University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

—A Gallery in Elmore's House.
Enter Margaret, C. F., looking fearfully behind her.
Mar.
I had nearly ruined all—I must repair it.
To flight! To flight from him I love the best
To him I loathe the deepest—and alone—
Before my father can suspect my purpose.
He'll stay me else—and then he's lost!
[Going, L., starts and stops.
Eugene!
Oh cruel accident!

[Endeavouring to retire.
Enter Eugene, L.
Eug.
Margaret, I sought you.

Mar.
[Hurriedly.]
Not now—another time—to-morrow—

Eug.
Now!
For every moment is an age of torture.
Is this your writing?

[Shows a letter.
Mar.
[Faintly, and averting her head.]
Yes.

Eug.
You answer me
Without examination.

Mar.
[As before.]
It is mine.

Eug.
Own not so lightly to the cruel lines—
You do not know their purport. They would tell me
That you disclaim the vows so lately made,—
Call back the love bestowed but yesterday,—
And bid me part from you for ever.

Mar.
Yes—'twas thus I wrote.

Eug.
Thou didst!—What have I done?
Wherein deserved this?—What has been my offence?

Mar.
Nothing.

Eug.
I'll swear it!—I have asked the heart
That hung upon thee with such doting love,—
The zeal that followed, worshipping thy steps,—
The faith that stored its all of happiness
Under thy keeping—I have asked them all,
And all declare me guiltless.

Mar.
[Aside.]
I must go—
I dare not listen, or I shall betray—

Eug.
Oh hadst thou died—I would have wept thee then
With tears that, amber-like, should have embalmed
Thy memory, till they and it were one.
But thus to lose thee!—thus to find thee false
To vows—to oaths—

Mar.
Oh no! not false, Eugene!

Eug.
Not false!—what art thou then?

Mar.
Wretched—most wretched!
[Then suddenly.
Ask me no more—Eugene, be generous!
Think me unhappy, but not criminal.
Oh do not curse me!—Were you struggling thus—
Did you so pray to me for kind construction—
Were these tears yours, and yours this bursting heart,
My faith should battle with appearances:
I would disown my sense—deny my reason—
Ay, would believe impossibilities,
Rather than risk to wrong you with a thought!

Eug.
And yet in deeds how cruelly you wrong me!
If I have sinned against you, let me be
Confronted with my offence. The meanest culprit
May claim so much!—Oh! tongue-tied!—Canst thou and
Not even one extenuating plea
That may relieve the blackness of thy falsehood,
And bid me not to curse thee!

Mar.
[In agony.]
Stay, Eugene!
Spare me—be merciful!

Eug.
Fie!—fie upon
This poor hypocricy of seeming grief!

Mar.
Eugene—oh is he not my—

[Checks herself.
Eug.
What?—Is who?
Whom dost thou speak of?

Mar.
[Shrinking.]
Nothing—nothing—no one.
[Aside.]
I dare not stay to bear this torture longer!
Farewell, Eugene. Let us not part in anger.
I might reproach you with some cruelty,
But I forgive you. We are both unhappy,
And need not sharpen one another's pangs.

Eug.
Art thou not false?

Mar.
If thou wilt mourn me less
Thinking me so—as it is like thou wilt—
Then call me false, and drive me from thy heart:
I'll not complain, if thou art saved a tear.
Oh, I am as a wretch already reeling
Within the eddy of a whirlpool's sweep,
Beyond the reach alike of love and hate,—
Powerless,—helpless!—every passing moment
The narrowing circles drag me closer in
To the dark gulf where I must sink for ever.

Eug.
Margaret, there is some horrid mystery
Which thou would'st hide—

Mar.
[Agitated.]
No—no—

Eug.
But he, who first
Encouraged my young love to soar, shall be
My counsel now in my despair. Elmore shall—

Mar.
[Shrieking, and grasping his arm.]
Not for thy life, Eugene!—Go not to him—
Not to my father!

Eug.
Margaret, what can mean
This wild destraction?

Mar.
A distracted heart!—
Have pity on it, then!—Oh if I ever
Possessed thy love—if ever, to thine eyes,
The tears in mine appeared a sacred thing,—
As thou hast said they did—scorn them not now!
Promise me—swear thou wilt not seek my father!
I ask but a few hours—but till to-morrow—
Oh do not hesisate!—I'll kneel to thee—

Eug.
Margaret, what thou wilt.

Mar.
But thou wilt swear?

Eug.
I promise.

Mar.
Bless thee!—Now we'll talk no more—
Forget that I have ever been. Efface me
As a dark blot that for a moment marred
Thy brighter page. And so— [Gazes affectionately on him.]
Eugene— [Takes his hand in hers, and slowly carries it to her lips.]
Farewell!

[Hurries out, R.
Eug.
I will not lose her thus!—I'll follow her—
Enter a Servant, L., presenting a letter.
Away!

[Waving him off.
Ser.
It came in haste, sir, from Lafont's.

Eug.
Lafont's! [Tears it open.]
What's here!—
[Reading.]
The Friar Dominic,
Who said he was a friend of Count De Lorme,
Now summons both his children to Lafont's.
Be instant!—So I will! This sudden call
Meets my suspicions half way on the road.
I'll pierce this mystery, though its deep secret
Lay buried in the centre! To Lafont's!

[Exit. L.