Man and Superman, George Bernard Shaw [hardest books to read txt] 📗

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. Goodbye. 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 have done. You are entirely in the right; and the family is entirely in the wrong. Sensation. Ann and Miss Ramsden rise and turn toward the two. Violet, more surprised than any of the others, forgets her glove, and comes forward into the middle of the room, both puzzled and displeased. Octavius alone does not move or raise his head; he is overwhelmed with shame. Ann Pleading to Tanner to be sensible. Jack! Miss Ramsden Outraged. Well, I must say! Violet Sharply to Tanner. Who told you? Tanner Why, Ramsden and Tavy of course. Why should they not? Violet But they don’t know. Tanner Don’t know what? Violet They don’t know that I am in the right, I mean. Tanner Oh, they know it in their hearts, though they think themselves bound to blame you by their silly superstitions about morality and propriety and so forth. But I know, and the whole world really knows,