Cæsar's Wife: A Comedy in Three Acts

Oh, then you knew Sir Arthur before he married?

Anne

Oh, yes, he's one of my oldest friends. I can't help thinking Lady Little must have great sweetness of character to put up with me.

Violet

Or you must be a perfect miracle of tact, darling.

Mrs. Appleby

My belief is, it's a little of both.

Anne

When Arthur came to see me one day last July and told me he was going to marry the most wonderful girl in the world, of course I thought good-bye. A man thinks he can keep his bachelor friendships, but he never does.

Mrs. Appleby

His wife generally sees to that.

Violet

Well, I think it's nonsense, especially with a man like Arthur who'd been a bachelor so long and naturally had his life laid out before ever I came into it. And besides, I'm devoted to Anne.

Anne

It's dear of you to say so.

Violet

I came here as an absolute stranger. And after all, I wasn't very old, was I?

Mrs. Appleby

Nineteen?

Violet

Oh, no, I was older than that. I was nearly twenty.

Mrs. Appleby

[Smiling.] Good gracious!

Violet

It was rather alarming to find oneself on a sudden the wife of a man in Arthur's position. I was dreadfully self-conscious; I felt that everybody's eyes were upon me. And you don't know how easy it is to make mistakes in a country that's half Eastern and half European.

Anne

To say nothing of having to deal with the representatives of half a dozen Great Powers all outrageously susceptible.

Violet

And, you know, there was the feeling that the smallest false step might do the greatest harm to Arthur and his work here. I had only just left the schoolroom and I found myself almost a political personage. If it hadn't been for Anne I should have made a dreadful mess of things.

Anne

Oh, I don't think that. You had two assets which would have made people excuse a great deal of inexperience, your grace and your beauty.

Violet

You say very nice things to me, Anne.

Mrs. Appleby

Your marriage was so romantic, I can't see how anyone could help feeling very kindly towards you.

Violet

There's not much room for romance in the heart of the wife of one of the Agents of the foreign Powers when she thinks she hasn't been given her proper place at a dinner party.

Mrs. Appleby

I remember wondering at the time whether you weren't a little overcome by all the excitement caused by your marriage.

Violet

I was excited too, you know.

Mrs. Appleby

Everyone had always looked upon Sir Arthur as a confirmed bachelor. It was thought he cared for nothing but his work. He's had a wonderful career, hasn't he?

Violet

The Prime Minister told me he was the most competent man he'd ever met.

Anne

I've always thought he must be a comfort to any Government. Whenever anyone has made a hash of things he's been sent to put them straight.

Violet

Well, he always has.

Mrs. Appleby