George Bernard Shaw

“ Aurélie shook her head. The old woman, curious, but unable to follow a conversation carried on by one party in French and by the other in English, muttered impatiently, "What gibberish! It is a horror."
The youth looked shyly at Aurélie. "Then, as if struck by a new thought, he said, "My name is—Beatty."
Aurélie bowed. "Yes," she said, "I have assuredly heard my husband speak of that name. I am greatly troubled to think that your misfortune should have been brought about by my carriage. Madame: Monsieur Beatty will need a pillow. Will you do me the kindness to bring one from my room?" ”

“ Then he pleaded in a low voice. "Aurélie." The frown reappeared instantly. "Do not stop playing. I only wish to assure you that I was not jealous this morning."
"O—h!" she ejaculated, taking her hands from the keyboard, and letting them fall supine in her lap. Herbert, taken aback by the prolonged and expressive interjection, looked at her in silent discomfiture. "Mamma: thou hearest him! He says he was not jealous. Oh, Adrian, how art thou fallen, thou, who wast truth itself! Thou art learning to play the husband well." ”

“ Herbert gently reopened the pianoforte. "If it were the singing of angels, Aurélie, it would be horrible to me as long as it delayed the assurance I am waiting for— of your forgiveness."
"You shall never have it. Nor do I believe that you care for it."
"Never is a long word. You have said it very often this evening, Aurélie. You will never play again. You will never speak to me again. You will never forgive me." ”

“ Anatole instantly dealt him a kick beneath the nose which made him stagger. The pain of it was so intolerable that he raised his right hand to his mouth. The moment he thus uncovered his body, the Frenchman turned swiftly, and, looking back at his adversary over his shoulder, lashed out his toe with the vigor of a colt, and sent it into the pit of the young man's stomach, flinging him into the roadway, supine, gasping, and all but insensible. ”

“ What a devil thou art, Anatole. Come, let us save ourselves."
A minute later the street was again as quiet, and, except for the motionless body on the roadway, solitary as before. Presently a vehicle entered from a side street. It was a close carriage like an English brougham, and contained one passenger, a lady with a white woolen shawl wrapped about her head, and an opera cloak over her rich dress. She was leaning back in a deep reverie when the horse stopped so suddenly that she was thrown forward; and the coachman uttered a warning cry. ”

“ Herbert's courage sank at the angry tone of his wife's voice.
"You let yourself be put out by nothing at all. Do I not tell you that everybody thought you played like an angel?"
"I will not be told so again. I played vilely. I will give up music. I hate it: and I never shall be able to play. I have tried and failed. It was a mistake for me ever to have attempted it."
At this moment Adrian, hearing the footsteps of the old woman, who was coming up to listen at the keyhole, entered the room. Madame Sczympliça stared at him in consternation. ”

“ Last night I was unable to go to the concert with Aurélie. It is a great misfortune for me, this neuralgia."
"I am very sorry. It is indeed a terrible affliction. Are you quite sure that Aurélie is not fast asleep?"
"I have made her coffee, mon cher; and I know her too well to do that before she is afoot. Trust me, she will be here in a moment. I hope it is nothing wrong that has brought you to Paris."
"Oh no. I wanted a little change; and when you came so near, I determined to run over and meet you. You have been all round Europe since I last saw you."
"Ah, what successes, Monsieur Adrian! ”

“ Leave us to ourselves: if we must quarrel, there is no reason why you should be distressed by our bickerings "
"I hope you are not really running away from me," said Herbert, politely accompanying Madame Sczympliça to the door, and opening it for her.
"No, no, mon cher," she replied with a Sigh. "I must do as I am bidden. I grow old; and she becomes a greater tyrant daily to all about her."
"Now, malcontent," said Aurélie, when the door was closed, "proceed with thy reproaches. How many thousand things hast thou to complain of? ”

“ I have but to get this young gentleman what he asks for."
"The young gentleman has no business here," said the lady. "You are imprudent, Aurélie, and frightfully self-willed." She then disappeared. The stranger reddened and attempted to rise; but Aurélie, also blushing, quieted him by a gesture, whilst the old woman shook her fist at him. Aurélie then left the room, promising to return, and leaving him alone with the woman, who seized the opportunity to recommence her reproaches, which were too voluble to be intelligible to the English ears of the patient. ”

“ There's nothing the matter with me."
"Silence, great sot," chattered the old woman."I have other things to do than to listen to thy gibberish. Lay thyself down this instant."
"Will I, by Jove!" he said, kicking off the rug and sitting up. "Can you buy soda water anywhere at this hour?"
"Ah, ingrate! Is it thus that thou obeyest the noble lady who succored thee. Fie!"
"What is the matter, madame," said Aurélie, entering.
"I was only asking her not to send for a doctor. I have no bones broken; and a doctor is no use. Please don't fetch one. ”

“ Oh, she is a strange creature, is Aurélie. What can one do with such a terrible child? She is positive that she will never speak to you again; and I fear she is in earnest. I can do no more. I have argued—implored —wept; but she is an ingrate, a heart of marble. "
Here there was a tap at the door; and a servant appeared.
"Madame Herbert wishes you to accompany her to the pianoforte place, madame. She is going thither to practise."
Herbert only looked downcast; and Madame Szczympliça left the room stifling a sob. Herbert knew not what to do. ”

“ As he went up, he heard the pianoforte played in a style which he hardly recognized. The touch was hard and impatient; and false notes were struck, followed by almost violent repetitions of the passage in which they occurred. He stood at the door a moment, listening.
"My child," said Madame Sczympliça's voice: "that is not practice. You become worse every moment: and you are spoiling the instrument." ”

“ I do not like the thought of you going into society as a hired entertainer."
Aurélie shrugged herself. "I must go for some reason," she said. "If they did not pay me I should not go at all. It is an artist's business to do such things."
"My dear Mr. Adrian," said Madame Szczympliça, "she is always the most honored guest. The most distinguished persons crowd about her; and the most beautiful women are deserted for her. It is always a veritable little court that she holds."
"It is as I thought," said Aurélie. "You came across the Channel only to quarrel with me." Herbert attempted to protest ”

“ Voulez-vous avoir la bonté de shut up?"
"What does that mean?" said the woman, checked by the unknown verb.
'Oh, you are talking too much," said Aurélie, returning with some soda water. "You must not encourage him to speak, madame."
"He needs little encouragement," said the old woman. "You are far too good for him, mademoiselle." ”

“ He went downstairs, and asked the old woman when she expected Madame Herbert to return. Not until six o'clock, she told him. he resigned himself to eight hours' suspense, and went to the Luxembourg, where he enjoyed such pleasure as he could obtain by admiring the works of men who could paint better than he. It was a long day; but it came to an end at last.
"I will announce you, monsieur," said the old woman hastily, as she admitted him at half-past six.
"No," he said firmly, resolved not to give Aurélie an opportunity of escaping from him. "I will announce myself." ”

“ She had spoken carelessly, and was brushing some specks of dust from the keyboard of the pianoforte, as to the cleanliness of which she was always fastidious.
"He did not tell me that he had seen you, Aurélie," he said, controlling himself. "Under the circumstances I thought that rather strange. He even affected surprise when I mentioned that you were in Paris."
She forgot the keyboard, and looked at him with wonder and some amusement "You thought it very Strange!" she said. "What are you dreaming of? ”

“ He is but a foolish boy, the brother of an old friend of mine."
"Truly a strong boy for his years. He is your old friend, of course. It is always so. Ah, monsieur, if I were one to talk and make mischief, I could— "
"Thank you," said Adrian, interrupting her firmly. "I can hear the rest from Madame Herbert, if there is anything else to hear." And he left the room. On the landing without, he saw Madame Sczympliça, who, overlooking him, addressed herelf angrily to the old woman. ”

“ And she drew away her compatriot, who was watching the door-kicking process derisively.
"Hallo!" shouted the Englishman, hurrying after them. "Hallo, you! This lady stays with me, if you please. I should think that she has had about enough of you, you damned blackleg, since she has been pitched out of a gambling hell on your account. You had better clear out unless you want your neck broken—and if you were anything like a fair match for me, I'd break it as soon as look at you. "
"What does he say, Nata " whispered the Frenchman, keeping his eye on the other as if he guessed his meaning. ”

“ Hoskyn's. He told me that you were working very hard at engineering with a tutor. I am sorry to see that your exertions have quite knocked you up."
"On the contrary, somebody else's exertions have knocked me down. ”