You believe so thoroughly in him?
MRS. CORTELYON.
Do you think I should have only a headache at this minute if I
didn't! Look here, you've got to see me down the lane; that's the
least you can do, my friend. Come into my house for a moment and
shake hands with Hugh.
AUBREY.
What, is he here?
MRS. CORTELYON.
He came through with us, to present himself formally to-morrow.
Where are my gloves? [AUBREY _fetches them from the ottoman._] Make
my apologies to Mrs. Tanqueray, please. She's well, I hope? [_Going
towards the door._] I can't feel sorry she hasn't seen me in this
condition.
ELLEAN _enters._
ELLEAN.
[_To_ MRS. CORTELYON.] I've been waiting to wish you good-night. I
was afraid I'd missed you.
MRS. CORTELYON.
Good-night, Ellean.
ELLEAN.
[_In a low voice, embracing_ MRS. CORTELYON.] I can't thank you.
Dear Mrs. Cortelyon!
MRS. CORTELYON.
[_Her arms round_ ELLEAN, _in a whisper to_ AUBREY.] Speak a word to
her.
[MRS. CORTELYON _goes out._
AUBREY.
[_To_ ELLEAN.] Ellean, I'm going to see Mrs. Cortelyon home. Tell
Paula where I am; explain, dear.
[_Going to the door_
ELLEAN.
[_Her head drooping._] Yes. [_Quickly._] Father! You are angry with
me--disappointed?
AUBREY.
Angry?--no.
ELLEAN.
Disappointed?
AUBREY.
[_Smiling and going to her and taking her hand._] If so, it's only
because you've shaken my belief in my discernment. I thought you
took after your poor mother a little, Ellean; but there's a look on
your face to-night, dear, that I never saw on hers--never, never.
ELLEAN.
[_Leaning her head on his shoulder._] Perhaps I ought not to have
gone away?
AUBREY.
Hush! You're quite happy?
ELLEAN.
Yes.
AUBREY.
That's right. Then, as you are quite happy there is something I
particularly want you to do for me Ellean.
ELLEAN.
What is that?
AUBREY.
Be very gentle with Paula. Will you?
ELLEAN.
You think I have been unkind.
AUBREY.
[_Kissing her upon the forehead._] Be very gentle with Paula.
[_He goes out and she stands looking after him, then, as
she turns thoughtfully from the door, a rose is thrown
through the window and falls at her feet. She picks up
the flower wonderingly and goes to the window._
ELLEAN.
[_Starting back._] Hugh!
HUGH ARDALE, _a handsome young man of about seven-and-twenty,
with a boyish face and manner, appears outside the window._
HUGH.
Nelly! Nelly dear!
ELLEAN.
What's the matter?
HUGH.
Hush! Nothing. It's only fun. [_Laughing._] Ha, ha, ha! I've found
out that Mrs. Cortelyon's meadow runs up to your father's
plantation; I've come through a gap in the hedge.
ELLEAN.
Why, Hugh?
HUGH.
I'm miserable at The Warren; it's so different from the Avenue de
Friedland. Don't look like that! Upon my word I meant just to peep
at your home and go back, but I saw figures moving about here, and
came nearer, hoping to get a glimpse of you. Was that your father?
[_Entering the room._
ELLEAN.
Yes.
HUGH.
Isn't this fun! A rabbit ran across my foot while I was hiding
behind that old yew.
ELLEAN.
You must go away; it's not right for you to be here like this.
HUGH.
But it's only fun, I tell you. You take everything so seriously. Do
wish me good-night.
ELLEAN.
We have said good-night.
HUGH.
In the hall at The Warren before Mrs. Cortelyon and a man-servant.
Oh, it's so different from the Avenue de Friedland!
ELLEAN.
[_Giving him her hand hastily._] Good-night, Hugh.
HUGH.
Is that all? We might be the merest acquaintances.
[_He momentarily embraces her, but she releases herself._
ELLEAN.
It's when you're like this that you make me feel utterly miserable.
[_Throwing the rose from her angrily._] Oh!
HUGH.
I've offended you now, I suppose?
ELLEAN.
Yes.
HUGH.
Forgive me, Nelly. Come into the garden for five minutes; we'll
stroll down to the plantation.
ELLEAN.
No, no.
HUGH.
For two minutes--to tell me you forgive me.
ELLEAN.
I forgive you.
HUGH.
Evidently. I sha'n't sleep a wink to-night after this. What a fool I
am! Come down to the plantation. Make it up with me.
ELLEAN.
There is somebody coming into this room. Do you wish to be seen
here?
HUGH.
I shall wait for you behind that yew-tree. You must speak to me.
Nelly!
[_He disappears._ PAULA _enters._
PAULA.
Ellean!
ELLEAN.
You--you are very surprised to see me, Paula, of course.
PAULA.
Why are you here? Why aren't you with--your friend?
ELLEAN.
I've come home--if you'll have me. We left Paris this morning; Mrs.
Cortelyon brought me back. She was here a minute or two ago; papa
has just gone with her to The Warren. He asked me to tell you.
PAULA.
There are some people staying with us that I'd rather you didn't
meet. It was hardly worth your while to return for a few hours.
ELLEAN.
A few hours?
PAULA.
Well, when do you go to London?
ELLEAN.
I don't think I go to London, after all.
PAULA.
[_Eagerly._] You--you've quarrelled with her?
ELLEAN.
No, no, no, not that; but--Paula! [_In an altered tone._] Paula.
PAULA.
[_Startled._] Eh? [ELLEAN _goes deliberately to_ PAULA _and kisses
her._] Ellean!
ELLEAN.
Kiss me.
PAULA.
What--what's come to you?
ELLEAN.
I want to behave differently to you in the future. Is it too late?
PAULA.
Too--late! [_Impulsively kissing_ ELLEAN _and crying._] No--no--no!
No--no!
ELLEAN.
Paula, don't cry.
PAULA.
[_Wiping her eyes_] I'm a little shaky; I haven't 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 to-day, 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 to-night! 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
to-night. From to-night!
HUGH.
Paula----
PAULA.
Don't you call me that!
HUGH.
Mrs. Tanqueray, there is no cause for you to despair in this way.
It's all right, I tell you--it shall be all right.
PAULA.
[_Shivering._] What are we to do?
HUGH.
Hold our tongues.
PAULA.
Eh?
[_Staring vacantly._
HUGH.
The chances are a hundred to one against any one ever turning up who
knew us when we were together. Besides, no one would be such a brute
as to split on us. If anybody did do such a thing we should have to
lie! What are we upsetting ourselves like this for, when we've
simply got to hold our tongues?
PAULA.
You're as mad as I am!
HUGH.
Can you think of a better plan?
PAULA.
There's only one plan possible--let's come to our senses!--Mr.
Tanqueray must be told.
HUGH.
Your husband! What, and I lose Ellean! I lose Ellean!
PAULA.
You've got to lose her.
HUGH.
I won't lose her! I can't lose her!
PAULA.
Didn't I read of your doing any number of brave things in India?
Why, you seem to be an awful coward!
HUGH.
That's another sort of pluck altogether; I haven't this sort of
pluck.
PAULA.
Oh, I don't ask _you_ to tell Mr. Tanqueray. That's my job.
HUGH.
[_Standing over her._] You--you--you'd better! You----!
PAULA.
[_Rising._] Don't bully me! I intend to.
HUGH.
[_Taking hold of her; she wrenches herself free._] Look here,
Paula! I never treated you badly--you've owned it. Why should you
want to pay me out like this? You don't know how I love Ellean!
PAULA.
Yes, that's just what I _do_ know.
HUGH.
I say you don't! She's as good as my own mother. I've been downright
honest with her too. I told her, in Paris, that I'd been a bit wild
at one time, and, after a damned wretched day, she promised to
forgive me because of what I'd done since in India. She's behaved
like an angel to me! Surely I oughtn't to lose her, after all, just
because I've been like other fellows! No; I haven't been half as
rackety as a hundred men we could think of. Paula, don't pay me out
for nothing; be fair to me, there's a good girl--be fair to me!
PAULA.
Oh, I'm not considering you at all! I advise you not to stay here
any longer; Mr. Tanqueray is sure to be back soon.
HUGH.
[_Taking up his hat._] What's the understanding between us then?
What have we arranged to do?
PAULA.
I don't know what you're going to do; I've got to tell Mr.
Tanqueray.
HUGH.
By God, you shall do nothing of the sort!
[_Approaching her fiercely._
PAULA.
You shocking coward!
HUGH.
If you dare! [_Going up to the window._] Mind! If you dare!
PAULA.
[_Following him._] Why, what would you do?
HUGH.
[_After a short pause, sullenly._] Nothing. I'd shoot myself--that's
nothing. Good-night.
PAULA.
Good-night.
[_He disappears. She walks unsteadily to the ottoman, and
sits; and as she does so her hand falls upon the little
silver mirror, which she takes up, staring at her own
reflection._
THE FOURTH ACT
_The Drawing room at "Highercoombe," the same evening._
PAULA _is still seated on the ottoman, looking vacantly before
her, with the little mirror in her hand._ LADY ORREYED
_enters._
LADY ORREYED.
There you are! You never came into the billiard-room. Isn't it
maddening--Cayley Drummle gives me sixty out of a hundred and beats
me. I must be out of form, because I know I play remarkably well for
a lady. Only last month---- [PAULA _rises._] Whatever is the matter
with you, old girl?
PAULA.
Why?
LADY ORREYED.
[_Staring._] It's the light, I suppose. [PAULA _replaces the mirror
on the table._] By Aubrey's bolting from the billiard-table in that
fashion I thought perhaps----
PAULA.
Yes; it's all right.
LADY ORREYED.
You've patched it up? [PAULA _nods._] Oh, I am jolly glad----! I
mean----
PAULA.
Yes, I know what you mean. Thanks, Mabel.
LADY ORREYED.
[_Kissing_ PAULA.] Now take my advice; for the future----
PAULA.
Mabel, if I've been disagreeable to you while you've been staying
here, I--I beg your pardon.
[_Walking away and sitting down._
LADY ORREYED.
You disagreeable, my dear? I haven't noticed it. Dodo and me both
consider you make a first-class hostess, but then you've had such
practice, haven't you? [_Dropping on to the ottoman and gaping._]
Oh, talk about being sleepy----!
PAULA.
Why don't you----!
LADY ORREYED.
Why, dear, I must hang about for Dodo. You may as well know it; he's
in one of his moods.
PAULA.
[_Under her breath._] Oh----!
LADY ORREYED.
Now, it's not his fault; it was deadly dull for him while we were
playing billiards. Cayley Drummle did ask him to mark, but I stopped
that; it's so easy to make a gentleman look like a billiard-marker.
This is just how it always is; if poor old Dodo has nothing to do,
he loses count, as you may say.
PAULA.
Hark!
SIR GEORGE ORREYED _enters, walking slowly and deliberately;
he looks pale and watery-eyed._
SIR GEORGE.
[_With mournful indistinctness._] I'm 'fraid we've lef' you a grea'
deal to yourself to-night, Mrs. Tanqueray. Attra'tions of billiards.
I apol'gise. I say, where's ol' Aubrey?
PAULA.
My husband has been obliged to go out to a neighbour's house.
SIR GEORGE.
I want his advice on a rather pressing matter connected with my
family--my family. [_Sitting._] To-morrow will do just as well.
LADY ORREYED.
[_To_ PAULA.] This is the mood I hate so--drivelling about his
precious family.
SIR GEORGE.
The fact is, Mrs. Tanqueray, I am not easy in my min' 'bout the way
I am treatin' my poor ol' mother.
LADY ORREYED.
[_To_ PAULA.] Do you hear that? That's _his_ mother, but _my_ mother
he won't so much as look at!
SIR GEORGE.
I shall write to Bruton Street firs' thing in the morning.
LADY ORREYED.
[_To_ PAULA.] Mamma has stuck to me through everything--well, you
know!
SIR GEORGE.
I'll get ol' Aubrey to figure out a letter. I'll drop line to Uncle
Fitz too--dooced shame of the ol' feller to chuck me over in this
manner. [_Wiping his eyes._] All my family have chucked me over.
LADY ORREYED.
[_Rising._] Dodo!
SIR GEORGE.
Jus' because I've married beneath me, to be chucked over! Aunt
Lydia, the General, Hooky Whitgrave, Lady Sugnall--my own dear
sister!--all turn their backs on me. It's more than I can stan'!
LADY ORREYED.
[_Approaching him with dignity._] Sir George, wish Mrs. Tanqueray
good-night at once and come upstairs. Do you hear me?
SIR GEORGE.
[_Rising angrily._] Wha'----
LADY ORREYED.
Be quiet!
SIR GEORGE.
You presoom to order me about!
LADY ORREYED.
You're making an exhibition of yourself!
SIR GEORGE.
Look 'ere----!
LADY ORREYED.
Come along, I tell you!
[_He hesitates, utters a few inarticulate sounds, then
snatches up a fragile ornament from the table, and is
about to dash it on to the ground._ LADY ORREYED
_retreats, and_ PAULA _goes to him._
PAULA.
George!
[_He replaces the ornament._
SIR GEORGE.
[_Shaking_ PAULA'S _hand._] Good ni', Mrs. Tanqueray.
LADY ORREYED.
[_To_ PAULA.] Good-night, darling. Wish Aubrey good-night for me.
Now, Dodo?
[_She goes out._
SIR GEORGE.
[_To_ PAULA.] I say, are you goin' to sit up for ol' Aubrey?
PAULA.
Yes.
SIR GEORGE.
Shall I keep you comp'ny?
PAULA.
No, thank you, George.
SIR GEORGE.
Sure?
PAULA.
Yes, sure.
SIR GEORGE.
[_Shaking hands._] Good-night again.
PAULA.
Good-night.
[_She turns away. He goes out, steadying himself carefully.
Drummle appears outside the window, smoking._
DRUMMLE.
[_Looking into the room, and seeing_ PAULA.] My last cigar. Where's
Aubrey?
PAULA.
Gone down to The Warren, to see Mrs. Cortelyon home.
DRUMMLE.
[_Entering the room._] Eh? Did you say Mrs. Cortelyon?
PAULA.
Yes. She has brought Ellean back.
DRUMMLE.
Bless my soul! Why?
PAULA.
I--I'm too tired to tell you, Cayley. If you stroll along the lane
you'll meet Aubrey. Get the news from him.
DRUMMLE.
[_Going up to the window._] Yes, yes. [_Returning to_ PAULA.] I
don't want to bother you, only--the anxious old woman, you know. Are
you and Aubrey----?
PAULA.
Good friends again?
DRUMMLE.
[_Nodding._] Um.
PAULA.
[_Giving him her hand._] Quite, Cayley, quite.
DRUMMLE.
[_Retaining her hand._] That's capital. As I'm off so early
to-morrow morning, let me say now--thank you for your hospitality.
[_He bends over her hand gallantly, then goes out by the
window._
PAULA.
[_To herself._] "Are you and Aubrey----?" "Good friends again?"
"Yes." "Quite, Cayley, quite."
[_There is a brief pause, then_ AUBREY _enters hurriedly,
wearing a light overcoat and carrying a cap._
AUBREY.
Paula dear! Have you seen Ellean?
PAULA.
I found her here when I came down.
AUBREY.
She--she's told you?
PAULA.
Yes, Aubrey.
AUBREY.
It's extraordinary, isn't it! Not that somebody should fall in love
with Ellean or that Ellean herself should fall in love. All that's
natural enough and was bound to happen, I suppose, sooner or later.
But this young fellow! You know his history?
PAULA.
His history?
AUBREY.
You remember the papers were full of his name a few months ago?
PAULA.
Oh, yes.
AUBREY.
The man's as brave as a lion, there's no doubt about that; and, at
the same time, he's like a big good-natured schoolboy, Mrs.
Cortelyon says. Have you ever pictured the kind of man Ellean would
marry some day?
PAULA.
I can't say that I have.
AUBREY.
A grave, sedate fellow I've thought about--hah! She has fallen in
love with the way in which Ardale practically laid down his life to
save those poor people shut up in the Residency. [_Taking off his
coat._] Well, I suppose if a man can do that sort of thing, one
ought to be content. And yet---- [_Throwing his coat on the
settee._] I should have met him to-night, but he'd gone out. Paula
dear, tell me how you look upon this business.
PAULA.
Yes, I will--I must. To begin with, I--I've seen Mr. Ardale.
AUBREY.
Captain Ardale?
PAULA.
Captain Ardale.
AUBREY.
Seen him?
PAULA.
While you were away he came up here, through our grounds, to try to
get a word with Ellean. I made her fetch him in and present him to
me.
AUBREY.
[_Frowning._] Doesn't Captain Ardale know there's a lodge and a
front door to this place? Never mind! What is your impression of
him?
PAULA.
Aubrey, do you recollect my bringing you a letter--a letter giving
you an account of myself--to the Albany late one night--the night
before we got married?
AUBREY.
A letter?
PAULA.
You burnt it; don't you know?
AUBREY.
Yes; I know.
PAULA.
His name was in that letter.
AUBREY.
[_Going back from her slowly, and staring at her._] I don't
understand.
PAULA.
Well--Ardale and I once kept house together. [_He remains silent,
not moving._] Why don't you strike me? Hit me in the face--I'd
rather you did! Hurt me! hurt me!
AUBREY.
[_After a pause._] What did you--and this man--say to each
other--just now?
PAULA.
I--hardly--know.
AUBREY.
Think!
PAULA.
The end of it all was that I--I told him I must inform you of--what
had happened ... he didn't want me to do that ... I declared that I
would ... he dared me to. [_Breaking down._] Let me alone!--oh!
AUBREY.
Where was my daughter while this went on?
PAULA.
I--I had sent her out of the room ... that is all right.
AUBREY.
Yes, yes--yes, yes.
[_He turns his head towards the door._
PAULA.
Who's that?
_A_ SERVANT _enters with a letter._
SERVANT.
The coachman has just run up with this from The Warren, sir. [AUBREY
_takes the letter._] It's for Mrs. Tanqueray, sir; there's no
answer.
[_The_ SERVANT _withdraws._ AUBREY _goes to_ PAULA _and
drops the letter into her lap; she opens it with
uncertain hands._
PAULA.
[_Reading it to herself._] It's from--him. He's going away--or
gone--I think. [_Rising in a weak way._] What does it say? I never
could make out his writing.
[_She gives the letter to_ AUBREY _and stands near him,
looking at the letter over his shoulder as he reads._
AUBREY.
[_Reading._] "I shall be in Paris by to-morrow evening. Shall wait
there, at Meurice's, for a week, ready to receive any communication
you or your husband may address to me. Please invent some
explanation to Ellean. Mrs. Tanqueray, for God's sake, do what you
can for me."
[PAULA _and_ AUBREY _speak in low voices, both still
looking at the letter._
PAULA.
Has he left The Warren, I wonder, already?
AUBREY.
That doesn't matter.
PAULA.
No, but I can picture him going quietly off. Very likely he's
walking on to Bridgeford or Cottering to-night, to get the first
train in the morning. A pleasant stroll for him.
AUBREY.
We'll reckon he's gone, that's enough.
PAULA.
That isn't to be answered in any way?
AUBREY.
Silence will answer that.
PAULA.
He'll soon recover his spirits, I know.
AUBREY.
You know. [_Offering her the letter._] You don't want this, I
suppose?
PAULA.
No.
AUBREY.
It's done with--done with.
[_He tears the letter into small pieces. She has dropped
the envelope; she searches for it, finds it, and gives
it to him._
PAULA.
Here!
AUBREY.
[_Looking at the remnants of the letter._] This is no good; I must
burn it.
PAULA.
Burn it in your room.
AUBREY.
Yes.
PAULA.
Put it in your pocket for now.
AUBREY.
Yes.
[_He does so._ ELLEAN _enters and they both turn,
guiltily, and stare at her._
ELLEAN.
[_After a short silence, wonderingly._] Papa----
AUBREY.
What do you want, Ellean?
ELLEAN.
I heard from Willis that you had come in; I only want to wish you
good-night. [PAULA _steals away, without looking back._] What's the
matter? Ah! Of course, Paula has told you about Captain Ardale?
AUBREY.
Well?
ELLEAN.
Have you and he met?
AUBREY.
No.
ELLEAN.