 | The Wife's Secret |  |
Scene Second.
—Gallery in Sir Walter's House.Enter Sir Walter and Jabez, L. 1 E.
Sir Wal.
I will not hear you more. You make me blush
At the forbearance that has let you speak
So much already. What your mistress does
Asks not your license, nor will I permit
You call in question aught she wills.
Jabez.
Speak lower;
And keep your counsel! There is little credit
In being known for a convenient husband.
Sir Wal.
(starting)
What's this, sir?
Jabez.
Nothing. Yet it is convenient
When wives would have concealments, and the husbands
Keep their eyes closely shut. Tush—tush, Sir Walter!
Frowns do not frighten me; I'm an old man,
Gray in your father's service.
Sir Wal.
That you are so,
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I know thou lovest me, in thy surly fashion—
But love, in narrow minds grows jealousy;
And, restless as a chained and kenelled hound,
Bays against all approachers!
Jabez.
Better bay
At every passing sound than sleep in quiet
When thieves are at the door. Well, say I bark—
Will you not look what stirs me?
Sir Wal.
Man, I tell thee
He who would slander, even with a doubt,
The woman who has placed her trust in him,
Proclaims his heart unworthy from that hour
For love to shelter there. Oh! ere I doubted
The perfect truth of her I once had loved,
Though all creation, joined with my own sense,
Were ranged in the opposite, I'd cling to her,
Call my own sense, and all creation liar,
And rather rush to shipwreck in my trust,
Than safely swim on doubts to a cold shore
On which my sunken sun had ceased to shine.
(crosses, L.)
Jabez.
Mad, mad! The woman hath thrown spells upon him.
Sir Wal.
Sir, you presume on the permitted license
Of your long service; and I have done wrong
Bearing your testy insolence as humour.
I should have checked it earlier, knowing well
You never loved your lady.
Jabez.
Said I ever
That I did love her? I'm no flatterer;
That which my heart conceives, my tongue must utter.
Her presence is a burthen on my conscience!
Ill fared it ever with the chosen people,
When they brought in strange women to their tents.
Sir Wal.
This is past all conceiving. Whence has sprung
The boldness that dares speak thus of my wife?
Jabez.
I bade thee, Walter Amyott, use thine eyes.
Thou wilt not. I must tear them open then;
Shew thee this idol of thy trust—this woman
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She locks her chamber. She hath there concealed
That which destroys thy peace—thine honour.
Sir Wal.
(seizing him by the throat)
Villain!
What ho, within! Who waits there?
Enter 2nd Servant, R. 1 E.
Send your lady. (Exit Servant, R. 1 E.)
Ho, Eveline! (then to Jabez)
I do but let thee live
To blast thee with the sight of that pure virtue
Thy poisoned tongue would soul—to see thee writhe
As under the severe, but holy eye
Of an accusing angel—
Enter Lady Eveline, R. 1 E.
Eveline!
What hast thou done to make this wretch thy foe?
Wherein provoked his malice? There is something;
Why was it hid from me? Speak, Eveline!
I'll not endure delay.
Lady E.
Nay, love, be calm!
I had forgotten it in thy return,
So let it rest; not make thine earliest welcome
Complaint of those thou hast trusted.
Sir Wal.
(eagerly)
Ha! I knew it.
What was it? Tell me!
Lady E.
At some fitter time.
Sir Wal.
There's none so fit as this. Go on! What was it?
Lady E.
Of far too little worth to move thee thus.
Servants in wealthy houses think, perhaps,
Such pilfering their prerogative.
Sir Wal.
'Twas there then?
What, thou hast been too curious?
Lady E.
Was I wrong?
I thought thy wife was but another self;
And, in thy lengthened absence, thus I asked—
Perhaps 'twas scarce a woman's province, yet
I asked for his accounts.
Sir W.
(eagerly)
Ay!
Lady E.
Searching them,
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Might have bestowed, I found—or thought I found—
Sir W.
He robbed me? And you told him this?
Lady E.
I did.
Sir Wal.
And not unlikely, threatened that I too
Should know it?
Lady E.
Could I less?
Sir Wal.
I see it all!
Hound! (flinging Jabez violently off, then clasping Eveline in his arms)
Eveline, my wronged, my precious wife!
Canst thou forgive me?
Lady E.
What?
Sir Wal.
What! That my ear
Could dare take in a sound which breathed against thee.
Lady E.
Oh yes, and pardon him who spoke it, too.
Sir W.
But I will pay thee with yet dearer love,
If dearer love can be—cherish thee more,
If that a heart so fond yet more can cherish.
Oh, I am all unworthy of thee yet!
This baser metal needs refining more,
To mix with thy pure gold— (seeing Jabez, R.)
Ha, dost thou dare
Remain here still?
Jabez.
(R.)
My honesty is questioned.
I claim to have the accusation proved.
Sir Wal.
(C.)
Thou shalt, be sure on't.
Jabez.
Now, upon the instant.
The proofs, so called, are in that lady's hands,
Locked in the Bower Chamber. We will go there
Without delay; she hath the key! (aside to Sir Walter)
She's pale!
Lady E.
(L.)
Not now—to-morrow
Jabez.
Lady, I say now!
At once I'll come to controversy with thee.
My reputation's touched, as I cries aloud
For instant justice—instant!
Sir Wal.
He is right.
If he has power to prove his innocence,
It cannot be too soon. Give me the key!
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(agitated)
No, Walter, no,—not now!
Sir Wal.
Tush! this is folly.
When 'twas but thy caprice I yielded to it,
And asked no questions—but now, weightier motives
Forbid that a mere whim should push back justice.
(pause)
What! (with surprise)
Silent still? Give me the key.
Lady E.
(calmly—but after a struggle)
I will not.
Jabez.
(aside to Sir Walter, who stands amazed)
You mark?
Lady E.
I might say, cannot—but I then
Should speak untruth. Do not be angry, Walter:
I'll tell thee one day, and thou'lt say I did
Rightly and well. Thou art not angry?
Sir Wal.
(faintly)
No.
There, leave me for awhile. I would be private.
I have some further business with this man. (crosses, L.)
Lady E.
(affectionately)
You'll kiss me?—or I'll think you're angry.
Sir Wal.
(as before)
No,
Not now. A kiss should be the meeting springs
Of love's unruffled waters—and just now,
There is a something stirring at my heart,
Disturbs its current. Give it time to rest. (waves her away)
Lady E.
I will not vex you with more disobedience.
(aside)
'Tis almost over! But a few short hours—
Yet, oh, that they were past!—and I once more
Sheltered no unshared thought. Only to-night!
Exit, R. 1 E.
Sir Wal.
(standing as if lost, and passing his hand over his brow)
Down, wicked thoughts! I know she's good and pure—
Wise, noble, virtuous—who dares bid me doubt it?
I looked in her clear eyes, and they were steadfast,
And full of holy purpose. Though her cheek
Was pale, there flickered there no shade of shame.
'Twas open all. If such consist with evil,
Then devils people heaven, and all's a wreck!
Creation, shattered to its elements,
Mocks at all form, and maddens in confusion!
(seeing Jabez, R.
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Thou heard'st she said to-morrow. Come to-morrow;
But shun my sight till then; I'll do my best
To think no evil in the interval.
Begone! Yet stop. A seal upon thy tongue!
If thou shalt breathe in any living ear,
Or hint a thought, such as thou hast spoke in mine,
I'll tear the heart out of thy felon breast,
And fling it to my dogs! Beware!
(crosses, R.)
Enter 1st Servant, L. 1 E., whispers Jabez—then retires up, L.
Jabez.
(exultingly)
Aha!
Sir Walter Amyot—my unthanked zeal
Had set a band of watchers round your house;
They have surprised a man in the plantation
That screens the window of the Bower Chamber;
Wilt please you to examine him yourself?
Or leave him to your servants' questioning?
Sir Wal.
(passionately)
Hellhound! Thou'rt on the track, then! Be it so!
Lead on, lead on! (crosses L.)
And let me know the worst!
Exit, followed by Jabez and 1st Servant, L. 1 E.
| The Wife's Secret | |