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

mo again! Aw'll geet eawt ov th' way. ( Goes behind the Psyche .)

Enter WATERFIELD.

Wat . Nobody here! I am unlucky. "Not at home," said the rascal,-and grinned, by Jove! I'll be at the bottom of this. There's no harm in Gervaise. He's a decent fellow. ( Knocks at the door of GER.'S room .) I won't leave the place till I've set things right-not if I've got to give him a post-obit for five thousand-I won't!-Nobody there? ( Looks in .) No. Then I'll go in and wait.
Exit .

Tho. ( peeping from behind the Psyche ). That's the villain! Lord o' mercy! that's the villain! If aw're as strung as aw'm owd, aw'd scrunch his yed-aw would! Aw'm sure it's th' mon. He kep eawt ov mo way-but aw seigh him once. O Lord, keep mo hands off ov him. Aw met kill him. Aw'm sartin sure ov him when aw see him. Aw'll not goo nigh him till somebory cooms-cep' he roons away. Aw'm noan fleyed ov him, but aw met not be able to keep mo howd ov him. Oh, mo Mattie! mo Mattie! to leave thi owd faither for sich a mak ov a mon as yon! But yere cooms somebory moor. ( Goes behind the Psyche .)

Enter MRS. CLIFFORD.

Mrs. C. No one here? She can never be in his room with him! ( Opens the door .) Oh! Mr. Waterfield! You're here-are you?

Wat . ( coming to the door ). Mrs. Clifford! This is indeed an unexpected pleasure!

Mrs. C. Have you got Constance with you there?

Wat . I've no such good fortune.

Mrs. C. Where is she, then?

Wat . At home, I presume.

Mrs. C. Indeed she is not. I must speak to Arthur.

Wat . He's not here.

Mrs. C. Where's my-his man, then?

Wat . Taken himself off to the public-house, I suppose. There's nobody about. Odd-ain't it?

Mrs. C. I'll go and see. Exit into the house .

Wat . What can be the row! there is some row. Exit into the room .

Enter GER., supported by COL. G.

Col. G. Thank God! Thank God!

Ger. But where is she? I shall go mad if you've told me a lie.

Col. G. I saw her, and sent a messenger after her. We shall have news of her presently. Do have a little patience, sir.

Get. How can I have patience? I'm a brute-a mean, selfish devil! If that fellow Waterfield was to horse-whip me-I should let him.

Tho. ( coming forward ). Theer wur that yung chap yere a while agoo, and he said aw wur to say to Maister William-what wur it aw're to say?-Yigh-it wur-"Bill's been. O'reet."

Col. G. There, sir! I told you so. Do sit down. I'll go after her.

Ger. I will. I will. Only make haste. ( Stands staring at the Psyche .)

Tho. Th' boy said he'd be yere direckly.

Col. G. You sit down. I'll be with you presently.

Tho. ( retiring behind the Psyche ). Aw're noan likely to goo, maister.

Enter MRS. C. Crosses to room door. Enter WATERFIELD. They
talk .

Ger. William! I don't want them. ( Retreats towards the Psyche .)

Col. G. Sit here one moment, sir. ( Leads him to the dais. Advances to MRS. C.)

Mrs. C. ( trying to pass him ). Arthur, what can-?

Col. G. ( intercepting her ). Let him rest a bit, ma'am, if you please. He's been out for the first time.

Mrs. C. At night! and in a fog! A pretty nurse you are! Poor boy!

Col. G. Mr. Waterfield, sir, would you mind stepping into the room again for a moment? ( Exit WAT.) Mrs. Clifford, ma'am, would you please get a glass of wine for master? Exit MRS. C. into the house .

Ger. William! William!

Col. G. Yes, sir.

Ger. Send him away. Don't let him stop there. I have nothing to say to him.

Col. G. He shan't trouble you, sir. I'll take care of that. ( Goes behind the Psyche to THOMAS, but keeps watching the door of the room .)-Did you see the man that went in there just now?

Tho. ( with anxiety ). He winnot joomp eawt ov th' window, dosto thenk, lad?

Re-enter MRS. C. with wine . GER. drinks .

Col. G. Why should he do that? Do you know anything about him?

Tho. Aw do.

Col. G. Has he seen you here?

Tho. No. Aw're afeard he'd roon away, and aw keepet snoog.

Col. G. I needn't ask who it is, then?

Tho. Yo needn't, lad.

Enter WATERFIELD.

Tho. Mo conscience! he'll pike eawt afoor aw geet howd on him! ( Rushes out and seizes WAT.)

Enter MATTIE and BILL.

Tho. Thae'rt a domned villain! Wheer's mo Mattie?

WATERFIELD knocks THOMAS down .

Bill. O Lord! the swell's murdered old daddy!

All but GER. rush together . COLONEL GERVAISE seizes
WATERFIELD. MATTIE throws herself on her knees beside THOMAS
and lifts his head .

Mat . Father! father! Look at me! It's Mattie!-your own wicked Mattie! Look at her once, lather dear! ( Lays down his head in despair, and rises .) Who struck the good old man?

Bill. He did-the swell as give me the gold sov.

Mat . Mr. Watkins!-

Wat . I haven't the honour of the gentleman's acquaintance. I'm not Mr. Watkins. Am I now? ( to COL. G.). Ha! ha!-Let go, I say. I'm not the man. It's all a mistake, you see.

Col. G. In good time. I might make a worse. Watkins mayn't be your name, but Watkins is your nature.

Wat . Damn your insolence! Let rue go, I tell you! ( Struggles threatening .)

Col. G. Gently, gently, young man!-If I give your neckcloth a twist now-!

Mat . Yes, there is a mistake-and a sad one for me! A wretch that would strike an old man! Indeed you are not what I took you for.

Wat . You hear the young woman! She says it's all a mistake.-My good girl, I'm sorry for the old gentleman; but he oughtn't to behave like a ruffian. Really, now, you know, a fellow can't stand that sort of thing! A downright assault! I'm sorry I struck him, though-devilish sorry! I'll pay the damage with pleasure. ( Puts his hand in his pocket .)

Mat . ( turning away ) And not a gentleman! ( Kneels by THOMAS and weeps .)

Tho. ( feebly .) Dunnot greight, Mattie, mo chylt. Aw'm o' reet. Let th' mon goo. What's he to tho or mo?-By th' mass! aw'm strung enough to lick him yet ( trying to rise, but falling back ). Eigh! eigh! mo owd boans 'ud rayther not. It's noan blame sure to an owd mon to fo' tired o' feightin!

Mat . ( taking' his head on her lap ). Father! father! forgive me! I'm all yours.-I'll go home with you, and work for you till I drop. O father! how could I leave you for him? I don't care one bit for him now-I don't indeed. You'll forgive me-won't you, father? ( Sobs .)

Tho. Aw wull, aw do, mo Mattie. Coom whoam-coom whoam.

Mat . Will mother forgive me, father?

Tho. Thi mother, chylt? Hoo's forgiven tho lung afoor-ivver so lung agoo, chylt! Thi mother may talk leawd, but her heart is as soft as parritch.-Thae knows it, Mattie.

Wat . All this is very interesting,-only you see it's the wrong man, and I can't say he enjoys it. Take your hand off my collar-will you? I'm not the man, I tell you!

Bill. All I says is-it's the same swell as guv me the skid to find her. I'll kiss the book on that!

Ger. ( coming forward ). Mr. Waterfield, on your honour, do you know this girl?

Wat . Come! you ain't goin' to put me to my catechism!

Ger. You must allow appearances are against you.

Wat . Damn your appearances! What do I care?

Ger. If you will not answer my question, I must beg you to leave the place.

Wat . My own desire! Will you oblige me by ordering this bull-dog of yours to take his paws off me? What the devil is he keeping me here for?

Col. G. I've a great mind to give you in charge.

Wat . The old codger assaulted me first.

Col. G. True; but the whole affair would come to light. That's what I would have. Miss Pearson, what am I to do with this man?

Enter SUSAN at the back door. Behind her, CONSTANCE peeps in .

Mat . Let him go.-Father! Father! (Kisses him .)

Sus . That can never be Mattie's gentleman, sure-ly! Hm! I don't think much of him . I knew he had ugly eyes! I told you so, Mattie! I wouldn't break my heart for him -no, nor for twenty of him-I wouldn't! He looks like a drowned cat.

Wat . What the devil have you got to do with it?

Sus. Nothing . You shut up.

Wat . Well, I'm damned if I know whether I'm on my head or my heels.

Sus . 'Tain't no count which.

Bill ( aside to COL. G.). She's at the back door, Mr. William.

Col. G. Who is, Bill? Miss Lacordere?

Bill. Right you air!

COL. G. hastens to the door . CON. peeps in and draws lack .
COL. G. follows her. WATERFIELD approaches MATTIE.

Wat . Miss Pearson, if that's-

Mat . I don't know you-don't even know your name.

Wat . ( looking round ). You hear her say it! She don't know me!

Mat . Could you try and rise, father? I want to get