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

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 re-enters. 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