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

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.