How helpful!
How well you understand!
Octavius beams.
TANNER.
Ay: tighten the coils.
You love her, Tavy, don't you?
OCTAVIUS.
She knows I do.
ANN.
Hush. For shame, Tavy!
TANNER.
Oh, I give you leave.
I am your guardian; and I commit you to Tavy's care for the next hour.
ANN.
No, Jack.
I must speak to you about Rhoda.
Ricky: will you go back to the house and entertain your American friend?
He's rather on Mamma's hands so early in the morning. She wants to finish her housekeeping.
OCTAVIUS.
I fly, dearest Ann [he kisses her hand].
ANN. [tenderly] Ricky Ticky Tavy!
He looks at her with an eloquent blush, and runs off.
TANNER. [bluntly] Now look here, Ann.
This time you've landed yourself; and if Tavy were not in love with you past all salvation he'd have found out what an incorrigible liar you are.
ANN.
You misunderstand, Jack.
I didn't dare tell Tavy the truth.
TANNER.
No: your daring is generally in the opposite direction.
What the devil do you mean by telling Rhoda that I am too vicious to associate with her?
How can I ever have any human or decent relations with her again, now that you have poisoned her mind in that abominable way?
ANN.
I know you are incapable of behaving badly.
TANNER.
Then why did you lie to her?
ANN.
I had to.
TANNER.
Had to!
ANN.
Mother made me.
TANNER. [his eye flashing] Ha!
I might have known it.
The mother!
Always the mother!
ANN.
It was that dreadful book of yours.
You know how timid mother is.
All timid women are conventional: we must be conventional, Jack, or we are so cruelly, so vilely misunderstood.
Even you, who are a man, cannot say what you think without being misunderstood and vilified—yes: I admit it: I have had to vilify you.