The Second Mrs. Tanqueray Part 46

AUBREY.

A grave, sedate fellow I've thought about--hah! She has fallen in love with the way in which Ardale practically laid down his life to save those poor people shut up in the Residency. [_Taking off his coat._] Well, I suppose if a man can do that sort of thing, one ought to be content. And yet---- [_Throwing his coat on the settee._] I should have met him to-night, but he'd gone out. Paula dear, tell me how you look upon this business.

PAULA.

Yes, I will--I must. To begin with, I--I've seen Mr. Ardale.

AUBREY.

Captain Ardale?

PAULA.

Captain Ardale.

AUBREY.

Seen him?

PAULA.

While you were away he came up here, through our grounds, to try to get a word with Ellean. I made her fetch him in and present him to me.

AUBREY.

[_Frowning._] Doesn't Captain Ardale know there's a lodge and a front door to this place? Never mind! What is your impression of him?

PAULA.

Aubrey, do you recollect my bringing you a letter--a letter giving you an account of myself--to the Albany late one night--the night before we got married?

AUBREY.

A letter?

PAULA.

You burnt it; don't you know?

AUBREY.

Yes; I know.

PAULA.

His name was in that letter.

AUBREY.

[_Going back from her slowly, and staring at her._] I don't understand.

PAULA.

Well--Ardale and I once kept house together. [_He remains silent, not moving._] Why don't you strike me? Hit me in the face--I'd rather you did! Hurt me! hurt me!

AUBREY.

[_After a pause._] What did you--and this man--say to each other--just now?

PAULA.

I--hardly--know.

AUBREY.

Think!

PAULA.

The end of it all was that I--I told him I must inform you of--what had happened ... he didn't want me to do that ... I declared that I would ... he dared me to. [_Breaking down._] Let me alone!--oh!

AUBREY.

Where was my daughter while this went on?

PAULA.

I--I had sent her out of the room ... that is all right.

AUBREY.

Yes, yes--yes, yes.

[_He turns his head towards the door._

PAULA.

Who's that?

_A_ SERVANT _enters with a letter._

SERVANT.

The coachman has just run up with this from The Warren, sir. [AUBREY _takes the letter._] It's for Mrs. Tanqueray, sir; there's no answer.

[_The_ SERVANT _withdraws._ AUBREY _goes to_ PAULA _and drops the letter into her lap; she opens it with uncertain hands._

PAULA.