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ANN。 You need not have kept away from ME on that account。
TANNER。 From you above all others。 You fought harder than anybody
against my emancipation。
ANN。 ＇earnestly＇ Oh； how wrong you are！ I would have done
anything for you。
TANNER。 Anything except let me get loose from you。 Even then you
had acquired by instinct that damnable woman's trick of heaping
obligations on a man； of placing yourself so entirely and
helplessly at his mercy that at last he dare not take a step
without running to you for leave。 I know a poor wretch whose one
desire in life is to run away from his wife。 She prevents him by
threatening to throw herself in front of the engine of the train
he leaves her in。 That is what all women do。 If we try to go
where you do not want us to go there is no law to prevent us；
but when we take the first step your breasts are under our foot
as it descends： your bodies are under our wheels as we start。 No
woman shall ever enslave me in that way。
ANN。 But； Jack； you cannot get through life without considering
other people a little。
TANNER。 Ay； but what other people？ It is this consideration of
other people or rather this cowardly fear of them which we
call consideration that makes us the sentimental slaves we are。
To consider you； as you call it； is to substitute your will for
my own。 How if it be a baser will than mine？ Are women taught
better than men or worse？ Are mobs of voters taught better than
statesmen or worse？ Worse； of course； in both cases。 And then
what sort of world are you going to get； with its public men
considering its voting mobs； and its private men considering
their wives？ What does Church and State mean nowadays？ The
Woman and the Ratepayer。
ANN。 ＇placidly＇ I am so glad you understand politics； Jack： it
will be most useful to you if you go into parliament ＇he
collapses like a pricked bladder＇。 But I am sorry you thought my
influence a bad one。
TANNER。 I don't say it was a bad one。 But bad or good； I didn't
choose to be cut to your measure。 And I won't be cut to it。
ANN。 Nobody wants you to； Jack。 I assure youreally on my word
I don't mind your queer opinions one little bit。 You know we have
all been brought up to have advanced opinions。 Why do you persist
in thinking me so narrow minded？
TANNER。 That's the danger of it。 I know you don't mind； because
you've found out that it doesn't matter。 The boa constrictor
doesn't mind the opinions of a stag one little bit when once she
has got her coils round it。
ANN。 ＇rising in sudden enlightenment＇ O…o…o…o…oh！ NOW I
understand why you warned Tavy that I am a boa constrictor。
Granny told me。 ＇She laughs and throws her boa around her neck＇。
Doesn't it feel nice and soft； Jack？
TANNER。 ＇in the toils＇ You scandalous woman； will you throw away
even your hypocrisy？
ANN。 I am never hypocritical with you； Jack。 Are you angry？ ＇She
withdraws the boa and throws it on a chair＇。 Perhaps I shouldn't
have done that。
TANNER。 ＇contemptuously＇ Pooh； prudery！ Why should you not； if it
amuses you？
ANN。 ＇Shyly＇ Well； becausebecause I suppose what you really
meant by the boa constrictor was THIS ＇she puts her arms round
his neck＇。
TANNER。 ＇Staring at her＇ Magnificent audacity！ ＇She laughs and
pats his cheeks＇。 Now just to think that if I mentioned this
episode not a soul would believe me except the people who would
cut me for telling； whilst if you accused me of it nobody would
believe my denial。
ANN。 ＇taking her arms away with perfect dignity＇ You are
incorrigible； Jack。 But you should not jest about our affection
for one another。 Nobody could possibly misunderstand it。 YOU do
not misunderstand it； I hope。
TANNER。 My blood interprets for me； Ann。 Poor Ricky Tiky Tavy！
ANN。 ＇looking quickly at him as if this were a new light＇ Surely
you are not so absurd as to be jealous of Tavy。
TANNER。 Jealous！ Why should I be？ But I don't wonder at your
grip of him。 I feel the coils tightening round my very self；
though you are only playing with me。
ANN。 Do you think I have designs on Tavy？
TANNER。 I know you have。
ANN。 ＇earnestly＇ Take care； Jack。 You may make Tavy very happy
if you mislead him about me。
TANNER。 Never fear： he will not escape you。
ANN。 I wonder are you really a clever man！
TANNER。 Why this sudden misgiving on the subject？
ANN。 You seem to understand all the things I don't understand；
but you are a perfect baby in the things I do understand。
TANNER。 I understand how Tavy feels for you； Ann； you may depend
on that； at all events。
ANN。 And you think you understand how I feel for Tavy； don't
you？
TANNER。 I know only too well what is going to happen to poor
Tavy。
ANN。 I should laugh at you； Jack； if it were not for poor papa's
death。 Mind！ Tavy will be very unhappy。
TANNER。 Yes； but he won't know it； poor devil。 He is a thousand
times too good for you。 That's why he is going to make the
mistake of his life about you。
ANN。 I think men make more mistakes by being too clever than by
being too good ＇she sits down； with a trace of contempt for the
whole male sex in the elegant carriage of her shoulders＇。
TANNER。 Oh； I know you don't care very much about Tavy。 But
there is always one who kisses and one who only allows the kiss。
Tavy will kiss； and you will only turn the cheek。 And you will
throw him over if anybody better turns up。
ANN。 ＇offended＇ You have no right to say such things； Jack。 They
are not true； and not delicate。 If you and Tavy choose to be
stupid about me； that is not my fault。
TANNER。 ＇remorsefully＇ Forgive my brutalities； Ann。 They are
levelled at this wicked world； not at you。 ＇She looks up at him；
pleased and forgiving。 He becomes cautious at once＇。 All the
same； I wish Ramsden would come back。 I never feel safe with
you： there is a devilish charmor no： not a charm； a subtle
interest ＇she laughs＇。 Just so： you know it； and you triumph in
it。 Openly and shamelessly triumph in it！
ANN。 What a shocking flirt you are； Jack！
TANNER。 A flirt！！ I！！
ANN。 Yes； a flirt。 You are always abusing and offending people。
but you never really mean to let go your hold of them。
TANNER。 I will ring the bell。 This conversation has already gone
further than I intended。
Ramsden and Octavius come back with Miss Ramsden； a hardheaded
old maiden lady in a plain brown silk gown； with enough rings；
chains and brooches to show that her plainness of dress is a
matter of principle； not of poverty。 She comes into the room very
determinedly： the two men； perplexed and downcast； following her。
Ann rises and goes eagerly to meet her。 Tanner retreats to the
wall between the busts and pretends to study the pictures。
Ramsden goes to his table as usual； and Octavius clings to the
neighborhood of Tanner。
MISS RAMSDEN。 ＇almost pushing Ann aside as she comes to Mr。
Whitefield's chair and plants herself there resolutely＇ I wash my
hands of the whole affair。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇very wretched＇ I know you wish me to take Violet away；
Miss Ramsden。 I will。 ＇He turns irresolutely to the door＇。
RAMSDEN。 No no
MISS RAMSDEN。 What is the use of saying no； Roebuck？ Octavius
knows that I would not turn any truly contrite