The Second Mrs. Tanqueray by Arthur W. Pinero (top 100 novels TXT) 📕

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