What's happening upstairs?
ANN.
Violet is in the housekeeper's room—by herself, of course.
TANNER.
Why not in the drawingroom?
ANN.
Don't be absurd, Jack.
Miss Ramsden is in the drawingroom with my mother, considering what to do.
TANNER.
Oh! the housekeeper's room is the penitentiary, I suppose; and the prisoner is waiting to be brought before her judges.
The old cats!
ANN.
Oh, Jack!
RAMSDEN.
You are at present a guest beneath the roof of one of the old cats, sir.
My sister is the mistress of this house.
TANNER.
She would put me in the housekeeper's room, too, if she dared, Ramsden.
However, I withdraw cats.
Cats would have more sense.
Ann: as your guardian, I order you to go to Violet at once and be particularly kind to her.
ANN.
I have seen her, Jack.
And I am sorry to say I am afraid she is going to be rather obstinate about going abroad.
I think Tavy ought to speak to her about it.
OCTAVIUS.
How can I speak to her about such a thing [he breaks down]?
ANN.
Don't break down, Ricky.
Try to bear it for all our sakes.
RAMSDEN.
Life is not all plays and poems, Octavius.
Come! face it like a man.
TANNER. [chafing again] Poor dear brother!
Poor dear friends of the family!
Poor dear Tabbies and Grimalkins.
Poor dear everybody except the woman who is going to risk her life to create another life!
Tavy: don't you be a selfish ass.
Away with you and talk to Violet; and bring her down here if she cares to come. [Octavius rises].
Tell her we'll stand by her.
RAMSDEN. [rising] No, sir—
TANNER. [rising also and interrupting him] Oh, we understand: it's against your conscience; but still you'll do it.
OCTAVIUS.
I assure you all, on my word, I never meant to be selfish.
It's so hard to know what to do when one wishes earnestly to do right.
TANNER.
My dear Tavy, your pious English habit of regarding the world as a moral gymnasium built expressly to strengthen your character in, occasionally leads you to think about your own confounded principles when you should be thinking about other people's necessities.
The need of the present hour is a happy mother and a healthy baby.
Bend your energies on that; and you will see your way clearly enough.
Octavius, much perplexed, goes out.