Miss Shaw

“ CHARTERIS. I feel as if my body had turned into the toughest of hickory. That is what comes of reminding me of Julia Craven. (Brooding, with his chin on his right hand and his elbow on his knee.) I have sat alone with her just as I am sitting with you—
GRACE (shrinking from him) . Just!
CHARTERIS (sitting upright and facing her steadily) . Just exactly. She has put her hands in mine, and laid her cheek against mine, and listened to me saying all sorts of silly things. (Grace, chilled to the soul, rises from the sofa and sits down on the piano stool, with her back to the keyboard.) ”

“ Shaw. I have a great regard for William Shaw himself but you know what he is—good-natured, well-meaning, easily influenced. His wife may have driven Miss Shaw from the house by some devilry or other, on purpose to bring this very thing about—I mean, to induce her husband to alter his will."
"I see. It is not impossible. I never belieyed that rumour of her having escaped to prevent being forced into a marriage she abhorred. Girls can't be forced in the present day." ”

“ CHARTERIS. You mean I don't care a bit less for one woman than another.
SYLVIA. That makes it worse. But what I mean is that you never bother about their being only women: you talk to them just as you do to me or any other fellow. That's the secret of your success. You can't think how sick they get of being treated with the respect due to their sex.
CHARTERIS. Ah, if Julia only had your wisdom, Craven! (He gets off the table with a sigh and perches himself reflectively on the stepladder.)
SYLVIA. She can't take things easy, can she, old man? ”

“ MRS WHITEFIELD Don't let him take you to America. Promise me that you won't.
VIOLET [very decidedly] I should think not, indeed. Don't cry, dear: I'm only going to the hotel.
MRS WHITEFIELD But going in that dress, with your luggage, makes one realize— [she chokes, and then breaks out again] How I wish you were my daughter, Violet!
VIOLET [soothing her] There, there: so I am. Ann will be jealous.
MRS WHITEFIELD Ann doesn't care a bit for me.
ANN Fie, mother! Come now: You mustn't cry any more: You know Violet doesn't like it [Mrs Whitefield dries her eyes, and subsides.] ”

“ The occupants of the more expensive places made their way slowly through the crush-room, one step at a time: the men sliding their feet forward at every advance: the women holding warm head wrappings with one hand, and hanging awkwardly on to the arms of gentlemen with the other. Lady Geraldine got a glimpse of Mr Brailsford as she descended; but he hurried away, as if desirous to avoid further conversation. Jack who had amused her by showing some emotion at the pathetic passages in the play, and who had since been silent, walked gloomily beside Mary. ”

“ The girls faintly titter, while the stoutest and bravest boys bang their desks, and wildly shout with joy. The panting combatants spring to the floor, and, like two roosters, have a moment’s respite; Shaw is pale, and trembles with shame, and relents, and in feeble and broken accents, directs Bill to take his seat; the silence of a Capulet pervades the school, when my tremendous horse laugh breaks the calm; the scholars scream again with frantic contortions; Shaw’s eyes roll like a demon’s, and his voice rises high above the universal clamor, which slowly subsides, and all is still again ”

“ Lady Geraldine stamped hastily on Mary's foot, and looked reproachfully at her.
Mary felt her color deepen, but she faced him boldly.
"And have you come the usual conclusions?" he said, sitting down near them.
"What are the usual conclusions?" said Mary.
"That marriage is a mistake. That men who surrender their liberty, and women who surrender their independence are fools. That children are a nuisance, and so forth." ”

“ MRS GEORGE. Anthony:
"When other lips and other hearts Their tale of love shall tell HOTCHKISS [sardonically]
In language whose excess imparts The power they feel so well. MRS GEORGE.
Though hollow hearts may wear a mask, Twould break your own to see In such a moment I but ask That youll remember me." And you will, Anthony. I shall put my spell on you.
SOAMES. Do you think that a man who has sung the Magnificat and adored the Queen of Heaven has any ears for such trash as that or any eyes for such trash as you—saving your poor little soul's presence. Go home to your duties, woman. ”

“ 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." ”

“ I'll give you to the nearest policeman."
"Sir," said Jack sternly: "if your daughter has run away from you. it is your own fault for not treating her kindly. The porter has told you what happened between us. I know no more of the matter than he does."
"I don't believe you. You followed her from Windsor. The porter saw you give her" (here the old gentleman choked) —"saw what passed here just now."
"Yes, sir. You leave your daughter penniless, and compel her to offer her ornaments for sale to a stranger at a railway station. By my soul, you are a nice man to have charge of a young girl." ”

“ I wonder at a girl of your tastes and understanding having so little self-respect 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Half leading, half carrying her, he got her to the car and into it. He had actually raised one foot to follow her when something stirred in the shadows near them, and the familiar, squat figure of Shaw stepped forth.
Though in his sudden appearance he had followed the dramatic instinct that seemed so strong in him, he had wholly lost the effect of unleashed fury he had worn in the afternoon. He was even smiling with an affectation of good-humored tolerance. He had the air of a man who, with the game in his hands, can afford to be patient and affable. ”

“ Marian hesitated painfully.
"Do not mind giving me plenty of bother," he said. "I am so accustomed to superintend the transit of machines as cumbersome as trunks and as fragile as bonnet boxes, that the care of a houseful of ordinary luggage would be a mere amusement for me."
"Thank you; but it is not that. I was only thinking—Are you likely to see my cousin, Mr. Marmaduke Lind, whilst you are in London?"
"N—no. Unless I call upon him, which I have no excuse for doing." ”

“ But he lifted the baby very expertly, and even gave it a kiss before he handed it to the old lady, who watched him as if he were handling a valuable piece of china.
"There. Take it away," said Aurélie. "You would make a good nurse, monsieur."
"What a mother!" whispered Madame Szczympliça. "Poor infant!" and she indignantly carried it away.
"I wish he would grow up all at once," said Aurélie. "By the time he is a man, I shall be an old woman, half deaf, with gout in my fingers. He will go to hear the new players, and wonder how I got my reputation. Ah, it is a stupid world! ”

“ So I said, 'I will give Adrian a surprise.' And so I have."
"You came in at an interesting moment," said Mary, who had now partly regained some of her self-possession, and all her boldness. "Mr Herbert and I have had a serious quarrel; and we are just making it up. English fashion."
"Oh, it is not an English fashion. People quarrel like that everywhere. And you are now greater friends than ever. Is it not so?"
"I hope so," said Mary.
"I knew it," said Aurélie, with a wave of her fingers. "The human nature is the same things throughout the world. Ah yes. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Lind. Your daughter was the guardian of her own honor. I made her no promises. It is absurd to speak of a woman of her age and experience being betrayed, as though she were a child."
"I always understood that you prided yourself on acting up to a higher standard of honorable dealing than other men. If this is your boasted——"
"Mr. Lind," said Douglas, interrupting him with determination, "no more of this, if you please. Briefly, I will have nothing whatever to say to Mrs. Conolly in the future. If her reputation were as unstained as your own, I would still refuse to know her. ”

“ She amused him; she made his life very comfortable; he enjoyed, in a vicarious way, the admiration she created, especially in the hunting-field; no whisper of evil ever reached him, and his trustful nature was incapable of harbouring a suspicion.
Mrs. Shaw, in her own way, was clever: there are so many ways of being clever. When she saw that Elizabeth's taking up her residence at Farley was inevitable, she resolved to make the best of it. She had already received the girl once, with every demonstration of delight, under her roof ”

“ 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." ”

“ They sat out in the verandah, he and she, in the hot darkness—there were no stars visible to-night, and the air was heavy with thunder—while Mrs. Shaw played waltzes in the drawing-room, which, borne through the open window, were a pleasant accompaniment to his persuasive monologue. She said but little; she listened. He abstained from overt love-making; instinct told him that she was not in the mood to imbibe the poison. But he must exert himself to entertain her ”

“ 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." ”

“ Marian has been with me this morning."
"What! Has she gone?" said Douglas.
"Why?" said Mrs. Douglas. "Did you know she was coming?"
"She mentioned to me that she intended to come," he replied, carelessly; "but she bade me not to tell you."
"That accounts for your two visits. Well, Sholto, I do not blame you for spending your time in gayer places than this."
"You must not reproach me for neglecting you, mother. You know my disposition. I am seldom good company for any one; and I do not care to come only to cast a damp on you and your friends when I am morose. I hope you received Marian kindly." ”

“ Ah, what a pity it is that you have no mother, Mary! It is a greater loss to you than you think."
"It is time to go to meet papa," said Mary, rising. "I hope Uncle Richard will be at the station."
"Why? What do you want with your Uncle Richard?"
"Only to tell him that we are on good terms again, and that he may regard Mr Jack as his future bandmaster." She hurried away as she spoke; and Mrs Beatty' s protest was wasted on the old-fashioned sideboard. ”

“ Now, I must beg of you not to answer me, Magdalen. I do not wish to enter into a discussion with you, particularly before strangers."
"Then do not make strangers believe that—"
"Hold your tongue, Magdalen. Do you disobey me intentionally? You should be ashamed to speak to me."
The young lady bit her lip and reddened. "I think —" she began.
"Be silent." cried her father, seizing his umbrella and rapping it peremptorily on the floor. Jack sprang up.
"Sir," he said: "how dare you behave so to a lady?"
"This lady is my daughter, k—k—confound your impertinence," replied the other irascibly. ”