 | The Daughter |  |
SCENE II.
—The inside of Robert's Cottage.Enter Marian.
Mari.
My father's house! O would it were, indeed,
My father's house, as I knew it!—once!
I were content to be a wrecker's child!
But now I have a feeling as I were
The loathing of the roof that gave me birth!
The threshold, which from childhood, out and in
I have pass'd—and O how oft in blithest mood!—
Seem'd as it said to me I had no right
To cross it now—my room would shut me out!
The very bed I've slept in every night
For eighteen years, appear'd to say to me,
“Lie on the floor!”—and when in agony
I threw myself upon the floor, I shrank,
As that would spurn me too, and cry to me,
“Thou art the daughter of a murderer!”—
Me, that when household use required the life
Of a poor brainless bird, would run a mile
To get some other hand to take it, nor
Could even then look on!—But where is nature?
She has been scared away, but now returns.
O my poor father!—O my luckless father!
426
Never more break?—I only wait for it
To seek for him, and comfort him, and tell him
That I am still his child—his Marian!
Rob.
[Rushing in.]
My Marian!—What! Hold'st thou back from me?
Mari.
No.
Rob.
But thou dost!
Mari.
No!—No!—See there—I have thrown
My arms around thy neck!
Rob.
Yes!—but you turn
Your head away!
Mari.
Is't turn'd away now?
Rob.
No!
But where's the kiss, you never met me but
You printed on my cheek?—
Mari.
There!
Rob.
Humph!—I fear
I have thrown away both time and risk—I came
To seek my daughter—but she is not here!—
She has gone from me!—deserted me!—I have lost her!
Mari.
No!—No!—
Rob.
You know her?—fetch me her!—make haste!
Mari.
She's here!
Rob.
She's not!—She's anywhere but here!
And I am here at peril of my life,
To see her for a minute ere I go
Perhaps for ever from her.
Mari.
Oh! my father!
I am indeed thy child!—Thy Marian!
Rob.
These tears are something like her—I begin
To think that thou'rt my child—Thou art my child!
Thou hast heard it?
Mari.
Yes!
Rob.
What ponderous thing is “Yes,”
To take a sigh like that to heave it off?
Mari.
Thou art in danger.
Rob.
Great!—To-morrow, may be,
A dungeon! there, most certainly the dock!—
There, in all likelihood, the gibbet! but
I have a chance—that chance is now!—'Tis little!
And, every moment that I lose, grows less!
But I'm content it should go all!—ay, all!
If I have lost one fraction of my child
That's due to me—go all—and let it go!
Mari.
I am all thy own—Thy own hand not thy own
More than thy Marian!—Thou'rt in flight!—We'll fly
Together!
Rob.
[Re-assured.]
No, but thou shalt follow me,
And speedily!—Think kindly of Black Norris!—
He set me free—He'll be a friend to thee—
He furnish'd me with means of flight.
427
With means?
[Marian goes out, and returns with a little purse.
Here, father, here!
Rob.
Part of thy little store?
Mari.
The rest 's at sea. To have it with me, now,
Though it might grow to millions where 'tis gone,
I'd miss the mighty gain!
Rob.
And thou, my child?—
Mari.
I have hands!—There's Heaven!—O father!
Rob.
Dost thou think
Thy father guilty?
Mari.
I think nothing, now;
Except that thou'rt in danger.
Rob.
Marian,
I no more did the deed—
Mari.
They will be here,
And then thou art lost!
Rob.
Thou dost not think me guilty?
Mari.
What matter what thy Marian thinks, when death
Pursues thee and thou lingerest here, and not
One moment am I certain but the next
It may o'ertake thee—here!—in thy own house!
That's now no shelter for thee—here!—before
Thy Marian's eyes, that cannot help thee!—Fly!
Thy life perhaps may pay for the next breath
Thou drawest here!—The thought distracts me!—Fly!
Rob.
It cannot be thou think'st me guilty?
Mari.
Fly!
Terror will take away my senses—Fly!
Rob.
I do begin to doubt thou think'st me guilty?
Mari.
O father, fly!
Rob.
I am innocent!
Mari.
'Tis well!
Rob.
It is not well—I am innocent! I'll swear it!
Mari.
Thou need'st not, father—Don't!—Fly!—Fly!—
Rob.
By—
[Raising his hand towards heaven.
Mari.
Stop!
[Preventing him.
Rob.
Thou think'st me guilty!—Spare thy kindness—There,
Perish thy coin! I will not use it!—fly!
Do anything to save my life!—If it goes,
It may go!—Here I'll sit!—E'en here!—Ay here!—
Here in the cottage thou wast born in, nursed,
Brought up in—till thou'rt eighteen years, and now
Tell'st thine own father he's a murderer!
Here I'll wait for them—Let them come and take me!
Take me before thine eyes!—imprison me!
Try me, and hang me! I'll not turn my hand
To save my life! Since my own child, that knows me,
Believes me guilty. I am guilty!—Yes!
Let all the world beside believe me so.
Amb.
[without].
What hoa!
Rob.
They come!
428
Fly by the other door!
[Knocking at that door.
Rob.
You hear? It is beset!
Mari.
Hide somewhere!
Rob.
Where?
They'll search the house!—Were there a hundred doors
And all were free—were there a cavern, where
No foot could follow me—I would sit here
And let them take me!
Amb.
Robert!
Rob.
[Opens the door.]
Here!—Come in!
[Ambrose and others enter.
Mari.
For mercy's sake!—
Rob.
For no sake!—Here I am:
Take me!
Mari.
My father!
Rob.
I am guilty!
Mari.
Nay!—
Rob.
She says I am—take me away!
Mari.
O! stay!
Don't take him yet!—Good friends!—You are neighbours!—Don't!
Don't take away my father!—Leave him with me!—
Pray—Pray don't take him!
Rob.
I am guilty—Take me!
I am guilty!—Ask my child—my Marian!
Mari.
Don't!—Don't!—Stay! Mercy! Mercy!—O my father!
[They go out.
| The Daughter | |