按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
NEWTE。 I did。 I told you that he was a gentleman； that he …
FANNY。 Why didn't you tell me that he was Lord Bantock？ You knew； didn't you？
NEWTE ＇begins to see worries ahead＇。 Can't object to my putting a cigar in my mouth if I don't light itcan he？
FANNY。 Oh； light itanything you like that will help you to get along。
NEWTE ＇bites the end off the cigar and puts it between his teeth。 This helps him＇。 No； I didn't knownot officially。
FANNY。 What do you mean〃not officially〃？
NEWTE。 He never told me。
FANNY。 He never told you ANYTHINGfor the matter of that。 I understood you had found out everything for yourself。
NEWTE。 Yes； and one of the things I found out was that he didn't WANT you to know。 I could see his little game。 Wanted to play the Lord Burleigh fake。 Well； what was the harm？ Didn't make any difference to you！
FANNY。 Didn't make any difference to me！ ＇Jumps up。＇ Do you know what I've done？ Married into a family that keeps twenty…three servants； every blessed one of whom is a near relation of my own。 ＇He sits paralysed。 She goes on。＇ That bald…headed old owl＇with a wave towards the door＇that wanted to send you off with a glass of beer and a flea in your earthat's my uncle。 The woman that opened the lodge gate for you is my Aunt Amelia。 The carroty…headed young man that answered the door to you is my cousin Simeon。 He always used to insist on kissing me。 I'm expecting him to begin again。 My 〃lady's〃 maid is my cousin Jane。 That's why I'm dressed like this！ My own clothes have been packed off to the local dressmaker to be made 〃decent。〃 Meanwhile； they've dug up the family vault to find something for me to go on with。 ＇He has been fumbling in all his pockets for matches。 She snatches a box from somewhere and flings it to him。＇ For Heaven's sake light it！ Then； perhaps； you'll be able to do something else than stare。 I have claret and watermixed with my dinner。 Uncle pours it out for me。 They've locked up my cigarettes。 Aunt Susannah is coming in to…morrow morning to hear me say my prayers。 Doesn't trust me by myself。 Thinks I'll skip them。 She's the housekeeper here。 I've got to know them by heart before I go to bed to…night； and now I've mislaid them。 ＇She goes to the deskhunts for them。＇
NEWTE ＇having lighted his eternal cigar； he can begin to think＇。 But why should THEY …
FANNY ＇still at desk＇。 Because they're that sort。 They honestly think they are doing the right and proper thingthat Providence has put it into their hands to turn me out a passable substitute for all a Lady Bantock should be； which； so far as I can understand； is something between the late lamented Queen Victoria and Goody…Two… Shoes。 They are the people that I ran away from； the people I've told you about； the people I've always said I'd rather starve than ever go back to。 And here I am； plumped down in the midst of them againfor life！ ＇Honoria Bennet； the 〃still…room〃 maid； has entered。 She is a pert young minx of about Fanny's own age。＇ What is is？ What is it？
HONORIA。 Merely passing through。 Sorry to have excited your ladyship。 ＇Goes into dressing…room。＇
FANNY。 My cousin Honoria。 They've sent her up to keep an eye upon me。 Little cat！ ＇She takes her handkerchief； drapes it over the keyhole of the dressing…room door。＇
NEWTE ＇at sight of Honoria he has jumped up and hastily hidden his cigar behind him＇。 What are you going to do？
FANNY ＇she seats herself and suggests to him the writing…chair＇。 Hear from youfirst of allexactly what you told Vernon。
NEWTE ＇sitting＇。 About you？
FANNY ＇nods＇。 About meand my family。
NEWTE。 Wellcouldn't tell him much； of course。 Wasn't much to tell。
FANNY。 I want what you did tell。
NEWTE。 I told him that your late father was a musician。
FANNY。 Yes。
NEWTE。 Had been unfortunate。 Didn't go into particulars。 Didn't seem to be any need for it。 That your mother had died when you were still only a girl and that you had gone to live with relatives。 ＇He looks for approval。＇
FANNY。 Yes。
NEWTE。 That you hadn't got on well with themartistic temperament； all that sort of thingthat； in consequence； you had appealed to your father's old theatrical friends； and that theythat they； having regard to your talentand beauty …
FANNY。 Thank you。
NEWTE。 Had decided that the best thing you could do was to go upon the stage。 ＇He finishes； tolerably well pleased with himself。＇
FANNY。 That's all right。 Very good indeed。 What else？
NEWTE ＇after an uncomfortable pause＇。 Well； that's about all I knew。
FANNY。 Yes； but what did you TELL him？
NEWTE。 Well； of course； I had to tell him something。 A man doesn't marry without knowing just a little about his wife's connections。 Wouldn't be reasonable to expect him。 You'd never told me anything never would； except that you'd liked to have boiled the lot。 What was I to do？ ＇He is playing with a quill pen he has picked up。＇
FANNY ＇she takes it from him＇。 What DID you do？
NEWTE ＇with fine frankness＇。 I did the best I could for you； old girl； and he was very nice about it。 Said it was better than he'd expected； and that I'd made him very happyvery happy indeed。
FANNY ＇she leans across； puts her hand on his＇。 You're a dear； good fellow； Georgealways have been。 I wouldn't plague you only it is absolutely necessary I should knowexactly what you did tell him。
NEWTE ＇a little sulkily＇。 I told him that your uncle was a bishop。
FANNY ＇sits backstaring at him＇。 A what？
NEWTE。 A bishop。 Bishop of Waiapu； New Zealand。
FANNY。 Why New Zealand？
NEWTE。 Why not？ Had to be somewhere。 Didn't want him Archbishop of Canterbury； did you？
FANNY。 Did he believe it？
NEWTE。 Shouldn't have told him had there been any fear that he wouldn't。
FANNY。 I see。 Any other swell relations of mine knocking about？
NEWTE。 Onea judge of the Supreme Court in Ohio。 Same name； anyhow； O'Gorman。 Thought I'd make him a cousin of yours。 I've always remembered him。 Met him when I was over there in ninety… eightdamn him！
A silence。
FANNY ＇she rises＇。 Well； nothing else for it！ Got to tell him it was all a pack of lies。 Not blaming you； old boymy fault。 Didn't know he was going to ask any questions； or I'd have told him myself。 Bit of bad luck； that's all。
NEWTE。 Why must you tell him？ Only upset him。
FANNY。 It's either my telling him or leaving it for them to do。 You know me； George。 How long do you see me being bossed and bullied by my own servants？ Besides； it's bound to come out in any case。
NEWTE ＇he rises。 Kindly but firmly he puts her back into her chair。 Then pacing to and fro with his hands mostly in his trousers pockets； he talks＇。 Now； you listen to me； old girl。 I've been your business manager ever since you started in。 I've never made a mistake before… …＇he turns and faces her＇and I haven't made one this time。
FANNY。 I don't really see the smartness； George； stuffing him up with a lot of lies he can find out for himself。
NEWTE。 IF HE WANTS TO。 A couple of telegrams； one to His Grace the Bishop of Waiapu； the other to Judge Denis O'Gorman； Columbus； Ohio； would have brought him back the infor