Stephen Archer and Other Tales, George MacDonald [free ebook reader txt] 📗

and the same moment it is nowhere. Who is my Psyche like?-The forehead above the eyebrow, and round by the temple? The half-playful, half-sorrowful curve of the lip? The hope in the lifted eyelid? There is more there than ever I put there. Some power has been shaping my ends. By heaven, I have it!-No-yes-it is-it is Constance-momently dawning out of the clay! What does this mean?
She never gave me a sitting-at least, she has not done so for the last ten years-yet here she is-she, and no other! I never thought she was beautiful. When she came with my aunt the other day though, I did fancy I saw a new soul dawning through the lovely face. Here it is-the same soul breaking through the clay of my Psyche!-I will give just one touch to the corner of the mouth.

Gives a few touches, then steps back again and contemplates the
figure. Turns away and walks up and down. The light darkens to slow
plaintive music, which lasts for a minute. Then the morning begins
to dawn, gleaming blue upon the statues and casts, and revealing
GER. seated before his Psyche, gazing at her. He rises, and exit.
Enter COL. G. and looks about .

Col. G. I don't know what to make of it! Or rather I'm afraid I do know what to make of it! It looks bad. He's not been in bed all night. But it shows he has some conscience left-and that's a comfort.

Enter Mrs. CLIFFORD, peeping round cautiously .

Col. G. What, Clara! you here so early!

Mrs. C. Well, you know, brother, you're so fond of mystery!

Col. G. It's very kind of you to come! But we must be very careful; I can't tell when my master may be home.

Mrs. C. Has he been out all night, then?

Col. G. Oh no; he's just gone.

Mrs. C. I never knew him such an early bird. I made sure he was safe in bed for a couple of hours yet. But I do trust, Walter, you have had enough of this fooling, and are prepared to act like a rational man and a gentleman.

Col. G. On the contrary, Clara, with my usual obstinacy, I am more determined than ever that my boy shall not know me, until, as I told you, I have rendered him such service as may prove me not altogether unworthy to be his father. Twenty years of neglect will be hard to surmount.

Mrs. C. But mere menial service cannot discharge the least portion of your obligations. As his father alone can you really serve him.

Col. G. You persist in misunderstanding me. This is not the service I mean. I scorn the fancy. This is only the means, as I told you plainly before, of finding out how I may serve him-of learning what he really needs-or most desires. If I fail in discovering how to recommend myself to him, I shall go back to India, and content myself with leaving him a tolerable fortune.

Mrs. C. How ever a hair-brained fellow like you, Walter, could have made such a soldier!-Why don't you tell your boy you love him, and have done with it?

Col. G. I will, as soon as I have proof to back the assertion.

Mrs. C. I tell you it is rank pride.

Col. G. It may be pride, sister; but it is the pride of a repentant thief who puts off his confession until he has the money in his hand to prove the genuineness of his sorrow.

Mrs. C. It never was of any use to argue with you , Walter; you know that, or at least I know it. So I give up.-I trust you have got over your prejudice against his profession. It is not my fault.

Col. G. In truth, I had forgotten the profession-as you call it-in watching the professor.

Mrs. C. And has it not once occurred to you to ask how he may take such watching?

Col. G. By the time he is aware of it, he will be ready to understand it.

Mrs. C. But suppose he should discover you before you have thus established your position?

Col. G. I must run the risk.

Mrs. C. Suppose then you should thus find out something he would not have you know?

Col. G. ( hurriedly ). Do you imagine his servant might know a thing he would hide from his father?

Mrs. C. I do not, Walter. I can trust him. But he might well resent the espionage of even his father. You cannot get rid of the vile look of the thing.

Col. G. Again I say, my boy shall be my judge, and my love shall be my plea. In any case I shall have to ask his forgiveness. But there is his key in the lock! Run into the house.

Exit MRS. C. Enter GER., and goes straight to the Psyche .

Col. G. Breakfast is waiting, sir.

Ger. By and by, William.

Col. G. You haven't been in bed, sir!

Ger. Well? What of that?

Col. G. I hope you're not ill, sir.

Ger. Not in the least: I work all night sometimes.-You can go. (COL. G. lingers, with a searching gaze at the Psyche .)-I don't want anything.

Col. G. Pardon me, sir, but I am sure you are ill. You've done no work since last night.

Ger. ( with displeasure ). I am quite well, and wish to be alone.

Col. G. Mayn't I go and fetch a doctor, sir? It is better to take things in time.

Ger. You are troublesome. ( Exit COL. G.)-What can the fellow mean? He looked at me so strangely too! He's officious-that's all, I dare say. A good sort of man, I do think! William!-What is it in the man's face?-( Enter Col G.) Is the breakfast ready?

Col. G. Quite ready, sir.

Ger. I'm sorry I spoke to you so hastily. The fact is-

Col. G. Don't mention it, sir. Speak as you will to me; I shan't mind it. When there's anything on a man's conscience-I-I-I mean on a man's mind-

Ger. What do you mean?

Col. G. I mean, when there is anything there, he can't well help his temper, sir.

Ger. I don't understand you; but, anyhow, you-go too far, William.

Col. G. I beg your pardon, sir: I forgot myself. I do humbly beg your pardon. Shall I make some fresh coffee, sir? It's not cold-only it's stood too long.

Ger. The coffee will do well enough. ( Exit COL. G.)-Is she so beautiful? ( turning to the Psyche )-Is there a likeness?-I see it.-Nonsense! A mere chance confluence of the ideal and the actual.-Even then the chance must mean something. Such a mere chance would indeed be a strange one!

Enter CONSTANCE.

Oh, my heart! here she comes! my Psyche herself!-Well, Constance!

Con. Oh, Arthur, I am so glad I've found you! I want to talk to you about something. I know you don't care much about me now, but I
must tell you, for it would be wrong not.

Ger. ( aside ). How beautiful she is! What can she have to tell me about? It cannot be-it shall not be-. Sit down, won't you? ( offering her a chair .)

Con. No. You sit there ( pointing to the dais ), and I will sit here ( placing herself on the lower step ). It was here I used to sit so often when I was a little girl. Why can't one keep little? I was always with you then! ( Sighs .)

Ger. It is not my fault, Constance.

Con. Oh no! I suppose it can't be. Only I don't see why. Oh, Arthur, where should I be but for you! I saw the old place yesterday. How dreadful and yet how dear it was!

Ger. Who took you there?

Con. Nobody. I went alone.

Ger. It was hardly safe.-I don't like your going out alone, Constance.

Con. Why, Arthur! I used to know every court and alley about Shoreditch better than I know Berkeley Square now!

Ger. But what made you go there?

Con. I went to find a dressmaker who has been working for my aunt, and lost my way. And-would you believe it?-I was actually frightened!

Ger. No wonder! There are rough people about there.

Con. I never used to think them rough when I lived among them with my father and mother. There must be just as good people there as anywhere else. Yet I could not help shuddering at the thought of living there again!-How strange it made me feel! You have been my angel, Arthur. What would have become of me if you hadn't taken me, I dare not think.

Ger. I have had my reward, Constance: you are happy.

Con. Not quite. There's something I want to tell you.

Ger. Tell on, child.

Con. Oh, thank you!-that is how you used to talk to me. ( Hesitates .)

Ger. ( with foreboding ) Well, what is it?

Con. ( pulling the fingers of her gloves ) A gentleman-you know him-has been-calling upon aunt-and me. We have seen a good deal of him.

Ger. Who is he?

Con. Mr. Waterfield. ( Keeps her eyes on the floor .)

Ger. Well?

Con. He says-he-he-he wants me to marry him.-Aunt likes him.

Ger. And you?

Con. I like him too. I don't think I like him enough-I dare say I shall. It is so good of him to take poor me! He is very rich, they say.

Ger. Have you accepted him?

Con. I am afraid he thinks so.-Ye-e-s.-I hardly know.

Ger. Haven't you-been rather-in a hurry-Constance?

Con. No, indeed! I haven't been in a hurry at all. He has been a long time trying to make me like him. I have been too long a burden to Mrs. Clifford.

Ger. So! it is her doing, then!

Con. You were away, you know.

Ger. ( bitterly ) Yes; too far-chipping stones and making mud-pies!

Con.