What do you mean?
FRANK. Viv: there’s a freemasonry among thoroughly immoral people that you know nothing of. You’ve too much character. That’s the bond between your mother and me: that’s why I know her better than you’ll ever know her.
VIVIE. You are wrong: you know nothing about her. If you knew the circumstances against which my mother had to struggle—
FRANK. [Adroitly finishing the sentence for her.] I should know why she is what she is, shouldn’t I? What difference would that make? Circumstances or no circumstances, Viv, you won’t be able to stand your mother.
VIVIE. [Very angry.] Why not?
FRANK. Because she’s an old wretch, Viv. If you ever put your arm around her waist in my presence again, I’ll shoot myself there and then as a protest against an exhibition which revolts me.
VIVIE. Must I choose between dropping your acquaintance and dropping my mother’s?
FRANK. [Gracefully.] That would put the old lady at ever such a disadvantage. No, Viv: your infatuated little boy will have to stick to you in any case. But he’s all the more anxious that you shouldn’t make mistakes. It’s no use, Viv: your mother’s impossible. She may be a good sort; but she’s a bad lot, a very bad lot.
VIVIE. [Hotly.] Frank—! [He stands his ground. She turns away and sits down on the bench under the yew tree, struggling to recover her self-command. Then she says.] Is she to be deserted by the world because she’s what you call a bad lot? Has she no right to live?
FRANK. No fear of that, Viv: she won’t ever be deserted. [He sits on the bench beside her.]
VIVIE. But I am to desert her, I suppose.
FRANK. [Babyishly, lulling her and making love to her with his voice.] Mustn’t go live with her. Little family group of mother and daughter wouldn’t be a success. Spoil our little group.
VIVIE. [Falling under the spell.] What little group?
FRANK. The babes in the wood: Vivie and little Frank. [He nestles against her like a weary child.] Lets go and get covered up with leaves.
VIVIE. [Rhythmically, rocking him like a nurse.] Fast asleep, hand in hand, under the trees.
FRANK. The wise little girl with her silly little boy.
VIVIE. The deal little boy with his dowdy little girl.
FRANK. Ever so peaceful, and relieved from the imbecility of the little boy’s father and the questionableness of the little girl’s—
VIVIE. [Smothering the word against her breast.] Sh-sh-sh-sh! little girl wants to forget all about her mother. [They are silent for some moments, rocking one another. Then Vivie wakes up with a shock, exclaiming.] What a pair of fools we are! Come: sit up. Gracious! your hair. [She smooths it.] I wonder do all grown up people play in that childish way when nobody is looking. I never did it when I was a child.
FRANK. Neither did I. You are my first playmate. [He catches her hand to kiss it, but checks himself to look around first. Very unexpectedly, he sees Crofts emerging from the box hedge.] Oh damn!
VIVIE. Why damn, dear?
FRANK. [Whispering.] Sh! Here’s this brute Crofts. [He sits farther away from her with an unconcerned air.]
CROFTS. Could I have a few words with you, Miss Vivie?
VIVIE. Certainly.
CROFTS. [To Frank.] You’ll excuse me, Gardner. They’re waiting for you in the church, if you don’t mind.
FRANK. [Rising.] Anything to oblige you, Crofts—except church. If you should happen to want me, Vivvums, ring the gate bell. [He goes into the house with unruffled suavity.]
CROFTS. [Watching him with a crafty air as he disappears, and speaking to Vivie with an assumption of being on privileged terms with her.] Pleasant young fellow that, Miss Vivie. Pity he has no money, isn’t it?
VIVIE. Do you think so?
CROFTS. Well, what’s he to do? No profession. No property. What’s he good for?
VIVIE. I realize his disadvantages, Sir George.
CROFTS. [A little taken aback at being so precisely interpreted.] Oh, it’s not that. But while we’re in this world we’re in it; and money’s money. [Vivie does not answer.] Nice day, isn’t it?
VIVIE. [With scarcely veiled contempt for this effort at conversation.] Very.
CROFTS. [With brutal good humor, as if he liked her pluck.] Well that’s not what I came to say. [Sitting down beside her.] Now listen, Miss Vivie. I’m quite aware that I’m not a young lady’s man.
VIVIE. Indeed, Sir George?
CROFTS. No; and to tell you the honest truth I don’t want to be either. But when I say a thing I mean it; and when I feel a sentiment I feel it in earnest; and what I value I pay hard money for. That’s the sort of man I am.
VIVIE. It does you great credit, I’m sure.
CROFTS. Oh, I don’t mean to praise myself. I have my faults, Heaven knows: no man is more sensible of that than I am. I know I’m not perfect: that’s one of the advantages of being a middle-aged man; for I’m not a young man, and I know it. But my code is a simple one, and, I think, a good one. Honor between man and man; fidelity between man and woman; and no can’t about this religion or that religion, but an honest belief that things are making for good on the whole.
VIVIE. [With biting irony.] “A power, not ourselves, that makes for righteousness,” eh?
CROFTS. [Taking her seriously.] Oh certainly. Not ourselves, of course. Y o u understand what I mean. Well, now as to practical matters. You may have an idea that I’ve flung my money about; but I haven’t: I’m richer today than when I first came into the property. I’ve used my knowledge of the world to invest my money in ways that other men have overlooked; and whatever else I may be, I’m a safe man from the money point of view.
VIVIE. It’s very kind of you to tell me all this.
CROFTS. Oh well, come, Miss Vivie: you needn’t pretend you don’t see what I’m driving at. I want to settle down with a Lady Crofts. I suppose you think me very blunt, eh?
VIVIE. Not at all: I am very much obliged to you for being so definite and business-like. I quite appreciate the offer: the money, the position, Lady Crofts, and so on. But I think I will say no, if you don’t mind, I’d rather not. [She rises, and strolls across to the sundial to get out of his immediate neighborhood.]
CROFTS. [Not at all discouraged, and taking advantage of the additional room left him on the seat to spread himself comfortably, as if a few preliminary refusals were part of the inevitable routine of courtship.] I’m in no hurry. It was only just to let you know in case young Gardner should try to trap you. Leave the question open.
VIVIE. [Sharply.] My no is final. I won’t go back from it. [Crofts is not impressed. He grins; leans forward with his elbows on his knees to prod with his stick at some unfortunate insect in the grass; and looks cunningly at her. She turns away impatiently.]
CROFTS.
