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MISS RAMSDEN。 What is the use of saying no； Roebuck？ Octavius
knows that I would not turn any truly contrite and repentant
woman from your doors。 But when a woman is not only wicked； but
intends to go on being wicked； she and I part company。
ANN。 Oh； Miss Ramsden； what do you mean？ What has Violet said？
RAMSDEN。 Violet is certainly very obstinate。 She won't leave
London。 I don't understand her。
MISS RAMSDEN。 I do。 It's as plain as the nose on your face；
Roebuck； that she won't go because she doesn't want to be
separated from this man； whoever he is。
ANN。 Oh； surely； surely！ Octavius： did you speak to her？
OCTAVIUS。 She won't tell us anything。 She won't make any
arrangement until she has consulted somebody。 It can't be anybody
else than the scoundrel who has betrayed her。
TANNER。 ＇to Octavius＇ Well； let her consult him。 He will be glad
enough to have her sent abroad。 Where is the difficulty？
MISS RAMSDEN。 ＇Taking the answer out of Octavius's mouth＇。 The
difficulty； Mr Jack； is that when he offered to help her I didn't
offer to become her accomplice in her wickedness。 She either
pledges her word never to see that man again； or else she finds
some new friends； and the sooner the better。
＇The parlormaid appears at the door。 Ann hastily resumes her
seat； and looks as unconcerned as possible。 Octavius
instinctively imitates her＇。
THE MAID。 The cab is at the door； ma'am。
MISS RAMSDEN。 What cab？
THE MAID。 For Miss Robinson。
MISS RAMSDEN。 Oh！ ＇Recovering herself＇ All right。 ＇The maid
withdraws＇。 She has sent for a cab。
TANNER。 I wanted to send for that cab half an hour ago。
MISS RAMSDEN。 I am glad she understands the position she has
placed herself in。
RAMSDEN。 I don't like her going away in this fashion； Susan。 We
had better not do anything harsh。
OCTAVIUS。 No： thank you again and again； but Miss Ramsden is
quite right。 Violet cannot expect to stay。
ANN。 Hadn't you better go with her； Tavy？
OCTAVIUS。 She won't have me。
MISS RAMSDEN。 Of course she won't。 She's going straight to that
man。
TANNER。 As a natural result of her virtuous reception here。
RAMSDEN。 ＇much troubled＇ There； Susan！ You hear！ and there's some
truth in it。 I wish you could reconcile it with your principles
to be a little patient with this poor girl。 She's very young； and
there's a time for everything。
MISS RAMSDEN。 Oh； she will get all the sympathy she wants from
the men。 I'm surprised at you； Roebuck。
TANNER。 So am I； Ramsden； most favorably。
Violet appears at the door。 She is as impenitent and self…assured
a young lady as one would desire to see among the best behaved of
her sex。 Her small head and tiny resolute mouth and chin； her
haughty crispness of speech and trimness of carriage； the
ruthless elegance of her equipment； which includes a very smart
hat with a dead bird in it； mark a personality which is as
formidable as it is exquisitely pretty。 She is not a siren； like
Ann： admiration comes to her without any compulsion or even
interest on her part； besides； there is some fun in Ann； but in
this woman none； perhaps no mercy either： if anything restrains
her； it is intelligence and pride； not compassion。 Her voice
might be the voice of a schoolmistress addressing a class of
girls who had disgraced themselves； as she proceeds with complete
composure and some disgust to say what she has come to say。
VIOLET。 I have only looked in to tell Miss Ramsden that she will
find her birthday present to me； the filagree bracelet； in the
housekeeper's room。
TANNER。 Do come in； Violet； and talk to us sensibly。
VIOLET。 Thank you： I have had quite enough of the family
conversation this morning。 So has your mother； Ann： she has gone
home crying。 But at all events； I have found out what some of my
pretended friends are worth。 Good bye。
TANNER。 No； no： one moment。 I have something to say which I beg
you to hear。 ＇She looks at him without the slightest curiosity；
but waits； apparently as much to finish getting her glove on as
to hear what he has to say＇。 I am altogether on your side in this
matter。 I congratulate you； with the sincerest respect； on having
the courage to do what you have done。 You are entirely in the
right； and the family is entirely in the wrong。
Sensation。 Ann and Miss Ramsden rise and turn toward the two。
Violet； more surprised than any of the others； forgets her glove；
and comes forward into the middle of the room； both puzzled and
displeased。 Qctavius alone does not move or raise his head； he is
overwhelmed with shame。
ANN。 ＇pleading to Tanner to be sensible＇ Jack！
MISS RAMSDEN。 ＇outraged｝ Well； I must say！
VIOLET。 ＇sharply to Tanner＇ Who told you？
TANNER。 Why； Ramsden and Tavy of course。 Why should they not？
VIOLET。 But they don't know。
TANNER。 Don't know what？
VIOLET。 They don't know that I am in the right； I mean。
TANNER。 Oh； they know it in their hearts； though they think
themselves bound to blame you by their silly superstitions about
morality and propriety and so forth。 But I know； and the whole
world really knows； though it dare not say so； that you were
right to follow your instinct； that vitality and bravery are the
greatest qualities a woman can have； and motherhood her solemn
initiation into womanhood； and that the fact of your not being
legally married matters not one scrap either to your own worth or
to our real regard for you。
VIOLET。 ＇flushing with indignation＇ Oh！ You think me a wicked
woman； like the rest。 You think I have not only been vile； but
that I share your abominable opinions。 Miss Ramsden： I have borne
your hard words because I knew you would be sorry for them when
you found out the truth。 But I won't bear such a horrible insult
as to be complimented by Jack on being one of the wretches of
whom he approves。 I have kept my marriage a secret for my
husband's sake。 But now I claim my right as a married woman not
to be insulted。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇raising his head with inexpressible relief＇ You are
married！
VIOLET。 Yes； and I think you might have guessed it。 What business
had you all to take it for granted that I had no right to wear my
wedding ring？ Not one of you even asked me： I cannot forget that。
TANNER。 ＇in ruins＇ I am utterly crushed。 I meant wellI
apologizeabjectly apologize。
VIOLET。 I hope you will be more careful in future about the
things you say。 Of course one does not take them seriously。 But
they are very disagreeable； and rather in bad taste。
TANNER。 ＇bowing to the storm＇ I have no defence： I shall know
better in future than to take any woman's part。 We have all
disgraced ourselves in your eyes； I am afraid； except Ann； SHE
befriended you。 For Ann's sake； forgive us。
VIOLET。 Yes： Ann has been very kind； but then Ann knew。
TANNER。 Oh！
MISS RAMSDEN。 ＇stiffly＇ And who； pray； is the gentleman who does
not acknowledge his wife？
VIOLET。 ＇promptly＇ That is my business； Miss Ramsden； and not
yours。 I have my reasons for keeping my marriage a secret for the
present。
RAMSDEN。 All I can say is that we are extremely sorry； Violet。 I
am shocked to think of how we have treated you。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇awkwardly＇ I beg your pardon； Viole