SCENE V.

THE GARDEN GATE.

O’SHANNON.

O’SHAN. A could, misty, morning, and I am left here to keep watch without a drop of the cratur to cheer my heart or keep my spirits from sinking. There’s all the rest of them gone to catch the Pretender and get the prize-money, and it’s nothing that I’m likely to catch here but a cold. I wish that I had never left the tallow business, that I do, for all this murthering work. It was a lucky chance that we were a day too late for the fair at Culloden; it’s no fancy I have for the Highlanders’ dirks. Awful slashing work they made, ’tis said. Well-a-day! I must shoulder my gun; if the Corporal found me standing at ease, he would order me a round dozen: there’s no fear of it’s going off for its own accord, the cratur, for I forgot to load it this morning.

_Enter CHARLES in disguise._

CHARLES. [_Aside._] And there is a Sentry! Horatia was right! But what they should want to arrest either me or my Father for is more than I can comprehend! This is really nervous work. I fear that I shall find it as difficult to pass this fellow as I found it at school to parse a sentence from my grammar-book. Notwithstanding the dress with which Ratty provided me, I shall need all the address of which I am master to get through this scrape should he address me. I must put on an air of confidence. Perhaps he may let me pass without question.

O’SHAN. A black morning, Ma’am.

CHARLES. [_Attempting to slip past._] Did you ever see mourning any other colour?

O’SHAN. Can’t pass here, Ma’am.

CHARLES. No! and why?

O’SHAN. ‘Cause I am posted here to keep a good watch.

CHARLES. [_Attempting to pass again._] Easier to keep a good watch than to get one!

O’SHAN. I have orders to let no one pass.

CHARLES. O but, my good fellow, I have very important business. You must let me go.

O’SHAN. Keep back, Ma’am. Now I thinks on’t, your hood looks rather suspicious.

CHARLES. [_Retreating a step._] Does it? A sort of robbin’ hood, I suppose. [_Aside._] I wish the fellow were at Jericho.

O’SHAN. And that dress was never made for you? Let me see a little closer. [_Advancing._]

CHARLES. [_Retreating. Aside._] Shall I run for my life?

O’SHAN. Stop, stop, my good Lady! Methinks your dress is uncommon short, too, it hardly reaches to the clocks of your stockings.

CHARLES. Mind your watch, and leave my clocks alone. [_Aside._] O dear! O dear! If I were but once fairly off! [_Attempts to run._]

O’SHAN. Stop, or I’ll shoot ye! I’ll send a bullet through your head if ye stir an inch farther.

CHARLES. [_Aside._] I’m done for!

O’SHAN. [_Aside._] I’ll make sure. [_Suddenly darts towards Charles and pulls back his hood._] Hillo! hillo! I’ve caught him! I’ve caught him, ’tis the man himself.

CHARLES. [_Aside._] One struggle for life. [_Aloud._] Beware, fellow, I have arms. [_Aside._] None but what nature gave me.

O’SHAN. [_Retreating a step. Aside._] Murther! and the gun is not loaded!

CHARLES. [_Aside._] I’ve staggered him! [_Aloud._] Lay but a finger on me and I’ll lay you with the dust.

O’SHAN. Keep off, or I’ll shoot ye.

CHARLES. [_Retreating._] A fig for your gun!

O’SHAN. [_Aside. Retreating._] I wish some one would come. I’ve heard he’s a raal hero. I’ll call for help. Holloa! there.

CHARLES. Hold your peace, or I’ll cut you piece-meal.

O’SHAN. I’ll blow your brains out, I will! [_Aside._] He can’t guess that it’s not loaded.

CHARLES. [_Aside._] If he should fire!

O’SHAN. [_Aside._] If he should fight! My poor Mother; och, if she could see me now, ’twould pit her into high-strikes. Is no one coming to help me?

CHARLES. [_Aside._] If I could but touch his kinder feelings! I have been accustomed to steal hearts, but I fear that I should find his steeled already. I must make one more effort to steal past him. But the sight of his matchlock makes my blood run cold.

O’SHAN. Och! he’s coming nearer. O for pity’s sake ...

CHARLES. If mercy ever touched your bosom ...

_Enter CORPORAL CATCHUP._

O’SHAN. Catch him! catch him! ’tis he, the Pretender! catch him, Corporal! collar him! never fear!

CORP. Who? the old woman?

O’SHAN. Catch him, I say, and never be frightened for him, man. I found him out.

CHARLES. So--all is lost.

CORP. A man in disguise! it must be he. Bind him, O’Shannon. This is a prize indeed.

O’SHAN. Ah, poor gintleman, your troubles will soon be pit an end to. Ah! ye may well sigh, for no man laughs on his way to the gallows.

CHARLES. The gallows! is it possible that so inhuman a murder can be contemplated?

O’SHAN. O ye may be satisfied of it! There’s only one thing that’s doubtful, I’m thinking.

CHARLES. What’s that?

O’SHAN. Whether they’ll stick your head on the Lord Mayor’s mace before or after they’ve hung you!

CHARLES. O horrible, horrible, most horrible! It cannot, O it cannot be! What a dreadful, what a fearful fate! O that the first step I took from my Father’s home had been into a horse-pond! that I had died e’er I left it!

O’SHAN. Ay, there’s the pity! Had ye stayed peaceably at home, this would never have happened to ye.

CHARLES. The gallows! can it be?

O’SHAN. Ah, how all the Ladies will pity ye! such a likely lad, and so young, and ...

CHARLES. Silence! you distract me.

O’SHAN. Poor gintleman! when it comes to the pinch, when the rope ...

CORP. No more, O’Shannon! You have secured his arms. Bring him speedily along with you. No delay!

CHARLES. My limbs can scarcely support me! O day of agony, of misery, and despair! [_Exeunt._]