CROFTS
Have you any suspicion of who it might be?
PRAED
None. CROFTS [Not believing him.] I know, of course, that you perhaps might feel bound not to tell if she had said anything to you. But it's very awkward to
be uncertain about it now that we shall be meeting the girl every day. We
dont exactly know how we ought to feel towards her.
PRAED
What difference can that make? We take her on her own merits. What
does it matter who her father was? CROFTS [Suspiciously.] Then you know who he was? PRAED [With a touch of temper.] I said no just now. Did you not hear me? CROFTS
Look here, Praed. I ask you as a particular favor. If you do know [Movement of protest from PRAED.]?I only say, if you know you might at least set my mind at rest about her. The fact is, I feel attracted.
PRAED [Sternly.] What do you mean? CROFTS
Oh, dont be alarmed: it's quite an innocent feeling. Thats what puz
zles me about it. Why, for all I know, I might be her father.
PRAED
You! Impossible! CROFTS [Catching him up cunningly.] You know for certain that I'm not? PRAED
I know nothing about it, I tell you, any more than you. But really,
Crofts?oh no, it's out of the question. Theres not the least resemblance.
CROFTS
As to that, theres no resemblance between her and her mother that
I can see. I suppose she's not you r daughter, is she? PRAED [Rising indignantly.] Really, Crofts?! CROFTS
No offence, Praed. Quite allowable as between two men of the world.
PRAED [Recovering himself with an effort and speaking gently and gravely.] Now listen to me, my dear Crofts. [He sits down again.] I have nothing to do with that side of Mrs Warren's life, and never had. She has never spoken
to me about it; and of course I have never spoken to her about it. Your
delicacy8 will tell you that a handsome woman needs som e friends who
are not?well, not on that footing with her. The effect of her own beauty
would become a torment to her if she could not escape from it occasionally.
You are probably on much more confidential terms with Kitty than I am.
Surely you can ask her the question yourself.
CROFTS
I have asked her, often enough. But she's so determined to keep the
child all to herself that she would deny that it ever had a father if she could. [Rising.] I'm thoroughly uncomfortable about it, Praed. PRAED [Rising also.] Well, as you are, at all events, old enough to be her dont mind agreeing that we both regard Miss Vivie in a parental way, as a young
girl whom we are bound to protect and help. What do you say? CROFTS [Aggressively.] I'm no older than you, if you come to that. PRAED
Yes you are, my dear fellow: you were born old. I was born a boy: Ive
never been able to feel the assurance of a grown-up man in my life. [He
folds his chair and carries it to the porch. ] MRS WARREN [Calling from within the cottage.] Prad-dee! George! Tea-ea-eaea!
8. Sensitivity, tact.
.
175 4 / BERNARD SHAW
CROFTS [Hastily.] She's calling us. [He hurries in.] f PRAED shakes his head hodingly, and is following CROFTS when he is hailed by a young gentleman who has just appeared on the common, and is making for the gate. He is pleasant, pretty, smartly dressed, cleverly good-for-nothing, not long turned 20, with a charming voice and agreeably disrespectfid manners. He carries a light sporting magazine rifle.]
THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN
Hallo! Praed! PRAED Why, Frank Gardner! [FRANK comes in and shakes hands cordially.] What on earth are you doing here?
FRANK
Staying with my father.
