George Bernard Shaw

“ You are not an angel; and the sooner you reconcile yourself to the few failings which you share with the rest of us, the happier you will be. None of us are honest in such matters except when our conscience drives us to it. The honestest people are only those who feel the constraint soonest and strongest. If you had held out a little longer, Adrian might have forestalled you. I say he might; but, in my opinion, he would most probably fastened a quarrel on you— about Jack or somebody else—and got out of his engagement that way. ”

“ Lady Geraldine reddened slightly; then smiled in spite of her vexation, and said, "Really, Mr. Jack, you are a sort of grown up enfant terrible, I confess that I was a little overpowered by her staginess. I can understand actors being insufferably stagey on the boards, and quite natural in a room; but I cannot make out how an actress can be perfectly natural on the boards, and stagey in private."
"Acting has become natural to her; and she has lost the habit of your society; that is all. As you say, acting never becomes natural to bad actors. ”

“ Lady Geraldine drew back a step. Then, losing patience, she said sharply, "What answer do you expect me to make to that, Mr. Jack?"
"None," said he with mock gravity. "It is unanswerable. From Capharsalama on eagle wings I fly." And after making her another bow, he left the house chuckling. As he disappeared, Mrs Herbert came downstairs and joined Lady Geraldine.
"Well," she said. "Is Mary to be made happy at our expense?"
"Yes," said Lady Geraldine. "I bearded the monster here, and got what I deserved for my pains. The man is a savage." ”

“ Among the guests there was Lady Geraldine Porter, Mrs Herbert's friend, whom Jack did not know. She was a lady of strong common sense, resolutely intolerant of the eccentricities and affectations of artists. No man who wore a velveteen jacket and long hair had a chance of an introduction to or an invitation from Lady Geraldine. These people, she said, can behave themselves properly if they like. We have to learn manners before we go into society: let them do the same, since they are so clever. As to Jack, he was her pet aversion. ”

“ He turned from Jack to Mrs Herbert, and made a brave effort to chat with her with a jaunty air. "A distinguished audience, tonight I think I saw somewhere in the house, your son, not the least distinguished of us. Painting is a noble art. I remember when painters did not stand as well in society as they do now; but never in my life have I failed in respect for them. Never. A man is the better for contemplating a great picture. ”

“ What you call success is the compensation of the man who has no genius. If you had believed in his genius, and yet wanted success for him, you might have opposed him with better reason. Some men begin by aiming high, and they have to wait till the world comes up to their level. ”

“ But I don't like it."
"You are always unanswerable," said Lady Geraldine, good humoredly.
Jack stood up and looked round the theatre. "All the world and his wife are here tonight," he said. That white-haired gentleman hiding at the back of the balcony is the father of an old pupil of mine—a man cursed with an ungovernable temper. His name is Brailsford. The youth with the eyeglass in the stalls is a critic: he called me a promising young composer the other day. Who is that coming into the box nearly opposite? ”

“ I cannot, Lady Geraldine. I should only be a wet blanket. I am not in the vein for society to-day. Thank you, all the same, for trying to rescue me from my own thoughts."
"Nonsense, Mary. You must come. It is only to the theatre. Mrs Herbert and we two will make a quiet party. After what has passed you cannot meet her too soon; and I know she is anxious to shew that she does not mean to take Adrian's part against you." ”

“ I know that is additional proof of his faithlessness in your eyes."
"It is a proof of what a thorough fool a man must be, to expect you to take such a bait. Please release me, Mr Herbert, that I may gratify my fancy for Mr Jack.' That is such a likely thing for a woman to say!"
"I hope you are not in earnest about Mr Jack, Lady Geraldine."
"I am not pleased about him, Mary. These friendships stand in a girl's way. Of course I know you are not in love with him—at least, accustomed as I am to the folly of men and women about one another, even I cannot conceive such infatuation ”

“ Others aim low, and have to lift themselves to success. Happy follows like Mr Adrian hit the mark at once,being neither too good for the Academy people nor too bad for the public. "
"Probably you are right," said Mrs Herbert. "I should have borne in mind that worse painters than he enjoy a fair share of toleration. However, I must abide by my error now."
"But surely," said Mr Brailsford, harping anxiously on the point, "You do not find that he persists in any little feeling of disappointment that you may have caused him formerly. No, no: he can't do that. ”

“ The lady, who was a born Irish Protestant, a Roman Catholic by conversion, a sort of freethinker, after the fashionable broad-church manner, by habit, by conviction nothing at all, and very superstitious by nature, always suspected some personal application in allusions to religion. ”

“ They were detained for some minutes in the vestibule, Lady Geraldine's footman not being at hand.
"Come,"said Jack sulkily, "Here is somebody happy at last."
Mary looked and saw Herbert coming down the stairs with Aurélie. who was, like Jack, the subject of some whispering and pointing.
"Yes," said Mary. "He is happy. I do not wonder at it: she is very gentle and lovely. She is a greater artist than Madge: yet she has none of Madge's assurance, which would repel Adrian."
"She has plenty of assurance in music, which is her trade. ”

“ The kindly patronage with which Lady Geraldine had been willing to receive an impulsive, clever young girl, was forgotten in the midst of respect, disappointment, and even aversion inspired by the self-controlled and accomplished woman. Mary was the first to recover herself.
"Madge," she said, "—that is, if one may venture to call you Madge."
"Indeed you may," said Madge, nodding and smiling gracefully.
"You are a great deal more like yourself on the stage than off it."
"Yes," said Madge. "For the last two and a half years, I have not taken a single holiday."
Mr Brailsford now sat upright ”

“ Young people quarrel with it because it will not permit them to be heroic in season and out of season. You have made a mistake; and you want to be heroic out of season on the strength, or rather the weakness of that mistake. ”

“ Every woman's head is not occupied with stuff of that sort." Jack spoke gruffly, and seemed troubled, After a few moments, during which she leaned back lazily, and smiled at him, he rose. "Goodbye," he said. "You are not very amusing to-day. I suppose you are telling this fine story of yours to whoever has time to listen to it."
"Not at all, Mr Jack. Everybody is telling it to me. I am quite tired of it."
Jack uttered a grunt, and left her. Meeting Mrs Herbert, he made his bow, and asked where Miss Sutherland was.
"She is in the conservatory," said Mrs Herbert, hesitating. ”

“ Jack, though contemptuous of popular demonstrations, joined in this, making as much noise as possible, and impatiently bidding Mary take off her gloves, that she might clap her hands with more effect. A moment afterwards, there was a hasty knocking at the door of the box. Mary looked across the theatre; saw that Adrian's chair was vacant; and turned red. Jack opened the door, and admitted, not Adrian, but Mr Brailsford, who hurried to the front of the box; shook Lady Geraldine's hand nervously; made a hasty bow right and left to Mary and Mrs Herbert ”