ACT THREE.

(_The third act opens in the great hall of the farmhouse of_ LIONEL _and_ PLUNKET. _At one side of stage at back is an outside door; on the other side, a window with bench in front of it. Another door is on the left. There are several chairs. A flight of stairs goes up from the right side, back corner. Two spinning wheels stand at rear, and farm tools hang about the walls._

_During the instrumental prelude the outside door opens and the two men_, LIONEL _and_ PLUNKET, _enter, inviting the girls_, LADY H. _and_ NANCY, _who are behind, to come in. They come in slowly, hesitatingly, half afraid._)

NO. 8.

PLUN. _and_ LIO. (_sing_). Come in, my pretty maidens, We've reached our home, you see.

LADY H. _and_ NAN. O, we are in a pretty fix, We only long to flee. How safely to escape them We'll seek from morn till mirk.

(_Girls sit down_). O, what a shabby dwelling, O, how they'll make us work.

LIO. _and_ PLUN. Now, look alive! Of work don't be afraid.

LADY H. _and_ NAN. There's no hope, I'm afraid. We've come to the end of our jest at last.

NO. 9.

PLUN. (_points to door at left_).

That's the room I mean to give them.

LADY H. _and_ NAN. (_rising_). Then good night, then good night.

(_Starting toward door._)

PLUN. What's that you say? First put everything aright.

LADY H. O, with cold I'm all a-shiver!

NAN. O, I quake in every member.

LIO. Both to fainting, seem inclined.

PLUN. Why, to spoil them you've a mind.

NAN. This denouement is provoking.

PLUN. You've not told us your names yet, my maids.

LADY H. _and_ NAN. We!

LIO. Yes, obey!

PLUN. Obey at once, no joking.

LADY H. Martha is my name.

LIO. Martha?

LADY H. (_looks at him_). Yes.

PLUN. Now, tell yours.

NAN. (_aside_). Mad masquerading!

PLUN. Don't you know it?

NAN. Betsy Ann!

PLUN. Betsy Ann? I rather like it! Come here, my girl: lend a hand then, will you, Betsy?

(_Pulls off his coat and offers it to her._)

Take my coat and hang it up.

NAN. Do't yourself!

PLUN. You lazy hussy!

LIO. Come, you frighten her by scolding. Speak more gently, say like that-- Martha, take away my hat.

(_Holds it toward her._ MARTHA _stamps her foot, slaps hat out of his hand and walks up stage_. _He, bewildered, hangs up his own hat._)

LIO. O, how have I offended? I cannot understand. Yes, I'm awfully perplexed. Why should she act so grand?

PLUN. Ah, what can be the matter? I do not understand. Some secret she is screening, Her manner is so grand.

NAN. Ah, on my dignity I stand. They give an order quite off hand!

LADY H. To tyranny I'll ne'er give in, We'll fight them now, to win. He thinks me strange and haughty But on my right I stand, Commanding I must withstand him, Resist his harsh demand.

NO. 10.

PLUN. (_draws spinning wheels to center of stage_). Come, your task awaits, the whirring wheel and spindle!

LADY H. _and_ NAN. Set us spinning? We're to spin?

LIO. Yes, of course.

PLUN. So begin. How your claims to skill do dwindle.

LADY H. and NAN. Ha, ha, ha, spin, sir?

PLUN. (_imitating her laughter in anger_). Ha, ha, ha, so set to work and spin your task! What you here for, may I ask? Just to hold your hands and chatter? What's the matter?

NAN. What a clatter.

LIO. Pray be calm, now, they're afraid.

PLUN. Peace! Come, spin! we won't be cheated.

LADY H. _and_ NAN. How, sir?

LIO. What?

PLUN. Come, come.

(_Places chairs at spinning wheels._)

PLUN. Be seated. (_They sit._)

LADY H. _and_ NAN. 'Tis done.

PLUN. Good! Now then, proceed.

(_Imitating sound of spinning wheel._)

Thrum, thrum, thrum.

NAN. I can't, indeed.

LIO. Here's the distaff, firmly grasp it (_To_ LADY H.), 'Twixt your fingers seize the skein.

LADY H. Must we with wet fingers clasp it? Turn it? No, I won't! How so? In vain. I cannot, I cannot. Place yourself then at the wheel.

(_The two girls rise and the men sit one at each wheel._)

PLUN. We'll make it reel.

ALL. While the wheel is swiftly spinning Round it thus the flax is roll'd, But moistened just at the beginning, That more firmly it may hold. See the wheel so swiftly spinning, To thread the flax is thinning.

(NANCY _suddenly throws_ PLUNKET'S _wheel over and runs off stage by back door_, PLUNKET _after her_.)

(LADY H. _turns to follow_ NANCY. _Speaks._)

LADY H. Nan--Betsy Ann! O stay with me! Heavens, she's left me!

LIO. Martha, why are you going? Are you afraid to stay alone with me?

LADY H. Afraid? Of you? Oh, no. (_Smiles, but still hesitates._)

LIO. (_aside_). How could I ever have spoken harshly to her?

LADY H. (_aside_). Where _has_ Nancy gone?

LIO. Martha, I will never again ask any toil of you, or any service that you dislike. Martha, I never saw any one before that seemed to me so pretty and so sweet! Are all girls as lovely as you?

LADY H. Don't you know?

LIO. I never noticed a girl before.

LADY H. (_archly_). Where have your eyes been?

LIO. Dreaming, I guess. I feel as if I had just awakened to all the beauty and joy there is in the world!

LADY H. Alas! and I feel as if I have already learned how shallow are all earthly joys! (_Pensively._)

LIO. Poor little maid! You have had too hard a life. Such service has burdened you with care too soon. Here you will never again have to labor beyond your strength. I would myself do all disagreeable tasks rather than require them of you.

LADY H. Oh, I am a good-for-nothing. I never did a real day's work in all my life.

LIO. You must not scold yourself. Martha is my servant now, and I would not exchange her for a dozen others.

LADY H. But can you not see that I am not worth my salt? I shall only be an expense to you. I cannot earn a shilling a week. See my hands. (_Shows them._) Do they look like useful members?

LIO. (_takes them in his hands_). So white and soft! Surely never servant before had such pretty fingers. Not a spot of toil!

LADY H. And so of course they are of no use to you, and you will not keep me here any longer. You will let them go--this useless pair of hands?

LIO. I cannot let them go!

LADY H. (_tries to withdraw her hands_). But if I work they will become hard and stained. I have never been taught--

LIO. Never worked before? Then I will teach you and share your every task. What _can_ you do?

LADY H. I can sing a little.

LIO. And you can smile. (_He looks at her; her eyes fall._)

LADY H. Sing and smile! A working maid must do something more than that.

LIO. If you will stay with me here and smile and sing, you shall see how pleasant you will find it. You shall have no rough tasks. You shall have only kindness and happiness. You shall be like a sister in this house. These little hands will dispense blessing and peace. (_Kisses them._)

LADY H. (_draws her hands away and walks to the door. He follows._) Is it thus that masters treat a servant? (_With dignity._)

LIO. Forgive me! I have forgotten everything. O, would that your station were different--or mine!

LADY H. (_turns back_). My station?--(_recollects herself_). But I am only a serving lass! (_She laughs and returns down stage._)

LIO. And so you must do what I bid you. I require of you a song.

LADY H. Oh, I am too shy to sing.

LIO. (_takes the flowers from her dress_). I'll exchange this nosegay for a song. (_Music of "Last Rose of Summer" may be played softly here._)

LADY H. Ah! you jest.

LIO. No, I command!

LADY H. (_coldly_). Command, sir?

LIO. Nay, I entreat (_kneels, laughingly_).

(LADY H. _takes one of the flowers he offers, and plays with it as she sings_. _He puts the other flowers presently into the breast of his coat._)

LADY H. Ah, your entreaty I cannot withstand. (_Sings._)

NO. 11.

LADY H. (_sings_). 'Tis the last rose of summer, Left blooming alone; All her lovely companions Are faded and gone. No flower of her kindred, No rosebud is nigh, To reflect back her blushes Or give sigh for sigh. I'll not leave thee, thou lone one, To pine on the stem, Since the lovely are faded, Go sleep thou with them. Thus kindly I'll scatter Thy leaves o'er the bed, Where thy mates of the garden Lie scentless and dead.

(_Aside._) His eyes betray he loves me, Spite my lowly seeming lot, My rank I must remember, Ah, would 'twere all forgot. His heart is true and loyal, Tie me her loves alone, O, would I were the lowly maid He longs to make his own.

LIO. All my proud rank forgetting For the maid I love alone, I'd lift her from her low estate, And make her all my own.

LIO. (_speaks_). Martha!

LADY H. Master!

LIO. My heart can no longer be denied. I have loved you from the first moment I saw you yonder at Richmond market. Martha (_takes her hand again_).

LADY H. Ah, no, no! (_Turns her face away._)

LIO. Love at first sight! First love at first sight!

LADY H. No more, no more! Oh, be silent!

LIO. Martha, I shall never love woman but you. (_Puts his arm around her._)

LADY H. (_tries to escape_). Oh, I must go, I must go! (_Pulls away._)

LIO. Stay and hear me. Stay--and be my wife!--

LADY H. Oh, what is he saying?

LIO. See, I am at your feet--in earnest now! (_Kneels._)

LADY H. (_aside_). Oh, how can I elude him? (_Begins to laugh._) Don't think me heartless, but really (_affectedly_) to see you kneeling there is so funny!

LIO. But when we are married all difference of birth and station will be wiped out; you will forget that you were once my servant; you will have in me forever a slave!

LADY H. (_is touched, and then begins to laugh hysterically again_). Ha! ha! ha! This is ridiculous! If you only knew how funny you are!

(PLUNKET _runs on dragging_ NANCY. LIONEL _rises and_ LADY H. _runs toward_ NANCY _whom_ PLUNKET _swings on to the stage_.)

PLUN. There, my girl! Don't you try that game again! Where do you suppose she was? the vixen! In the kitchen, smashing dishes, bottles, glasses, everything she could lay her hands on! She made me look lively, too, before I caught her. My eye!

NAN. If you don't let me go, I'll scratch it out!

PLUN. (_releasing her_). Jupiter! I believe you would! She has spirit. I confess I like to see it.

NAN. Martha, Martha, what are we going to do? (_Twelve o'clock strikes slowly as they speak._)

PLUN. Pooh! What ails you now? My patience is worn out! Get to bed, you idle baggage! You are a hard case, that's easy to see.

(_Quartet follows._)

LADY H., NAN., PLUN. _and_ LIO. Midnight chimes sound afar!

LIO. If the maid her love refuse me, Yet I pledge my faithful heart, In her glance faint hope is smiling, Bringing comfort ere here we part.

NAN. Of our foolish prank I'm weary, Tho' in play 'twas fain begun; Yet our childish trick is working Pain and sorrow to every one. So good night!

PLUN. Now good night and sleep in quiet, Tho' you're fractious I am kind, Naughty girls to work must settle, Learn to mind. Now good night, good night.

LADY H. That to wound his heart I'm fated Fills my heart with pity and pain, Ah, our mad caprice is working Pain and sorrow, all in vain.

LIO. Though her love she refuse me, Yet I pledge my faithful heart, So good night, good night!

(_Girls go out and close door, before orchestral ending. Then the men retire after locking the outer door. Girls open their door again, peep out, run back, and shut door, etc.; then come out again, watching with finger on lips for interruptions. They speak._)

LADY H. Nancy!

NANCY. My lady.

LADY H. This is our chance.

NANCY. What shall we do?

LADY H. What do _you_ say?

NAN. Can we escape so--all alone?

LADY H. We are locked in, besides.

NAN. What an awful time we are having!

LADY H. Awful day--aw-ful-ler night--the day was bad, but this is worse. We _are_ in a scrape!

NAN. Still--those fellows might be worse! (_Looks at_ LADY H. _slyly_.)

LADY H. (_with dignity_). They are well meaning.

NAN. (_archly_). And polite.

LADY H. If the Queen should hear of it!

NAN. Good bye us!

(_A noise is heard outside at window._)

LADY H. (_grasps_ NANCY _and they run across stage to their door_). What is it? O who is coming?

NAN. Steps--a voice--help is near!

TRISTAN (_outside whispers loudly_). Cousin, cousin!

LADY H. Tristan! O joy! O horrors!

NAN. What will he think?

LADY H. He will scold us--and we deserve it. But he will save us!

(TRISTAN _enters through the window which girls help him open_.)

TRIS. Yes, here I am, faithful still. Cousin. (_Looks around._) What a vulgar habitation! That I should live to see you in a place like this. (_Shudders._)

NAN. Hush! You'll wake everybody up.

LADY H. Don't stop to preach. Just go.

TRIS. I have a carriage at the corner. Come, make haste.

(_They tiptoe about and sing._)

NO. 12.

LADY H. _and_ NAN. Hasten then, to fortune trust our lot, Fare thee well, thou humble cot. 'Tis our only chance to fly, We'll not stop to say good bye.

TRIS. Let's be off now in a hurry, For their anger we'll not worry, 'Tis your only chance to fly, We'll not stop to say good bye.

(_As the curtain falls they have all three climbed out of window._)

_Curtain._