VIOLET. [not to be silenced] It is I and not you who suffer by this concealment; and as to facing a struggle and poverty and all that sort of thing I simply will not do it.
It's too silly.
HECTOR.
You shall not.
I'll sort of borrow the money from my dad until I get on my own feet; and then I can own up and pay up at the same time.
VIOLET. [alarmed and indignant] Do you mean to work?
Do you want to spoil our marriage?
HECTOR.
Well, I don't mean to let marriage spoil my character.
Your friend Mr Tanner has got the laugh on me a bit already about that; and—
VIOLET.
The beast!
I hate Jack Tanner.
HECTOR. [magnanimously] Oh, he's all right: he only needs the love of a good woman to ennoble him.
Besides, he's proposed a motoring trip to Nice; and I'm going to take you.
VIOLET.
How jolly!
HECTOR.
Yes; but how are we going to manage?
You see, they've warned me off going with you, so to speak.
They've told me in confidence that you're married.
That's just the most overwhelming confidence I've ever been honored with.
Tanner returns with Straker, who goes to his car.
TANNER.
Your car is a great success, Mr Malone.
Your engineer is showing it off to Mr Ramsden.
HECTOR. [eagerly—forgetting himself] Let's come, Vi.
VIOLET. [coldly, warning him with her eyes] I beg your pardon, Mr Malone, I did not quite catch—
HECTOR. [recollecting himself] I ask to be allowed the pleasure of showing you my little American steam car, Miss Robinson.
VIOLET.
I shall be very pleased. [They go off together down the avenue].
TANNER.
About this trip, Straker.
STRAKER. [preoccupied with the car] Yes?
TANNER.
Miss Whitefield is supposed to be coming with me.
STRAKER.
So I gather.
TANNER.
Mr Robinson is to be one of the party.
STRAKER.
Yes.
TANNER.
Well, if you can manage so as to be a good deal occupied with me, and leave Mr Robinson a good deal occupied with Miss Whitefield, he will be deeply grateful to you.
STRAKER. [looking round at him] Evidently.
TANNER. "Evidently!"
Your grandfather would have simply winked.
STRAKER.
My grandfather would have touched his at.
TANNER.