man and superman-第43节

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At　this　moment　Violet　and　Octavius　come　from　the　villa　with　Mrs
Whitefield；　who　is　wrapped　up　for　driving。　Simultaneously　Malone
and　Ramsden；　followed　by　Mendoza　and　Straker；　come　in　through　the
little　gate　in　the　paling。　Tanner　shamefacedly　releases　Ann；　who
raises　her　hand　giddily　to　her　forehead。

MALONE。　Take　care。　Something's　the　matter　with　the　lady。

RAMSDEN。　What　does　this　mean？

VIOLET。　＇running　between　Ann　and　Tanner＇　Are　you　ill？

ANN。　＇reeling；　with　a　supreme　effort＇　I　have　promised　to　marry
Jack。　＇She　swoons。　Violet　kneels　by　her　and　chafes　her　band。
Tanner　runs　round　to　her　other　hand；　and　tries　to　lift　her　bead。
Octavius　goes　to　Violet's　assistance；　but　does　not　know　what　to
do。　Mrs　Whitefield　hurries　back　into　the　villa。　Octavius；　Malone
and　Ramsden　run　to　Ann　and　crowd　round　her；　stooping　to　assist。
Straker　coolly　comes　to　Ann's　feet；　and　Mendoza　to　her　head；　both
upright　and　self…possessed＇。

STRAKER。　Now　then；　ladies　and　gentlemen：　she　don't　want　a　crowd
round　her：　she　wants　airall　the　air　she　can　git。　If　you　please；
gents　＇Malone　and　Ramsden　allow　him　to　drive　them　gently　past
Ann　and　up　the　lawn　towards　the　garden；　where　Octavius；　who　has
already　become　conscious　of　his　uselessness；　joins　them。　Straker；
following　them　up；　pauses　for　a　moment　to　instruct　Tanner＇。　Don't
lift　er　ed；　Mr　Tanner：　let　it　go　flat　so's　the　blood　can　run　back
into　it。

MENDOZA。　He　is　right；　Mr　Tanner。　Trust　to　the　air　of　the　Sierra。
＇He　withdraws　delicately　to　the　garden　steps＇。

TANNER。　＇rising＇　I　yield　to　your　superior　knowledge　of　physiology；
Henry。　＇He　withdraws　to　the　corner　of　the　lawn；　and　Octavius
immediately　hurries　down　to　him＇。

TAVY。　＇aside　to　Tanner；　grasping　his　hand＇　Jack：　be　very　happy。

TANNER。　＇aside　to　Tavy＇　I　never　asked　her。　It　is　a　trap　for　me。
＇He　goes　up　the　lawn　towards　the　garden。　Octavius　remains
petrified＇。

MENDOZA。　＇intercepting　Mrs　Whitefield；　who　comes　from　the　villa
with　a　glass　of　brandy＇　What　is　this；　madam　＇he　takes　it　from
her＇？

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　A　little　brandy。

MENDOZA。　The　worst　thing　you　could　give　her。　Allow　me。　＇He
swallows　it＇。　Trust　to　the　air　of　the　Sierra；　madam。

For　a　moment　the　men　all　forget　Ann　and　stare　at　Mendoza。

ANN。　＇in　Violet's　ear；　clutching　　her　round　the　neck＇　Violet；
did　Jack　say　anything　when　I　fainted？

VIOLET。　No。

ANN。　Ah！　＇with　a　sigh　of　intense　relief　she　relapses＇。

MRS　WHITEFIELD。　Oh；　she's　fainted　again。

They　are　about　to　rush　back　to　her；　but　Mendoza　stops　them　with　a
warning　gesture。

ANN。　＇supinej　No　I　haven't。　I'm　quite　happy。

TANNER。　＇suddenly　walking　determinedly　to　her；　and　snatching　her
hand　from　Violet　to　feel　her　pulse＇　Why；　her　pulse　is　positively
bounding。　Come；　getup。　What　nonsense！　Up　with　you。　＇He　gets　her
up　summarily＇。

ANN。　Yes：　I　feel　strong　enough　now。　But　you　very　nearly　killed
me；　Jack；　for　all　that。

MALONE。　A　rough　wooer；　eh？　They're　the　best　sort；　Miss
Whitefield。　I　congratulate　Mr　Tanner；　and　I　hope　to　meet　you　and
him　as　frequent　guests　at　the　Abbey。

ANN。　Thank　you。　＇She　goes　past　Malone　to　Octavius＇　Ricky　Ticky
Tavy：　congratulate　me。　＇Aside　to　him＇　I　want　to　make　you　cry　for
the　last　time。

TAVY。　＇steadfastly＇　No　more　tears。　I　am　happy　in　your　happiness。
And　I　believe　in　you　in　spite　of　everything。

RAMSDEN。　＇coming　between　Malone　and　Tanner＇　You　are　a　happy　man；
Jack　Tanner。　I　envy　you。

MENDOZA。　＇advancing　between　Violet　and　Tanner＇　Sir：　there　are　two
tragedies　in　life。　One　is　not　to　get　your　heart's　desire。　The
other　is　to　get　it。　Mine　and　yours；　sir。

TANNER。　Mr　Mendoza：　I　have　no　heart's　desires。　Ramsden：　it　is
very　easy　for　you　to　call　me　a　happy　man：　you　are　only　a
spectator。　I　am　one　of　the　principals；　and　I　know　better。　Ann：
stop　tempting　Tavy；　and　come　back　to　me。

ANN。　＇complying＇　You　are　absurd；　Jack。　＇She　takes　his　proffered
arm＇。

TANNER。　＇continuing＇　I　solemnly　say　that　I　am　not　a　happy　man。
Ann　looks　happy；　but　she　is　only　triumphant；　successful；
victorious。　That　is　not　happiness；　but　the　price　for　which　the
strong　sell　their　happiness。　What　we　have　both　done　this
afternoon　is　to　renounce　tranquillity；　above　all　renounce　the
romantic　possibilities　of　an　unknown　future；　for　the　cares　of　a
household　and　a　family。　I　beg　that　no　man　may　seize　the　occasion
to　get　half　drunk　and　utter　imbecile　speeches　and　coarse
pleasantries　at　my　expense。　We　propose　to　furnish　our　own　house
according　to　our　own　taste；　and　I　hereby　give　notice　that　the
seven　or　eight　travelling　clocks；　the　four　or　five　dressing
cases；　the　salad　bowls；　the　carvers　and　fish　slices；　the　copy　of
Tennyson　in　extra　morocco；　and　all　the　other　articles　you　are
preparing　to　heap　upon　us；　will　be　instantly　sold；　and　the
proceeds　devoted　to　circulating　free　copies　of　the
Revolutionist's　Handbook。　The　wedding　will　take　place　three　days
after　our　return　to　England；　by　special　license；　at　the　office　of
the　district　superintendent　registrar；　in　the　presence　of　my
solicitor　and　his　clerk；　who；　like　his　clients；　will　be　in
ordinary　walking　dress。

VIOLET。　＇with　intense　conviction＇　You　are　a　brute；　Jack。

ANN。　（looking　at　him　with　fond　pride　and　caressing　his　arm＇　Never
mind　her；　dear。　Go　on　talking。

TANNER。　Talking！

Universal　laughter。







End