ACT II.

SCENE—_a wood. BERLINDA and RODERIGO seated on the ground._

BER. Alas! I’m hungry, love can’t support itself on air.

ROD. I’m much more hungry; think how much I’ve had to _bear_.

BER. Monster! is it for this I left my frugal home in haste, To fly with you and see this dreadful waste. Where is our home? where do you mean to go?

ROD. Upon my word, Berlinda, I don’t know; I think we’ll pic-nic, drink the morning dew, And eat the berries,—see, I’ve got a few,— And then we’ll take a quiet stroll to search For parson, marriage lines, and church, And then live happy ever after. What d’ye say?

BER. Why, most emphatically, nay! I call this treatment shameful, sinful, flagrant—

ROD. Come, come Berlinda, let me have no _vague rant_; You _wander_ in your speech. What is’t you need?

BER. My breakfast! oh, I’m dying for a feed.

ROD. I would I were a bird, and then I might your favour win; Alas, I can but offer you some scrapings from my violin.

_BERLINDA bursts into a passionate flood of tears, and RODERIGO plays pathetically “Home, sweet home.” By-and-by the sound of voices and the tramp of feet are heard in the distance._

BER. O! Roderigo, we’re pursued! they’re armed! what shall we do?

ROD. When they’ve mustered, we shall both get peppered, we are in a stew. Is’t _meet_ that we should wait, or shall we fly?

BER. I would _I_ were a bird!

ROD. And so do I. But, see, your father comes—his passion’s at a pitch, And he is followed by the rivals; and the witch—

BER. Which it is. O! goodness, what will now become of me? I’ll climb—but no, they’ll think I’m “up a tree.” They come. Down, Roderigo; down upon your knees.

ROD. It’s not _an easy_ place, but anything to please.

(_Enter Infuriated Parient, Rivals, Witch, Policeman, and a Perambulator._)

BERLINDA’S PA. Rogue! villain! rascal! Lend me your ears That I may pierce them with my taunts and jeers. I come to claim my daughter you have borne away.

ROD. (_aside._) ’Twere better she had not been born, I say.

BER. PA. And you shall answer for this day’s affray.

ROD. I’m much afraid I shall; but pray be calm. My hand upon it—I would never do her harm.

BER. PA. Silence, base rogue! My friends, the time is fleeting, I think we’d better now prorogue this meeting.

RIV. Not till we’ve fought, and thus expressed our hate.

ROD. Good Sirs, I deem that I am _fortunate_. I’ll fight you on the morrow—not to-day. Excuse me if I’m acting in a _sordid_ way; But—

BER. PA. Ho! guards, bring forth the prison van, and bear her hence.

(_They carry BERLINDA to the perambulator—en route she says_:)

Dear Roderigo, dreadful is suspense; But write to me, prepaid, and when you see your way All clear, be good enough to name the day.

ROD. (_weeping._) Farewell, Berlinda, fairest of the fair!

BER. Good-bye, cheer up, old chap, and take that ere (hair).

(_Door closes while RODERIGO kisses the ringlet flung to him by BERLINDA from the perambulator._)