Chapter 9

[Enter ALICE, hastily.]

_Alice_. [Speaking to the outside.] Fly, Stephen, to the door! your rapier! quick!-- Our master is beset, because of one Whose part he takes, a maid, whom lawless men Would lawlessly entreat! In what a world We live!--How do I shake!--with what address [Looking out of window.] He lays about him, and his other arm Engaged, in charge of her whom he defends! A damsel worth a broil!--Now, Stephen, now! Take off the odds, brave lad, and turn the scale! I would I were a swordsman! How he makes His rapier fly!--Well done!--O Heaven, there's blood. But on the side that's wrong!--Well done, good Stephen! Pray Heaven no life be ta'en!--Lay on, brave lad! He has marked his man again. Good lad--Well done, I pray no mischief come!--Press on him, Stephen! Now gives he ground.--Follow thy advantage up! Allow no pause for breaths!--Hit him again! Forbid it end in death!--Lounge home, good Stephen! How fast he now retreats!--That spring, I'll swear, Was answer to thy point!--Well fenced!--Well fenced! Now Heaven forefend it end in death!--He flies! And from his comrade, the same moment, hath Our master jerked his sword--The day is ours! Quick may they get a surgeon for their wounds, And I, a cordial for my fluttered spirits: I vow, I'm nigh to swoon!

_Wal_. [Without.] Hoa! Alice! Hoa! Open the door! Quick, Alice! Quick!

_Alice_. Anon! Young joints take no thought of aged ones, But ever think them as supple as themselves.

_Wal_. Alice!

_Alice_. [Opening the door.] I'm here!--A mercy!-- Is she dead?

[Enter MASTER WALLER, bearing LYDIA, fainting.]

_Wal_. No, she but faints.--A chair!--Quick, Alice, quick! Water to bathe her temples.

[ALICE goes out.]

Such a turn Kind fortune never do me. Shall I kiss To life these frozen lips?--No!--of her plight 'Twere base to take advantage.

[ALICE returns, &c.]

All is well, The blood returns.

_Alice_. How wondrous fair she is!

_Wal_. Thou think'st her so? [Aside.] No wonder then should I. [Aloud.] How say you?--Wondrous fair?

_Alice_. Yes; wondrous fair! Harm never come to her! So sweet a thing 'Twere pity were abused!

_Wal_. You think her fair?

_Alice_. Ay, marry! Half so fair were more than match For fairest she e'er saw mine eyes before! And what a form! A foot and instep there! Vouchers of symmetry! A little foot And rising instep, from an ankle arching, A palm, and that a little one, might span.

_Wal_. Who taught thee thus?

_Alice_. Why who, but her, taught thee? Thy mother!--Heaven rest her!--Thy good mother! She could read men and women by their hands And feet!--And here's a hand!--A fairy palm! Fingers that taper to the pinky tips, With nails of rose, like shells of such a hue, Berimmed with pearl, you pick up on the shore! Save these the gloss and tint do wear without.

_Wal_. Why, how thou talk'st!

_Alice_. Did I not tell thee thus Thy mother used to talk? Such hand and foot, She would say, in man or woman vouched for nature High tempered!--Still for sentiment refined; Affection tender; apprehension quick-- Degrees beyond the generality! There is a marriage finger! Curse the hand Would balk it of a ring!

_Wal_. She's quite restored, Leave us!--Why cast'st thou that uneasy look? Why linger'st thou? I'm not alone with her. My honour's with her too. I would not wrong her.

_Alice_. And if thou wouldst, thou'rt not thy mother's son.

[Goes out.]

_Wal_. You are better?

_Lydia_. Much!--much!

_Wal_. Know you him who durst Attempt this violence in open day? It seemed as he would force thee to his coach, I saw attending.

_Lydia_. Take this letter, sir, And send the answer--I must needs be gone.

_Wal_. [Throwing the letter away.] I read no letter! Tell me, what of him I saw offend thee?

_Lydia_. He hath often met me, And by design I think, upon the street, And tried to win mine ear, which ne'er he got Save only by enforcement. Presents--gifts-- Of jewels and of gold to wild amount, To win an audience, hath he proffered me; Until, methought, my silence--for my lips Disdained reply where question was a wrong-- Had wearied him. Oh, sir, whate'er of life Remains to me I had foregone, ere proved The horror of this hour!--and you it is That have protected me?

_Wal_. Oh, speak not on't!

_Lydia_. You that have saved me from mine enemy--

_Wal_. I pray you to forget it.

_Lydia_. From a foe More dire than he that putteth life in peril--

_Wal_. Sweet Lydia, I beseech you spare me.

_Lydia_. No! I will not spare you.--You have brought me to safety, You whom I fear worse than that baleful foe.

[Rises to go.]

_Wal_. [Kneeling and snatching her hand.] Lydia!

_Lydia_. Now, make thy bounty perfect. Drop My hand. That posture which dishonours thee, Quit!--for 'tis shame on shame to show respect Where we do feel disdain. Throw ope thy gate And let me pass, and never seek with me, By look, or speech, or aught, communion more!

_Wal_. Thou saidst thou lovedst me?

_Lydia_. Yes! when I believed My tongue did take of thee its last adieu, And now that I do know it--for be sure It never bids adieu to thee again-- Again, I tell it thee! Release me, sir! Rise!--and no hindrance to my will oppose, That would be free to go.

_Wal_. I cannot lose thee!

_Lydia_. Thou canst not have me!

_Wal_. No!

_Lydia_. Thou canst not. I Repeat it.--Yet I'm thine--thine every way, Except where honour fences!--Honour, sir, Not property of gentle blood alone; Of gentle blood not always property! Thou'lt not obey me. Still enforcest me! Oh, what a contradiction is a man! What in another he one moment spurns, The next--he does himself complacently!

_Wal_. Wouldst have me lose the hand that holds my life?

_Lydia_. Hear me and keep it, if thou art a man! I love thee--for thy benefit would give The labour of that hand!--wear out my feet! Rack the invention of my mind!--the powers Of my heart in one volition gather up! My life expend, and think no more I gave Than he who wins a priceless gem for thanks! For such goodwill canst thou return me wrong?

_Wal_. Yet, for awhile, I cannot let thee go. Propound for me an oath that I'll not wrong thee! An oath, which, if I break it, will entail Forfeit of earth and heaven. I'll take it--so Thou stay'st one hour with me.

_Lydia_. No!--Not one moment! Unhand me, or I shriek!--I know the summons Will pierce into the street, and set me free! I stand in peril while I'm near thee! She Who knows her danger, and delays escape, Hath but herself to thank, whate'er befalls! Sir, I may have a woman's weakness, but I have a woman's resolution, too, And that's a woman's strength! One moment more!--

_Wal_. Lo! Thou art free to go!

[Rises and throws himself distractedly into a chair.]

[LYDIA approaches the door--her pace slackens--she pauses with her hand upon the lock--turns, and looks earnestly on WALLER.]

_Lydia_. I have a word To say to thee; if by thy mother's honour, Thou swear'st to me thou wilt not quit thy seat.

_Wal_. I swear as thou propound'st to me.

_Lydia_. [After a pause, bursting into tears.] Oh, why-- Why have you used me thus? See what you've done! Essayed to light a guilty passion up, And kindled in its stead a holy one! For I do love thee! Know'st thou not the wish To find desert doth bring it oft to sight Where yet it is not? so, for substance, passes What only is a phantasm of our minds! I feared thy love was guilty--yet my wish To find it honest, stronger than my fear, My fear with fatal triumph overthrew! Now hope and fear give up to certainty, And I must fly thee--yet must love thee still!

_Wal_. Lydia! by all--

_Lydia_. I pray you hear me out! Was 't right? was 't generous? was 't pitiful? One way or other I might be undone: To love with sin--or love without a hope!

_Wal_. Yet hear me, Lydia!--

_Lydia_. Stop! I'm undone! A maid without a heart--robbed of the soil, Wherein life's hopes and wishes root and spring, And thou the foe that did me so much hate, And vowed me so much love!--but I forgive thee! Yea, I do bless thee!

[Rushing up and sinking at his feet.]

Recollect thy oath!-- Or in thy heart lodged never germ of honour, But 'tis a desert all!

[She kisses his hand--presses it to her heart, and kisses it again.]

Farewell then to thee!

[Rises.]

Mayst thou be happy. [Going.]

_Wal_. Wouldst ensure the thing Thou wishest?

[She moves towards the door with a gesture that prohibits further converse.]

Stop! [She continues to move on.] Oh, sternly resolute! [She still moves.] I mean thee honour!

[She stops and turns towards him.]

Thou dost meditate-- I know it--flight. Give me some pause for thought, But to confirm a mind almost made up. If in an hour thou hearest not from me, then Think me a friend far better lost than won! Wilt thou do this?

_Lydia_. I will.

_Wal_. An hour decides.

[They go out severally.]