Misalliance Part 23

JOHNNY. Well, obviously, that independence for women is wrong and shouldnt be allowed. For their own good, you know. And for the good of morality in general. You agree with me, Lord Summerhays, dont you?

LORD SUMMERHAYS. It's a very moral moral, if I may so express myself.

_Mrs Tarleton comes in softly through the inner door._

MRS TARLETON. Dont make too much noise. The lad's asleep.

TARLETON. Chickabiddy: we have some news for you.

JOHNNY. _[apprehensively]_ Now theres no need, you know, Governor, to worry mother with everything that pa.s.ses.

MRS TARLETON. _[coming to Tarleton]_ Whats been going on? Dont you hold anything back from me, John. What have you been doing?

TARLETON. Bentley isnt going to marry Patsy.

MRS TARLETON. Of course not. Is that your great news? I never believed she'd marry him.

TARLETON. Theres something else. Mr Percival here--

MRS TARLETON. _[to Percival]_ Are you going to marry Patsy?

PERCIVAL _[diplomatically]_ Patsy is going to marry me, with your permission.

MRS TARLETON. Oh, she has my permission: she ought to have been married long ago.

HYPATIA. Mother!

TARLETON. Miss Lina here, though she has been so short a time with us, has inspired a good deal of attachment in--I may say in almost all of us. Therefore I hope she'll stay to dinner, and not insist on flying away in that aeroplane.

PERCIVAL. You must stay, Miss Szczepanowska. I cant go up again this evening.

LINA. Ive seen you work it. Do you think I require any help? And Bentley shall come with me as a pa.s.senger.

BENTLEY. _[terrified]_ Go up in an aeroplane! I darent.

LINA. You must learn to dare.

BENTLEY. _[pale but heroic]_ All right. I'll come.

LORD SUMMERHAYS No, no, Bentley, impossible. I shall not allow it.

MRS TARLETON. Do you want to kill the child? He shant go.

BENTLEY. I will. I'll lie down and yell until you let me go. I'm not a coward. I wont be a coward.

LORD SUMMERHAYS. Miss Szczepanowska: my son is very dear to me. I implore you to wait until tomorrow morning.

LINA. There may be a storm tomorrow. And I'll go: storm or no storm. I must risk my life tomorrow.

BENTLEY. I hope there will be a storm.

LINA. _[grasping his arm]_ You are trembling.

BENTLEY. Yes: it's terror, sheer terror. I can hardly see. I can hardly stand. But I'll go with you.

LINA. _[slapping him on the back and knocking a ghastly white smile into his face]_ You shall. I like you, my boy. We go tomorrow, together.

BENTLEY. Yes: together: tomorrow.

TARLETON. Well, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Read the old book.

MRS TARLETON. Is there anything else?

TARLETON. Well, I--er _[he addresses Lina, and stops]._ I--er _[he addresses Lord Summerhays, and stops]._ I--er _[he gives it up]._ Well, I suppose--er--I suppose theres nothing more to be said.

HYPATIA. _[fervently]_ Thank goodness!