fanny and the servant problem-第7部分

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ow；　that　you　never　had　any　tact。

FANNY。　　I　hate　tact。　　＇Newte　laughs。＇　　We　could　have　had　such　a　jolly　little　lunch　together。　　I'm　all　alone　till　the　evening。　　There　were　ever　so　many　things　I　wanted　to　talk　to　you　about。

NEWTE。　　What？

FANNY。　　Ah；　how　can　one　talk　to　a　man　with　his　watch　in　his　hand？　＇He　puts　it　away　and　stands　waiting；　but　she　is　cross。＇　　I　think　you're　very　disagreeable。

NEWTE。　　I　must　really　get　back　to　town。　　I　oughtn't　to　be　away　now；　only　your　telegram　…

FANNY。　　I　know。　　I'm　an　ungrateful　little　beast！　　＇She　crosses　and　rings　bell。＇　　You'll　have　a　glass　of　champagne　before　you　go？

NEWTE。　　Well；　I　won't　say　no　to　that。

FANNY。　　How　are　all　the　girls？

NEWTE。　　Oh；　chirpy。　　I'm　bringing　them　over　to　London。　　We　open　at　the　Palace　next　week。

FANNY。　　What　did　they　think　of　my　marriage？　　Gerty　was　a　bit　jealous；　wasn't　she？

NEWTE。　　Well；　would　have　been；　if　she'd　known　who　he　was。　　＇Laughs。＇

FANNY。　　Tell　her。　　Tell　her　＇she　draws　herself　up＇　I'm　Lady　Bantock；　of　Bantock　Hall；　Rutlandshire。　　It　will　make　her　so　mad。　　＇Laughs。＇

NEWTE　＇laughs＇。　　I　will。

FANNY。　　Give　them　all　my　love。　　＇Ernest　appears　in　answer　to　her　bell。＇　　Oh；　Ernest；　tell　Bennet＇the　eyes　and　mouth　of　Ernest　open＇…　…to　see　that　Mr。　Newte　has　some　refreshment　before　he　leaves。　　A　glass　of　champagne　andand　some　caviare。　　Don't　forget。　　＇Ernest　goes　out。＇　　Good…bye。　　You'll　come　again？

NEWTE。　　Whenever　you　want　meand　rememberthe　watchword　is　〃Tact〃！

FANNY。　　Yes；　I've　got　the　WORD　all　right。　　＇Laughs。＇　　Don't　forget　to　give　my　love　to　the　girls。

NEWTE。　　I　won't。　　So　long！　　＇He　goes　out。＇

Fanny　closes　the　door。　　Honoria　has　re…entered　from　the　dressing…　room。　　She　looks　from　the　handkerchief　still　hanging　over　the　keyhole　to　Fanny。

HONORIA。　　Your　ladyship's　handkerchief？

FANNY。　　Yes。　　Such　a　draught　through　that　keyhole。

HONORIA　＇takes　the　handkerchief；　hands　it　to　Fanny＇。　　I　will　tell　the　housekeeper。

FANNY。　　Thanks。　　Maybe　you　will　also　mention　it　to　the　butler。　Possibly　also　to　the＇She　suddenly　changes。＇　　Honoria。　　Suppose　it　had　been　youyou　know；　you're　awfully　prettywho　had　married　Lord　Bantock；　and　he　had　brought　you　back　here；　among　them　alluncle；　aunt；　all　the　lot　of　themwhat　would　you　have　done？

HONORIA　＇she　draws　herself　up＇。　　I　should　have　made　it　quite　plain　from　the　first；　that　I　was　mistress；　and　that　they　were　my　servants。

FANNY。　　You　would；　you　think　…

HONORIA　＇checking　her　outburst＇。　　But　then；　dearyou　will　excuse　my　speaking　plainlythere　is　a　slight　difference　between　the　two　cases。　＇She　seats　herself　on　the　settee。　　Fanny　is　standing　near　the　desk。＇　You　see；　what　we　all　feel　about　you；　dear；　isthat　you　arewell；　hardly　a　fit　wife　for　his　lordship。　　＇Fanny's　hands　are　itching　to　box　the　girl's　ears。　　To　save　herself；　she　grinds　out　through　her　teeth　the　word　〃Tack！〃＇　　Of　course；　dear；　it　isn't　altogether　your　fault。

FANNY。　　Thanks。

HONORIA。　　Your　mother's　marriage　was　most　unfortunate。

FANNY　＇her　efforts　to　suppress　her　feelings　are　justbut　only　just　successful。＇　　Need　we　discuss　that？

HONORIA。　　Well；　he　was　an　Irishman；　dear；　there's　no　denying　it。　＇Fanny　takes　a　cushion　from　a　chairwith　her　back　to　Honoria；　she　strangles　it。　　Jane　has　entered　and　is　listening。＇　　Still；　perhaps　it　is　a　painful　subject。　　And　we　hopeall　of　usthat；　with　time　and　patience；　we　may　succeed　in　eradicating　the　natural　results　of　your　bringing…up。

JANE。　　Some　families；　finding　themselves　in　our　position；　would　seek　to　turn　it　to　their　own　advantage。　　WE　think　only　of　your　good。

FANNY。　　Yes；　that's　what　I　feelthat　you　are　worrying　yourselves　too　much　about　me。　　You're　too　conscientious；　all　of　you。　　You；　in　particular；　Jane；　because　you　know　you're　not　strong。　　YOU'LL　end　up　with　a　nervous　breakdown。　　＇Mrs。　Bennet　has　entered。　　Honoria　slips　out。　　Fanny　turns　to　her　aunt。＇　　I　was　just　saying　how　anxious　I'm　getting　about　Jane。　　I　don't　like　the　look　of　her　at　all。　　What　she　wants　is　a　holiday。　　Don't　you　agree　with　me？

MRS。　BENNET。　　There　will　be　no　holiday；　I　fear；　for　any　of　us；　for　many　a　long　day。

FANNY。　　But　you　must。　　You　must　think　more　of　yourselves；　you　know。　YOU'RE　not　looking　well；　aunt；　at　all。　　What　you　both　want　is　a　monthat　the　seaside。

MRS。　BENNET。　　Your　object　is　too　painfully　apparent　for　the　subject　to　need　discussion。　　True　solicitude　for　us　would　express　itself　better　in　greater　watchfulness　upon　your　own　behaviour。

FANNY。　　Why；　what　have　I　done？

Bennet　enters；　followed；　unwillingly；　by　Ernest。

MRS。　BENNET。　　Your　uncle　will　explain。

BENNET。　　Shut　that　door。　　＇Ernest　does　so。　　They　group　round　Bennet　Ernest　a　little　behind。　　Fanny　remains　near　the　desk。＇　　Sit　down。　＇Fanny；　bewildered；　speechless；　sits。＇　　Carry　your　mind　back；　please；　to　the　moment　when；　with　the　Bradshaw　in　front　of　you；　you　were　considering；　with　the　help　of　your　cousin　Ernest；　the　possibility　of　your　slipping　out　unobserved；　to　meet　and　commune　with　a　person　you　had　surreptitiously　summoned　to　visit　you　during　your　husband's　absence。

FANNY。　　While　I　think　of　it；　did　he　have　anything　to　eat　before　he　went？　　I　told　Ernest　toask　you　to　see　that　he　had　a　glass　of　champagne　and　a　…

BENNET　＇waves　her　back　into　silence＇。　　Mr。　Newte　was　given　refreshment　suitable　to　his　station。　　＇She　goes　to　interrupt。　　Again　he　waves　her　back。＇　　We　are　speaking　of　more　important　matters。　　Your　cousin　reminded　you　that　you　would　have　to　pass　the　lodge；　occupied　by　your　Aunt　Amelia。　　I　state　the　case　correctly？

FANNY。　　Beautifully！

BENNET。　　I　said　nothing　at　the　time；　doubting　the　evidence　of　my　own　ears。　　The　boy；　howeverwhere　is　the　boy？＇Ernest　is　pushed　forward＇has　admittedreluctantlythat　he　also　heard　it。　　＇A　pause。　　The　solemnity　deepens。＇　　You　made　use　of　an　expression　…

FANNY。　　Oh；　cut　it　short。　　I　said　〃damn。〃　　＇A　shudder　passes。＇　　I'm　sorry　to　have　frightened　you；　but　if　you　knew　a　little　more　of　really　good　society；　you　would　know　that　ladiesquite　slap…up　ladieswhen　they're　excited；　do。

MRS。　BENNET　＇interrupting　with　almost　a　scream＇。　　She　defends　it！

BENNET。　　You　will　allow　ME　to　be　the　judge　of　what　a　LADY　says；　even　when　she　is　excited。　　As　for　this　man；　Newte　…

FANNY。　　The　best　friend　you　ever　had。　　＇She　is　〃up〃　again。＇　　You　thank　your　stars；　all　of　you；　and　tell　the　others；　too；　the　whole　blessed　twenty…three　of　youyou　thank　your　stars　that　I　did　〃surreptitiously〃　beg　and　pray　him　to　run　down　by　the　first　train　and　have　a　talk　with　me；　and　that　Providence　was　kind　enough　to　YOU　to　enable　him　to　come。　　It's　a　very　different　tune　you'd　have　been　singing　at　this　momentall　of　youif　he　hadn't。　　I　can　tell　you　that。

MRS。　BENNET。　　And　pray；　what　tune　SHOULD　we　have　been　singing　if　Providence　hadn't　been　so　thoughtful　of　us？

FANNY　＇she　is　about　to　answer；　then　checks　herself；　and　sits　again＇。　You　take　care　you　don't　find　out。　　There's　time　yet。

MRS。　BENNET。　　We　had　better　leave　her。

BENNET。　　Threats；　my　good　girl；　will　not　help　you。

MRS。　BENNET　＇with　a　laugh＇。　　She's　in　too　tight　a　corner　for　that。

BENNET。　　A　contrite　heart　is　what　your　aunt　and　I　desire　to　see。　　＇He　takes　from　his　pocket　a　small　book；　places　it　open　on　the　desk。＇　　I　have　marked　one　or　two　passages；　on　pages　93…7。　　We　will　discuss　them　togetherlater　in　the　day。

They　troop　out　in　silence；　the　key　turns　in　the　lock。

FANNY　＇takes　up　the　bookturns　to　the　cover；　reads＇。　　〃The　Sinner's　Manual。〃　　＇She　turns　to　page　93。＇

＇CURTAIN＇



ACT　III



SCENE

The　same。

Time。A　few　days　later。

A　table　is　laid　for　tea。　　Ernest　enters　with　the　tea…urn。　　He　leaves　the　door　open；　through　it　comes　the　sound　of　an　harmonium；　accompanying　the　singing　of　a　hymn。　　Fanny　comes　from　her　dressing…　room。　　She　is　dressed　more　cheerfully　than　when　we　last　saw　her；　but　still　〃seemly。〃　　She　has　a　book　in　her　hand。　　She　pauses；　hearing　the　music；　goes　nearer　to　the　open　door；　and　listens；　then　crosses　and　takes　her　place　at　the　table。　　The　music　ceases。

FANNY。　　Another　prayer　meeting？　　＇Ernest　nods。＇　　I　do　keep　'em　busy。

ERNEST。　　D'ye　know　what　they　call　you　downstairs？

FANNY。　　What？

ERNEST。　　The　family　cross。

FANNY。　　I'm　afraid　it's　about　right。

ERNEST。　　What　have　you　been　doing　THIS　time？　　Swearing　again？

FANNY。　　Worse。　　I've　been　lying。　　＇Ernest　gives　vent　to　a　low　whistle。＇　　Said　I　didn't　know　what　had　become　of　that　yellow　poplin　with　the　black　lace　flounces；　that　they've　had　altered　for　me。　　Found　out　that　I'd　given　it　to　old　Mother　Potts　for　the　rummage　sale　at　the　Vicarage。　　Jane　was　down　there。　　Bought　it　in　for　half　a　crown。

ERNEST。　　You　are　risky。　　Why；　you　might　have　known　…

Vernon　comes　in。　　He　is　in　golfing　get…up。　　He　throws　his　cap　on　to　the　settee。

VERNON。　　Hello；　got　a　cup　of　tea　there？

Ernest　goes　out。

FANNY。　　Yes。　　Thought　you　were　playing　golf？

VERNON。　　Just　had　a　telegram　handed　to　me　in　the　villagefrom　your　friend　Newte。　　Wants　me　to　meet　him　at　Melton　Station　at　five　o'clock。　　＇Looks　at　his　watch。＇　　Know　what　he　wants？

FANNY。　　Haven't　the　faintest　idea。　　＇She　hands　him　his　cup。＇　　Is　he　coming　HERE？　　Or　merely　on　his　way　somewhere？

VERNON。　　I　don't　know；　he　doesn't　say。

FANNY。　　Don't　let　him　mix　you　up　in　any　of　his　〃ventures。〃　　Dear　old　George；　he's　as　honest　as　the　day；　but　if　he　gets　hold　of　an　〃idea〃　there's　always　thousands　in　it　for　everybody。

VERNON。　　I'll　be　careful。　　＇Ernest　has　left　the　door　open。　　The　harmonium　breaks　forth　again；　together　with　vocal　accompaniment　as　before。＇　　What's　on　downstairs；　thena　party？

FANNY。　　Bennet　is　holding　a　prayer　meeting。

VERNON。　　A　prayer　meeting？

FANNY。　　One　of　the　younger　members　of　the　family　has　been　detected　〃telling　a　deliberate　lie。〃　　＇Vernon　is　near　the　door　listening；　with　his　back　towards　her；　or　he　would　see　that　she　is　smiling。＇　　Black　sheep；　I　suppose；　to　be　found　in　every　flock。　　＇Music　ceases；　Ernest　having　arrived　with　the　news　of　his　lordship's　return。＇

VERNON　＇returning　to　the　table；　having　closed　the　door＇。　　Good　old　man；　you　know；　Bennet。　　All　of　them！　　So　high…principled！　　Don't　often　get　servants　like　that；　nowadays。

FANNY。　　Seems　almost　selfish；　keeping　the　whole　collection　to　ourselves。

VERNON　＇laughs＇。　　'Pon　my　word　it　does。　　But　what　can　w