SCENE V.--VIOLET’s _boudoir, dimly lighted_.

_Enter_ NORTHLAKE, _with domino on his arm, reading a book_.

NORTHLAKE.

Not yet! still in her dressing-room. To-night Fortune shall win a prize more delicate Than are the velvet leaves of fabled roses. For years my mind’s best nutriment has come By night,--and what of night? I’ll think on it, While Violet arrays herself for this Night’s masquerade. It would be right in me To fancy night as a black sea in space, That hath circumference and depth, and through Whose clouded elements grim-visaged hawks Do sleekly plunge like fishes in the sea, Seeking their prey; and all upon the earth Dwell on the floor of this aërial sea, And thence look longingly at moon and stars. Oh, hasten, sun, drive back this monstrous tide Of night! See how these trembling night-lights throb With the sun’s offices. Ten million such Could not burn up a solitary rood, Nor make partition for a vaulted league Of this black night. But I’ll not rail against The gentle night; for often doth it bear A princely offering to Mammon’s shrine. But come, my niece, my gentle Violet, Make haste; the hours halt not for lagging maids, Nor fortune either.

VIOLET [_within_].

Patience, my good uncle.

NORTHLAKE.

What is this vaunted love that so doth set The world on edge? ’Tis but the kindled rapture Of selfishness, that joys to see its double, Its fond endearment, its sweet concord, and Reflection in another. While love is true, Two doubles come, both blent in one, in love’s Bright mirror; but when fails the endearing bond Of selfishness, the passions, then two natures Rudely clash therein, and love sees double, Like to an eye disordered. Wonderful Nature is solved as easily as a scholar Doth solve his problem on the wall, when lo! The master’s back is turned, and stealthily He peeps into the key. O Selfishness, Thou art the key to all the operations Of all this globe,--all men and animals, And all the garniture of fields and forests. Oft thou art hideous; then thou art distorted, As is a lovely body racked by torture; But in thy true and fair proportioned self Thou’rt beautiful as beauty, and as wise As wisdom. Thou art plentiful as color, Sound, motion; and without thee Nature would Eclipse herself in stark and blank oblivion. Learn early this misfortune: Envy and Hate Live on good fortune.... Not ready yet! I’ll knock upon the door [_knocking_]. Fair Violet, Make haste, or we’ll be late.

VIOLET [_within_].

Presently, good uncle.

NORTHLAKE.

Dimly these lights do burn, as if this boudoir A cloister were; but these fair ornaments, Arranged in chaste profusion, show a maiden Mind dwells here that doth delight in beauty. Yonder, enshrined with wreaths of evergreen And immortelles, a precious picture hangs,-- Her mother and my sister, looking most Pityingly on me. What is this? Why, here’s The carven image of a maid at prayer; And here’s a tender picture of a youth And maiden in a flower-garden, done In placid oils upon a patch of canvas. Methinks the artist had done better had He put here in the corner of the picture Some quaint and curious demon, peeping o’er The garden wall. Why, looking at these toys, So fitting for a maiden’s bower, almost Moves me from my purpose. Must all these Vanish? Will not some angel answer me? No; Heaven answers not a bankrupt’s prayer. My fortune and her fortune swallowed in The hideous maw of speculation; both Banished, completely banished! Why, I’d rather Be exiled from my country than my fortune. But all, all is not lost. She hath a girlish Beauty and a heart most rare; and in This age of rude massed gold there’s value in it. A heaven-dowered woman hath an alchemy That can refine base gold. The bargain’s good.... Ninon, is not thy lady nearly ready?

NINON [_within_].

My lady does demur to wear ze dress, And says she’d rather be plain Violet.

NORTHLAKE.

Thy scruples, Violet, are pretty whims; But more become a simpering maid than thy Chaste self. [_Aside_] Alas, the plague of poverty! [_Aloud_] Thou dost obedient service to thy guardian Uncle, and mayst save him from a plague That’s worse than all the plagues that e’er beset The town of Coventry.

VIOLET [_within_].

Plague take the costume! I do not like it.

NORTHLAKE.

Let me turn up these lights--the jewel’s from

[_Turning up the lights._

Its casket brought. I keep no false coin in My house, no cunning mockery, no smirking Counterfeit. Why, he shall own, and rightly Own, that she, in bodily volition, Movement, and gesture, well doth match a mind That’s matchless.

_Enter_ VIOLET _in fancy costume, and_ NINON _carrying domino_.

VIOLET.

Dear uncle, art thou pleased?

NORTHLAKE.

Why, thou art richly worth his gold, were his Possessions fabulous.

VIOLET.

Whose gold, good uncle? Thou speakest strangely.

NORTHLAKE.

I did but jest a trifle.

VIOLET.

Give me thy arm, good uncle. I’ll tease thee.

[_Taking his arm._

I do mistrust thou’dst sell me in this costume; For Ninon, chatting as we dressed, and humoring Me, did say that often thus they sell Circassian maids unto the Turk.

NORTHLAKE.

Nay, ’tis but idle prattle in Ninon.

VIOLET.

Dear uncle, let Ninon companion be To me to-night.

NORTHLAKE.

If ’tis thy merry wish.

VIOLET.

I thank thee, my dear uncle.

NORTHLAKE [_taking domino from_ NINON _and putting it on_ VIOLET].

Give me the domino. Thou’lt wear it on Thy passage to the ball. It is a shield Which, laid aside, thy beauty’s peerless might Shall conquer all.

[_Curtain._

Act the Third.