RAMSDEN. [facing Tanner impressively] And Morality, sir?
What is to become of that?
TANNER.
Meaning a weeping Magdalen and an innocent child branded with her shame.
Not in our circle, thank you.
Morality can go to its father the devil.
RAMSDEN.
I thought so, sir.
Morality sent to the devil to please our libertines, male and female.
That is to be the future of England, is it?
TANNER.
Oh, England will survive your disapproval.
Meanwhile, I understand that you agree with me as to the practical course we are to take?
RAMSDEN.
Not in your spirit sir. Not for your reasons.
TANNER.
You can explain that if anybody calls you to account, here or hereafter. [He turns away, and plants himself in front of Mr Herbert Spencer, at whom he stares gloomily].
ANN. [rising and coming to Ramsden] Granny: hadn't you better go up to the drawingroom and tell them what we intend to do?
RAMSDEN. [looking pointedly at Tanner] I hardly like to leave you alone with this gentleman.
Will you not come with me?
ANN.
Miss Ramsden would not like to speak about it before me, Granny. I ought not to be present.
RAMSDEN.
You are right: I should have thought of that.
You are a good girl, Annie. He pats her on the shoulder.
She looks up at him with beaming eyes and he goes out, much moved.
Having disposed of him, she looks at Tanner.
His back being turned to her, she gives a moment's attention to her personal appearance, then softly goes to him and speaks almost into his ear.
ANN.
Jack [he turns with a start]: are you glad that you are my guardian? You don't mind being made responsible for me, I hope.
TANNER.
The latest addition to your collection of scapegoats, eh?
ANN.
Oh, that stupid old joke of yours about me!
Do please drop it.
Why do you say things that you know must pain me?
I do my best to please you, Jack: I suppose I may tell you so now that you are my guardian.
You will make me so unhappy if you refuse to be friends with me.
TANNER. [studying her as gloomily as he studied the dust] You need not go begging for my regard.
How unreal our moral judgments are!
You seem to me to have absolutely no conscience—only hypocrisy; and you can't see the difference—yet there is a sort of fascination about you.
I always attend to you, somehow.
I should miss you if I lost you.
ANN. [tranquilly slipping her arm into his and walking about with him] But isn't that only natural, Jack?
We have known each other since we were children.
Do you remember?
TANNER. [abruptly breaking loose] Stop!
I remember EVERYTHING.
ANN.
Oh, I daresay we were often very silly; but—