The Black Cat | Page 8

Denham.
Oh, if I could, if I could! (_A knock at the door._)
Denham.
Come in.
(_Enter Jane with a telegram, which she hands to Mrs. Denham._)
Jane.
Please, m'm, a telegram; the boy's waiting!
(_Mrs. Denham tears open the telegram._)
Mrs. Denham.
(_pointing to spilt water_) Just wipe up that water, Jane, and push back this table. (_Jane wipes up water, moves table against R, wall, and takes away Undine's slate and book._)
Mrs. Denham.
(_reads_) "In town; will call this afternoon."
Jane.
Is there any answer, m'm?
Mrs. Denham.
No answer. (_Exit Jane._) Arthur! this is from Blanche Tremaine. She is in town, and comes here to-day. Let me see; it must be more than ten years since we've met--before we were married.
Denham.
Blanche Tremaine? Who is she?
Mrs. Denham.
My old class-fellow at our college in town. She played in our Greek play. She was just seventeen then.
Denham.
Younger than you?
Mrs. Denham.
Two years. Yes; she must be about eight-and-twenty now. You know I told you about her. She married a Mr. Overton.
Denham.
Overton? I seem to have heard the name. Didn't she run away from her husband, or something?
Mrs. Denham.
Yes, poor thing! He led her an awful life.
Denham.
Oh, and then she married the co-respondent! I remember.
Mrs. Denham.
What an interest you take in these scandals!
Denham.
Of course, dear. A scandal is a typical case of the great social disease.
Mrs. Denham.
She promised to be handsome.
Denham.
I wonder whether this woman is a weak fool, or a bold experimenter in the art of life?
Mrs. Denham.
How so?
Denham.
Why, having had the courage to come down from the cross, should she go back to it again?
Mrs. Denham.
What cross?
Denham.
What is woman's cross from the foundation of the world but man, man? The cords are the bonds of marriage, her children are the nails, and love her crown of thorns.
Mrs. Denham.
Very poetical, no doubt.
Denham.
Bitter truth, as you are never tired of demonstrating to me. Do you think the unfortunate cross has not had his share of the torment?
Mrs. Denham.
Too light a share for his tyranny, cruelty, and, above all, his mean hypocrisy. May he burn in some spiritual fire for that!
Denham.
So he does; it runs in his veins. Well, something better may come of it, some day. By-the-bye, I expect some men to see my picture.
Mrs. Denham.
Brynhild?
Denham.
Yes, such as she is. (Crosses R, _and looks at the picture._) Another failure, of course. (_Sighs._)
Mrs. Denham.
Why will you always speak of your work so despondently?
Denham.
Because I want to do better. Vanity, I suppose. (_He comes back towards the fireplace._)
Mrs. Denham.
Just move out this sofa. (They move sofa to C.) Who are coming?
Denham.
Oh, Fitzgerald, of course, and possibly Cyril Vane.
Mrs. Denham. That little creature? You know I detest him.
Denham.
Why _little_? Do you estimate men of genius by the pound?
Mrs. Denham.
Men of genius, indeed? The man has a second-hand intellect.
Denham.
Really, you sometimes say a good thing--that is, an ill-natured one. How you hate culture! (_Enter Jane, showing in Fitzgerald._)
Jane.
Mr. Fitzgerald! (_Exit Jane._)
(_Fitzgerald saunters up to Mrs. Denham, stops suddenly, straddling his legs, and shakes hands loosely and absently._)
Fitzgerald.
Lovely day, eh? Have you heard the news?
Denham.
We never have heard the news.
Mrs. Denham.
You are the only gossip who comes our way.
Fitzgerald.
(_good-humouredly_) Gossip, eh? Oh, you needn't think I mind being denounced from your domestic altar, Mrs. Denham! I know you're dying to hear the last bit of scandal.
Mrs. Denham.
Take pity on me then.
Fitzgerald.
I know this'll interest you awfully. Pottleton Smith's wife's run away at last. Now wasn't I right? (_Looks smilingly at both for sympathy._) I always said she would, you know.
Mrs. Denham.
Poor silly little flirt! I'm very sorry.
Fitzgerald.
(_rubbing his hands_) I'm--I'm awfully glad. It'll be the saving of poor Smith. Though he's awfully cut up about it, of course.
Denham.
Did she run away with--any one in particular?
Fitzgerald.
A Captain Crosby or Cosby, or something. He's in some horse regiment, the cavalry or something. He's--he's an awful scamp, a blackleg and all that, but an awfully nice fellow. I met him at Smith's the other day, and they--they--they were carrying on all the time under poor little Smith's nose. (_He saunters absently to the easel and looks at the picture._) The picture--eh? It's--it's awfully good, you know--an advance on your last.
(_During this speech Denham also goes to the easel._)
Mrs. Denham.
Don't you think so?
Fitzgerald.
Yes, it's an advance, decidedly. What is it, eh? I forget.
Denham.
Brynhild.
Fitzgerald.
Oh, Brynhild! The horse is awfully good, you know--savage and that; but the woman isn't ugly enough--at least, you haven't quite got the right kind of ugliness, eh?
Denham.
Unfortunately I meant her to be beautiful.
Mrs. Denham.
(_smiling_) And I gave him some sittings, Mr. Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald.
(_with a genial laugh_) Did you, now? Well, he tried to improve on you--that was it. (_With great conviction to Denham._) But--but surely you're wrong in that. Brynhild was an ugly, passionate woman. The passionate woman is always ugly. The passionate woman has character, and character is always ugly.
Denham.
Yes, I know what you mean. But I thought--no, the thing's a failure.