第12章
Husband and wife should be together.You were brought up to that.
Your father and mother--
MEGAN.Never was.
WELLWYN.[Turning from the picture.] The question is, Megan: Will you take your wife home? She's a good little soul.
MEGAN.She never let me know it.
[There is a feeble knock on the door.]
WELLWYN.Well, now come.Here she is!
[He points to the door, and stands regarding MEGAN with his friendly smile.]
MEGAN.[With a gleam of responsiveness.] I might, perhaps, to please you, sir.
BERTLEY.[Appropriating the gesture.] Capital, I thought we should get on in time.
MEGAN.Yus.
[WELLWYN opens the door.MRS.MEGAN and FERRAND are revealed.
They are about to enter, but catching sight of MEGAN, hesitate.]
BERTLEY.Come in! Come in!
[MRS.MEGAN enters stolidly.FERRAND, following, stands apart with an air of extreme detachment.MEGAN, after a quick glance at them both, remains unmoved.No one has noticed that the door of the model's room has been opened, and that the unsteady figure of old TIMSON is standing there.]
BERTLEY.[A little awkward in the presence of FERRAND--to the MEGANS.] This begins a new chapter.We won't improve the occasion.
No need.
[MEGAN, turning towards his wife, makes her a gesture as if to say: "Here! let's get out of this!"]
BENTLEY.Yes, yes, you'll like to get home at once--I know.[He holds up his hand mechanically.]
TIMSON.I forbids the banns.
BERTLEY, [Startled.] Gracious!
TIMSON.[Extremely unsteady.] Just cause and impejiment.There 'e stands.[He points to FERRAND.] The crimson foreigner! The mockin'
jay!
WELLWYN.Timson!
TIMSON.You're a gen'leman--I'm aweer o' that but I must speak the truth--[he waves his hand] an' shame the devil!
BERTLEY.Is this the rum--?
TIMSON.[Struck by the word.] I'm a teetotaler.
WELLWYN.Timson, Timson!
TIMSON.Seein' as there's ladies present, I won't be conspicuous.
[Moving away, and making for the door, he strikes against the dais, and mounts upon it.] But what I do say, is: He's no better than 'er and she's worse.
BERTLEY.This is distressing.
FERRAND.[Calmly.] On my honour, Monsieur!
[TIMSON growls.]
WELLWYN.Now, now, Timson!
TIMSON.That's all right.You're a gen'leman, an' I'm a gen'leman, but he ain't an' she ain't.
WELLWYN.We shall not believe you.
BERTLEY.No, no; we shall not believe you.
TIMSON.[Heavily.] Very well, you doubts my word.Will it make any difference, Guv'nor, if I speaks the truth?
BERTLEY.No, certainly not--that is--of course, it will.
TIMSON.Well, then, I see 'em plainer than I see [pointing at BERTLEY] the two of you.
WELLWYN.Be quiet, Timson!
BERTLEY.Not even her husband believes you.
MEGAN.[Suddenly.] Don't I!
WELLWYN.Come, Megan, you can see the old fellow's in Paradise.
BERTLEY.Do you credit such a--such an object?
[He points at TIMSON, who seems falling asleep.
MEGAN.Naow!
[Unseen by anybody, ANN has returned.
BERTLEY.Well, then, my boy?
MEGAN.I seen 'em meself.
BERTLEY.Gracious! But just now you were will--MEGAN.[Sardonically.] There wasn't nothing against me honour, then.Now you've took it away between you, cumin' aht with it like this.I don't want no more of 'er, and I'll want a good deal more of 'im; as 'e'll soon find.
[He jerks his chin at FERRAND, turns slowly on his heel, and goes out into the street.]
[There follows a profound silence.]
ANN.What did I say, Daddy? Utter! All three.
[Suddenly alive to her presence, they all turn.
TIMSON.[Waking up and looking round him.] Well, p'raps I'd better go.
[Assisted by WELLWYN he lurches gingerly off the dais towards the door, which WELLWYN holds open for him.
TIMSON.[Mechanically.] Where to, sir?
[Receiving no answer he passes out, touching his hat; and the door is closed.]
WELLWYN.Ann!
[ANN goes back whence she came.]
[BERTLEY, steadily regarding MRS.MEGAN, who has put her arm up in front of her face, beckons to FERRAND, and the young man comes gravely forward.]
BERTLEY.Young people, this is very dreadful.[MRS.MEGAN lowers her arm a little, and looks at him over it.] Very sad!
MRS.MEGAN.[Dropping her arm.] Megan's no better than what I am.
BERTLEY.Come, come! Here's your home broken up! [MRS.MEGANSmiles.Shaking his head gravely.] Surely-surely-you mustn't smile.[MRS.MEGAN becomes tragic.] That's better.Now, what is to be done?
FERRAND.Believe me, Monsieur, I greatly regret.
BERTLEY.I'm glad to hear it.
FERRAND.If I had foreseen this disaster.
BERTLEY.Is that your only reason for regret?
FERRAND.[With a little bow.] Any reason that you wish, Monsieur.
I will do my possible.
MRS.MEGAN.I could get an unfurnished room if [she slides her eyes round at WELLWYN I 'ad the money to furnish it.
BERTLEY.But suppose I can induce your husband to forgive you, and take you back?
MRS.MEGAN.[Shaking her head.] 'E'd 'it me.
BERTLEY.I said to forgive.
MRS.MEGAN.That wouldn't make no difference.[With a flash at BERTLEY.] An' I ain't forgiven him!
BERTLEY.That is sinful.
MRS.MEGAN.I'm a Catholic.
BERTLEY.My good child, what difference does that make?
FERRAND.Monsieur, if I might interpret for her.
[BERTLEY silences him with a gesture.MRS.MEGAN.]
[Sliding her eyes towards WELLWYN.] If I 'ad the money to buy some fresh stock.]
BERTLEY.Yes; yes; never mind the money.What I want to find in you both, is repentance.
MRS.MEGAN.[With a flash up at him.] I can't get me livin' off of repentin'.
BERTLEY.Now, now! Never say what you know to be wrong.
FERRAND.Monsieur, her soul is very simple.
BERTLEY.[Severely.] I do not know, sir, that we shall get any great assistance from your views.In fact, one thing is clear to me, she must discontinue your acquaintanceship at once.