human
You've had a rough time, Winnie. Are you sorry you ever went in for it?
gpt
No, it was the only thing to try; and it has resulted--or is just going to--in my being free. But I did fail in one thing. I was much more angry with Godfrey than I had any right to be. I was angry--yes, angry, not merely grieved--because he left me, as well as because he was afraid to do it in a straightforward way. I didn't live up to my theories there.
human
I don't know that I think any theory easy to live up to, said Tora.
gpt
Is the ordinary theory of marriage easy to live up to either?
human
It's always interesting to see how few people live up to their theories. Stephen smiled.
gpt
It seems to me your husband isn't living up to his.
human
No, he isn't, and it's rather consoling. I don't fancy it ever entered his head that he would have to try it in practice himself. Rather your own case, isn't it, Stephen? You've never really found what any--any difficulty could mean to you.
gpt
Oh, I know I'm accused of that. I can't help it; it's absolutely impossible to get up a row with Tora. And even I don't say that you ought to walk out of the house just for the fun of it!
human
We prove our theory best by the fact of the theory making no difference,
gpt
I suppose that in the end it's only the failures who want theories at all,
human
Probably--with the happy result of reducing, _pro tanto_, the practical importance of the subject, without depriving it of its speculative interest, laughed Stephen.
gpt
Love, union, parentage, partnership--it's good to have them all, but, as life goes on, a lot of people manage with the last two--or even with only the last. It grows into a pretty strong tie. Well, Winnie, you seem to have come through fairly well, and I hope you won't have much more trouble over the business.
human
I shan't have any, to speak of. I've put it all in Hobart Gaynor's hands. I went to see him and told him all he wanted to know. He's taken charge of the whole thing; I really need hear no more about it. He was awfully kind--just his dear old self. She smiled.
gpt
Well, short of asking me to his house, you know.
human
Oh, that's his wife,
gpt
Mrs. Gaynor seems to live up to her theories, at any rate,
human
It's not so difficult to live up to your theories about other people. It's about yourself,
gpt
I think your going to Mrs. Lenoir's is such a perfect arrangement.
human
I'm very happy there--she's so kind. And I seem quite a fixture. I've been there nearly two months, and now she says I'm to go abroad with her in the spring. She paused for a moment.
gpt
The General's very kind too. In fact I think he likes me very much.
human
Who's the General? I don't know about him.
gpt
Of course he thinks I'm just Miss Wilson. Mrs. Lenoir says it's all right, but I can't feel it's quite straight.
human
As he appears to be nearly seventy, and Mrs. Lenoir's friend, if anybody's----
gpt
Well, you see, the truth is that it's not only the General. He's got a son. Well, he's got three, but one of them turned up about a fortnight ago.
human
Oh, did he? Where from?
gpt
From abroad--on long leave. It's the eldest--the Major.
human
Does he like you very much too, Winnie?
gpt
It seems just conceivable that he might--complicate matters, she murmured.
human
I haven't spoken to Mrs. Lenoir about that--aspect of it.
gpt
Oh, and you mean, if he did--well, show signs--how much ought he to be told about Miss Wilson?
human
Yes. And perhaps even before the signs were what you'd call very noticeable. Wouldn't it be fair? Because he doesn't seem to me at all a--a theoretical kind of person. I should think his ideas are what you might call----
gpt
Shall we say traditional--so as to be quite impartial towards the Major?
human
Yes. And especially about women, I should think.
gpt
Well, Tora?
human
If you'd done things that you yourself knew or thought to be disgraceful, you ought to tell him before he grows fond of you. But you're not bound to tell him what you've done, on the chance of his thinking it disgraceful, when you don't.
gpt
I expect it's more than a chance,
human
I'm groping after Tora's point. I haven't quite got it. From the Major's point of view, in the hypothetical circumstances we're discussing, what's of importance is not what Winnie thinks, but what he does.
gpt
What's important to the Major, Tora replied,
human
Oh, she's got an argument! She always has. Still, could a good woman let herself be fallen in love with under something like false pretences?
gpt
There will be no false pretences, Stephen. She will be--she practically is--an unmarried woman, and, if she married him, she'd marry him as such. The rest is all over.
human
It may be atavistic--relics of my public school and so on--but it doesn't seem to me quite the fair thing, Stephen persisted;
gpt
I think I agree with you, Stephen. Winnie smiled.
human
If he does show signs, that's to say!
gpt
Oh, only if he shows signs, of course. Otherwise, it's in no way his business.
human
Because, whatever his rights may be, why should I risk making him unhappy? Besides, in a certain event, he might find out, when it was--from his point of view--too late.
gpt
At least admit, Tora, that from a merely practical point of view, there's something to be said for telling people things that they may find out for themselves at an uncomfortably late hour.
human
Oh, I thought we were trying to get a true view of a man's--or a woman's--rights in such a case, said Tora, with lofty scorn.
gpt
But it seems I'm in a minority.
human
You wouldn't be happy if you weren't, my dear. It's getting dusk, and here comes Dick back. Let's go in to tea.