The Collected Works of George Bernard Shaw: Plays, Novels, Articles, Letters and Essays. GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

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СКАЧАТЬ account, Richard.”

      “Well, will you speak to her? It is not exactly a subject that I can take her to task about; and I really don’t exactly know what to say to her when she comes at me. She always argues; and I hate argument.”

      “Then I suppose I must face her arguments — I will make short work of them too. Whenever there is anything pleasant to be said in the family, you are willing enough to take it out of my mouth. The unpleasant things are left to me. Then people say, ‘Poor Colonel Beatty: he has such a disagreeable wife.”

      “Who says so?”

      “It is not your fault if they do not say so.”

      “If the fellow comes into the regiment, he will soon be taught how to behave himself. Though for all I have seen to the contrary, he can behave himself well enough. That is my difficulty in talking to Mary. If she has no fault to find with him, I am sure I have none.”

      “You are going to take his part against me, Colonel Beatty. It does not matter that he repeatedly insulted me — everybody does that. But I thought you might have had some little fault to find with a person who debauched your men and held drunken orgies in my brother’s house.”

      “Well, Jane, if you come to that, you know very well that Charles was an incorrigible scamp long enough before Jack ever met him. As to bringing him to play at Beulah, Charles got five shillings for his trouble, and went as he might have gone to one of your dances. He spoke to me of Jack as a gentleman who had employed him, not as a comrade.”

      “To you, no doubt he did. Adrian Herbert heard how he spoke to Jack.”

      “Besides, Mary expressly says that she does not complain of that at all.”

      “And what does she complain of?”

      Colonel Beatty considered for a moment, and then answered, “She does not complain of anything, as far as I can make out.”

      “Indeed! She dismissed him. You will at least not deny that.”

      “My dear, I am not denying anyth—”

      “Then let nothing induce you to bring them together again. You ought to understand that much without any hint from me, knowing. as you do, what a strange girl she is.”

      “Why? Do you think there is anything between them?”

      “I never said so. I know very well what I think.”

      Colonel Beatty smoked a while in silence. Then, seeing Mary come from the house, carrying a box of colors, he busied himself with his pipe, and strolled away.

      “What is the matter?” said Mary.

      “Nothing that I am aware of,” said Mrs. Beatty. “Why?”

      “You do not look happy. And Uncle Richard’s shoulders have a resigned set, as if he had been blown up lately.”

      “Ha! Oh! You are a wonderful observer, Mary. Are you going out?”

      “I am waiting for Adrian.”

      Mary went round the garden in search of a flower. She was adorning her bosom with one, when Mrs. Beatty, who had been pretending to read, could contain herself no longer, and exclaimed:

      “Now, Mary, it is of no use your asking Richard to get that man as bandmaster. He shall not do it.”

      “So that is what was the matter,” said Mary coolly.

      “I mean what I say, Mary. He shall never show his face in Windsor again with my consent.”

      “He shows his face there once a week already, aunt. Miss Cairns writes to say that he has a singing class at their house, and three pianoforte pupils in the neighborhood.”

      “If I had known that,” said Mrs Beatty, angrily, “I should not have left Windsor. It is of a piece with the rest of his conduct. However, no matter. We shall see how long he will keep his pupils after I go back.”

      “Why, aunt? Would you take away his livelihood because you do not happen to like him personally?”

      “I have nothing to do with his livelihood. I do not consider it proper for him to be at Windsor, after being dismissed by Richard. There are plenty of other places for him to go to. I have quite made up my mind on the subject. If you attempt to dispute me, I shall be offended.”

      “I have made up my mind too. Whatever mischief you may do to Mr Jack at Windsor will be imputed to me, aunt.”

      “I never said that I would do him any mischief.’

      “You said you would drive him out of Windsor. As he lives by his teaching, I think that would be as great a mischief as it is in your power to do him.”

      “Well, I cannot help it. It is your fault.”

      “If I have helped to get him the pupils, and am begging you not to interfere with him, how is it my fault?”

      “Ah! I thought you had something to do with it. And now let me tell you, Mary, that it is perfectly disgraceful, the open way in which you hanker after—”

      “Aunt!”

      “ — that common man. I wonder at a girl of your tastes and understanding having so little selfrespect as to to let everybody see that your head has been turned by a creature without polish or appearance — not even a gentleman. And all this too while you are engaged to Adrian Herbert, his very opposite in every respect. I tell you, Mary, it’s not proper: it’s not decent. A tutor! If it were anybody else it would not matter so much — but Oh for shame, Mary, for shame.”

      “Aunt Jane—”

      “Hush, for goodness sake. Here he is.”

      “Who?” cried Mary, turning quickly. But it was only Adrian, equipped for sketching.

      “Good morning,” he said gaily, but with a thoughtful, polite gaiety. “This is the very sky we want for that bit of the undercliff.”

      “We were just saying how late you were,” said Mrs Beatty graciously. He shook her hand, and looked in some surprise at Mary, whose expression, as she stood motionless, puzzled him.

      “Do you know what we were really saying when you interrupted us, Adrian?”

      “Mary,” exclaimed Mrs. Beatty.

      “Aunt Jane was telling me,” continued Mary, not heeding her, “that I was hankering after Mr Jack, and that my conduct was not decent. Have you ever remarked anything indecent about my conduct, Adrian?”

      Herbert looked helplessly from her to her aunt in silence. Mrs. Beatty’s confusion, culminating in a burst of tears, relieved him from answering.

      “Do not listen to her,” she said presently, striving to control herself. “She is an ungrateful girl.”

      “I have quoted her exact words,” said Mary, unmoved; “and I am certainly not grateful for them. Come, Adrian. We had better lose no more time if we СКАЧАТЬ