The Constant Nymph Page #10

to understand her.

But, what does Tessa matter

just now?

-Well, I won't be here and...

-And what?

If I could only be sure that

you two are good friends and...

-...that you understand her...

-Yes.

-Don't look like that.

-Go on.

Well, you know Tessa,

she's tender and loyal...

...and she deserves to be loved.

Since when have you loved her

so deeply?

Always, I think.

And why did you marry me?

I saw no-one but you, then.

Have you told her?

Does she know?

Yes, and she will have none of me.

She spoke of you, immediately.

That's why I'm asking you to try

and understand what she's really like.

Don't ask me to try

and understand. I do!

-You dare suggest--?

-I do dare!

I told you she'd have nothing to do

with me! Ever, because of you!

I don't believe it!

I've seen enough of them all

to know they can't be trusted.

And in this house! How could you?

What else could it have been?

You couldn't even think

such a thing about that child.

Don't call her a child! It makes it

even more contemptible.

I put the thought away again and again,

because it was so horrible.

Because I felt that,

no matter what she was,

you... you, at least, were decent!

I told you to go to the concert.

-I was getting the smelling salts, madam.

-I don't need them!

-They're for Miss Tessa, madam.

-Miss Tessa?

-She fainted. One of them spells she has.

-Where?

In her room.

I'll take them.

Come in.

-Hello, Florence.

-I thought you were ill.

Hamilton said you were.

It's just one of those silly

dizzy spells. I'm all right, really.

Please, don't bother.

It's the excitement of tonight and...

Yes, the excitement of

so many things.

You'd better rest here. You could have

palpitations during the performance.

-No, I won't.

-Lie down. I'll call Dr. Tomlin.

-Please no, these things pass off.

-You'll do as you're told.

What's the matter, Florence?

You know...

I should've never come here.

I'm only a nuisance.

Don't you think that

if I packed my bag and...

...went away with Fritz, stayed with

Toni and Paula for a while in Paris...

...got some job and were out of the way,

don't you think it would be better?

Did you know that Lewis was leaving

for the continent after the concert?

-Yes, but not to Paris.

-You know his plans?

Florence, don't have

those thoughts, please!

-He only said he was going away.

-And you promptly have palpitations!

Go away.

Why did you run away from school?

To be near Lewis.

Why did you unsettle him

about his work?

You know what I'm talking about.

And you succeeded, didn't you?

Didn't you?

-With Lewis? Me?

-Of course!

Oh, you're making

a horrible mistake.

Such a little girl,

so innocent.

I'm talking to you now

as one woman to another.

I'm accusing you directly

into your face.

You've flung yourself at my husband

in this house and you succeeded!

I can't help it if I love Lewis! I did

long before you came to Switzerland!

It's not a happy thing, it brought

nothing but sadness into my life.

Yet,it's so overwhelming

I wouldn't want it to be different.

But I have come to understand

he is your husband and--

I'm not going to see him anymore.

That's the reason I want to go away.

As for your thinking that

we did anything else...

...that's horrible and shocking, and

I wouldn't even lower myself to deny it.

But I've told you I love Lewis

and I can't help it.

You talk of love?

You don't even know what it means.

Yes, I do. I know all about it.

-What do you mean by that?

-Florence, please!

Tessa!

Tessa, come along.

Tessa.

Shouldn't you get going?

It's getting late.

I do think I'd lie down.

Yes, I will.

Please, don't be late.

I'm all right.

-Here are the smelling salts.

-Thank you.

Come in.

-Oh, what a pretty dress.

-You think so?

-Ready?

-No.

-What's the matter?

-Oh, well, I--

-What happened?

-I had a few flutterings inside and--

Nothing for you to think about.

You'd better hurry.

-What caused it?

-All the excitement of the concert.

Have they sent for the doctor?

Of course not, I'm used to them.

I know all about my valvular "lessons".

-What?

-My... lesions.

They go as quickly

as they come.

-Sure you're all right now?

-Of course, I wouldn't lie to you.

Hurry up and finish dressing.

I'll tie that up for you.

Well, I wonder if I should.

Why?

These spells behave in the most

embarrasing ways sometimes.

I wouldn't want to go fluttering

in the middle of the performance.

They come rather quickly, a sort of

humpy feeling here, and then...

...things start to go

a little blurred,

and then you'd have me

slithering on the floor,

and considerate old gentlemen would break

their poor backs trying to help me up.

Then tomorrow the critics would say

that you stunt your audience.

Or at least, one of them.

So, I think I'll stay here

quietly and concentrate.

I may possibly be going away.

I think I'll think about it now.

Where would you go?

Anywhere, away from our situation.

It's getting late.

Better be going.

No. Our piece is not played

until last.

"Our piece".

Oh, sweet generous Lewis.

There's no-one like you in the world.

I've always known that, but you haven't.

You haven't know yourself at all.

-No, until today, I think.

-You mustn't.

Tessa, you know,

I've lived so much longer in this

hard world than you have...

but you have such wisdom

about things.

-Have I?

-Yes.

You said downstairs so truly that

ours was an impossible situation.

I wonder if you know

how many things have made it so.

It isn't that I'm married

to Florence.

It isn't that there are so many years

dividing you and me.

It's something that has been with me

ever since I was a little boy.

Hearing strange music

in almost anything.

-You know?

-Yes.

Everything, anything that came

into my mind...

-...was never quite of this earth.

-Really?

Poor, poor dear Lewis.

You never really possessed

happiness, have you?

I've known nowhere to find it.

I never had the power

to sense it or take it.

I've been very fortunate.

I've always had it,

as long as I can remember,

I've been very fortunate,

thanks so much to you. You know,

I've never thought of you as

either older or younger--

Tell me, did you ever suspect and then

brushed me off for being a child?

No, truthfully, no.

Although when I thought you were lost

I nearly went out of my mind.

No, it was just this evening,

downstairs.

When I looked at you...

...everything I ever longed for

seemed to be there, for me.

Really, you must go

to your music, now.

I'll be thinking of you. Please, go,

dear sweet Lewis. Please.

I don't want to leave you a bit.

-Even if I ask you very nicely?

-I'll come back.

Aren't you going away?

You said you were.

I'm coming back.

Hurry.

Bless you.

You always kissed my forehead.

Even when I think of you, my forehead

pops up to be kissed naturally.

Beloved.

It's a very beautiful word.

You can feel it, but

it's so hard to say.

What?

Beloved.

I forgot to give you your flower.

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