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

I am sure she objects. Doesn’t she, Ramsden? Ramsden I should think it very likely indeed. Ann You don’t object, do you, mother? Mrs. Whitefield I object! Why should I? I think it will do you good, Ann. Trotting over to Tanner. I meant to ask you to take Rhoda out for a run occasionally: she is too much in the house; but it will do when you come back. Tanner Abyss beneath abyss of perfidy! Ann Hastily, to distract attention from this outburst. Oh, I forgot: you have not met Mr. Malone. Mr. Tanner, my guardian: Mr. Hector Malone. Hector Pleased to meet you, Mr. Tanner. I should like to suggest an extension of the travelling party to Nice, if I may. Ann Oh, we’re all coming. That’s understood, isn’t it? Hector I also am the modest possessor of a motor car. If Miss Robinson will allow me the privilege of taking her, my car is at her service. Octavius Violet! General constraint. Ann Subduedly. Come, mother: we must leave them to talk over the arrangements. I must see to my travelling kit. Mrs. Whitefield looks bewildered; but Ann draws her discreetly away; and they disappear round the corner towards the house. Hector I think I may go so far as to say that I can depend on Miss Robinson’s consent. Continued embarrassment. Octavius I’m afraid we must leave Violet behind, There are circumstances which make it impossible for her to come on such an expedition. Hector Amused and not at all convinced. Too American, eh? Must the young lady have a chaperone? Octavius It’s not that, Malone⁠—at least not altogether. Hector Indeed! May I ask what other objection applies? Tanner Impatiently. Oh, tell him, tell him. We shall never be able to keep the secret unless everybody knows what it is. Mr. Malone: if you go to Nice with Violet, you go with another man’s wife. She is married. Hector Thunderstruck. You don’t tell me so! Tanner We do. In confidence. Ramsden With an air of importance, lest Malone should suspect a misalliance. Her marriage has not yet been made known: she desires that it shall not be mentioned for the present. Hector I shall respect the lady’s wishes. Would it be indiscreet to ask who her husband is, in case I should have an opportunity of consulting him about this trip? Tanner We don’t know who he is. Hector Retiring into his shell in a very marked manner. In that case, I have no more to say. They become more embarrassed than ever. Octavius You must think this very strange. Hector A little singular. Pardon me for saving so. Ramsden Half apologetic, half huffy. The young lady was married secretly; and her husband has forbidden her, it seems, to declare his name. It is only right to tell you, since you are interested in Miss⁠—er⁠—in Violet. Octavius Sympathetically. I hope this is not a disappointment to you. Hector Softened, coming out of his shell again. Well it is a blow. I can hardly understand how a man can leave a wife in such a position. Surely it’s not customary. It’s not manly. It’s not considerate. Octavius We feel that, as you may imagine, pretty deeply. Ramsden Testily. It is some young fool who has not enough experience to know what mystifications of this kind lead to. Hector With strong symptoms of moral repugnance. I hope so. A man need be very young and pretty foolish too to be excused for such conduct. You take a very lenient view, Mr. Ramsden. Too lenient to my mind. Surely marriage should ennoble a man. Tanner Sardonically. Ha! Hector Am I to gather from that cacchination that you don’t agree with me, Mr. Tanner? Tanner Drily. Get married and try. You may find it delightful for a while: you certainly won’t find it ennobling. The greatest common measure of a man and a woman is not necessarily greater than the man’s single measure. Hector Well, we think in America that a woman’s moral number is higher than a man’s, and that the purer nature of a woman lifts a man right out of himself, and makes him better than he was. Octavius With conviction. So it does. Tanner No wonder American women prefer to live in Europe! It’s more comfortable than standing all their lives on an altar to be worshipped. Anyhow, Violet’s husband has not been ennobled. So what’s to be done? Hector Shaking his head. I can’t dismiss that man’s conduct as lightly as you do, Mr. Tanner. However, I’ll say no more. Whoever he is, he’s Miss Robinson’s husband; and I should be glad for her sake to think better of him. Octavius Touched; for he divines a secret sorrow. I’m very sorry, Malone. Very sorry. Hector Gratefully. You’re a good fellow, Robinson, Thank you. Tanner Talk about something else. Violet’s coming from the house. Hector I should esteem it a very great favor, men, if you would take the opportunity to let me have a few words with the lady alone. I shall have to cry off this trip; and it’s rather a delicate⁠— Ramsden Glad to escape. Say no more. Come Tanner, Come, Tavy. He strolls away into the park with Octavius and Tanner, past the motor car. Violet comes down the avenue to Hector. Violet Are they looking? Hector No. She kisses him. Violet Have you been telling lies for my sake? Hector Lying! Lying hardly describes it. I overdo it. I get carried away in an ecstasy of mendacity. Violet: I wish you’d let me own up. Violet Instantly becoming serious and resolute. No, no. Hector: you promised me not to. Hector I’ll keep my promise until you release me from it. But I feel mean, lying to those men, and denying my wife. Just dastardly. Violet I wish your father were not so unreasonable. Hector He’s not unreasonable. He’s right from his point of view. He has a prejudice against the English middle class. Violet It’s too ridiculous. You know how I dislike saying such things to you, Hector; but if I were to⁠—oh, well, no matter. Hector I know. If you were to marry