OCTAVIUS. [earnestly] But there's a great truth at the bottom of what he says.
I believe most intensely in the dignity of labor.
STRAKER. [unimpressed] That's because you never done any, Mr Robinson.
My business is to do away with labor.
You'll get more out of me and a machine than you will out of twenty laborers, and not so much to drink either.
TANNER.
For Heaven's sake, Tavy, don't start him on political economy.
He knows all about it; and we don't.
You're only a poetic Socialist, Tavy: he's a scientific one.
STRAKER. [unperturbed] Yes.
Well, this conversation is very improvin; but I've got to look after the car; and you two want to talk about your ladies.
I know. [He retires to busy himself about the car; and presently saunters off towards the house].
TANNER.
That's a very momentous social phenomenon.
OCTAVIUS.
What is?
TANNER.
Straker is.
Here have we literary and cultured persons been for years setting up a cry of the New Woman whenever some unusually old fashioned female came along; and never noticing the advent of the New Man.
Straker's the New Man.
OCTAVIUS.
I see nothing new about him, except your way of chaffing him.
But I don't want to talk about him just now.
I want to speak to you about Ann.
TANNER.
Straker knew even that.
He learnt it at the Polytechnic, probably.
Well, what about Ann?
Have you proposed to her?
OCTAVIUS. [self-reproachfully] I was brute enough to do so last night.
TANNER.
Brute enough! What do you mean?
OCTAVIUS. [dithyrambically] Jack: we men are all coarse. We never understand how exquisite a woman's sensibilities are.
How could I have done such a thing!
TANNER.
Done what, you maudlin idiot?
OCTAVIUS.
Yes, I am an idiot.
Jack: if you had heard her voice! if you had seen her tears!
I have lain awake all night thinking of them.
If she had reproached me, I could have borne it better.
TANNER.
Tears! that's dangerous.
What did she say?
OCTAVIUS.
She asked me how she could think of anything now but her dear father.
She stifled a sob—[he breaks down].
TANNER. [patting him on the back] Bear it like a man, Tavy, even if you feel it like an ass.
It's the old game: she's not tired of playing with you yet.
OCTAVIUS. [impatiently] Oh, don't be a fool, Jack.