Chapter 12

_The House of Justice Headstrong_—_a hall_—_Lucy watering some myrtles_—_A servant behind the scenes is heard to say_—

I TELL you my master is not up. You can’t see him, so go about your business, I say.

_Lucy_. To whom are you speaking, William? Who’s that?

_Will._ Only an old man, miss, with a complaint for my master.

_Lucy_. Oh, then, don’t send him away—don’t send him away.

_Will._ But master has not had his chocolate, ma’am. He won’t ever see anybody before he drinks his chocolate, you know, ma’am.

_Lucy_. But let the old man, then, come in here. Perhaps he can wait a little while. Call him.

(_Exit Servant_.)

(_Lucy sings_, _and goes on watering her myrtles_; _the servant shows in the Old Man_.)

_Will._ You can’t see my master this hour; but miss will let you stay here.

_Lucy_ (_aside_). Poor old man! how he trembles as he walks. (_Aloud_.) Sit down, sit down. My father will see you soon; pray sit down.

(_He hesitates_; _she pushes a chair towards him_.)

_Lucy_. Pray sit down.

(_He sits down_.)

_Old Man_. You are very good, miss; very good. (Lucy goes to her myrtles again.)

_Lucy_. Ah! I’m afraid this poor myrtle is quite dead—quite dead.

(_The Old Man sighs_, _and she turns round_.)

_Lucy_ (_aside_). I wonder what can make him sigh so! (_Aloud_.) My father won’t make you wait long.

_Old M._ Oh, ma’am, as long as he pleases. I’m in no haste—no haste. It’s only a small matter.

_Lucy_. But does a small matter make you sigh so?

_Old M._ Ah, miss; because, though it is a small matter in itself, it is not a small matter to me (_sighing again_); it was my all, and I’ve lost it.

_Lucy_. What do you mean? What have you lost?

_Old M._ Why, miss—but I won’t trouble you about it.

_Lucy_. But it won’t trouble me at all—I mean, I wish to hear it; so tell it me.

_Old M._ Why, miss, I slept last night at the inn here, in town—the “Saracen’s Head”—

_Lucy_ (_interrupts him_). Hark! there is my father coming downstairs; follow me. You may tell me your story as we go along.

_Old M._ I slept at the “Saracen’s Head,” miss, and—

(_Exit_, _talking_.)