The Second Mrs. Tanqueray Arthur W. Pinero (free children's online books txt) š
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dear.
Paula
Slowly collecting herself. One moment. Iā āI donāt quiteā āTo Mrs. Cortelyon. You propose that Ellean leaves Highercoombe almost at once and remains with you some months?
Mrs. Cortelyon
It would be a mercy to me. You can afford to be generous to a desolate old widow. Come, Mrs. Tanqueray, wonāt you spare her?
Paula
Wonāt I spare her. Suspiciously. Have you mentioned your plan to Aubreyā ābefore I came in?
Mrs. Cortelyon
No, I had no opportunity.
Paula
Nor to Ellean?
Mrs. Cortelyon
Oh, no.
Paula
Looking about her, in suppressed excitement. This hasnāt been discussed at all, behind my back?
Mrs. Cortelyon
My dear Mrs. Tanqueray!
Paula
Ellean, let us hear your voice in the matter!
Ellean
I should like to go with Mrs. Cortelyonā ā
Paula
Ah!
Ellean
That is, ifā āifā ā
Paula
Ifā āif what?
Ellean
Looking towards Aubrey, appealingly. Papa!
Paula
In a hard voice. Oh, of courseā āI forgot. To Aubrey. My dear Aubrey, it rests with you, naturally, whether I amā āto loseā āEllean.
Aubrey
Lose Ellean! Advancing to Paula. There is no question of losing Ellean. You would see Ellean in town constantly when she returned from Paris; isnāt that so, Mrs. Cortelyon?
Mrs. Cortelyon
Certainly.
Paula
Laughing softly. Oh, I didnāt know I should be allowed that privilege.
Mrs. Cortelyon
Privilege, my dear Mrs. Tanqueray!
Paula
Ha, ha! that makes all the difference, doesnāt it?
Aubrey
With assumed gaiety. All the difference? I should think so! To Ellean, laying his hand upon her head, tenderly. And you are quite certain you wish to see what the world is like on the other side of Black Moor?
Ellean
If you are willing, papa, I am quite certain.
Aubrey
Looking at Paula irresolutely, then speaking with an effort. Then Iā āI am willing.
Paula
Rising and striking the table lightly with her clenched hand. That decides it! There is a general movement. Excitedly to Mrs. Cortelyon, who advances towards her. When do you want her?
Mrs. Cortelyon
We go to town this afternoon at five oāclock, and sleep tonight at Baylissās. There is barely time for her to make her preparations.
Paula
I will undertake that she is ready.
Mrs. Cortelyon
Iāve a great deal to scramble through at home too, as you may guess. Goodbye!
Paula
Turning away. Mrs. Cortelyon is going.
Paula stands looking out of the window, with her back to those in the room.
Mrs. Cortelyon
To Drummle. Cayleyā ā
Drummle
To her. Eh?
Mrs. Cortelyon
Iāve gone through it, for the sake of Aubrey and his child, but Iā āI feel a hundred. Is that a madwoman?
Drummle
Of course; all jealous women are mad.
He goes out with Aubrey.
Mrs. Cortelyon
Hesitatingly, to Paula. Goodbye, Mrs. Tanqueray.
Paula inclines her head with the slightest possible movement, then resumes her former position. Ellean comes from the hall and takes Mrs. Cortelyon out of the room. After a brief silence, Paula turns with a fierce cry, and hurriedly takes off her coat and hat, and tosses them upon the settee.
Paula
Oh! Oh! Oh! She drops into the chair as Aubrey returns; he stands looking at her. Whoās that?
Aubrey
I. You have altered your mind about going out?
Paula
Yes. Please to ring the bell.
Aubrey
Touching the bell. You are angry about Mrs. Cortelyon and Ellean. Let me try to explain my reasonsā ā
Paula
Be careful what you say to me just now! I have never felt like thisā āexcept onceā āin my life. Be careful what you say to me!
A Servant enters.
Paula
Rising. Is Watts at the door with the cart?
Servant
Yes, maāam.
Paula
Tell him to drive down to the post-office directly, with this.
Picking up the letter which has been lying upon the table.
Aubrey
With that?
Paula
Yes. My letter to Lady Orreyed.
Giving the letter to the Servant, who goes out.
Aubrey
Surely you donāt wish me to countermand any order of yours to a servant? Call the man backā ātake the letter from him!
Paula
I have not the slightest intention of doing so.
Aubrey
I must, then. Going to the door. She snatches up her hat and coat and follows him. What are you going to do?
Paula
If you stop that letter, walk out of the house.
He hesitates, then leaves the door.
Aubrey
I am right in believing that to be the letter inviting George Orreyed and his wife to stay here, am I not?
Paula
Oh yesā āquite right.
Aubrey
Let it go; Iāll write to him by-and-by.
Paula
Facing him. You dare!
Aubrey
Hush, Paula!
Paula
Insult me again and, upon my word, Iāll go straight out of the house!
Aubrey
Insult you?
Paula
Insult me! What else is it? My God! what else is it? What do you mean by taking Ellean from me?
Aubrey
Listenā ā!
Paula
Listen to me! And how do you take her? You pack her off in the care of a woman who has deliberately held aloof from me, whoās thrown mud at me! Yet this Cortelyon creature has only to put foot here once to be entrusted with the charge of the girl you know I dearly want to keep near me!
Aubrey
Paula dear! hear meā ā!
Paula
Ah! of course, of course! I canāt be so useful to your daughter as such people as this; and so Iām to be given the go-by for any town friend of yours who turns up and chooses to patronise us! Hah! Very well, at any rate, as you take Ellean from me you justify my looking for companions where I can most readily find āem.
Aubrey
You wish me to fully appreciate your reason for sending that letter to Lady Orreyed?
Paula
Preciselyā āI do.
Aubrey
And could you, after all, go back to associates of that order? Itās not possible!
Paula
Mockingly. What, not after the refining influence of these intensely respectable surroundings? Going to the door. Weāll see!
Aubrey
Paula!
Paula
Violently. Weāll see!
She goes out. He stands still looking after her.
Act III
The drawing-room at āHighercoombe.ā Facing the spectator are two large French windows, sheltered by a verandah, leading into the garden; on the right is a door opening into a small hall. The fireplace, with
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