man and superman-第16节

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ANN。　Nobody　wants　you　to；　Jack。　I　assure　youreally　on　my　word
I　don't　mind　your　queer　opinions　one　little　bit。　You　know　we　have
all　been　brought　up　to　have　advanced　opinions。　Why　do　you　persist
in　thinking　me　so　narrow　minded？

TANNER。　That's　the　danger　of　it。　I　know　you　don't　mind；　because
you've　found　out　that　it　doesn't　matter。　The　boa　constrictor
doesn't　mind　the　opinions　of　a　stag　one　little　bit　when　once　she
has　got　her　coils　round　it。

ANN。　＇rising　in　sudden　enlightenment＇　O…o…o…o…oh！　NOW　I
understand　why　you　warned　Tavy　that　I　am　a　boa　constrictor。
Granny　told　me。　＇She　laughs　and　throws　her　boa　around　her　neck＇。
Doesn't　it　feel　nice　and　soft；　Jack？

TANNER。　＇in　the　toils＇　You　scandalous　woman；　will　you　throw　away
even　your　hypocrisy？

ANN。　I　am　never　hypocritical　with　you；　Jack。　Are　you　angry？　＇She
withdraws　the　boa　and　throws　it　on　a　chair＇。　Perhaps　I　shouldn't
have　done　that。

TANNER。　＇contemptuously＇　Pooh；　prudery！　Why　should　you　not；　if　it
amuses　you？

ANN。　＇Shyly＇　Well；　becausebecause　I　suppose　what　you　really
meant　by　the　boa　constrictor　was　THIS　＇she　puts　her　arms　round
his　neck＇。

TANNER。　＇Staring　at　her＇　Magnificent　audacity！　＇She　laughs　and
pats　his　cheeks＇。　Now　just　to　think　that　if　I　mentioned　this
episode　not　a　soul　would　believe　me　except　the　people　who　would
cut　me　for　telling；　whilst　if　you　accused　me　of　it　nobody　would
believe　my　denial。

ANN。　＇taking　her　arms　away　with　perfect　dignity＇　You　are
incorrigible；　Jack。　But　you　should　not　jest　about　our　affection
for　one　another。　Nobody　could　possibly　misunderstand　it。　YOU　do
not　misunderstand　it；　I　hope。

TANNER。　My　blood　interprets　for　me；　Ann。　Poor　Ricky　Tiky　Tavy！

ANN。　＇looking　quickly　at　him　as　if　this　were　a　new　light＇　Surely
you　are　not　so　absurd　as　to　be　jealous　of　Tavy。

TANNER。　Jealous！　Why　should　I　be？　But　I　don't　wonder　at　your
grip　of　him。　I　feel　the　coils　tightening　round　my　very　self；
though　you　are　only　playing　with　me。

ANN。　Do　you　think　I　have　designs　on　Tavy？

TANNER。　I　know　you　have。

ANN。　＇earnestly＇　Take　care；　Jack。　You　may　make　Tavy　very　happy
if　you　mislead　him　about　me。

TANNER。　Never　fear：　he　will　not　escape　you。

ANN。　I　wonder　are　you　really　a　clever　man！

TANNER。　Why　this　sudden　misgiving　on　the　subject？

ANN。　You　seem　to　understand　all　the　things　I　don't　understand；
but　you　are　a　perfect　baby　in　the　things　I　do　understand。

TANNER。　I　understand　how　Tavy　feels　for　you；　Ann；　you　may　depend
on　that；　at　all　events。

ANN。　And　you　think　you　understand　how　I　feel　for　Tavy；　don't
you？

TANNER。　I　know　only　too　well　what　is　going　to　happen　to　poor
Tavy。

ANN。　I　should　laugh　at　you；　Jack；　if　it　were　not　for　poor　papa's
death。　Mind！　Tavy　will　be　very　unhappy。

TANNER。　Yes；　but　he　won't　know　it；　poor　devil。　He　is　a　thousand
times　too　good　for　you。　That's　why　he　is　going　to　make　the
mistake　of　his　life　about　you。

ANN。　I　think　men　make　more　mistakes　by　being　too　clever　than　by
being　too　good　＇she　sits　down；　with　a　trace　of　contempt　for　the
whole　male　sex　in　the　elegant　carriage　of　her　shoulders＇。

TANNER。　Oh；　I　know　you　don't　care　very　much　about　Tavy。　But
there　is　always　one　who　kisses　and　one　who　only　allows　the　kiss。
Tavy　will　kiss；　and　you　will　only　turn　the　cheek。　And　you　will
throw　him　over　if　anybody　better　turns　up。

ANN。　＇offended＇　You　have　no　right　to　say　such　things；　Jack。　They
are　not　true；　and　not　delicate。　If　you　and　Tavy　choose　to　be
stupid　about　me；　that　is　not　my　fault。

TANNER。　＇remorsefully＇　Forgive　my　brutalities；　Ann。　They　are
levelled　at　this　wicked　world；　not　at　you。　＇She　looks　up　at　him；
pleased　and　forgiving。　He　becomes　cautious　at　once＇。　All　the
same；　I　wish　Ramsden　would　come　back。　I　never　feel　safe　with
you：　there　is　a　devilish　charmor　no：　not　a　charm；　a　subtle
interest　＇she　laughs＇。　Just　so：　you　know　it；　and　you　triumph　in
it。　Openly　and　shamelessly　triumph　in　it！

ANN。　What　a　shocking　flirt　you　are；　Jack！

TANNER。　A　flirt！！　I！！

ANN。　Yes；　a　flirt。　You　are　always　abusing　and　offending　people。
but　you　never　really　mean　to　let　go　your　hold　of　them。

TANNER。　I　will　ring　the　bell。　This　conversation　has　already　gone
further　than　I　intended。

Ramsden　and　Octavius　come　back　with　Miss　Ramsden；　a　hardheaded
old　maiden　lady　in　a　plain　brown　silk　gown；　with　enough　rings；
chains　and　brooches　to　show　that　her　plainness　of　dress　is　a
matter　of　principle；　not　of　poverty。　She　comes　into　the　room　very
determinedly：　the　two　men；　perplexed　and　downcast；　following　her。
Ann　rises　and　goes　eagerly　to　meet　her。　Tanner　retreats　to　the
wall　between　the　busts　and　pretends　to　study　the　pictures。
Ramsden　goes　to　his　table　as　usual；　and　Octavius　clings　to　the
neighborhood　of　Tanner。

MISS　RAMSDEN。　＇almost　pushing　Ann　aside　as　she　comes　to　Mr。
Whitefield's　chair　and　plants　herself　there　resolutely＇　I　wash　my
hands　of　the　whole　affair。

OCTAVIUS。　＇very　wretched＇　I　know　you　wish　me　to　take　Violet　away；
Miss　Ramsden。　I　will。　＇He　turns　irresolutely　to　the　door＇。

RAMSDEN。　No　no

MISS　RAMSDEN。　What　is　the　use　of　saying　no；　Roebuck？　Octavius
knows　that　I　would　not　turn　any　truly　contrite　and　repentant
woman　from　your　doors。　But　when　a　woman　is　not　only　wicked；　but
intends　to　go　on　being　wicked；　she　and　I　part　company。

ANN。　Oh；　Miss　Ramsden；　what　do　you　mean？　What　has　Violet　said？

RAMSDEN。　Violet　is　certainly　very　obstinate。　She　won't　leave
London。　I　don't　understand　her。

MISS　RAMSDEN。　I　do。　It's　as　plain　as　the　nose　on　your　face；
Roebuck；　that　she　won't　go　because　she　doesn't　want　to　be
separated　from　this　man；　whoever　he　is。

ANN。　Oh；　surely；　surely！　Octavius：　did　you　speak　to　her？

OCTAVIUS。　She　won't　tell　us　anything。　She　won't　make　any
arrangement　until　she　has　consulted　somebody。　It　can't　be　anybody
else　than　the　scoundrel　who　has　betrayed　her。

TANNER。　＇to　Octavius＇　Well；　let　her　consult　him。　He　will　be　glad
enough　to　have　her　sent　abroad。　Where　is　the　difficulty？

MISS　RAMSDEN。　＇Taking　the　answer　out　of　Octavius's　mouth＇。　The
difficulty；　Mr　Jack；　is　that　when　he　offered　to　help　her　I　didn't
offer　to　become　her　accomplice　in　her　wickedness。　She　either
pledges　her　word　never　to　see　that　man　again；　or　else　she　finds
some　new　friends；　and　the　sooner　the　better。

＇The　parlormaid　appears　at　the　door。　Ann　hastily　resumes　her
seat；　and　looks　as　unconcerned　as　possible。　Octavius
instinctively　imitates　her＇。

THE　MAID。　The　cab　is　at　the　door；　ma'am。

MISS　RAMSDEN。　What　cab？

THE　MAID。　For　Miss　Robinson。

MISS　RAMSDEN。　Oh！　＇Recovering　herself＇　All　right。　＇The　maid
withdraws＇。　She　has　sent　for　a　cab。

TANNER。　I　wanted　to　send　for　that　cab　half　an　hour　ago。

MISS　RAMSDEN。　I　am　glad　she　understands　the　position　she　has
placed　herself　in。

RAMSDEN。　I　don't　like　her　going　away　in　this　fashion；　Susan。　We
had　better　not　do　anything　harsh。

OCTAVIUS。　No：　thank　you　again　and　again；　but　Miss　Ramsden　is
quite　right。　Violet　cannot　expect　to　stay。

ANN。　Hadn't　you　better　go　with　her；　Tavy？

OCTAVIUS。　She　won't　have　me。

MISS　RAMSDEN。　Of　course　she　won't。　She's　going　straight　to　that
man。

TANNER。　As　a　natural　result　of　her　virtuous　reception　here。

RAMSDEN。　＇much　troubled＇　There；　Susan！　You　hear！　and　there's　some
truth　in　it。　I　wish　you　could　reconcile　it　with　your　principles
to　be　a　little　patient　with　this　poor　girl。　She's　very　young；　and
there's　a　time　for　everything。

MISS　RAMSDEN。　Oh；　she　will　get　all　the　sympathy　she　wants　from
the　men。　I'm　surprised　at　you；　Roebuck。

TANNER。　So　am　I；　Ramsden；　most　favorably。

Violet　appears　at　the　door。　She　is　as　impenitent　and　self…assured
a　young　lady　as　one　would　desire　to　see　among　the　best　behaved　of
her　sex。　Her　small　head　and　tiny　resolute　mouth　and　chin；　her
haughty　crispness　of　speech　and　trimness　of　carriage；　the
ruthless　elegance　of　her　equipment；　which　includes　a　very　smart
hat　with　a　dead　bird　in　it；　mark　a　personality　which　is　as
formidable　as　it　is　exquisitely　pretty。　She　is　not　a　siren；　like
Ann：　admiration　comes　to　her　without　any　compulsion　or　even
interest　on　her　part；　besides；　there　is　some　fun　in　Ann；　but　in
this　woman　none；　perhaps　no　mercy　either：　if　anything　restrains
her；　it　is　intelligence　and　pride；　not　compassion。　Her　voice
might　be　the　voice　of　a　schoolmistress　addressing　a　class　of
girls　who　had　disgraced　themselves；　as　she　proceeds　with　complete
composure　and　some　disgust　to　say　what　she　has　come　to　say。

VIOLET。　I　have　only　looked　in　to　tell　Miss　Ramsden　that　she　will
find　her　birthday　present　to　me；　the　filagree　bracelet；　in　the
housekeeper's　room。

TANNER。　Do　come　in；　Violet；　and　talk　to　us　sensibly。

VIOLET。　Thank　you：　I　have　had　quite　enough　of　the　family
conversation　this　morning。　So　has　your　mother；　Ann：　she　has　gone
home　crying。　But　at　all　events；　I　have　found　out　what　some　of　my
pretended　friends　are　worth。　Good　bye。

TANNER。　No；　no：　one　moment。　I　have　something　to　say　which　I　beg
you　to　hear。　＇She　looks　at　him　without　the　slightest　curiosity；
but　waits；　apparently　as　much　to　finish　getting　her　glove　on　as
to　hear　what　he　has　to　say＇。　I　am　altogether　on　your　side　in　this
matter。　I　congratulate　you；　with　the　sincerest　respect；　on　having
the　courage　to　do　what　you　h