Landed Gentry. W. Somerset Maugham
[Smiling.] Surely I said so at the time.
Claude.
I was rather hoping you’d wear it to-night.
Grace.
It wouldn’t have gone with my frock.
Claude.
You might have put it on all the same.
Grace.
You see, your example hasn’t been lost on me. I’ve learnt to put propriety before sentiment.
Claude.
[Rather shyly.] I should have thought, if you cared for me, you wouldn’t have minded.
Grace.
Are you reproaching me?
Claude.
No!
Grace.
Only?
Claude.
Hang it all, I can’t help wishing sometimes you’d seem as if—you were fond of me, don’t you know.
Grace.
If you’ll point out anything you particularly object to in my behaviour, I’ll try to change it.
Claude.
My dear, I don’t want much, do I?
Grace.
I don’t know why you should choose this particular time to make a scene.
Claude.
Hang it all, I’m not making a scene!
Grace.
I beg your pardon, I forgot that only women make scenes.
Claude.
I only wanted to tell you that I’m just about as fond of you as I can stick.
Grace.
[Suddenly touched.] After ten years of holy matrimony?
Claude.
It seems about ten days to me.
Grace.
Good God, to me it seems a lifetime.
Claude.
I say, Grace, what d’you mean by that?
Grace.
[Recovering herself.] Oughtn’t you to go back to the dining-room? Your brother and Mr. Cobbett will be boring one another.
[Claude looks at her for a moment, then rises and goes out. Grace clenches her hands, and an expression of utter wretchedness crosses her face. She passes her hand across her eyes with an impatient gesture, as if she were trying to shake herself free from some torturing thought. Moore comes in with coffee on a salver.
Grace.
Put it down on the table.
Moore.
Yes, madam.
Grace.
Miss Vernon’s in the garden with Miss Lewis. Will you tell them that coffee is here?
Moore.
Very good, ma’am.
[He goes out of one of the French windows into the garden. In a moment Miss Vernon comes in.
Grace.
Isn’t Edith coming?
Miss Vernon.
I sent her to get a wrap. We want to go down to the lake.
Grace.
Will you have some coffee?
Miss Vernon.
Thank you. … I was trying to remember how long it is since I was here last.
Grace.
[Pouring out the coffee.] It was before I was married.
Miss Vernon.
I’m devoted to Kenyon, I’m so glad you asked me to come and spend Whitsun here.
Grace.
My mother-in-law wrote and told us that you weren’t engaged.
Miss Vernon.
[With a smile.] That sounds rather chilly.
Grace.
Does it?
Miss Vernon.
[Abruptly.] May I call you Grace?
Grace.
[Looking up, faintly surprised.] Certainly. If you wish it.
Miss Vernon.
My name is Helen.
Grace.
Is it?
[Miss Vernon gives a slight smile of amusement, then gets up and stands before the fire-place with her hands behind her back.
Miss Vernon.
I wonder why you dislike me so much?
Grace.
I don’t know why you should think I do.
Miss Vernon.
You don’t take much trouble to hide it, do you?
Grace.
I’m sorry. In future I’ll be more careful.
Miss Vernon.
[Rather wistfully.] I wanted to be great friends with you.
Grace.
I’m afraid I don’t make friends very easily.
Miss Vernon.
We live so near one another. It seems rather silly that we should only just be on speaking terms.
[A very short pause.
Grace.
They wanted Claude to marry you, didn’t they? And he married me instead.
Miss Vernon.
When I saw you at your wedding, I couldn’t help feeling I’d have done just the same in his place.
Grace.
[With a twinkle in her eye.] And now they want you to marry his brother Archibald.
Miss Vernon.
[Smiling.] So I understand.
Grace.
Are you going to?
Miss Vernon.
He hasn’t asked me yet.
Grace.
Five thousand acres in a ring fence. It seems a pity to let it go out of the family.
Miss Vernon.
It’s such a nuisance that a plainish woman of six-and-thirty has to be taken along with it.
Grace.
Did you ever care for Claude?
Miss Vernon.
If I did or not, I’m very anxious to care for his wife.
Grace.
Why?
Miss Vernon.
Well, partly because I’m afraid you’re not very happy.
Grace.