George Bernard Shaw a penn State Electronic Classics Series Publication

Ellie stares at her. Her candor is so obvious that Mrs Hushabye
is puzzled.
ELLIE
. Goodbye, Hesione. I’m very sorry. I see now that it
sounds very improbable as I tell it. But I can’t stay if you
think that way about me.
MRS HUSHABYE 
[catching her dress]. You shan’t go. I
couldn’t be so mistaken: I know too well what liars are like.
Somebody has really told you all this.
ELLIE 
[flushing]. Hesione, don’t say that you don’t believe
him. I couldn’t bear that.
MRS HUSHABYE 
[soothing her]. Of course I believe him,
dearest. But you should have broken it to me by degrees.
[Drawing her back to her seat]. Now tell me all about him.
Are you in love with him?

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56
Heartbreak House
ELLIE
. Oh, no. I’m not so foolish. I don’t fall in love with
people. I’m not so silly as you think.
MRS HUSHABYE
. I see. Only something to think about—
to give some interest and pleasure to life.
ELLIE
. Just so. That’s all, really.
MRS HUSHABYE
. It makes the hours go fast, doesn’t it?
No tedious waiting to go to sleep at nights and wondering
whether you will have a bad night. How delightful it makes
waking up in the morning! How much better than the hap-
piest dream! All life transfigured! No more wishing one had
an interesting book to read, because life is so much happier
than any book! No desire but to be alone and not to have to
talk to anyone: to be alone and just think about it.
ELLIE 
[embracing her]. Hesione, you are a witch. How do
you know? Oh, you are the most sympathetic woman in the
world!
MRS HUSHABYE 
[caressing her]. Pettikins, my pettikins,
how I envy you! and how I pity you!
ELLIE
. Pity me! Oh, why?
A very handsome man of fifty, with mousquetaire moustaches,
wearing a rather dandified curly brimmed hat, and carrying
an elaborate walking-stick, comes into the room from the hall,
and stops short at sight of the women on the sofa.
ELLIE 
[seeing him and rising in glad surprise]. Oh! Hesione:
this is Mr Marcus Darnley.
MRS HUSHABYE 
[rising]. What a lark! He is my husband.
ELLIE
. But now—[she stops suddenly: then turns pale and
sways].
MRS HUSHABYE 
[catching her and sitting down with her
on the sofa]. Steady, my pettikins.
THE MAN 
[with a mixture of confusion and effrontery, de-
positing his hat and stick on the teak table]. My real name,
Miss Dunn, is Hector Hushabye. I leave you to judge whether
that is a name any sensitive man would care to confess to. I
never use it when I can possibly help it. I have been away for
nearly a month; and I had no idea you knew my wife, or that
you were coming here. I am none the less delighted to find
you in our little house.
ELLIE 
[in great distress]. I don’t know what to do. Please,
may I speak to papa? Do leave me. I can’t bear it.

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57
GB Shaw
MRS HUSHABYE
. Be off, Hector.
HECTOR
. I—
MRS HUSHABYE
. Quick, quick. Get out.
HECTOR
. If you think it better—[he goes out, taking his hat
with him but leaving the stick on the table].
MRS HUSHABYE 
[laying Ellie down at the end of the sofa].
Now, pettikins, he is gone. There’s nobody but me. You can
let yourself go. Don’t try to control yourself. Have a good cry.
ELLIE 
[raising her head]. Damn!
MRS HUSHABYE
. Splendid! Oh, what a relief! I thought
you were going to be broken-hearted. Never mind me. Damn
him again.
ELLIE
. I am not damning him. I am damning myself for
being such a fool. [Rising]. How could I let myself be taken
in so? [She begins prowling to and fro, her bloom gone, looking