The Second Mrs. Tanqueray - novelonlinefull.com
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You've always hated me! You shall answer me!
ELLEAN.
Well, then, I have always--always----
PAULA.
What?
ELLEAN.
I have always known what you were!
PAULA.
Ah! Who--who told you?
ELLEAN.
n.o.body but yourself. From the first moment I saw you I knew you were altogether unlike the good women I'd left; directly I saw you I knew what my father had done. You've wondered why I've turned from you!
There--that's the reason! Oh, but this is a horrible way for the truth to come home to every one! Oh!
PAULA.
It's a lie! It's all a lie! [_Forcing_ ELLEAN _down upon her knees._] You shall beg my pardon for it. [_Ellean utters a loud shriek of terror._] Ellean, I'm a good woman! I swear I am! I've always been a good woman! You dare to say I've ever been anything else! It's a lie!
[_Throwing her off violently._
AUBREY _re-enters._
AUBREY.
Paula! [PAULA _staggers back as_ AUBREY _advances. Raising_ ELLEAN.]
What's this? What's this?
ELLEAN.
[_Faintly._] Nothing. It--it's my fault. Father, I--I don't wish to see Captain Ardale again.
[_She goes out,_ AUBREY _slowly following her to the door._
PAULA.
Aubrey, she--she guesses.
AUBREY.
Guesses?
PAULA.
About me--and Ardale.
AUBREY.
About you--and Ardale?
PAULA.
She says she suspected my character from the beginning ... that's why she's always kept me at a distance ... and now she sees through----
[_She falters; he helps her to the ottoman, where she sits._
AUBREY.
[_Bending over her._] Paula, you must have said something--admitted something----
PAULA.
I don't think so. It--it's in my face.
AUBREY.
What?
PAULA.
She tells me so. She's right! I'm tainted through and through; anybody can see it, anybody can find it out. You said much the same to me to-night.
AUBREY.
If she has got this idea into her head we must drive it out, that's all. We must take steps to---- What shall we do? We had better--better----What--what?
[_Sitting and staring before him._
PAULA.
Ellean! So meek, so demure! You've often said she reminded you of her mother. Yes, I know now what your first marriage was like.
AUBREY.
We must drive this idea out of her head. We'll do something. What shall we do?
PAULA.
She's a regular woman too. She could forgive _him_ easily enough--but _me_! That's just a woman!
AUBREY.
