fanny and the servant problem-第8部分

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

VERNON　＇laughs＇。　　'Pon　my　word　it　does。　　But　what　can　we　do？　　They'll　never　leave　usnot　one　of　them。

FANNY。　　No；　I　don't　believe　they　ever　will。

VERNON。　　Do　you　know；　I　sometimes　think　that　you　don't　like　them。　＇Fanny　makes　a　movement。＇　　Of　course；　they　are　a　bit　bossy；　I　admit。　But　all　that　comes　from　their　devotion；　their　…

FANNY。　　The　wonder　to　me　is　that；　brought　up　among　them；　admiring　them　as　you　do；　you　never　thought　of　marrying　one　of　them。

VERNON　＇staggered。＇　　Marrying　them？

FANNY。　　I　didn't　say　〃them。〃　　I　said　〃ONE　of　them。〃　　There's　Honoria。　She's　pretty　enough；　anyhow。　　So's　Alice；　Charles　Bennet's　daughter；　and　Bertha　and　Graceall　of　them　beautiful。　　And　what's　even　better　stillgood。　　＇She　says　it　viciously。＇　　Didn't　you　ever　think　of　them？

VERNON。　　Well　＇laughs＇well；　one　hardly　marries　into　one's　own　kitchen。

FANNY。　　Isn't　that　rather　snobbish？　　You　say　they're　more　like　friends　than　servants。　　They've　lived　with　your　people；　side　by　side；　for　three　generations；　doing　their　duty；　honourably。　　There's　never　been　a　slur　upon　their　name。　　They're　〃high…principled。〃　　You　know　it。　　They've　better　manners　than　nine…tenths　of　your　smart　society；　and　they're　healthy。　　What's　wrong　with　themeven　from　a　lord's　point　of　view？

VERNON　＇recovering　himself＇。　　Well；　don't　pitch　into　me　about　it。　It's　your　fault　if　I　didn't　marry　themI　mean　one　of　them。　　＇He　laughs；　puts　his　empty　cup　back　on　the　table。＇　　Maybe　I'd　have　thought　about　itif　I　hadn't　met　you。

FANNY　＇takes　his　hand　in　hers＇。　　I　wish　you　hadn't　asked　Newte　any　questions　about　me。　　It　would　have　been　so　nice　to　feel　that　you　had　married　mejust　because　you　couldn't　help　itjust　because　I　was　I　and　nothing　else　mattered。

VERNON。　　Let's　forget　I　ever　did。　　＇He　kneels　beside　her。＇　　I　didn't　do　it　for　my　own　sake；　as　you　know。　　A　MAN　in　my　position　has　to　think　of　other　people。　　His　wife　has　to　take　her　place　in　society。　People　insist　upon　knowing　something　about　her。　　It's　not　enough　for　the　stupid　〃County〃　that　she's　the　cleverest；　most　bewilderingly　beautiful；　bewitching　lady　in　the　land。

FANNY。　　And　how　long　will　you　think　all　that？

VERNON。　　For　ever；　and　ever；　and　ever。

FANNY。　　Oh；　you　dear　boy。　　＇She　kisses　him。＇　　You　don't　know　how　a　woman　loves　the　man　she　loves　to　love　her。　　＇Laughs。＇　　Isn't　that　complicated？

VERNON。　　Not　at　all。　　We're　just　the　same。　　We　love　to　love　the　woman　we　love。

FANNY。　　Provided　the　〃County〃　will　let　us。　　And　the　County　has　said：　A　man　may　not　marry　his　butler's　niece。

VERNON　＇laughing＇。　　You've　got　butlers　on　the　brain。　　If　ever　I　do　run　away　with　my　own　cook　or　under…housemaid；　it　will　be　your　doing。

FANNY。　　You　haven't　the　pluck！　　The　〃County〃　would　laugh　at　you。　　You　men　are　so　frightened　of　being　laughed　at。

VERNON　＇he　rises＇。　　Well；　if　it　saves　us　from　making　asses　of　ourselves　…

FANNY。　　Wasn't　there　a　niece　of　old　Bennet's；　a　girl　who　had　been　brought　up　abroad；　and　who　WASN'T　a　domestic　servantnever　had　been…　…who　stayed　with　them　here；　at　the　gardener's　cottage；　for　a　short　time；　some　few　years　ago？

VERNON。　　You　mean　poor　Rose　Bennet's　daughterthe　one　who　ran　away　and　married　an　organ…grinder。

FANNY。　　An　organ…grinder？

VERNON。　　Something　of　that　sortyes。　　They　had　her　over；　did　all　they　could。　　A　crazy　sort　of　girl；　used　to　sing　French　ballads　on　the　village　green　to　all　the　farm　labourers　she　could　collect。　　Shortened　poor　Bennet's　life　by　about　ten　years。　　＇Laughs。＇　　But　why？　　Not　going　to　bully　me　for　not　having　fallen　in　love　with　her；　are　you？　Because　that　really　WASN'T　my　fault。　　I　never　even　saw　her。　　'Twas　the　winter　we　spent　in　Rome。　　She　bolted　before　we　got　back。　　Never　gave　me　a　chance。

FANNY。　　I　accept　the　excuse。　　＇Laughs。＇　　No；　I　was　merely　wondering　what　the　〃County〃　would　have　done　if　by　any　chance　you　had　married　HER。　　Couldn't　have　said　you　were　marrying　into　your　own　kitchen　in　her　case；　because　she　was　never　IN　your　kitchenabsolutely　refused　to　enter　it；　I'm　told。

VERNON　＇laughs＇。　　It　would　have　been　a　〃nice　point；〃　as　they　say　in　legal　circles。　　If　people　had　liked　her；　they'd　have　tried　to　forget　that　her　cousins　had　ever　been　scullery…maids。　　If　not；　they'd　have　taken　good　care　that　nobody　did。

Bennet　enters。　　He　brings　some　cut　flowers；　with　the　〃placing〃　of　which　he　occupies　himself。

BENNET。　　I　did　not　know　your　lordship　had　returned。

VERNON。　　Found　a　telegram　waiting　for　me　in　the　village。　　What's　become　of　that　niece　of　yours；　Bennetyour　sister　Rose's　daughter；　who　was　here　for　a　short　time　and　ran　away　again？　　Ever　hear　anything　about　her？

BENNET　＇very　quietly　he　turns；　lets　his　eyes　for　a　moment　meet　Fanny's。　　Then　answers　as　he　crosses　to　the　windows＇。　　The　last　I　heard　about　her　was　that　she　was　married。

VERNON。　　Satisfactorily？

BENNET。　　Looking　at　it　from　her　point　of　viewmost　satisfactorily。

VERNON　＇laughs＇。　　But　looking　at　it　from　hismore　doubtful？

BENNET。　　She　was　not　without　her　attractions。　　Her　chief　faults；　I　am　inclined　to　think；　were　those　arising　from　want　of　discipline　in　youth。　　I　have　hopes　that　it　is　not　even　yet　too　late　to　root　out　from　her　nature　the　weeds　of　indiscretion。

VERNON。　　And　you　think　he　is　the　man　to　do　it？

BENNET。　　Perhaps　not。　　But　fortunately　there　are　those　about　her　fully　alive　to　the　duty　devolving　upon　them。

VERNON。　　Um。　　Sounds　a　little　bit　like　penal　servitude　for　the　poor　girl；　the　way　you　put　it；　Bennet。

BENNET。　　Even　penal　servitude　may　be　a　blessing；　if　it　serves　to　correct　a　stubborn　spirit。

VERNON。　　We'll　have　to　make　you　a　J。P。；　Bennet。　　Must　be　jolly　careful　I　don't　ever　get　tried　before　you。　　＇Laughs。＇　　Is　that　the　cart？

BENNET　＇he　looks　out　through　the　window＇。　　Yes；　your　lordship。

VERNON　＇he　takes　up　his　cap＇。　　I　may　be　bringing　someone　back　with　me。　　＇To　Fanny；　who　throughout　has　remained　seated。＇　　Why　not　put　on　your　hatcome　with　me？

FANNY　＇she　jumps　up；　delighted＇。　　Shall　I？

BENNET。　　Your　ladyship　is　not　forgetting　that　to…day　is　Wednesday？

FANNY。　　What's　the　odds。　　There's　nobody　to　call。　　Everybody　is　still　in　town。

BENNET。　　It　has　always　been　the　custom　of　the　Lady　Bantocks；　when　in　residence；　to　be　at　home　on　Wednesdays。

VERNON。　　Perhaps　better　not。　　It　may　cause　talk；　if；　by　chance；　anybody　does　come。　　I　was　forgetting　it　was　Wednesday。　　＇Fanny　sits　again。＇　　I　shan't　do　anything　without　consulting　you。　　Good…bye。

FANNY。　　Good…bye。

Vernon　goes　out。

BENNET。　　You　think　it　wise；　discussing　with　his　lordship　the　secret　history　of　the　Bennet　family？

FANNY。　　What　do　you　mean　by　telling　him　my　father　was　an　organ…　grinder？　　If　the　British　public　knew　the　difference　between　music　and　a　hurdy…gurdy；　he　would　have　kept　a　butler　of　his　own。

BENNET。　　I　am　not　aware　of　having　mentioned　to　his　lordship　that　you　ever　to　my　knowledge　even　had　a　father。　　It　is　not　my　planfor　the　present　at　all　eventsto　inform　his　lordship　anything　about　your　family。　　Take　care　I　am　not　forced　to。

FANNY。　　Because　my　father；　a　composer　who　had　his　work　performed　at　the　Lamoureux　Concertsas　I　can　prove；　because　I've　got　the　programmehad　the　misfortune　to　marry　into　a　family　of　lackeysI'm　not　talking　about　my　mother：　　she　was　never　really　one　of　you。　　SHE　had　the　soul　of　an　artist。

BENNET　＇white　with　suppressed　fury；　he　is　in　front　of　her；　his　very　look　is　enough　to　silence　her＇。　　Now　you　listen　to　me；　my　girl；　once　and　for　all。　　I　told　you　the　night　of　your　arrival　that　whether　this　business　was　going　to　prove　a　pleasant　or　an　unpleasant　one　depended　upon　you。　　You　make　it　an　easy　onefor　your　own　sake。　　With　one　word　I　can　bring　your　house　of　cards　about　your　ears。　　I've　only　to　tell　him　the　truth　for　him　to　know　you　as　a　cheat　and　liar。　　＇She　goes　to　speak；　again　he　silences　her。＇　　You　listen　to　me。　　You've　seen　fit　to　use　strong　language；　now　I'm　using　strong　language。　　This　BOY；　who　has　married　you　in　a　moment　of　impulse；　what　does　HE　know　about　the　sort　of　wife　a　man　in　his　position　needs？　　What　do　YOU？　made　to　sing　for　your　living　on　the　Paris　boulevardswhose　only　acquaintance　with　the　upper　classes　has　been　at　shady　restaurants。

FANNY。　　He　didn't　WANT　a　woman　of　his　own　class。　　He　told　me　so。　　It　was　because　I　wasn't　a　colourless；　conventional　puppet　with　a　book　of　etiquette　in　place　of　a　soul　that　he　was　first　drawn　towards　me。

BENNET。　　Yes。　　At　twenty…two；　boys　like　unconventionality。　　Men　don't：　　they've　learnt　its　true　name；　vulgarity。　　Do　you　think　I've　stood　behind　English　society　for　forty　years　without　learning　anything　about　it！　　What　you　call　a　colourless　puppet　is　what　WE　call　an　English　lady。　　And　that　you've　got　to　learn　to　be。　　You　talk　of　〃lackeys。〃　　If　your　mother；　my　poor　sister　Rose；　came　from　a　family　of　〃lackeys〃　there　would　be　no　hope　for　you。　　With　her　blood　in　your　veins　the　thing　can　be　done。　　We　Bennets＇he　draws　himself　up＇we　serve。　　We　are　not　lackeys。

FANNY。　　All　right。　　Don't　you　call　my　father　an　organ…grinder；　and　I　won't　call　you　lackeys。　　Unfortunately　that　doesn't　end　the　trouble。

BENNET。　　The　trouble　can　easily　be　ended。

FANNY。　　Yes。　　By　my　submitting　to　be　ruled　in　all　things　for　the　remainder　of　my　life　by　my　own　servants。

BENNET。　　Say　〃relations；〃　and　it　need　not　sound　so　unpleasant。

FANNY。　　Yes；　it　would。　　It　would　sound　worse。　　One　can　get　rid　of　one's　servants。　　＇She　has　crossed　towards　the　desk。　　Her　cheque…book　lies　there　half　hidden　under　other　papers。　　It　catches　her　eye。　　Her　hand　steals　unconsciously　towards　it。　　She　taps　it　idly　with　her　fingers。　　It　is　all　the　work　of　a　moment。　　Nothing　comes　of　it。　　Just　the　idea　passes　through　her　brainnot　for　the　first　time。　　She　does　nothing　noticeablemerely　stands　listless　while　one　might　count　half　a　dozenthen　turns　to　him　again。＇　　Don't　you　think　you're　going　it　a　bit　too　strong；　all　of　you？　　I'm　not　a　fool。　　I've　got　a　lot　to　learn；　I　know。　　I'd　be　grateful　for　help。　　What　you're　trying　to　do　is　to　turn　me　into　a　new　woman　entirely。

BENNET。　　Because　that　is　the　only　WAY　to　help　you。　　Men　do　not　put　new　wine　into　old　bottles。

FANNY。　　Oh；　don't　begin　quoting　Scripture。　　I　want　to　discuss　the　thing　sensibly。　　Don't　you　see　it　can't　be　done？　　I　can't　be