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

go with you, Bill. I want to talk to you.

Bill . Well, I 'ain't no objection-so be you wants to talk friendly, sir.

Col. G. Good night. I'll come and see you to-morrow.

Sus . God bless you, sir. You've saved both on our lives. I was a goin' to drown myself, Mattie-I really was this time. Wasn't I, sir?

Col. G. Well, you looked like it-that is all I can say. You shall do it next time-so far as I'm concerned.

Sus . I won't never no more again, sir-not if Mattie don't drive me to it.

Con . ( to COL. G.). Come back for me in a little while.

Col. G. Yes, miss. Come, Bill. Exit .

Bill . All right, sir. I'm a follerin', as the cat said to the pigeon. Exit .

Sus . I'll just go and get you a cup o' tea. Mrs. Jones's kettle's sure to be a bilin'. That's what you would like.

Exit . Constance steps aside, and Susan passes without seeing her .

Mat . Oh! to be a baby again in my mother's arms! But it'll soon be over now.

CONSTANCE comes forward .

Con . I hope you're a little better now?

Mat . You're very kind, miss; and I beg your pardon for speaking to you as I did.

Con . Don't say a word about it. You didn't quite know what you were saying. I'm in trouble myself. I don't know how soon I may be worse off than you.

Mat . Why, miss, I thought you were going to be married!

Con . No, I am not.

Mat . Why, miss, what's happened. He's never going to play you false-is he?

Con . I don't mean ever to speak to him again?

Mat . What has he done to offend you, miss?

Con . Nothing. Only I know now I don't like him. To tell you the truth, Mattie, he's not a gentleman.

Mat . Not a gentleman, miss! How dare you say so?

Con . Do you know anything about him? Did you ever see him?

Mat . Yes.

Con . Where?

Mat . Once at your house.

Con . Oh! I remember-that time! I begin to-It couldn't be at the sight of him you fainted, Mattie?-You knew him? Tell me! tell me! Make me sure of it.

Mat . To give you your revenge! No. It's a mean spite to say he ain't a gentleman.

Con . Perhaps you and I have different ideas of what goes to make a gentleman.

Mat . Very likely.

Con . Oh! don't be vexed, Mattie. I didn't mean to hurt you.

Mat . Oh! I dare say!

Con . If you talk to me like that, I must go.

Mat . I never asked you to come.

Con . Well, I did want to be friendly with you. I wouldn't hurt you for the world.

Mat . ( bursting into tears ) I beg your pardon, miss. I'm behaving like a brute. But you must forgive me; my heart is breaking.

Con . Poor dear! ( kissing her ) So is mine almost. Let us be friends. Where's Susan gone?

Mat . To fetch me a cup of tea. She'll be back directly.

Con . Don't let her say bad words: I can't bear them. I think it's because I was so used to them once-in the streets, I mean-not at home-never at home.

Mat . She don't often, miss. She's a good-hearted creature. It's only when hunger makes her cross. She don't like to be hungry.

Con . I should think not, poor girl!

Mat . Don't mind what she says, please. If you say nothing, she'll come all right. When she's spoken her mind, she feels better. Here she comes!

Re-enter SUSAN. It begins to grow dark .

Sus . Well, and who have we got here?

Mat . Miss Lacordere, Sukey.

Sus . There's no lack o' dare about her , to come here!

Mat . It's very kind of her to come, Susan.

Sus . I tell you what, miss: that parcel was stole. It was stole, miss!-stole from me-an' that angel there a dyin' in the street!

Con . I'm quite sure of it, Susan. I never thought anything else.

Sus . Not but I allow it was a pity, miss!-I'm very sorry. But, bless you! ( lighting a candle )-with all your fine clothes-! My! you look like a theayter-queen-you do, miss! If you was to send
them up the spout now!-My! what a lot they'd let you have on that silk!

Con . The shawl is worth a good deal, I believe. It's an Indian one-all needlework.

Sus . And the bee-utiful silk! Laws, miss! just shouldn't I like to wear a frock like that! I should be hard up before I pledged that ! But the shawl! If I was you, miss, I would send 'most everything up before that!-things inside, you know, miss-where it don't matter so much.

Con . ( laughing ) The shawl would be the first thing I should part with. I would rather be nice inside than out.

Sus . Lawk, miss! I shouldn't wonder if that was one of the differs now! Well, I never! It ain't seen! It must be one o' the differs!

Con . What differs? I don't understand you.

Sus . The differs 'tween girls an' ladies-girls like me an' real ladies like you.

Con . Oh, I see! But how dark it has got! What can be keeping William? I must go at once, or what will my aunt say! Would you mind going with me a little bit, Susan?

Sus . I'll go with pleasure, miss.

Con . Just a little way, I mean, till we get to the wide streets. You couldn't lend me an old cloak, could you?

Sus . I 'ain't got one stitch, miss, but what I stand up in-'cep' it be a hodd glove an' 'alf a pocket-'an'kercher. Nobody 'ill know you.

Con . But I oughtn't to be out dressed like this.

Sus . You've only got to turn up your skirt over your head, miss.

Con . ( drawing up her skirt ) I never thought of that!

Sus . Well, I never!

Con . What's the matter?

Sus . Only the whiteness o' the linin' as took my breath away, miss. It ain't no use turnin' of it up: you'll look like a lady whatever you do to hide it. But never mind: that ain't no disgrace so long as you don't look down on the rest of us. There, miss! There you are-fit for a play! Come along; I'll take care of you. Lawks! I'm as good as a man- I am!

Con . Good-bye then, Mattie.

Mat . Good-bye, miss. God bless you.

Exeunt .

END OF ACT III.


ACT IV.

SCENE.- The Studio .


Enter COL. G. Walks about restless and eager .

Col. G. Thank heaven! If Bill has found Mr. Warren now,- Exit .

Enter WARREN.

War . What can the fellow be up to? There's something odd about him-something I don't like-but it can't mean mischief when he sends for me. Where could Gervaise have picked him up?-Nobody here?

Re-enter COL. G. and hurries to him with outstretched hand .

Col. G. My dear sir! I am greatly obliged to you. This is very kind.

War . ( stepping back ) Excuse me.-I do not understand.

Col. G. I beg your pardon. I ought to have explained.

War . I believe something of the sort is necessary.

Col. G. You are my master's friend.

War . I should be proud of the honour. Can I be of any service to him?

Col. G. I believe I can trust you. I will trust you-I am his father.

War . Whose father? Belzebub's?

Col. G. Arthur's-your friend Gervaise's. I am Sir Walter Gervaise. You must help me to help him.

WARREN regards him for a moment .

War . ( stiffly ) Sir Walter, I owe your son much-you nothing yet. I am his friend.

Col. G. There is not a moment to lose. Listen. An old man came about the place a few weeks ago, looking for his daughter. He has been got out of the way, but I have learned where he is: I want you to bring him.

War . I would serve your son blindfold: you must excuse me if I wish to understand first.

Col. G. Arthur is in trouble. He has a secret.-God forgive me!-I feared it was a bad one.

War . You don't know him as I do!

Col. G. I know him now-and can help him. Only I can't prove anything yet. I must have the old man. I've found his daughter, and suspect the villain: if I can bring the three together, all will come out, sure enough. The boy I sent for you will take you to the father. He will trust you, and come. ( Bell rings .) I must go to Arthur now.
Exit .

War . What a strange old fellow! An officer-and disguise himself!

Enter BILL.

Bill . Here you are, sir!

War . No vast amount of information in that statement, my boy!

Bill . Well, sir-here I are, sir.

War . That is a trifle more to the point, though scarcely requiring mention.

Bill . Then, here we are, sir.

War . That'll do-if you know what comes next?

Bill . I do, sir.

War . Go on, then.

Bill . Here goes! Come along, sir. You'll have to take a bobby, though.

War . We'll see about that. You go on.

Exeunt .

Enter GERVAISE, followed by COL. G.

Ger. What a time you have been, William!

Col. G. I'm sorry, sir. Did you want anything?

Ger. No. But I don't like to be left. You are the only friend I have.

Col. G. Thank you, sir.