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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。
TANNER。 ＇emphatically＇ I haven't the slightest intention of
marrying her。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇slyly＇ She'd suit you better than Tavy。 She'd
meet her match in you； Jack。 I'd like to see her meet her match。
TANNER。 No man is a match for a woman； except with a poker and a
pair of hobnailed boots。 Not always even then。 Anyhow； I can't
take the poker to her。 I should be a mere slave。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 No： she's afraid of you。 At all events； you would
tell her the truth about herself。 She wouldn't be able to slip
out of it as she does with me。
TANNER。 Everybody would call me a brute if I told Ann the truth
about herself in terms of her own moral code。 To begin with； Ann
says things that are not strictly true。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 I'm glad somebody sees she is not an angel。
TANNER。 In shortto put it as a husband would put it when
exasperated to the point of speaking outshe is a liar。 And
since she has plunged Tavy head over ears in love with her
without any intention of marrying him； she is a coquette；
according to the standard definition of a coquette as a woman who
rouses passions she has no intention of gratifying。 And as she
has now reduced you to the point of being willing to sacrifice me
at the altar for the mere satisfaction of getting me to call her
a liar to her face； I may conclude that she is a bully as well。
She can't bully men as she bullies women； so she habitually and
unscrupulously uses her personal fascination to make men give her
whatever she wants。 That makes her almost something for which I
know no polite name。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇in mild expostulation＇ Well； you can't expect
perfection； Jack。
TANNER。 I don't。 But what annoys me is that Ann does。 I know
perfectly well that all this about her being a liar and a bully
and a coquette and so forth is a trumped…up moral indictment
which might be brought against anybody。 We all lie； we all bully
as much as we dare； we all bid for admiration without the least
intention of earning it； we all get as much rent as we can out of
our powers of fascination。 If Ann would admit this I shouldn't
quarrel with her。 But she won't。 If she has children she'll take
advantage of their telling lies to amuse herself by whacking
them。 If another woman makes eyes at me； she'll refuse to know a
coquette。 She will do just what she likes herself whilst
insisting on everybody else doing what the conventional code
prescribes。 In short； I can stand everything except her
confounded hypocrisy。 That's what beats me。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇carried away by the relief of hearing her own
opinion so eloquently expressed＇ Oh； she is a hypocrite。 She is：
she is。 Isn't she？
TANNER。 Then why do you want to marry me to her？
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇querulously＇ There now！ put it on me； of course。
I never thought of it until Tavy told me she said I did。 But； you
know； I'm very fond of Tavy： he's a sort of son to me； and I
don't want him to be trampled on and made wretched。
TANNER。 Whereas I don't matter； I suppose。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 Oh； you are different； somehow： you are able to
take care of yourself。 You'd serve her out。 And anyhow； she must
marry somebody。
TANNER。 Aha！ there speaks the life instinct。 You detest her； but
you feel that you must get her married。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇rising； shocked＇ Do you mean that I detest my
own daughter！ Surely you don't believe me to be so wicked and
unnatural as that； merely because I see her faults。
TANNER。 ＇cynically＇ You love her； then？
MRS WHITEFIELD。 Why； of course I do。 What queer things you say；
Jack！ We can't help loving our own blood relations。
TANNER。 Well； perhaps it saves unpleasantness to say so。 But for
my part； I suspect that the tables of consanguinity have a
natural basis in a natural repugnance ＇he rises＇。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 You shouldn't say things like that； Jack。 I hope
you won't tell Ann that I have been speaking to you。 I only
wanted to set myself right with you and Tavy。 I couldn't sit
mumchance and have everything put on me。
TANNER。 ＇politely＇ Quite so。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇dissatisfied＇ And now I've only made matters
worse。 Tavy's angry with me because I don't worship Ann。 And when
it's been put into my head that Ann ought to marry you； what can
I say except that it would serve her right？
TANNER。 Thank you。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 Now don't be silly and twist what I say into
something I don't mean。 I ought to have fair play
Ann comes from the villa； followed presently by Violet； who is
dressed for driving。
ANN。 ＇coming to her mother's right hand with threatening suavity＇
Well； mamma darling； you seem to be having a delightful chat with
Jack。 We can hear you all over the place。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇appalled＇ Have you overheard
TANNER。 Never fear： Ann is onlywell； we were discussing that
habit of hers just now。 She hasn't heard a word。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇stoutly＇ I don't care whether she has or not： I
have a right to say what I please。
VIOLET。 ＇arriving on the lawn and coming between Mrs Whitefield
and Tanner＇ I've come to say goodbye。 I'm off for my honeymoon。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇crying＇ Oh don't say that； Violet。 And no
wedding； no breakfast； no clothes； nor anything。
VIOLET。 ＇petting her＇ It won't be for long。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 Don't let him take you to America。 Promise me
that you won't。
VIOLET。 ＇very decidedly＇ I should think not； indeed。 Don't cry；
dear： I'm only going to the hotel。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 But going in that dress； with your luggage； makes
one realize＇she chokes； and then breaks out again＇ How I wish
you were my daughter； Violet！
VIOLET。 ＇soothing her＇ There； there： so I am。 Ann will be
jealous。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 Ann doesn't care a bit for me。
ANN。 Fie； mother！ Come； now： you mustn't cry any more： you know
Violet doesn't like it ＇Mrs Whitefzeld dries her eyes； and
subsides＇。
VIOLET。 Goodbye； Jack。
TANNER。 Goodbye； Violet。
VIOLET。 The sooner you get married too； the better。 You will be
much less misunderstood。
TANNER。 ＇restively＇ I quite expect to get married in the course
of the afternoon。 You all seem to have set your minds on it。
VIOLET。 You might do worse。 ＇To Mrs Whitefield： putting her arm
round her＇ Let me take you to the hotel with me： the drive will
do you good。 Come in and get a wrap。 ＇She takes her towards the
villa＇。
MRS WHITEFIELD。 ＇as they go up through the garden＇ I don't know
what I shall do when you are gone； with no one but Ann in the
house； and she always occupied with the men！ It's not to be
expected that your husband will care to be bothered with an old
woman like me。 Oh； you needn't tell me： politeness is all very
well； but I know what people think＇She talks herself and Violet
out of sight and hearing＇。
Ann； musing on Violet's opportune advice； approaches Tanner；
examines him humorously for a moment from toe to top； and finally
delivers her opinion。
ANN。 Violet is quite right。 You ought to get married。
TANNER。 ＇explosively＇ Ann： I will not marry you。 Do you hear？ I
won't； won't； won't； won't； WON'T marry you。
ANN。 ＇placidly＇ Well；