to. Does what you have heard about Captain Ardale concern the time when he led a wild, a dissolute life in London?

Aubrey
Returning to her slowly and staring at her. Explain yourself!

Ellean
He has been quite honest with me. One day⁠—in Paris⁠—he confessed to me⁠—what a man’s life is⁠—what his life had been.

Aubrey
Under his breath. Oh!

Ellean
He offered to go away, not to approach me again.

Aubrey
And you⁠—you accepted his view of what a man’s life is!

Ellean
As far as I could forgive him, I forgave him.

Aubrey
With a groan. Why, when was it you left us? It hasn’t taken you long to get your robe “just a little dusty at the hem!”

Ellean
What do you mean?

Aubrey
Hah! A few weeks ago my one great desire was to keep you ignorant of evil.

Ellean
Father, it is impossible to be ignorant of evil. Instinct, common instinct, teaches us what is good and bad. Surely I am none the worse for knowing what is wicked and detesting it!

Aubrey
Detesting it! Why, you love this fellow!

Ellean
Ah, you don’t understand! I have simply judged Captain Ardale as we all pray to be judged. I have lived in imagination through that one week in India when he deliberately offered his life back to God to save those wretched, desperate people. In his whole career I see now nothing but that one week; those few hours bring him nearer the Saints, I believe, than fifty uneventful years of mere blamelessness would have done! And so, father, if Paula has reported anything to Captain Ardale’s discredit⁠—

Aubrey
Paula⁠—!

Ellean
It must be Paula; it can’t be anybody else.

Aubrey
You⁠—you’ll please keep Paula out of the question. Finally, Ellean, understand me⁠—I have made up my mind.

Again going to the door.

Ellean
But wait⁠—listen! I have made up my mind also.

Aubrey
Ah! I recognise your mother in you now!

Ellean
You need not speak against my mother because you are angry with me!

Aubrey
I⁠—I hardly know what I’m saying to you. In the morning⁠—in the morning⁠—

He goes out. She remains standing, and turns her head to listen. Then, after a moment’s hesitation she goes softly to the window, and looks out under the verandah.

Ellean
In a whisper. Paula! Paula!

Paula appears outside the window and steps into the room; her face is white and drawn, her hair is a little disordered.

Paula
Huskily. Well?

Ellean
Have you been under the verandah all the while⁠—listening?

Paula
N⁠—no.

Ellean
You have overheard us⁠—I see you have. And it is you who have been speaking to my father against Captain Ardale. Isn’t it? Paula, why don’t you own it or deny it?

Paula
Oh, I⁠—I don’t mind owning it; why should I?

Ellean
Ah! You seem to have been very, very eager to tell your tale.

Paula
No, I wasn’t eager, Ellean. I’d have given something not to have had to do it. I wasn’t eager.

Ellean
Not! Oh, I think you might safely have spared us all for a little while.

Paula
But, Ellean, you forget I⁠—I am your stepmother. It was my⁠—my duty⁠—to tell your father what I⁠—what I knew⁠—

Ellean
What you knew! Why, after all, what can you know! You can only speak from gossip, report, hearsay! How is it possible that you⁠—! She stops abruptly. The two women stand staring at each other for a moment; then Ellean backs away from Paula slowly. Paula!

Paula
What⁠—what’s the matter?

Ellean
You⁠—you knew Captain Ardale in London!

Paula
Why⁠—what do you mean?

Ellean
Oh!

She makes for the door, but Paula catches her by the wrist.

Paula
You shall tell me what you mean!

Ellean
Ah! Suddenly looking fixedly in Paula’s face. You know what I mean.

Paula
You accuse me!

Ellean
It’s in your face!

Paula
Hoarsely. You⁠—you think I’m⁠—that sort of creature, do you?

Ellean
Let me go!

Paula
Answer me! You’ve always hated me! Shaking her. Out with it!

Ellean
You hurt me!

Paula
You’ve always hated me! You shall answer me!

Ellean
Well, then, I have always⁠—always⁠—

Paula
What?

Ellean
I have always known what you were!

Paula
Ah! Who⁠—who told you?

Ellean
Nobody but yourself. From the first moment I saw you I knew you were altogether unlike the good women I’d left; directly I saw you I knew what my father had done. You’ve wondered why I’ve turned from you! There⁠—that’s the reason! Oh, but this is a horrible way for the truth to come home to everyone! Oh!

Paula
It’s a lie! It’s all a lie! Forcing Ellean down upon her knees. You shall beg my pardon for it. Ellean utters a loud shriek of terror. Ellean, I’m a good woman! I swear I am! I’ve always been a good woman! You dare to say I’ve ever been anything else! It’s a lie!

Throwing her off violently.

Aubrey reenters.

Aubrey
Paula! Paula staggers back as Aubrey advances. Raising Ellean. What’s this? What’s this?

Ellean
Faintly. Nothing. It⁠—it’s my fault. Father, I⁠—I don’t wish to see Captain Ardale again.

She goes out, Aubrey slowly following her to the door.

Paula
Aubrey, she⁠—she guesses.

Aubrey
Guesses?

Paula
About me⁠—and Ardale.

Aubrey
About you⁠—and Ardale?

Paula
She says she suspected my character from the beginning⁠ ⁠… that’s why she’s always kept me at a distance⁠ ⁠… and now she sees through⁠—

She falters; he helps her to the ottoman, where she sits.

Aubrey
Bending over her. Paula, you must have said something⁠—admitted something⁠—

Paula
I don’t think so. It⁠—it’s in my face.

Aubrey
What?

Paula
She tells me so. She’s right! I’m tainted through and through; anybody can see it, anybody can find it out. You said much the same to me tonight.

Aubrey
If she has got this idea into her head we must drive it out, that’s all. We must take steps to⁠—What shall we do? We had better⁠—better⁠—What⁠—what?

Sitting and staring before him.

Paula
Ellean! So meek, so demure! You’ve often said she reminded you of her mother. Yes, I know now what your first marriage was like.

Aubrey
We must drive this idea out of her head. We’ll do something. What shall we do?

Paula
She’s a regular woman too. She could forgive him easily enough⁠—but me! That’s just a woman!

Aubrey
What can we do?

Paula
Why, nothing! She’d have no difficulty in following up her suspicions. Suspicions! You should have seen how she looked at me! He buries his head in his hands. There is silence for a time, then she rises slowly, and goes and sits beside him. Aubrey!

Aubrey
Yes.

Paula
I’m very sorry.

Without meeting her eyes, he lays his hand on her arm for a moment.

Aubrey
Well, we must look things straight in the face. Glancing round. At any rate, we’ve done with this.

Paula
I suppose so. After a brief pause. Of course, she and I can’t live under the same roof any more. You know she kissed me tonight, of her own accord.

Aubrey
I asked her to alter towards you.

Paula
That was it, then.

Aubrey
I⁠—I’m sorry I sent her away.

Paula
It was my fault; I made it necessary.

Aubrey
Perhaps now she’ll propose to return to the convent⁠—well, she must.

Paula
Would you like to keep her with you and⁠—and leave me?

Aubrey
Paula⁠—!

Paula
You needn’t be afraid I’d go back to⁠—what I was. I couldn’t.

Aubrey
Sssh, for God’s sake! We⁠—you and I⁠—we’ll get out of this place⁠ ⁠… what a fool I was to come here again!

Paula
You lived here with your first wife!

Aubrey
We’ll get out of this place and go abroad again, and begin afresh.

Paula
Begin afresh?

Aubrey
There’s no reason why the future shouldn’t be happy for us⁠—no reason that I can see⁠—

Paula
Aubrey!

Aubrey
Yes?

Paula
You’ll never forget this, you know.

Aubrey
This?

Paula
Tonight, and everything that’s led up to it. Our coming here, Ellean, our quarrels⁠—cat and dog!⁠—Mrs. Cortelyon, the Orreyeds, this man! What an everlasting nightmare for you!

Aubrey
Oh, we can forget it, if we choose.

Paula
That was always your cry. How can one do it!

Aubrey
Well make our calculations solely for the future, talk about the future, think about the future.

Paula
I believe the future is only the past again, entered through another gate.

Aubrey
That’s an awful belief.

Paula
Tonight proves it. You must see now that, do what we will, go where we will, you’ll be continually reminded of⁠—what I was. I see it.

Aubrey
You’re frightened tonight; meeting this man has frightened you. But that sort of thing isn’t likely to recur. The world isn’t quite so small as all that.

Paula
Isn’t it! The only great distances it contains are those we carry within ourselves⁠—the distances that separate husbands and wives, for instance. And so it’ll be with us. You’ll do your best⁠—oh, I know that⁠—you’re a good fellow. But circumstances will be too strong for you in the end, mark my words.

Aubrey
Paula⁠—!

Paula
Of course I’m pretty now⁠—I’m pretty still⁠—and a pretty woman, whatever else she may be, is always⁠—well, endurable. But even now I notice that the lines of my face are getting deeper; so are the hollows about my eyes. Yes, my face is covered with little shadows that usen’t to be there. Oh, I know I’m “going off.” I hate paint and dye and those messes, but, by-and-by, I shall drift the way of the others; I shan’t be able to help myself. And then, some day⁠—perhaps very suddenly, under a queer, fantastic light at night or in the glare of the morning⁠—that horrid, irresistible truth that physical repulsion forces on men and women will come to you, and you’ll sicken at me.

Aubrey
I⁠—!

Paula
You’ll see me then, at last, with other people’s eyes; you’ll see me just as your daughter does now, as all wholesome folks see women like me. And I shall have no weapon to fight with⁠—not one serviceable little bit of prettiness left me to defend myself with! A worn-out creature⁠—broken up, very likely, sometime before I ought to be⁠—my hair bright, my eyes dull, my body too thin or too stout, my cheeks raddled and ruddled⁠—a ghost, a wreck, a caricature, a candle that gutters, call such an end what you like! Oh, Aubrey, what shall I be able to say to you then? And this is the future you talk about! I know it⁠—I know it! He is still sitting staring forward; she rocks herself to and fro as if in pain. Oh, Aubrey! Oh! Oh!

Aubrey
Paula⁠—!

Trying to comfort her.

Paula
Oh, and I wanted so much to sleep tonight! Laying her head upon his shoulder. From the distance, in the garden, there comes the sound of Drummle’s voice; he is singing as he approaches the house. That’s Cayley, coming back from The Warren. Starting up. He doesn’t know, evidently. I⁠—I won’t see him!

She goes out quickly. Drummle’s voice comes nearer. Aubrey rouses himself and snatches up a book from the table, making a pretence of reading. After a moment or two, Drummle appears at the window and looks in.

Drummle
Aha! my dear chap!

Aubrey
Cayley?

Drummle
Coming into the room. I went down to The Warren after you?

Aubrey
Yes?

Drummle
Missed you. Well? I’ve been gossiping with Mrs. Cortelyon. Confound you, I’ve heard the news!

Aubrey
What have you heard?

Drummle
What have I heard! Why⁠—Ellean and young Ardale! Looking at Aubrey keenly. My dear Aubrey! Alice is under the impression that you are inclined to look on the affair favourably.

Aubrey
Rising and advancing to Drummle. You’ve not⁠—met⁠—Captain Ardale?

Drummle
No. Why do you ask? By the by, I don’t know that I need tell you⁠—but it’s rather strange. He’s not at The Warren tonight.

Aubrey
No?

Drummle
He left the house half-an-hour ago, to stroll about the lanes; just now a note came from him, a scribble in pencil, simply telling Alice that she would receive a letter from him tomorrow. What’s the matter? There’s nothing very wrong, is there! My dear chap, pray forgive me if I’m asking too much.

Aubrey
Cayley, you⁠—you urged me to send her away!

Drummle
Ellean! Yes, yes. But⁠—but⁠—by all accounts this is quite an eligible young fellow. Alice has been giving me the history⁠—

Aubrey
Curse him! Hurling his book to the floor. Curse him! Yes, I do curse him⁠—him and his class! Perhaps I curse myself too in doing it. He has only led “a man’s life”⁠—just as I, how many of us, have done! The misery he has brought on me and mine it’s likely enough we, in our time, have helped to bring on others by this leading “a man’s life”! But I do curse him for all that. My God, I’ve nothing more to fear⁠—I’ve paid my fine! And so I can curse him in safety. Curse him! Curse him!

Drummle
In Heaven’s name, tell me what’s happened?

Aubrey
Gripping Drummle’s arm. Paula! Paula!

Drummle
What?

Aubrey
They met tonight here. They⁠—they⁠—they’re not strangers to each other.

Drummle
Aubrey!

Aubrey
Curse him! My poor, wretched wife! My poor, wretched wife!

The door opens and Ellean appears. The two men turn to her. There is a moment’s silence.

Ellean
Father⁠ ⁠… father⁠ ⁠… !

Aubrey
Ellean?

Ellean
I⁠—I want you. He goes to her. Father⁠ ⁠… go to Paula! He looks into her face, startled. Quickly⁠—quickly! He passes her to go out, she seizes his arm, with a cry. No, no; don’t go!

He shakes her off and goes. Ellean staggers back towards Drummle.

Drummle
To Ellean. What do you mean? What do you mean?

Ellean
I⁠—I went to her room⁠—to tell her I was sorry for something I had said to her. And I was sorry⁠—I was sorry. I heard the fall. I⁠—I’ve seen her. It’s horrible.

Drummle
She⁠—she has⁠—!

Ellean
Killed⁠—herself? Yes⁠—yes. So everybody will say. But I know⁠—I helped to kill her. If I had only been merciful!

She faints upon the ottoman. He pauses for a moment irresolutely⁠—then he goes to the door, opens it, and stands looking out.

Colophon

The Second Mrs. Tanqueray
was published in 1893 by
Arthur W. Pinero.

This ebook was produced for
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