Chapter 9

_Inside of the Cottage (as in Act II)._

AGATHA, COTTAGER, _and his_ WIFE _discovered_.

AGATHA. Pray look and see if he is coming.

COTTAGER. It is of no use. I have been in the road; have looked up and down; but neither see nor hear any thing of him.

WIFE. Have a little patience.

AGATHA. I wish you would step out once more—I think he cannot be far off.

COTTAGER. I will; I will go. [_Exit_.

WIFE. If your son knew what heaven had sent you, he would be here very soon.

AGATHA. I feel so anxious——

WIFE. But why? I should think a purse of gold, such as you have received, would make any body easy.

AGATHA. Where can he be so long? He has been gone four hours. Some ill must have befallen him.

WIFE. It is still broad day-light—don’t think of any danger.—This evening we must all be merry. I’ll prepare the supper. What a good gentleman our Baron must be! I am sorry I ever spoke a word against him.

AGATHA. How did he know I was here?

WIFE. Heaven only can tell. The servant that brought the money was very secret.

AGATHA. [_to herself_]. I am astonished! I wonder! Oh! surely he has been informed—Why else should he have sent so much money?

_Re-enter_ Cottager.

AGATHA. Well!—not yet!

COTTAGER. I might look till I am blind for him—but I saw our new Rector coming along the road; he calls in sometimes. May be, he will this evening.

WIFE. He is a very good gentleman; pays great attention to his parishioners; and where he can assist the poor, he is always ready.

_Enter Mr._ ANHALT.

MR. ANHALT. Good evening, friends.

BOTH. Thank you, reverend Sir.

[_They both run to fetch him a chair_].

MR. ANHALT. I thank you, good people—I see you have a stranger here.

COTTAGER. Yes, your Reverence; it is a poor sick woman, whom I took in doors.

MR. ANHALT. You will be rewarded for it. [_to_ Agatha.] May I beg leave to ask your name?

AGATHA. Ah! If we were alone——

MR. ANHALT. Good neighbours, will you leave us alone for a few minutes? I have something to say to this poor woman.

COTTAGER. Wife, do you hear? Come along with me. [_Exeunt_ Cottager _and his_ Wife.]

MR. ANHALT. Now——

AGATHA. Before I tell you who I am, what I am, and what I was——I must beg to ask—Are you of this country?

MR. ANHALT. No—I was born in Alsace.

AGATHA. Did you know the late rector personally, whom you have succeeded?

MR. ANHALT. No.

AGATHA. Then you are not acquainted with my narrative?

MR. ANHALT. Should I find you to be the person whom I have long been in search of, your history is not altogether unknown to me.

AGATHA. “That you have been in search of!” Who gave you such a commission?

MR. ANHALT. A man, who, if it so prove, is much concerned for your misfortunes.

AGATHA. How? Oh, Sir! tell me quickly—Whom do you think to find in me?

MR. ANHALT. Agatha Friburg.

AGATHA. Yes, I am that unfortunate woman; and the man who pretends to take concern in my misfortunes is——Baron Wildenhaim——he who betrayed me, abandoned me and my child, and killed my parents.—He would now repair our sufferings with this purse of gold. [_Takes out the purse_.] Whatever may be your errand, Sir, whether to humble, or to protect me, it is alike indifferent. I therefore request you to take this money to him who sent it. Tell him, my honour has never been saleable. Tell him, destitute as I am, even indigence will not tempt me to accept charity from my seducer. He despised my heart—I despise his gold.—He has trampled on me—I trample on his representative. [_Throws the purse on the ground_.]

MR. ANHALT. Be patient—I give you my word, that when the Baron sent this present to an unfortunate woman, for whom her son had supplicated, he did not know that woman was Agatha.

AGATHA. My son? what of my son?

MR. ANHALT. Do not be alarmed—The Baron met with an affectionate son, who begged for his sick mother, and it affected him.

AGATHA. Begged of the Baron! of his father!

MR. ANHALT. Yes; but they did not know each other; and the mother received the present on the son’s account.

AGATHA. Did not know each other? Where is my son?

MR. ANHALT. At the Castle.

AGATHA. And still unknown?

MR. ANHALT. Now he is known—an explanation has taken place;—and I am sent here by the Baron, not to a stranger, but to Agatha Friburg—not with gold! his commission was—“do what your heart directs you.”

AGATHA. How is my Frederick? How did the Baron receive him?

MR. ANHALT. I left him just in the moment the discovery was made. By this time your son is, perhaps, in the arms of his father.

AGATHA. Oh! is it possible that a man, who has been twenty years deaf to the voice of nature, should change so suddenly?

MR. ANHALT. I do not mean to justify the Baron, but—he has loved you—and fear of his noble kindred alone caused his breach of faith to you.

AGATHA. But to desert me wholly and wed another—

MR. ANHALT. War called him away—Wounded in the field, he was taken to the adjacent seat of a nobleman, whose only daughter, by anxious attention to his recovery, won his gratitude; and, influenced by the will of his worldly friends, he married. But no sooner was I received into the family, and admitted to his confidence, than he related to me your story; and at times would exclaim in anguish—“The proud imperious Baroness avenges the wrongs of my deserted Agatha.” Again, when he presented me this living, and I left France to take possession of it, his last words before we parted, were—“The moment you arrive at Wildenhaim, make all enquiries to find out my poor Agatha.” Every letter from him contained “Still, still, no tidings of my Agatha.” And fate ordained it should be so, till this fortunate day.

AGATHA. What you have said has made my heart overflow—where will this end?

MR. ANHALT. I know not yet the Baron’s intentions: but your sufferings demand immediate remedy: and one way only is left—Come with me to the castle. Do not start—you shall be concealed in my apartments till you are called for.

AGATHA. I go to the Baron’s?—No.

MR. ANHALT. Go for the sake of your son—reflect, that his fortunes may depend upon your presence.

AGATHA. And he is the only branch on which my hope still blossoms: the rest are withered.—I will forget my wrongs as a woman, if the Baron will atone to the mother—he shall have the woman’s pardon, if he will merit the mother’s thanks—[_after a struggle_]—I _will_ go to the castle—for the sake of my Frederick, go even to his father. But where are my good host and hostess, that I may take leave, and thank them for their kindness?

MR. ANHALT. [taking up the purse which Agatha had thrown down]. Here, good friend! Good woman!

_Enter the_ COTTAGER _and his_ WIFE.

WIFE. Yes, yes, here I am.

MR. ANHALT. Good people, I will take your guest with me. You have acted an honest part, and therefore receive this reward for your trouble. [_He offers the purse to the_ Cottager, _who puts it by, and turns away_].

MR. ANHALT. [_to the_ Wife]. Do _you_ take it.

WIFE. I always obey my pastor. [_taking it_].

AGATHA. Good bye. [_shaking hands with the Cottagers_.] For your hospitality to me, may ye enjoy continued happiness.

COTTAGER. Fare you well—fare you well.

WIFE. If you find friends and get health, we won’t trouble you to call on us again: but if you should fall sick or be in poverty, we shall take it very unkind if we don’t see you.

[_Exeunt_ Agatha _and_ Anhalt _on one side_, Cottager _and his_ Wife on the other].