The Second Mrs. Tanqueray by Arthur W. Pinero (top 100 novels TXT) 📕

been sleeping. It’s all right⁠—talk to me. Ellean There is something I want to tell you⁠— Paula Is there⁠—is there? They sit together on the ottoman, Paula taking Ellean’s hand. Ellean Paula, in our house in the Avenue de Friedland, on the floor below us, there was a Mrs. Brereton. She used to be a friend of my mother’s. Mrs. Cortelyon and I spent a great deal of our time with her. Paula Suspiciously. Oh! Letting Ellean’s hand fall. Is this lady going to take you up in place of Mrs. Cortelyon? Ellean No, no. Her brother is staying with her⁠—was staying with her. Her brother⁠— Breaking off in confusion. Paula Well? Ellean Almost inaudibly. Paula⁠— She rises and walks away, Paula following her. Paula Ellean! Taking hold of her. You’re not in love! Ellean looks at Paula appealingly. Paula Oh! You in love! You! Oh, this is why you’ve come home! Of course, you can make friends with me now! You’ll leave us for good soon, I suppose; so it doesn’t much matter being civil to me for a little while! Ellean Oh, Paula! Paula Why, how you have deceived us⁠—all of us! We’ve taken you for a cold-blooded little saint. The fools you’ve made of us! Saint Ellean! Saint Ellean! Ellean Ah, I might have known you’d only mock me! Paula Her tone changing. Eh? Ellean I⁠—I can’t talk to you. Sitting on the settee. You do nothing else but mock and sneer, nothing else. Paula Ellean dear! Ellean! I didn’t mean it. I’m so horribly jealous, it’s a sort of curse on me. Kneeling beside Ellean and embracing her. My tongue runs away with me. I’m going to alter, I swear I am. I’ve made some good resolutions, and, as God’s above me, I’ll keep them! If you are in love, if you do ever marry, that’s no reason why we shouldn’t be fond of each other. Come, you’ve kissed me of your own accord⁠—you can’t take it back. Now we’re friends again, aren’t we? Ellean dear! I want to know everything, everything. Ellean dear, Ellean! Ellean Paula, Hugh has done something that makes me very angry. He came with us from Paris today, to see papa. He is staying with Mrs. Cortelyon and⁠—I ought to tell you⁠— Paula Yes, yes. What? Ellean He has found his way by The Warren meadow through the plantation up to this house. He is waiting to bid me good night. Glancing towards the garden. He is⁠—out there. Paula Oh! Ellean What shall I do? Paula Bring him in to see me! Will you? Ellean No, no. Paula But I’m dying to know him. Oh, yes, you must. I shall meet him before Aubrey does. Excitedly running her hands over her hair. I’m so glad. Ellean goes out by the window. The mirror⁠—mirror. What a fright I must look! Not finding the hand-glass on the table, she jumps on to the settee, and surveys herself in the mirror over the mantelpiece, then sits quietly down and waits. Ellean! Just fancy! Ellean! After a pause Ellean enters by the window with Hugh. Ellean Paula, this is Captain Ardale⁠—Mrs. Tanqueray. Paula risen and turns, and she and Hugh stand staring blankly at each other for a moment or two; then Paula advances and gives him her hand. Paula In a strange voice, but calmly. How do you do? Hugh How do you do? Paula To Ellean. Mr. Ardale and I have met in London, Ellean. Er⁠—Captain Ardale, now? Hugh Yes. Ellean In London? Paula They say the world’s very small, don’t they? Hugh Yes. Paula Ellean, dear, I want to have a little talk about you to Mr. Ardale⁠—Captain Ardale⁠—alone. Putting her arms round Ellean, and leading her to the door. Come back in a little while. Ellean nods to Paula with a smile and goes out, while Paula stands watching her at the open door. In a little while⁠—in a little⁠—Closing the door and then taking a seat facing Hugh. Be quick! Mr. Tanqueray has only gone down to The Warren with Mrs. Cortelyon. What is to be done? Hugh Blankly. Done? Paula Done⁠—done. Something must be done. Hugh I understood that Mr. Tanqueray had married a Mrs.⁠—Mrs.⁠— Paula Jarman? Hugh Yes. Paula I’d been going by that name. You didn’t follow my doings after we separated. Hugh No. Paula Sneeringly. No. Hugh I went out to India. Paula What’s to be done? Hugh Damn this chance! Paula Oh, my God! Hugh Your husband doesn’t know, does he? Paula That you and I⁠—? Hugh Yes. Paula No. He knows about others. Hugh Not about me. How long were we⁠—? Paula I don’t remember, exactly. Hugh Do you⁠—do you think it matters? Paula His⁠—his daughter. With a muttered exclamation he turns away and sits with his head in his hands. What’s to be done? Hugh I wish I could think. Paula Oh! Oh! What happened to that flat of ours in Ethelbert Street? Hugh I let it. Paula All that pretty furniture? Hugh Sold it. Paula I came across the key of the escritoire the other day in an old purse! Suddenly realising the horror and hopelessness of her position, and starting to her feet with an hysterical cry of rage. What am I maundering about? Hugh For God’s sake, be quiet! Do let me think. Paula This will send me mad! Suddenly turning and standing over him. You⁠—you beast, to crop up in my life again like this! Hugh I always treated you fairly. Paula Weakly. Oh! I beg your pardon⁠—I know you did⁠—I⁠— She sinks on to the settee, crying hysterically. Hugh Hush! Paula She kissed me tonight! I’d won her over! I’ve had such a fight to make her love me! And now⁠—just as she’s beginning to love me, to bring this on her! Hugh Hush, hush! Don’t break down! Paula Sobbing. You don’t know! I⁠—I haven’t been getting on well in my marriage. It’s been my fault. The life I used to lead spoilt me completely. But I’d made up my mind to turn over a new life from tonight. From tonight! Hugh Paula⁠— Paula Don’t you call me that! Hugh Mrs. Tanqueray, there is no cause