The Second Mrs. Tanqueray Arthur W. Pinero (free children's online books txt) đ
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epub:type="z3998:persona">Drummle inclines his head silently. There is something of a yachting cruise in the Mediterranean too, is there not?
Drummle
I joined Peter Jarmanâs yacht at Marseilles, in the Spring, a month before he died.
Aubrey
Mrs. Jarman was on board?
Drummle
She was a kind hostess.
Aubrey
And an old acquaintance?
Drummle
Yes.
Aubrey
You have told your story.
Drummle
With your assistance.
Aubrey
I have put you to the pain of telling it to show you that this is not the case of a blind man entrapped by an artful woman. Let me add that Mrs. Jarman has no legal right to that name, that she is simply Miss Rayâ âMiss Paula Ray.
Drummle
After a pause. I should like to express my regret, Aubrey, for the way in which I spoke of George Orreyedâs marriage.
Aubrey
You mean you compare Lady Orreyed with Miss Ray? Drummle is silent. Oh, of course! To you, Cayley, all women who have been roughly treated, and who dare to survive by borrowing a little of our philosophy, are alike. You see in the crowd of the ill-used only one pattern; you canât detect the shades of goodness, intelligence, even nobility there. Well, how should you? The crowd is dimly lighted! And, besides, yours is the way of the world.
Drummle
My dear Aubrey, I live in the world.
Aubrey
The name we give our little parish of St. Jamesâs.
Drummle
Laying a hand on Aubreyâs shoulder. And you are quite prepared, my friend, to forfeit the esteem of your little parish?
Aubrey
I avoid mortification by shifting from one parish to another. I give up Pall Mall for the Surrey hills; leave off varnishing my boots and double the thickness of the soles.
Drummle
And your skinâ âdo you double the thickness of that also?
Aubrey
I know you think me a fool, Cayleyâ âyou neednât infer that Iâm a coward into the bargain. No! I know what Iâm doing, and I do it deliberately, defiantly. Iâm alone; I injure no living soul by the step Iâm going to take; and so you canât urge the one argument which might restrain me. Of course, I donât expect you to think compassionately, fairly even, of the woman whom Iâ âwhom I am drawn toâ â
Drummle
My dear Aubrey, I assure you I consider Mrs.â âMiss Jarmanâ âMrs. Rayâ âMiss Rayâ âdelightful. But I confess there is a form of chivalry which I gravely distrust, especially in a man ofâ âour age.
Aubrey
Thanks. Iâve heard you say that from forty till fifty a man is at heart either a stoic or a satyr.
Drummle
Protestingly. Ah! nowâ â
Aubrey
I am neither. I have a temperate, honourable affection for Mrs. Jarman. She has never met a man who has treated her wellâ âI intend to treat her well. Thatâs all. And in a few years, Cayley, if youâve not quite forsaken me, Iâll prove to you that itâs possible to rear a life of happiness, of good repute, on aâ âmiserable foundation.
Drummle
Offering his hand. Do prove it!
Aubrey
Taking his hand. We have spoken too freely ofâ âof Mrs. Jarman. I was excitedâ âangry. Please forget it!
Drummle
My dear Aubrey, when we next meet I shall remember nothing but my respect for the lady who bears your name.
Morse enters, closing the door behind him carefully.
Aubrey
What is it?
Morse
Hesitatingly. May I speak to you, Sir? In an undertone. Mrs. Jarman, sir.
Aubrey
Softly to Morse. Mrs. Jarman! Do you mean she is at the lodge in her carriage?
Morse
No, sirâ âhere. Aubrey looks towards Drummle, perplexed. Thereâs a nice fire in yourâ âin that room, sir. Glancing in the direction of the door leading to the bedroom.
Aubrey
Between his teeth, angrily. Very well.
Morse retires.
Drummle
Looking at his watch. A quarter to elevenâ âhorrible! Taking up his hat and coat. Must get to bedâ âup late every night this week. Aubrey assists Drummle with his coat. Thank you. Well, good night, Aubrey. I feel Iâve been dooced serious, quite out of keeping with myself; pray overlook it.
Aubrey
Kindly. Ah, Cayley!
Drummle
Putting on a neck-handkerchief. And remember that, after all, Iâm merely a spectator in life; nothing more than a man at a play, in fact; only, like the old-fashioned playgoer, I love to see certain characters happy and comfortable at the finish. You understand?
Aubrey
I think I do.
Drummle
Then, for as long as you can, old friend, will youâ âkeep a stall for me?
Aubrey
Yes, Cayley.
Drummle
Gaily. Ah, ha! Good night! Bustling to the door. Donât bother! Iâll let myself out! Good night! God bless yer!
He goes out; Aubrey follows him. Morse enters by the other door, carrying some unopened letters which after a little consideration he places on the mantelpiece against the clock. Aubrey returns.
Aubrey
Yes?
Morse
You hadnât seen your letters that came by the nine oâclock post, sir; Iâve put âem where theyâll catch your eye by-and-by.
Aubrey
Thank you.
Morse
Hesitatingly. Gunterâs cook and waiter have gone, sir. Would you prefer me to go to bed?
Aubrey
Frowning. Certainly not.
Morse
Very well, sir.
He goes out.
Aubrey
Opening the upper door. Paula! Paula!
Paula enters and throws her arms round his neck. She is a young woman of about twenty-seven: beautiful, fresh, innocent-looking. She is in superb evening dress.
Paula
Dearest!
Aubrey
Why have you come here?
Paula
Angry?
Aubrey
Yesâ âno. But itâs eleven oâclock.
Paula
Laughing. I know.
Aubrey
What on earth will Morse think?
Paula
Do you trouble yourself about what servants think?
Aubrey
Of course.
Paula
Goose! Theyâre only machines made to wait upon peopleâ âand to give evidence in the Divorce Court. Looking round. Oh, indeed! A snug little dinner!
Aubrey
Three men.
Paula
Suspiciously. Men?
Aubrey
Men.
Paula
Penitently. Ah! Sitting at the table. Iâm so hungry.
Aubrey
Let me get you some game pie, or someâ â
Paula
No, no, hungry for this. What beautiful fruit! I love fruit when itâs expensive. He clears a space on the table, places a plate before her, and helps her to fruit. I havenât dined, Aubrey dear.
Aubrey
My poor girl! Why?
Paula
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