The Second Mrs. Tanqueray Part 52

What _can_ we do?

PAULA.

Why, nothing! She'd have no difficulty in following up her suspicions. Suspicions! You should have seen how she looked at me!

[_He buries his head in his hands. There is silence for a time, then she rises slowly, and goes and sits beside him._] Aubrey!

AUBREY.

Yes.

PAULA.

I'm very sorry.

[_Without meeting her eyes, he lays his hand on her arm for a moment._

AUBREY.

Well, we must look things straight in the face. [_Glancing round._]

At any rate, we've done with this.

PAULA.

I suppose so. [_After a brief pause._] Of course, she and I can't live under the same roof any more. You know she kissed me to-night, of her own accord.

AUBREY.

I asked her to alter towards you.

PAULA.

That was it, then.

AUBREY.

I--I'm sorry I sent her away.

PAULA.

It was my fault; I made it necessary.

AUBREY.

Perhaps now she'll propose to return to the convent,--well, she must.

PAULA.

Would you like to keep her with you and--and leave me?

AUBREY.

Paula----!

PAULA.

You needn't be afraid I'd go back to--what I was. I couldn't.

AUBREY.

Sssh, for G.o.d's sake! We--you and I--we'll get out of this place ...

what a fool I was to come here again!

PAULA.

You lived here with your first wife!

AUBREY.

We'll get out of this place and go abroad again, and begin afresh.

PAULA.

Begin afresh?

AUBREY.

There's no reason why the future shouldn't be happy for us--no reason that I can see----

PAULA.

Aubrey!

AUBREY.

Yes?

PAULA.

You'll never forget this, you know.

AUBREY.

This?

PAULA.

To-night, and everything that's led up to it. Our coming here, Ellean, our quarrels--cat and dog!--Mrs. Cortelyon, the Orreyeds, this man! What an everlasting nightmare for you!

AUBREY.