to me: I know how to settle it. You are too proud to owe anything to me; and I am too proud to owe anything to you. You have seven hundred a year. Well, I will take just seven hundred a year from papa at first; and then we shall be quits. Now, now, Harry, you know youve not a word to say against that.
TRENCH It’s impossible.
BLANCHE Impossible!
TRENCH Yes, impossible. I have resolved not to take any money from your father.
BLANCHE But he’ll give the money to me, not to you.
TRENCH It’s the same thing. [With an effort to be sentimental] I love you too well to see any distinction. [He puts up his hand half-heartedly: she takes it over his shoulder with equal indecision. They are both trying hard to conciliate one another.]
BLANCHE Thats a very nice way of putting it, Harry; but I’m sure theres something I ought to know. Has papa been disagreeable?
TRENCH No : he has been very kind to me, at least. It’s not that. It’s nothing you can guess, Blanche. It would only pain you perhaps offend you. I dont mean, of course, that we shall live always on seven hundred a year. I intend to go at my profession in earnest, and work my fingers to the bone.
BLANCHE [playing with his fingers, still over his shoulder] But I shouldnt like you with your fingers worked to the bone, Harry. I must be told what the matter is. [He takes his hand quickly away: she flushes angrily; and her voice is no longer even an imitation of the voice of a lady as she exclaims:] I hate secrets; and I dont like to be treated as if I were a child.
TRENCH [annoyed by her tone] Theres nothing to tell. I dont choose to trespass on your father’s generosity: thats all.
BLANCHE You had no objection half an hour ago, when you met me in the hall, and shewed me all the letters. Your family doesnt object. Do you object?
TRENCH [earnestly] I do not indeed. It’s only a question of money.
BLANCHE [Imploringly, the voice softening and refining for the last time.] Harry: theres no use in our fencing in this way. Papa will never consent to my being absolutely dependent on you; and I dont like the idea of it myself. If you even mention such a thing to him you will break off the match: you will indeed.
TRENCH [obstinately] I cant help that.
BLANCHE [white with rage] You cant help! Oh, I’m beginning to understand. I will save you the trouble. You can tell papa that I have broken off the match; and then there will be no further difficulty.
TRENCH [taken aback] What do you mean, Blanche? Are you offended?
BLANCHE Offended! How dare you ask me?
TRENCH Dare!
BLANCHE How much more manly it would have been to confess that you were trifling with me that time on the Rhine! Why did you come here to-day? Why did you write to your people?
TRENCH Well, Blanche, if you are going to lose your temper —
BLANCHE Thats no answer. You depended on your family to get you out of your engagement; and they did not object: they were only too glad to be rid of you. You were not mean enough to stay away, and not manly enough to tell the truth. You thought you could provoke me to break the engagement: thats so like a man to try to put the woman in the wrong. Well, you have your way: I release you. I wish youd opened my eyes by downright brutality by striking me by anything rather than shuffling as you have done.
TRENCH [hotly] Shuffle! If I’d thought you capable of turning on me like this, I’d never have spoken to you. Ive a good mind never to speak to you again.
BLANCHE You shall not. not ever. I will take care of that [going to the door.]
TRENCH [alarmed] What are you going to do?
BLANCHE To get your letters, your false letters, and your presents, your hateful presents, to return them to you. I’m very glad it’s all broken off; and if — [as she puts her hand to the door it is opened from without by Sartorius, who enters and shuts it behind him.]
SARTORIUS [interrupting her severely] Hush, pray, Blanche : you are forgetting yourself: you can be heard all over the house. What is the matter?
BLANCHE [too angry to care whether she is overheard or not] You had better ask him. He has some excuse about money.
SARTORIUS Excuse! Excuse for what?
BLANCHE For throwing me over.
TRENCH [vehemently] I declare I never —
BLANCHE [interrupting him still more vehemently] You did. You did. You are doing nothing else [Trench begins repeating his contradiction and she her assertion; so that they both speak angrily together.]
SARTORIUS [in desperation at the noise] Silence! [Still more formidably] Silence! [They obey. He proceeds firmly] Blanche: you must control your temper : I will not have these repeated scenes within hearing of the servants. Dr Trench will answer for himself to me. You had better leave us. [He opens the door, and calls:] Mr Cokane: Will you kindly join us here.
COKANE [in the conservatory] Coming, my dear sir, coming. [He appears at the door.]
BLANCHE I’m sure I have no wish to stay. I hope I shall find you alone when I come back.
[An inarticulate exclamation bursts from Trench. She goes out, passing Cokane resentfully. He looks after her in surprise; then looks questioningly at the two men. Sartorius shuts the door with an angry stroke, and turns to Trench.]
SARTORIUS [aggressively] Sir —
TRENCH [interrupting him more aggressively] Well, sir?
COKANE [getting between them] Gently, dear boy, gently. Suavity, Harry, suavity.
SARTORIUS [mastering himself] If you have anything to say to me, Dr Trench, I will listen to you patiently. You will then allow me to say what I have to say on my part.
TRENCH [ashamed] I beg your pardon. Of course, yes. Fire away.
SARTORIUS May I take it that you have refused to fulfil your engagement with my daughter?
TRENCH Certainly not: your daughter has refused to fulfil her engagement with me. But the match is broken off, if thats what you mean.
SARTORIUS Dr Trench: I will be plain with you. I know that Blanche has a quick temper. It is part of her strong character and her physical courage, which is greater than that of most men, I can assure you. You must be prepared for that. If this quarrel is only Blanche’s temper, you may take my word for it that it will be over before tomorrow. But I understood from what she said just now that you have made some difficulty on the score of money.
TRENCH [with renewed excitement] It was Miss Sartorius who made the difficulty. I shouldnt have minded that so much, if it hadnt been for the things she said. She shewed that she doesnt care that [snapping his fingers] for me.
COKANE [soothingly] Dear boy —
TRENCH Hold your tongue, Billy: it’s enough to make a man wish he’d never seen a woman. Look here, Mr Sartorius: I put the matter to her as delicately and considerately as possible, never mentioning a word of my reasons,
