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really getting a sort of satisfaction already in being out of
danger yourself。
OCTAVIUS ＇startled＇ Satisfaction！ ＇Reproachfully＇ You say that to
me！
ANN。 Well； if it were really agony； would you ask for more of it？
OCTAVIUS。 Have I asked for more of it？
ANN。 You have offered to tell Jack that I love him。 That's
self…sacrifice； I suppose； but there must be some satisfaction in
it。 Perhaps it's because you're a poet。 You are like the bird
that presses its breast against the sharp thorn to make itself
sing。
OCTAVIUS。 It's quite simple。 I love you； and I want you to be
happy。 You don't love me； so I can't make you happy myself； but I
can help another man to do it。
ANN。 Yes： it seems quite simple。 But I doubt if we ever know why
we do things。 The only really simple thing is to go straight for
what you want and grab it。 I suppose I don't love you； Tavy； but
sometimes I feel as if I should like to make a man of you
somehow。 You are very foolish about women。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇almost coldly＇ I am content to be what I am in that
respect。
ANN。 Then you must keep away from them； and only dream about
them。 I wouldn't marry you for worlds； Tavy。
OCTAVIUS。 I have no hope； Ann： I accept my ill luck。 But I don't
think you quite know how much it hurts。
ANN。 You are so softhearted！ It's queer that you should be so
different from Violet。 Violet's as hard as nails。
OCTAVIUS。 Oh no。 I am sure Violet is thoroughly womanly at heart。
ANN。 ＇with some impatience＇ Why do you say that？ Is it unwomanly
to be thoughtful and businesslike and sensible？ Do you want
Violet to be an idiotor something worse； like me？
OCTAVIUS。 Something worselike you！ What do you mean； Ann？
ANN。 Oh well； I don't mean that； of course。 But I have a great
respect for Violet。 She gets her own way always。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇sighing＇ So do you。
ANN。 Yes； but somehow she gets it without coaxingwithout having
to make people sentimental about her。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇with brotherly callousness＇ Nobody could get very
sentimental about Violet； I think； pretty as she is。
ANN。 Oh yes they could； if she made them。
OCTAVIUS。 But surely no really nice woman would deliberately
practise on men's instincts in that way。
ANN。 ＇throwing up her hands＇ Oh Tavy； Tavy； Ricky Ticky Tavy；
heaven help the woman who marries you！
OCTAVIUS。 ＇his passion reviving at the name＇ Oh why； why； why do
you say that？ Don't torment me。 I don't understand。
ANN。 Suppose she were to tell fibs； and lay snares for men？
OCTAVIUS。 Do you think I could marry such a womanI； who have
known and loved you？
ANN。 Hm！ Well； at all events； she wouldn't let you if she were
wise。 So that's settled。 And now I can't talk any more。 Say you
forgive me； and that the subject is closed。
OCTAVIUS。 I have nothing to forgive； and the subject is closed。
And if the wound is open； at least you shall never see it bleed。
ANN。 Poetic to the last； Tavy。 Goodbye； dear。 ＇She pats his
check； has an impulse to kiss him and then another impulse of
distaste which prevents her； finally runs away through the garden
and into the villa＇。
Octavius again takes refuge at the table； bowing his head on his
arms and sobbing softly。 Mrs Whitefield； who has been pottering
round the Granada shops； and has a net full of little parcels in
her hand； comes in through the gate and sees him。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇running to him and lifting his head＇ What's the
matter； Tavy？ Are you ill？
OCTAVIUS。 No； nothing； nothing。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇still holding his head； anxiously＇ But you're
crying。 Is it about Violet's marriage？
OCTAVIUS。 No； no。 Who told you about Violet？
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇restoring the head to its owner＇ I met Roebuck
and that awful old Irishman。 Are you sure you're not ill？ What's
the matter？
OCTAVIUS。 ＇affectionately＇ It's nothingonly a man's broken
heart。 Doesn't that sound ridiculous？
MRS WHITEFIELD。 But what is it all about？ Has Ann been doing
anything to you？
OCTAVIUS。 It's not Ann's fault。 And don't think for a moment that
I blame you。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇startled＇ For what？
OCTAVIUS。 ＇pressing her hand consolingly＇ For nothing。 I said I
didn't blame you。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 But I haven't done anything。 What's the matter？
OCTAVIUS。 ＇smiling sadly＇ Can't you guess？ I daresay you are
right to prefer Jack to me as a husband for Ann； but I love Ann；
and it hurts rather。 ＇He rises and moves away from her towards the
middle of the lawn＇。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇following him hastily＇ Does Ann say that I want
her to marry Jack？
OCTAVIUS。 Yes： she has told me。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇thoughtfully＇ Then I'm very sorry for you； Tavy。
It's only her way of saying SHE wants to marry Jack。 Little she
cares what I say or what I want！
OCTAVIUS。 But she would not say it unless she believed it。 Surely
you don't suspect Ann ofof DECEIT！！
MRS WHITEFIELD。 Well； never mind； Tavy。 I don't know which is
best for a young man： to know too little； like you； or too much；
like Jack。
Tanner returns。
TANNER。 Well； I've disposed of old Malone。 I've introduced him to
Mendoza； Limited； and left the two brigands together to talk it
out。 Hullo； Tavy！ anything wrong？
OCTAVIUS。 I must go wash my face； I see。 ＇To Mrs Whitefield＇ Tell
him what you wish。 ＇To Tanner＇ You may take it from me； Jack；
that Ann approves of it。
TANNER。 ＇puzzled by his manner＇ Approves of what？
OCTAVIUS。 Of what Mrs Whitefield wishes。 ＇He goes his way with
sad dignity to the villa＇。
TANNER。 ＇to Mrs Whitefield＇ This is very mysterious。 What is it
you wish？ It shall be done； whatever it is。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇with snivelling gratitude＇ Thank you； Jack。 ＇She
sits down。 Tanner brings the other chair from the table and sits
close to her with his elbows on his knees； giving her his whole
attention＇。 I don't know why it is that other people's children
are so nice to me； and that my own have so little consideration
for me。 It's no wonder I don't seem able to care for Ann and
Rhoda as I do for you and Tavy and Violet。 It's a very queer
world。 It used to be so straightforward and simple； and now
nobody seems to think and feel as they ought。 Nothing has been
right since that speech that Professor Tyndall made at Belfast。
TANNER。 Yes： life is more complicated than we used to think。 But
what am I to do for you？
MRS WHITEFIELD。 That's just what I want to tell you。 Of course
you'll marry Ann whether I like it myself or not
TANNER。 ＇starting＇ It seems to me that I shall presently be
married to Ann whether I like it myself or not。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇peacefully＇ Oh； very likely you will： you know
what she is when she has set her mind on anything。 But don't put
it on me： that's all I ask。 Tavy has just let out that she's been
saying that I am making her marry you； and the poor boy is
breaking his heart about it； for he is in love with her himself；
though what he sees in her so wonderful； goodness knows： I don't。
It's no use telling Tavy that Ann puts things into people's heads
by telling them that I want them when the thought of them never
crossed my mind。 It only sets Tavy against me。 But you know
better than that。 So if you marry her； don't put the blame on me。
T