OUR AMERICAN COUSIN
A Drama, in 3 Acts.
By Tom Taylor
Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced by the Levin family, Englewood, CO. Like many
plays, there is no authoritative version and it evolved over the course
of time, indeed in multiple directions. The 1869 printing upon which
this etext is primarily based was poorly printed and we have corrected
outright punctuation and grammatical errors while maintaining its
original, whimisical use of capitalization and punctuation. This version
contains very few "Dundrearyisms" such as "birds of a feather gather no
moss" for which the play gained much of its popular appeal.
Abraham Lincoln was watching this play when he was assassinated. (Act
III, halfway through Scene 2.)
ORIGINAL CAST OF CHARACTERS. [Our American Cousin.]
Laura Keene's Theatre, New York, October 15, 1858.
Lord Dundreary Mr. E. A. Sothern
Asa Trenchard ” Jos. Jefferson
Sir Edward Trenchard ” E. Varrey
Capt. De Boots ” Clinton
Harry Vernon ” M. Levick
Abel Murcott ” C.W. Couldock
Mr. Coyle ” J.G. Burnett
Mr. Buddicombe ” McDouall
Mr. Binny ” Peters
John Wickens ” Brown
Mrs. Mountchessington Miss Mary Wells
Florence Trenchard ” Laura Keene
Mary ” Sara Stevens
Augusta ” E. Germon
Georgina Mrs. Sothern
Sharpe Miss Flynn
Skillet Mrs. M. Levick
OUR AMERICAN COUSIN.
ACT I.
Scene 1--Drawing room in 3. Trenchard Manor, C. D., backed by interior,
discovering table with luncheon spread. Large French window, R. 3 E.,
through which a fine English park is seen. Open archway, L. 3 E.
Set balcony behind. Table, R., books and papers on it. Work basket
containing wools and embroidery frame. A fashionable arm chair and sofa,
L. 2 E., small table near C. D. Stage handsomely set, costly furniture,
carpet down, chairs, etc.
Buddicombe discovered on sofa reading newspaper. Skillet and Sharpe
busily arranging furniture as curtain rises.
Sharpe I don't know how you may feel as a visitor, Mr. Buddicombe, but I
think this is a most uncomfortable family.
Bud Very uncomfortable. I have no curtain to my bed.
Skil And no wine at the second table.
Sharpe And meaner servants I never seed.
Bud I'm afraid Sir Edward is in a queer strait.
Skil Yes, for only this morning, Mr. Binny, Mrs. Skillet says he--
Enter Binny, L. 3 E.
Binny Mind your hown business instead hof your betters. I'm disgusted
with you lower servants. When the wine merchant presents his bills, you
men, hear me, say he's been pressing for the last six months, do you?
Skil Nor I, that the last year's milliner's bills have not been paid.
Sharpe Nor I, that Miss Florence has not had no new dresses from London
all winter.
Bud And I can solemnly swear that his lordship's hair has been
faithfully bound in this bosom.
Binny That'll do, that'll do; but to remember to check hidle curiosity
is the first duty of men hin livery. Ha, 'ere hare the letters.
Enter John Wickens, L. 3 E., with green baize bag. Binny takes bag,
takes out letters and reads addresses.
Binny Hah! bill, of course, Miss Augusta, Mrs. Mountchessington, Lord
Dundreary, Capt. De Boots, Miss Georgina Mountchessington, Lieut.
Vernon, ah! that's from the admiralty. What's this? Miss Florence
Trenchard, via Brattleboro', Vermont.
Bud Where's that, Mr. Binny.
John Why that be hin the United States of North Hamerica, and a main
good place for poor folks.
Binny John Wickens, you forget yourself.
John Beg pardon, Mr. Binny.
Binny John Wickens, leave the room.
John But I know where Vermont be tho'.
Binny John Wickens, get hout. [Exit John, L. 3 E.]
Bud Dreadful low fellow, that.
Binny Halways himpudent.
Bud [Looking at letter in Binny's hand.] Why, that is Sir Edward's hand,
Mr. Binny, he must have been sporting.
Binny Yes, shooting the wild helephants and buffalos what abound there.
Bud The nasty beasts. [Looking off, R. 2 E.] Hello, there comes Miss
Florence tearing across the lane like a three year old colt.
Sharp & Skil Oh, Gemini. [Run off, R. 2 E. Bud. runs off, L. 2 E.]
Enter Florence, R. 2 E.
Flo [As if after running.] Oh! I'm fairly out of breath. Good morning,
Binny, the letter bag I saw coming, Wickens coming with it. I thought I
could catch him before I reached the house. [Sits R.] So off I started,
I forgot the pond, it was in or over. I got over, but my hat got in. I
wish you'd fish it out for me, you won't find the pond very deep.
Binny Me fish for an at? Does she take me for an hangler?
Flo. Give me the letters. [Takes them.] Ah, blessed budget that descends
upon Trenchard Manor, like rain on a duck pond. Tell papa and all, that
the letters have come, you will find them on the terrace.
Binny Yes, Miss. [Going, L. 3 E.]
Flo And then go fish out my hat out of the pond, it's not very deep
Binny [Aside.] Me fish for 'ats? I wonder if she takes me for an
hangler? [Exit disgusted, R. 3 E.]
Flo [Reading directions.] Lieut. Vernon. [This is a large letter with a
large white envelope, red seal.] In her Majesty's service. Admiralty, R.
N. Ah, that's an answer to Harry's application for a ship. Papa promised
to use his influence for him. I hope he has succeeded, but then he will
have to leave us, and who knows if he ever comes back. What a foolish
girl I am, when I know that his rise in the service will depend upon it.
I do hope he'll get it, and, if he must leave us, I'll bid him good bye
as a lass who loves a sailor should.
Enter Sir Edward, Mrs. M., Augusta, Capt. De Boots, Vernon, L. 3 E.
Flo Papa, dear, here are letters for you, one for you, Mrs.
Mountchessington, one for you, Capt. De Boots, and one for you, Harry.
[Hiding letter behind her.]
Ver Ah, one for me, Florence?
Flo Now what will you give me for one?
Ver Ah, then you have one?
Flo Yes, there, Harry. [Gives it.]
Ver Ah, for a ship. [Opens and reads.]
Flo Ah! Mon ami, you are to leave us. Good news, or bad?
Ver No ship yet, this promises another year of land lubbery. [Goes up.]
Flo. I'm so sorry. [Aside.] I'm so glad he's not going away. But where's
Dundreary. Has anybody seen Dundreary?
Enter Dundreary.
Dun Good morning, Miss Florence.
Flo [Comes down, L.] Good morning, my Lord Dundreary. Who do you think
has been here? What does the postman bring?
Dun Well, sometimes he brings a bag with a lock on it, sometimes
newspapers, and sometimes letters, I suppothe.
Flo There. [Gives letter. Dundreary opens letter and Florence goes up R.
Dun. knocks knees against chair, turns round knocks shins, and at last
is seated extreme, R.]
Dun Thank you. [Reads letter.]
De B [Reading paper.] By Jove, old Soloman has made a crop of it.
Dun A--what of it?
De B I beg pardon, an event I am deeply interested in, that's all. I beg
pardon.
Aug Ah! Florence, dear, there's a letter of yours got among mine. [Gives
it.]
Flo Why papa, it's from dear brother Ned.
Sir E From my boy! Where is he? How is he? Read it.
Flo He writes from Brattleboro' Vt. [Reading written letter.] ``Quite
well, just come in from a shooting excursion, with a party of Crows,
splendid fellows, six feet high.''
Dun Birds six feet high, what tremendous animals they must be.
Flo Oh, I see what my brother means; a tribe of indians called Crows,
not birds.
Dun Oh, I thought you meant those creatures with wigs on them.
Flo Wigs!
Dun I mean those things that move, breathe and walk, they look like
animals with those things. [Moving his arms like wings.]
Flo Wings.
Dun Birds with wings, that's the idea.
Flo [Reading written letter.] ``Bye-the-bye, I have lately come quite
hap-hazard upon the other branch of our family, which emigrated to
America at the Restoration. They are now thriving in this State, and
discovering our relationship, they received me most hospitably. I have
cleared up the mysterious death of old Mark Trenchard.''
Sir E Of my uncle!
Flo [Reading written letter.] ``It appears that when he quarreled with
his daughter on her marriage with poor Meredith, he came here in search
of this stray shoot of the family tree, found them and died in their
house, leaving Asa, one of the sons, heir to his personal property in
England, which ought to belong to poor Mary Meredith. Asa is about to
sail for the old country, to take possession. I gave him directions
to find you out, and he should arrive almost as soon as this letter.
Receive him kindly for the sake of the kindness he has shown to me, and
let him see some of our shooting.'' Your affectionate brother, NED.
Sir E An American branch of the family.
Mrs M Oh, how interesting!
Aug [Enthusiastically.] How delightfully romantic! I can imagine the
wild young hunter. An Apollo of the prairie.
Flo An Apollo of the prairie; yes, with a strong nasal twang, and a
decided taste for tobacco and cobblers.
Sir E Florence, you forget that he is a Trenchard, and no true Trenchard
would have a liking for cobblers or low people of that kind.
Flo I hate him, whatever he is, coming here to rob poor cousin Mary of
her grandmother's guineas.
Sir E Florence, how often must I request you not to speak of Mary
Meredith as your cousin?
Flo Why, she is my cousin, is she not? Besides she presides over her
milk pail like a duchess playing dairymaid. [Sir E. goes up.] Ah!
Papa won't hear me speak of my poor cousin, and then I'm so fond of
syllabubs. Dundreary, do you know what syllabubs are?
Dun Oh, yeth, I know what syllabubs is--yeth--yeth.
Flo Why, I don't believe you do know what they are.
Dun Not know what syllabubs are? That's a good idea. Why they
are--syllabubs are--they are only babies, idiotic children; that's a
good idea, that's good. [Bumps head against Florence.]
Flo No, it's not a bit like the idea. What you mean are called
cherubims.
Dun What, those things that look like oranges, with wings on them?
Flo Not a bit like it. Well, after luncheon you must go with me and I'll
introduce you to my cousin Mary and syllabubs.
Dun I never saw Mr. Syllabubs, I am sure.
Flo Well, now, don't forget.
Dun I never can forget--when I can recollect.
Flo Then recollect that you have an appointment with me after luncheon.
Dun Yeth, yeth.
Flo Well, what have you after luncheon?
Dun Well, sometimes I have a glass of brandy with an egg in
it, sometimes a run 'round the duck-pond, sometimes a game of
checkers--that's for exercise, and perhaps a game of billiards.
Flo No, no; you have with me after luncheon, an ap--an ap--
Dun An ap-- an ap--
Flo An ap--an appoint--appointment.
Dun An ointment, that's the idea. [Knocks against De Boots as they go up
stage.]
Mrs M [Aside.] That artful girl has designs upon Lord Dundreary.
Augusta, dear, go and see how your poor, dear sister is this morning.
Aug Yes, mamma. [Exit, L. 1 E.]
Mrs M She is a great sufferer, my dear.
Dun Yeth, but a lonely one.
Flo What sort of a night had she?
Mrs M Oh, a very refreshing one, thanks to the draught you were kind
enough to prescribe for her, Lord Dundreary.
Flo What! Has Lord Dundreary been prescribing for Georgina?
Dun Yeth. You see I gave her a draught that cured the effect of the
draught, and that draught was a draft that didn't pay the doctor's bill.
Didn't that draught--
Flo Good gracious! what a number of draughts. You have almost a game of
draughts.
Dun Ha! ha! ha!
Flo What's the matter?
Dun That wath a joke, that wath.
Flo Where's the joke? [Dundreary screams and turns to Mrs. M.]
Mrs M No.
Dun She don't see it. Don't you see--a game of drafts--pieces of wound
wood on square pieces of leather. That's the idea. Now, I want to put
your brains to the test. I want to ask you a whime.
Flo A whime, what's that?
Dun A whime is a widdle, you know.
Flo A widdle!
Dun Yeth; one of those things, like--why is so and so or somebody like
somebody else.
Flo Oh, I see, you mean a conundrum.
Dun Yeth, a drum, that's the idea. What is it gives a cold in the head,
cures a cold, pays the doctor's bill and makes the home-guard look for
substitutes? [Florence repeats it.] Yeth, do you give it up?
Flo Yes.
Dun Well, I'll tell you--a draught. Now I've got a better one that that:
When is a dog's tail not a dog's tail? [Florence repeats. During this
Florence, Mrs. M. and Dundreary are down stage.]
Flo Yes, and willingly.
Dun When it's a cart. [They look at him enquiringly.]
Flo Why, what in earth has a dog's tail to do with a cart?
Dun When it moves about, you know. A horse makes a cart move, so does a
dog make his tail move.
Flo Oh, I see what you mean--when it's a wagon. [Wags the letter in her
hand.]
Dun Well, a wagon and a cart are the same thing, ain't they! That's the
idea--it's the same thing.
Flo They are not the same. In the case of your conundrum there's a very
great difference.
Dun Now I've got another. Why does a dog waggle his tail?
Flo Upon my word, I never inquired.
Dun Because the tail can't waggle the dog. Ha! Ha!
Flo Ha! ha! Is that your own, Dundreary?
Dun Now I've got one, and this one is original.
Flo No, no, don't spoil the last one.
Dun Yeth; but this is extremely interesting.
Mrs M Do you think so, Lord Dundreary?
Dun Yeth. Miss Georgina likes me to tell her my jokes. Bye-the-bye,
talking of that lonely sufferer, isn't she an interesting invalid? They
do say that's what's the matter with me. I'm an interesting invalid.
Flo Oh, that accounts for what I have heard so many young ladies
say--Florence, dear, don't you think Lord Dundreary's extremely
interesting? I never knew what they meant before.
Dun Yeth, the doctor recommends me to drink donkey's milk.
Flo [Hiding laugh.] Oh, what a clever man he must be. He knows we
generally thrive best on our native food. [Goes up.]
Dun [Looking first at Florence and then at Mrs M.] I'm so weak, and that
is so strong. Yes, I'm naturally very weak, and I want strengthening.
Yes, I guess I'll try it.
Enter Augusta. Bus. with Dundreary, who finally exits and brings on
Georgina, L. 1 E.
Dun Look at this lonely sufferer. [Bringing on Georgina, seats her on
sofa, L.] There, repothe yourself.
Geo [Fanning herself] Thank you, my lord. Everybody is kind to me, and I
am so delicate.
Aug [At table.] Capt. De Boots, do help to unravel these wools for me,
you have such an eye for color.
Flo An eye for color! Yes, especially green.
Dun [Screams.] Ha! ha! ha!
All What's the matter?
Dun Why, that wath a joke, that wath.
Flo Where was the joke?
Dun Especially, ha! ha!
Sir E Florence, dear, I must leave you to represent me to my guests.
These letters will give me a great deal of business to-day.
Flo Well, papa, remember I am your little clerk and person of all work.
Sir E No, no; this is private business--money matters, my love, which
women know nothing about. [Aside.] Luckily for them, I expect Mr. Coyle
to-day.
Flo Dear papa, how I wish you would get another agent.
Sir E Nonsense, Florence, impossible. He knows my affairs. His father
was agent for the late Baronet. He's one of the family, almost.
Flo Papa, I have implicit faith in my own judgement of faces. Depend
upon it, that man is not to be trusted.
Sir E Florence, you are ridiculous. I could not get on a week without
him. [Aside.] Curse him, I wish I could! Coyle is a most intelligent
agent, and a most faithful servant of the family.
Enter Binny, L. 3 E.
Binny Mr. Coyle and hagent with papers.
Sir E Show him into the library. I will be with him presently. [Exit
Binny.]
Flo Remember the archery meeting, papa. It is at three.
Sir E Yes, yes, I'll remember. [Aside.] Pretty time for such levity when
ruin stares me in the face. Florence, I leave you as my representative.
[Aside.] Now to prepare myself to meet my Shylock. [Exit, R. 1 E.]
Flo Why will papa not trust me? [Vernon comes down, R.] Oh, Harry! I
wish he would find out what a lot of pluck and common sense there is in
this feather head of mine.
Dun Miss Florence, will you be kind enough to tell Miss Georgina all
about that American relative of yours.
Flo Oh, about my American cousin; certainly. [Aside to Harry.] Let's
have some fun. Well, he's about 17 feet high!
Dun Good gracious! 17 feet high!
Flo They are all 17 feet high in America, ain't they, Mr. Vernon?
Ver Yes, that's about the average height.
Flo And they have long black hair that reaches down to their heels; they
have dark copper-colored skin, and they fight with--What do they fight
with, Mr. Vernon?
Ver Tomahawks and scalping knives.
Flo Yes; and you'd better take care, Miss Georgina, or he'll take his
tomahawk and scalping knife and scalp you immediately. [Georgina screams
and faints.]
Dun Here, somebody get something and throw over her; a pail of water;
no, not that, she's pale enough already. [Fans her with handkerchief.]
Georgina, don't be afraid. Dundreary's by your side, he will protect
you.
Flo Don't be frightened, Georgina. He will never harm you while
Dundreary is about. Why, he could get three scalps here. [Pulls
Dundreary's whiskers. Georgina screams.]
Dun Don't scream, I won't lose my whiskers. I know what I'll do for my
own safety. I will take this handkerchief and tie the roof of my head
on. [Ties it on.]
Flo [Pretending to cry.] Good bye, Dundreary. I'll never see you again
in all your glory.
Dun Don't cry, Miss Florence, I'm ready for Mr. Tommy Hawk.
Enter Binny.
Binny If you please, Miss, 'ere's a gent what says he's hexpected.
Flo What's his name? Where's his card?
Binny He didn't tell me his name, Miss, and when I haxed him for his
card 'e said 'e had a whole pack in his valise, and if I 'ad a mine
'e'd play me a game of seven hup. He says he has come to stay, and he
certainly looks as if he didn't mean to go.
Flo That's him. Show him in, Mr. Binny. [Exit Binny, L. 3 E.] That's my
American cousin, I know.
Aug [Romantically.] Your American cousin. Oh, how delightfully romantic,
isn't it, Capt. De Boots? [Comes down.] I can imagine the wild young
hunter, with the free step and majestic mien of the hunter of the
forest.
Asa [Outside, L. 3 E.] Consarn your picture, didn't I tell you I was
expected? You are as obstinate as Deacon Stumps' forelock, that wouldn't
lie down and couldn't stand up. Would't pint forward and couldn't go
backward.
Enter Asa, L. 3 E., carrying a valise.
Asa Where's the Squire?
Flo Do you mean Sir Edward Trenchard, sir?
Asa Yes.
Flo He is not present, but I am his daughter.
Asa Well, I guess that'll fit about as well if you tell this darned old
shoat to take me to my room.
Flo What does he mean by shoat?
Binny [Taking valise.] He means me, mum; but what he wants--
Asa Hurry up, old hoss!
Binny He calls me a 'oss, Miss, I suppose I shall be a hox next, or
perhaps an 'ogg.
Asa Wal, darn me if you ain't the consarnedest old shoat I ever did see
since I was baptized Asa Trenchard.
Flo Ah! then it is our American cousin. Glad to see you--my brother told
us to expect you.
Asa Wal, yes, I guess you do b'long to my family. I'm Asa Trenchard,
born in Vermont, suckled on the banks of Muddy Creek, about the tallest
gunner, the slickest dancer, and generally the loudest critter in the
state. You're my cousin, be you? Wal, I ain't got no objections to kiss
you, as one cousin ought to kiss another.
Ver Sir, how dare you?
Asa Are you one of the family? Cause if you ain't, you've got no right
to interfere, and if you be, you needn't be alarmed, I ain't going to
kiss you. Here's your young man's letter. [Gives letter and attempts to
kiss her.]
Flo In the old country, Mr. Trenchard, cousins content themselves with
hands, but our hearts are with them. You are welcome, there is mine.
[Gives her hand, which he shakes heartily.]
Asa That'll do about as well. I won't kiss you if you don't want me to;
but if you did, I wouldn't stop on account of that sailor man. [Business
of Vernon threatening Asa.] Oh! now you needn't get your back up. What
an all-fired chap you are. Now if you'll have me shown to my room, I
should like to fix up a bit and put on a clean buzzom. [All start.] Why,
what on earth is the matter with you all? I only spoke because you're so
all-fired go-to-meeting like.
Flo Show Mr. Trenchard to the red room, Mr. Binny, that is if you are
done with it, Mr. Dundreary.
Dun Yeth, Miss Florence. The room and I have got through with each
other, yeth.
[Asa and Dundreary see each other for the first time. Business of
recognition, ad. lib.]
Asa Concentrated essence of baboons, what on earth is that?
Dun He's mad. Yes, Miss Florence, I've done with that room. The rooks
crowed so that they racked my brain.
Asa You don't mean to say that you've got any brains.
Dun No, sir, such a thing never entered my head. The wed indians want to
scalp me. [Holding hands to his head.]
Flo The red room, then, Mr. Binny.
Asa [To Binny.] Hold on! [Examines him.] Wal, darn me, but you keep your
help in all-fired good order here. [Feels of him.] This old shoat is fat
enough to kill. [Hits Binny in stomach. Binny runs off, L. 2 E.] Mind
how you go up stairs, old hoss, or you'll bust your biler. [Exit, L. 3
E.]
Dun Now he thinks Binny's an engine and has got a boiler.
Flo Oh, what fun!
Mrs M Old Mark Trenchard died very rich, did he not, Florence?
Flo Very rich, I believe.
Aug He's not at all romantic, is he, mamma?
Mrs M [Aside to her] My dear, I have no doubt he has solid good
qualities, and I don't want you to laugh at him like Florence Trenchard.
Aug No, mamma, I won't.
Flo But what are we to do with him?
Dun Ha! Ha! ha!
All What is the matter?
Dun I've got an idea.
Flo Oh! let's hear Dundreary's idea.
Dun It's so seldom I get an idea that when I do get one it startles me.
Let us get a pickle bottle.
Flo Pickle bottle! [All come down.]
Dun Yeth; one of those things with glass sides.
Enter Asa, L. 2 E.
Flo Oh! you mean a glass case.
Dun Yeth, a glass case, that's the idea, and let us put this Mr. Thomas
Hawk in it, and have him on exhibition. That's the idea.
Asa [Down L. of Florence, overhearing.] Oh! that's your idea, is it?
Wal, stranger, I don't know what they're going to do with me, but
wherever they do put me, I hope it will be out of the reach of a
jackass. I'm a real hoss, I am, and I get kinder riley with those
critters.
Dun Now he thinks he's a horse. I've heard of a great jackass, and I
dreampt of a jackass, but I don't believe there is any such insect.
Flo Well, cousin, I hope you made yourself comfortable.
Asa Well, no, I can't say as I did. You see there was so many all-fired
fixins in my room I couldn't find anything I wanted.
Flo What was it you couldn't find in your room?
Asa There as no soft soap.
De B Soft soap!
Aug Soft soap!
Ver Soft soap!
Mrs M Soft soap!
Flo Soft soap!
Geo [On sofa.] Soft soap!
Dun Thoft thoap?
Asa Yes, soft soap. I reckon you know what that is. However, I struck a
pump in the kitchen, slicked my hair down a little, gave my boots a lick
of grease, and now I feel quite handsome; but I'm everlastingly dry.
Flo You'll find ale, wine and luncheon on the side-table.
Asa Wal, I don't know as I've got any appetite. You see comin' along on
the cars I worried down half a dozen ham sandwiches, eight or ten boiled
eggs, two or three pumpkin pies and a string of cold sausages--and--Wal,
I guess I can hold on till dinner-time.
Dun Did that illustrious exile eat all that? I wonder where he put it?
Asa I'm as dry as a sap-tree in August.
Binny [Throwing open, E. D.] Luncheon!
Asa [Goes hastily up to table.] Wal, I don't want to speak out too
plain, but this is an awful mean set out for a big house like this.
Flo Why, what's wrong, sir?
Asa Why, there's no mush!
Dun No mush?
Asa Nary slapjack.
Dun Why, does he want Mary to slap Jack?
Asa No pork and beans!
Dun Pork's been here, but he's left.
Asa And where on airth's the clam chowder?
Dun Where _is_ clam chowder? He's never here when he's wanted.
Asa [Drinks and spits.] Here's your health, old hoss. Do you call that
a drink? See here, cousin, you seem to be the liveliest critter here,
so just hurry up the fixins, and I'll show this benighted aristocratic
society what real liquor is. So hurry up the fixins.
All Fixins?
Flo What do you mean by fixins?
Asa Why, brandy, rum, gin and whiskey. We'll make them all useful.
Flo Oh, I'll hurry up the fixins. What fun! [Exit, R.]
Dun Oh! I thought he meant the gas fixins.
Asa Say, you, you Mr. Puffy, you run out and get me a bunch of mint
and a bundle of straws; hurry up, old hoss. [Exit Binny, L. 3 E.,
indignantly.] Say, Mr. Sailor man, just help me down with this table.
Oh! don't you get riley, you and I ran against each other when I came
in, but we'll be friends yet. [Vernon helps him with table to C.]
Enter Florence, followed by servants in livery; they carry a case of
decanters and water, on which are seven or eight glasses, two or three
tin mixers and a bowl of sugar. Binny enters with a bunch of mint and a
few straws.
Flo Here, cousin, are the fixins.
Asa That's yer sort. Now then, I'll give you all a drink that'll make
you squeal. [To Binny] Here, Puffy, just shake that up, faster. I'll
give that sick gal a drink that'll make her squirm like an eel on a mud
bank.
Dun [Screams.] What a horrible idea. [Runs about stage.]
Flo Oh, don't mind him! That's only an American joke.
Dun A joke! Do you call that a joke? To make a sick girl squirm like a
mud bank on an eel's skin?
Asa Yes, I'll give you a drink that'll make your whiskers return under
your chin, which is their natural location. Now, ladies and gentlemen,
what'll you have, Whiskey Skin, Brandy Smash, Sherry Cobbler, Mint Julep
or Jersey Lightning?
Aug Oh, I want a Mint Julep.
De B Give me a Gin Cocktail.
Flo I'll take a Sherry Cobbler.
Ver Brandy Smash for me.
Mrs M Give me a Whiskey Skin.
Geo I'll take a Lemonade.
Dun Give me a Jersey Lightning.
Asa Give him a Jersey Lightning. [As Dundreary drinks] Warranted to kill
at forty rods. [Dundreary falls back on Mrs. M. and Georgina.]
Closed In.
Scene 2--Library in Trenchard Manor. Oriel Window, L. C., with curtains.
Two chairs and table brought on at change.
Enter Binny and Coyle, L. 1 E.
Binny Sir Hedward will see you directly, Mr. Coyle.
Coyle Very well. House full of company, I see, Mr. Binny.
Binny Cram full, Mr. Coyle. As one of the first families in the country
we must keep up our position.
Coyle [Rubbing his hands.] Certainly, certainly, that is as long as
we can, Mr. Binny. Tell Murcott, my clerk, to bring my papers in here.
You'll find him in the servant's hall, and see that you keep your strong
ale out of his way. People who serve me must have their senses about
them.
Binny [Aside.] I should say so, or 'e'd 'ave hevery tooth hout in their
'eds, the wiper. [Exit, L. 1 E.]
Coyle And now to show this pompous baronet the precipice on which he
stands.
Enter Murcott, with green bag and papers.
Coyle Are you sober, sirrah?
Murcott Yes, Mr. Coyle.
Coyle Then see you keep so.
Mur I'll do my best, sir. But, oh! do tell them to keep liquor out of my
way. I can't keep from it now, try as I will, and I try hard enough, God
help me!
Coyle Pshaw! Get out those mortgages and the letters from my London
agent. [Murcott takes papers from bag and places then on table. Coyle
looks off, R. 1 E.] So; here comes Sir Edward. Go, but be within call. I
may want you to witness a signature.
Mur I will sir. [Aside.] I must have brandy, or my hand will not be
steady enough to write. [Exit, L. 1 E.]
Enter Sir Edward, R. 1 E. Coyle bows.
Sir E Good morning, Coyle, good morning. [With affected ease.] There is
a chair, Coyle. [They sit.] So you see those infernal tradespeople are
pretty troublesome.
Coyle My agent's letter this morning announces that Walter and Brass
have got judgement and execution on their amount for repairing your town
house last season. [Refers to papers.] Boquet and Barker announce their
intention of taking this same course with the wine account. Handmarth
is preparing for a settlement of his heavy demand for the stables.
Then there is Temper for pictures and other things and Miss Florence
Trenchard's account with Madame Pompon, and--
Sir E Confound it, why harass me with details, these infernal
particulars? Have you made out the total?
Coyle Four thousand, eight hundred and thirty pounds, nine shillings and
sixpence.
Sir E Well, of course we must find means of settling this extortion.
Coyle Yes, Sir Edward, if possible.
Sir E If possible?
Coyle I, as your agent, must stoop to detail, you must allow me to
repeat, if possible.
Sir E Why, you don't say there will be any difficulty in raising the
money?
Coyle What means would you suggest, Sir Edward.
Sir E That, sir, is your business.
Coyle A foretaste in the interest on the Fanhille & Ellenthrope
mortgages, you are aware both are in the arrears, the mortgagees in
fact, write here to announce their intentions to foreclose. [Shows
papers.]
Sir E Curse your impudence, pay them off.
Coyle How, Sir Edward?
Sir E Confound it, sir, which of us is the agent? Am I to find you
brains for your own business?
Coyle No, Sir Edward, I can furnish the brains, but what I ask of you is
to furnish the money.
Sir E There must be money somewhere, I came into possession of one of
the finest properties in Hampshire only twenty-six years ago, and now
you mean to tell me I cannot raise 4,000 pounds?
Coyle The fact is distressing, Sir Edward, but so it is.
Sir E There's the Ravensdale property unencumbered.
Coyle There, Sir Edward, you are under a mistake. The Ravensdale
property is deeply encumbered, to nearly its full value.
Sir E [Springing up.] Good heavens.
Coyle I have found among my father's papers a mortgage of that very
property to him.
Sir E To your father! My father's agent?
Coyle Yes, bearing date the year after the great contested election
for the county, on which the late Sir Edward patriotically spent sixty
thousand pounds for the honor of not being returned to Parliament.
Sir E A mortgage on the Ravensdale estate. But it must have been paid
off, Mr. Coyle, [anxiously,] have you looked for the release or the
receipt?
Coyle Neither exists. My father's sudden death explains sufficiently. I
was left in ignorance of the transaction, but the seals on the deed and
the stamps are intact, here it is, sir. [Shows it.]
Sir E Sir, do you know that if this be true I am something like a
beggar, and your father something like a thief.
Coyle I see the first plainly, Sir Edward, but not the second.
Sir E Do you forget sir, that your father was a charity boy, fed,
clothed by my father?
Coyle Well, Sir Edward?
Sir E And do you mean to tell me, sir, that your father repaid that
kindness by robbing his benefactor?
Coyle Certainly not, but by advancing money to that benefactor when
he wanted it, and by taking the security of one of his benefactor's
estates, as any prudent man would under the circumstances.
Sir E Why, then, sir, the benefactor's property is yours.
Coyle Pardon me, the legal estate you have your equity of redemption.
You have only to pay the money and the estate is yours as before.
Sir E How dare you, sir, when you have just shown me that I cannot raise
five hundred pounds in the world. Oh! Florence, why did I not listen to
you when you warned me against this man?
Coyle [Aside.] Oh! she warned you, did she? [Aloud.] I see one means, at
least, of keeping the Ravensdale estate in the family.
Sir E What is it?
Coyle By marrying your daughter to the mortgagee.
Sir E To you?
Coyle I am prepared to settle the estate on Miss Trenchard the day she
becomes Mrs. Richard Coyle.
Sir E [Springing up.] You insolent scoundrel, how dare you insult me in
my own house, sir. Leave it, sir, or I will have you kicked out by my
servants.
Coyle I never take an angry man at his word, Sir Edward. Give a few
moments reflection to my offer, you can have me kicked out afterwards.
Sir E [ Pacing stage.] A beggar, Sir Edward Trenchard a beggar, see my
children reduced to labor for their bread, to misery perhaps; but the
alternative, Florence detests him, still the match would save her,
at least, from ruin. He might take the family name, I might retrench,
retire, to the continent for a few years. Florence's health might
serve as a pretence. Repugnant as the alternative is, yet it deserves
consideration.
Coyle [Who has watched.] Now, Sir Edward, shall I ring for the servants
to kick me out?
Sir E Nay Mr. Coyle, you must pardon my outburst, you know I am hasty,
and----
Flo [Without.] Papa, dear! [Enters gaily, starts on seeing Coyle.] Papa,
pardon my breaking in on business, but our American cousin has come,
such an original--and we are only waiting for you to escort us to the
field.
Sir E I will come directly, my love. Mr. Coyle, my dear, you did not see
him.
Flo [Disdainfully.] Oh! yes, I saw him, papa.
Sir E Nay, Florence, your hand to Mr. Coyle. [Aside.] I insist.
Flo Papa. [Frightened at his look, gives her hand. Coyle attempts to
kiss it, she snatches it away and crosses to L.]
Sir E [Crosses to L.] Come, Florence. Mr. Coyle, we will join you in the
park. Come, my love, take my arm. [Hurries her off, L. 1 E.]
Coyle Shallow, selfish fool. She warned you of me did she? And you did
not heed her; you shall both pay dearly. She, for her suspicions, and
you that you did not share them. [Walks up and down.] How lucky the
seals were not cut from that mortgage, when the release was given.
'Tis like the silly security of the Trenchard's. This mortgage makes
Ravensdale mine, while the release that restores it to its owner lies in
the recess of the bureau, whose secret my father revealed to me on
his death bed. [Enter Murcott, L. 1 E.] Write to the mortgagee of the
Fanhill and Ellenthrope estates, to foreclose before the week is out,
and tell Walters and Brass to put in execution to-day. We'll prick this
wind-bag of a Baronet. Abel, we have both a bone to pick with him and
his daughter. [Murcott starts.] Why, what's the matter?
Mur Nothing, the dizziness I've had lately.
Coyle Brandy in the evening, brandy in the morning, brandy all night.
What a fool you are, Murcott.
Mur Who knows that as well as I do?
Coyle If you would but keep the money out of your mouth, there's the
making of a man in you yet.
Mur No, no, it's gone too far, it's gone too far, thanks to the man
who owns this house, you know all about it. How he found me a thriving,
sober lad, flogging the village children through their spelling book.
How he took a fancy to me as he called it, and employed me here to teach
his son and Miss Florence. [His voice falters.] Then remember how I
forgot who and what I was, and was cuffed out of the house like a dog.
How I lost my school, my good name, but still hung about the place, they
all looked askance at me, you don't know how that kills the heart of a
man, then I took to drink and sank down, down, till I came to this.
Coyle You owe Sir Edward revenge, do you not? You shall have a rare
revenge on him, that mortgage you found last week puts the remainder
of the property in my reach, and I close my hand on it unless he will
consent to my terms.
Mur You can drive a hard bargain. I know.
Coyle And a rare price I ask for his forbearance, Abel--his daughter's
hand.
Mur Florence?
Coyle Yes, Florence marries Richard Coyle. Richard Coyle steps into Sir
Edward's estates. There, you dog, will not that be a rare revenge. So
follow me with those papers. [Crosses to L.] And now to lay the mine
that will topple over the pride of the Trenchards. [Exit L. 1 E.]
Mur He marry Florence! Florence Trenchard! My Florence. Mine! Florence
_his wife_. No, no, better a thousand times she had been mine, low as
I am, when I dreampt that dream, but it shan't be, it shan't be.
[Tremblingly putting papers in bag.] If I can help her, sot though I
am. Yes, I can help her, if the shock don't break me down. Oh! my poor
muddled brain, surely there was a release with it when I found it. I
must see Florence to warn her and expose Coyle's villainy. Oh! how my
poor head throbs when I try to. I shall die if I don't have a drop of
brandy, yes brandy. [Exit, L. 1 E.]
Scene 3--Chamber in 3. at Trenchard Manor. Large shower bath near R. 3
E. Toilet table with draw, L. 2 E. Small bottle in draw with red sealing
wax on cork. Asa discovered seated, R. with foot on table, smoking a
cigar. Valise on floor in front of him. Binny discovered standing by his
side.
Asa Wal, I guess I begin to feel kinder comfortable here in this place,
if it wan't for this tarnal fat critter. He don't seem to have any work
to do, but swells out his big bosom like an old turkey-cock in
laying time. I do wonder what he's here for? Do they think I mean to
absquatulate with the spoons? [Binny attempts to take valise--Asa puts
his foot on it.] Let that sweat. That's my plunder.
Binny Will you have the kindness to give me your keys, hif you please,
sir?
Asa What do you want with my keys?
Bin To put your things away in the wardrobe, sir.
Asa Wal, I calculate if my two shirts, three bosoms, four collars, and
two pair of socks were to get into that everlasting big bunk, they'd
think themselves so all-fired small I should never be able to crawl into
them again.
Bin Will you take a baath before you dress?
Asa Take a baath?
Bin A baath.
Asa I suppose you mean a bath. Wal, man, I calkalate I ain't going to
expose myself to the shakes by getting into cold water in this cruel
cold climate of yours, so make tracks.
Bin Make what?
Asa Vamose!
Bin Make vamose!
Asa Absquatulate.
Bin Ab-- what sir?
Asa Skedaddle.
Bin Skedaddle?
Asa Oh! get out.
Bin Oh! [Going.] If you are going to dress you'll want some hassistance.
Asa Assistance! what to get out of my unmentionables and into them
again? Wal, 'spose I do, what then?
Bin Just ring the bell, hi'll hattend you.
Asa All right, come along. [Binny going.] Hold on, say, I may want
to yawn presently and I shall want somebody to shut my mouth. [Binny
hurries off, L. 1 E.] Wal, now I am alone, I can look about me and
indulge the enquiring spirit of an American citizen. What an everlasting
lot of things and fixins there is to be sure. [Opens table draw.] Here's
a place will hold my plunder beautifully. [Sees bottle.] Hallo, what's
this? [Comes down.] Something good to drink. [Smells bottle.] It smells
awful bad. [Reads label.] Golden Fluid, one application turns the hair
a beautiful brown, several applications will turn the hair a lustrous
black. Well, if they keep on it may turn a pea green. I reckon this has
been left here by some fellow who is ashamed of the natural color of his
top knot. [Knock.] Come in.
Enter Binny, L. 1 E.
Bin Mr. Buddicombe, sir, my lord's hown man.
Asa Roll him in. [Binny beckons, enter Buddicombe.] Turkey cock number
two, what is it?
Bud My Lord Dundreary's compliments and _have_ you seen a small _bottle_
in the toilet table drawer?
Asa Suppose I had, what then?
Bud My lord wants it particly.
Asa Was it a small bottle?
Bud A small bottle.
Bin Bottle small.
Asa Blue label?
Bin Label blue.
Asa Red sealing wax on the top?
Bud Red sealing wax.
Bin Wax red.
Asa Nice little bottle?
Bin Little bottle nice.
Asa Wal, I ain't seen it. [Aside.] If my lord sets a valley on it, guess
it must be worth something.
Bud Sorry to trouble you, sir.
Bin [ Aside to Bud.] What his hit?
Bud My lord's hair dye, the last bottle, and he turns red tomorrow.
[Exit in haste.]
Bin Orrable, what an hawful situation, to be sure.
Asa [Aside.] So I've got my ring on that lord's nose, and if I don't
make him dance to my tune it's a pity.
Bin Miss Florence begged me to say she had borrowed a costume for you,
for the harchery meeting, sir.
Asa Hain't you dropped something?
Bin Where?
Asa What do you mean by the harchery meeting?
Bin Where they shoot with bows and harrows.
Asa There goes another of them, oh! you need'nt look for them, you can't
find 'em when you want 'em. Now you just take my compliments to Miss
Trenchard when I goes out shooting with injurious weapons I always wears
my own genuine shooting costume. That's the natural buff tipped off with
a little red paint.
Bin Good gracious, he'd look like Hadam and Heve, in the garden of Eden.
[Exit Binny.]
Asa Wal, there's a queer lot of fixings. [Sees shower bath.] What on
airth is that? Looks like a 'skeeter net, only it 'ain't long enough
for a feller to lay down in unless he was to coil himself up like a
woodchuck in a knot hole. I'd just like to know what the all-fired thing
is meant for. [Calls.] Say Puffy, Puffy, Oh! he told me if I wanted him
to ring the bell. [Looks round room.] Where on airth is the bell? [Slips
partly inside shower bath, pulls rope, water comes down.] Murder! help!
fire! Water! I'm drown.
Enter Skillet, Sharpe, R. 1 E. Binny, Buddicombe, L. 1 E., seeing Asa,
all laugh, and keep it up till curtain falls.
CURTAIN.
ACT II
Scene 1.--Oriel Chamber in one.
Enter Mrs. Mountchessington and Augusta, L. 1 E., dressed for Archery
Meeting.
Mrs M No, my dear Augusta, you must be very careful. I don't by any
means want you to give up De Boots, his expectations are excellent, but,
pray be attentive to this American savage, as I rather think he will
prove the better match of the two, if what I hear of Mark Trenchard's
property be correct.
Aug [Disdainfully.] Yes, ma.
Mrs M And look more cheerful, my love.
Aug I am so tired, ma, of admiring things I hate.
Mrs. M Yes, my poor love, yet we must all make sacrifices to society.
Look at your poor sister, with the appetite.
Aug What am I to be enthusiastic about with that American, Ma?
Mrs M Oh! I hardly know yet, my dear. We must study him. I think if
you read up Sam Slick a little, it might be useful, and just dip into
Bancroft's History of the United States, or some of Russell's Letters;
you should know something of George Washington, of whom the Americans
are justly proud.
Aug Here he comes, ma. What a ridiculous figure he looks in that dress,
ha! ha!
Mrs M Hush, my dear!
Enter Asa, in Archery Dress.
Aug Oh, Mr. Trenchard, why did you not bring me one of those lovely
Indian's dresses of your boundless prairie?
Mrs M Yes, one of those dresses in which you hunt the buffalo.
Aug [Extravagantly.] Yes, in which you hunt the buffalo.
Asa [Imitating.] In which I hunt the buffalo. [Aside.] Buffaloes down in
Vermont. [Aloud.] Wal, you see, them dresses are principally the nateral
skin, tipped off with paint, and the indians object to parting with
them.
Both Ahem! ahem!
Asa The first buffalo I see about here I shall hunt up for you.
Mrs M Oh, you Americans are so clever, and so acute.
Aug Yes, so 'cute.
Asa Yes, we're 'cute, we are; know soft solder when we see it.
Aug [Aside.] Ma, I do believe he's laughing at us.
Mrs M Oh, no, my dear, you are mistaken. Oh! I perceive they are
appearing for the archery practice. I suppose we shall see you on the
ground, Mr. Trenchard.
Asa Yes, I'll be there like a thousand of brick.
Aug A thousand of brick!
Mrs M Hush, my dear! that is doubtless some elegant American expression.
Au revoir, Mr. Trenchard.
Asa Which?
Mrs M Au revoir. [Exit with Augusta, R.]
Asa No, thank you, don't take any before dinner. No use their talking
Dutch to me. Wal, I never see an old gal stand fire like that, she's
a real old bison bull. I feel all-fired tuckered out riding in those
keers. I'd like to have a snooze if I could find a place to lay down in.
[Sees curtain on window, L. E.] Oh, this might do! [Pulls curtain, then
starts back.] No you don't! One shower bath a day is enough for me.
[Cautiously opens them.] No, I guess this is all right, I shall be just
as snug in here as in a pew at meeting, or a private box at the Theatre.
Hello! somebody's coming. [Goes into recess.]
Enter Dundreary and Buddicombe, L. 1 E.
Bud My lord--
Dun [Business.]
Bud My lord!
Dun [Business.]
Bud Your lordship!! [Louder.]
Dun There, now you've spoiled it.
Bud Spoiled what, my lord?
Dun Spoiled what, my lord; why, a most magnificent sneeze!
Bud I am very sorry, my lord.
Dun Now that I can speak alone with you, tell me about that hair dye.
Have you found it?
Bud Not a trace of it, my lord.
Dun If you don't find it, I'll discharge you.
Bud Very well, my lord. [Bows and exits, L. 1 E.]
Dun Very well, my lord! He's gone and lost my hair dye, and my hair
turns red to-morrow, and when I ask him to find it for me or I'll
discharge him, he says, ``Very well, my lord.'' He's positively idiotic,
he is-- Ah! here comes Miss Georgina, that gorgeous creature--that
lovely sufferer. [Exit, L. 1 E.]
Asa [Looking out.] What's the price of hair dye? Hallo! he's coming
again with that sick girl.
Re-enter Dundreary and Georgina, L. 1 E.
Dun Will you try and strengthen your limbs with a gentle walk in the
garden?
Georgina No, thank you, my lord. I'm so delicate. Oh, my lord, it is so
painful to walk languidly through life, to be unable, at times, to bear
the perfumes of one's favorite flowers. Even those violets you sent me
yesterday I was compelled to have removed from my room, the perfume was
too strong for me. I'm _so_ delicate.
Dun Yes, Miss Georgina; but they're very strengthening flowers, you
know.
Geo Yes, my lord, you are always right.
Dun Do you know I'm getting to be very robust?
Geo Would I could share that fault with you; but I am so delicate.
Dun If you were robust I should not love you as I do. It would deprive
you of that charm which enchains me to your lovely side, which--which--
Geo Oh, my lord, my lord! I'm going to faint.
Dun And I'm going to sneeze, you faint while I sneeze.
Geo [Taking his arm.] Oh! my lord.
Dun Do you know what a sneeze is?
Geo No, my lord.
Dun She never sneezed. I'll tell you what a sneeze is. Imagine a very
large spider.
Geo [Screams.] Where, my lord?
Dun No, no, I don't mean a real spider, only an imaginary one, a large
spider getting up your nose, and all of a sudden, much to his disgust,
he discovers he has put his foot in it and can't get it out again.
Geo That must be very distressing.
Dun For the spider, yes, and not very pleasant for the nose.
Geo Oh! my lord, do take me to mamma.
Dun No, you lovely sufferer, let's walk a little more.
Geo I can't my lord, I'm _so_ delicate.
Dun Well, then, exercise, imitate that little hop of mine. [Hops.] It
isn't a run, it's a--
Geo What is it?
Dun No, it isn't a what is it. Well, let me suppose I get you an oyster.
[Georgina shakes her head.] Oh! then suppose I get you an oyster.
Geo No, my lord, I'm too delicate.
Dun How would you like the left wing of a canary bird?
Geo No, my lord, it's too strong for me.
Dun Let me ask you a widdle--why does a duck go under water? for divers
reasons. Now I'll give you another--why does a duck come out of the
water? for sundry reasons. No! No! see, you live on suction, you're
like that bird with a long bill, they call doctor, no, that's not it,
I thought it was a doctor, because it has a long bill--I mean a
snipe--yes, you're a lovely snipe. [Exeunt, R.]
Asa [Looking after them.] There goes a load of wooden nutmegs. Hello,
here comes somebody else.
Enter Florence, R., with paper.
Flo. [Reads.] ``One who still remembers what he ought long since to have
forgotten, wishes to speak with Miss Trenchard.'' Florence scratched
out, ``on matters of life and death, near the orel, in the west
gallery,'' Written upon a dirty sheet of paper, in a hardly legible
hand. What does this mean; it opens like one of Mrs. Radcliffe's
romances. Well, here I am, and now for my correspondent.
Enter Murcott, L.
Mur Oh! for one minute's clear head, Miss Florence.
Flo I presume you are the writer of this?
Mur Yes, I am.
Flo You address me as an old acquaintance, but I do not recognize you.
Mur So much the better. So much the better.
Flo I hate mystery, sir; but you see I have come to rendezvous. I must
know to whom I am speaking.
Mur As frank as ever. I am Abel Murcott.
Flo Starting back! You?
Mur Do not be ashamed, I have not the strength to injure you, if I had
the evil. In this shabby, broken down drunkard you need not fear the
madman, who years ago forgot in his frantic passion the gulf that lay
between your station and his own. I am harmless except to my self.
Flo Speak on, sir; I hear you.
Mur I need not tell you by what steps I came to this, you don't know,
maybe you never knew, what a maddening thing a passion is when it turns
against itself. After being expelled from my tutorship in this house, I
lost my employment, self respect, hope. I sought to drown recollection
and draw courage from drink. It only embittered remembrances, and
destroyed the little courage I had left. That I have bread to eat, I
owe to Mr. Coyle; he employed me as his clerk. You know he has been with
your father this morning. I have come to tell you my errand; are you as
brave as you used to be when I knew--
Flo I fear nothing.
Mur I come to tell you of your father's ruin, his utter ruin.
Flo My father's ruin? What? What?
Mur His estates are mortgaged, his creditors clamorous. The Bailiffs
will be in Trenchard Manor to-day, disguised as your own servants. This
much Mr. Coyle has conceded to your father's respect for appearances.
Flo Then beggary stares him in the face. Poor father, what a sad blow
for him. Is that all, sir?
Mur No; the worst remains.
Flo Go on, sir.
Mur Coyle knows your father's weakness and as a means of escape from
ruin to the verge of which he has brought him, he has this day proposed
for your hand.
Flo Mine!
Mur On consideration of settling on you the Ravensdale Estate.
Flo And my father, how did he listen to such insolence?
Mur You know as well as I do how he would hear such a proposal, at first
a torrent of rage, then the strong ebb of selfishness set in, and
he consented to listen to the terms, to view them as something to be
considered, to consider them.
Flo Good Heavens, can this be true? No, I will not believe it of my
father, and from such lips.
Mur You have full right to think this and to say it, but mark your
father and Coyle to-day. You will then see if I speak truth or not.
Flo Forgive my distrust, Mr. Murcott.
Mur I am past taking offence or feeling scorn, I have carried more than
can be heaped upon me, but I did not come only to give you warning of
your danger.
Flo Can you avert it?
Asa (Coming down between them). Wal, stranger that's just the question I
was going to ask.
Flo You here, sir, and listening.
Asa Wal, it wasn't purpose, I went in there to take a snooze, I heard
you talking and I thought it wouldn't be polite of me not to listen to
what you had to say. I'm a rough sort of a customer, and don't know much
about the ways of great folks. But I've got a cool head, a stout arm,
and a willing heart, and I think I can help you, just as one cousin
ought to help another.
Flo Well, I do think you are honest.
Mur Shall I go on?
Flo Yes, we will trust him, go on.
Mur I found the Ravensdale mortgage while rumaging in an old deed box of
Coyle's father's, there was a folded paper inside the deed. I took both
to Coyle unopened, like a besotted fool that I was. My belief is strong
that the paper was the release of the mortgage that the money had been
paid off, and the release executed without the seals having been cut
from the original mortgage. I have known such things happen.
Asa Have ye, now? Well, if a Yankee lawyer had done such a thing he
would have Judge Lynch after him in no time.
Mur You can but find that release, we may unmask this diabolical fiend
and save you.
Flo But, surely, a villain of Coyle's stability would have destroyed the
paper, the very key-stone of his fraud.
Mur I fear so.
Asa Do you, now, wal, you're wrong, you're both wrong. I guess you ain't
either on you done much cyphering human nature. The key stone of their
fraud is just the point your mighty cute rascals always leave unsecured.
Come along with me, stranger, and we'll just work up this sum a little,
two heads are better than one. Yours is a little muddled, but mine's
pretty clear, and if I don't circumvent that old sarpint, Coyle--
Flo Well?
Asa Say I am a skunk, that's all, and that's the meanest kind of an
animal. [Exit L. 1st E.]
Flo I owe you much, Mr. Murcott, more than I can ever repay.
Mur No, no, no, if you did but know the hope of seeing you has roused
all the manhood that drink and misery has left me. God bless you, Miss
Florence.
Flo No, you don't call me Florence as you did when I was the truant
pupil and you the indulgent tutor. [Offers her hand.]
Mur No, no; for heaven's sake do not call back that time or I shall go
mad! mad! mad. [Rushes off, L. 1 E., followed by Florence.]
Scene 2--Park in 4. Rural cottage, L. 1 E., adjoining which, and
projecting on stage an inside view of a dairy with sloping roof,
painting backing to look like milk pans. The whole scene should have a
picturesque appearance. Garden fence run across back, ornamental gate or
archway, R. 3 E. Pigeon house on pole near dairy, L. C. Spinning wheel
inside cottage door, one or two rustic benches, R. and L.
Enter John, R. 3 E., with two milk pails on a yoke, puts them down near
dairy, then looks off, R. 3 E.
John There they go, that's a bull's eye, I warrant. Dang me though, if
I wouldn't rather see Miss Mary than this cock robin sports yonder, here
she comes. Good morning, Miss Mary. [Enter Mary from cottage L.]
Mary Oh, Wickens, you are there. How kind of you to help me with the
milk pails to-day, when all the lads and lasses have given themselves a
holiday to see the shooting.
John Ah, Miss Mary, you ought to be among then, with a green hat and
feather, if all had their rights.
Mary [Laughing.] Nay, ladies without a farthing in the world, ought to
put aside their ladyships and make themselves: besides I'm proud of my
dairy here, just help me with this troublesome fellow, steady, don't
shake it, the cream is foaming so beautifully. There. [John carries pan
into cottage and returns down, R.]
John Now, Miss Mary, what can I do for you?
Mary Let me see; well, really, I do believe, Wickens, I've nothing to do
but amuse myself.
John Dang it, Miss, that's a pity, cos I can't help you at that, you
see.
Mary Oh! Yes, bring me out dear old Welsh nurse's spinning wheel [Exit
John into cottage, L. 2 E.] by the side of which I have stood so often,
a round eyed baby wondering at its whirring wheel. [Reenter John with
wheel, places it near cottage, L. 2 E.] There, that will do famously. I
can catch the full scent of the jessamines.
John [R. C.] Anything more, Miss Mary?
Mary No, thank you, Wickens!
John [Going.] Good morning, Miss Mary.
Mary Good morning, Wickens.
John [Returning.] Is there anything I can get for you, Miss Mary?
Mary [Spinning.] Nothing, thank you.
John Dang me if I wouldn't like to stop all day, and watch her pretty
figure and run errands for her. [Exit R. 3 E., crosses behind fence.]
Mary Poor Wickens is not the only one who thinks I am a very ill-used
young body. Now I don't think so. Grandfather was rich, but he must
have had a bad heart, or he never could have cast off poor mamma; had he
adopted me, I should never have been so happy as I am now, uncle is kind
to me in his pompous, patronizing way, and dear Florence loves me like a
sister, and so I am happy. I am my own mistress here, and not anybody's
humble servant, I sometimes find myself singing as the birds do, because
I can't help it [Song, ``Maid with the milking pail,'' can be introduced
here.]
Enter Florence and Asa through gate, R. 3 E.
Flo Come along, cousin, come along. I want to introduce you to my little
cousin. [Kisses Mary.] I've brought you a visitor, Miss Mary Meredith,
Mr. Asa Trenchard, our American cousin. [They shake hands.] That will do
for the present. This young gentleman has carried off the prize by three
successive shots in the bull's eye.
Mary I congratulate you, sir, and am happy to see you.
Asa [Shakes hands again.] Thank you, Miss.
Flo That will do for a beginning.
Asa [ Aside.] And so that is Mark Trenchard's grandchild.
Mary Why have you left the archery, Florence?
Flo Because, after Mr. Asa's display, I felt in no humor for shooting,
and I have some very grave business with my cousin here.
Mary You? Grave business? Why I thought you never had any graver
business than being very pretty, very amiable, and very ready to be
amused.
Asa Wal, Miss, I guess the first comes natural round these diggins.
[Bows.]
Mary You are very polite. This is my domain, sir, and I shall be happy
to show you, that is, if you understand anything about a dairy.
Flo Yes, by the way, do you understand anything about dairies in
America?
Asa Wal, I guess I do know something about cow juice. [They turn to
smother laugh.] Why, if it ain't all as bright and clean as a fresh
washed shirt just off the clover, and is this all your doin's, Miss?
Mary Yes, sir, I milk the cows, set up the milk, superintend the
churning and make the cheese.
Asa Wal, darn me if you ain't the first raal right down useful gal I've
seen on this side the pond.
Flo What's that, sir? Do you want to make me jealous?
Asa Oh, no, you needn't get your back up, you are the right sort too,
but you must own you're small potatoes, and few in a hill compared to a
gal like that.
Flo I'm what?
Asa Small potatoes.
Flo Will you be kind enough to translate that for me, for I don't
understand American yet.
Asa Yes, I'll put it in French for you, ``petite pommes des terres.''
Flo Ah, it's very clear now; but, cousin, do tell me what you mean by
calling me small potatoes.
Asa Wal, you can sing and paint, and play on the pianner, and in your
own particular circle you are some pumpkins.
Flo Some pumpkins, first I am small potatoes, and now I'm some pumpkins.
Asa But she, she can milk cows, set up the butter, make cheese,
and, darn me, if them ain't what I call raal downright feminine
accomplishments.
Flo I do believe you are right cousin, so Mary do allow me to
congratulate you upon not being small potatoes.
Mary Well, I must look to my dairy or all my last week's milk will
be spoiled. Good bye, Florence, dear. Good bye, Mr. Trenchard. Good
morning, sir. [Exit into Cottage.]
Asa [Following her to door.] Good morning, Miss. I'll call again.
Flo Well, cousin, what do you think of her?
Asa Ain't she a regular snorter?
Flo A what?
Asa Wal, perhaps I should make myself more intelligable, if I said, a
squeeler, and to think I'm keepin' that everlasting angel of a gal out
of her fortune all along of this bit of paper here.
Flo What is that? [Takes paper from pocket.]
Asa Old Mark Trenchard's will.
Flo Don't show it to me, I don't want to look at it, the fortune should
have come to Mary, she is the only relation in the direct line.
Asa Say, cousin, you've not told her that darned property was left to
me, have you?
Flo Do you think I had the heart to tell her of her misfortune?
Asa Wal, darn me, if you didn't show your good sense at any rate. [Goes
up to dairy.]
Flo Well, what are you doing, showing _your_ good sense?
Asa Oh, you go long.
Flo Say, cousin, I guess I've got you on a string now, as I heard you
say this morning.
Asa Wal, what if you have, didn't I see you casting sheep's eyes at that
sailor man this morning? Ah, I reckon I've got you on a string now. Say,
has he got that ship yet?
Flo No, he hasn't, though I've used all my powers of persuasion with
that Lord Dundreary, and his father has so much influence with the
admiralty.
Asa Wal, din't he drop like a smoked possum?
Flo There you go, more American. No, he said he was very sorry, but he
couldn't.
Asa [Taking bottle out.] Oh, he did, did he? Wal, I guess he'll do his
best all the same.
Flo I shall be missed at the archery grounds. Will you take me back?
Asa Like a streak of lightning. [Offers arm and takes her to dairy.]
Flo That's not the way.
Asa No, of course not. [Takes her round stage back to dairy.]
Flo Well, but where are you going now?
Asa I was just going round. I say, cousin, don't you think you could
find your way back alone.
Flo Why, what do _you_ want to do?
Asa Wal, I just wanted to see how they make cheese is this darned
country. [Exits into dairy.]
Flo [Laughing.] And they call that man a savage; well, I only wish we
had a few more such savages in England.
Dun [Without, R. 2 E.] This way, lovely sufferer.
Flo Ah, here's Dundreary.
[Dundreary enters with Georgina, places her in rustic chair, R.]
Dun There, repothe yourself.
Geo Thank you, my lord; you are so kind to me, and I am so delicate.
Flo Yes, you look delicate, dear; how is she this morning any better?
Dun When she recovers, she'll be better.
Flo I'm afraid you don't take good care of her, you are so rough.
Dun No, I'm not wruff, either. [Sings.] I'm gentle and I'm kind,
I'm ---- I forget the rest
Flo Well, good morning, dear--do take care of her--good day, Dundreary.
[Exit through gate.]
Dun Now, let me administer to your wants. How would you like a roast
chestnut?
Geo No, my lord, I'm too delicate.
Dun Well, then, a peanut; there is a great deal of nourishment in
peanuts.
Geo No, thank you.
Dun Then what can I do for you?
Geo If you please, ask the dairy maid to let me have a seat in the
dairy. I am afraid of the draft, here.
Dun Oh! you want to get out of the draft, do you? Well, you're not the
only one that wants to escape the draft. Is that the dairy on top of
that stick? [Points to pigeon house.]
Geo No, my lord, that's the pigeon house.
Dun What do they keep in pigeon houses? Oh! pigeons, to be sure;
they couldn't keep donkeys up there, could they? That's the dairy, I
suppothe?
Geo Yes, my lord.
Dun What do they keep in dairies?
Geo Eggs, milk, butter and cheese.
Dun What's the name of that animal with a head on it? No, I don't
mean that, all animals have heads. I mean those animals with something
growing out of their heads.
Geo A cow?
Dun A cow growing out of his head?
Geo No, no, horns.
Dun A cow! well, that accounts for the milk and butter; but I don't see
the eggs; cows don't give eggs; then there's the cheese--do you like
cheese?
Geo No, my lord.
Dun Does your brother like cheese?
Geo I have no brother. I'm so delicate.
Dun She's so delicate, she hasn't got a brother. Well, if you had a
brother do you think he'd like cheese?
Geo I don't know; do please take me to the dairy.
Dun Well, I will see if I can get you a broiled sardine. [Exit into
dairy.]
Geo [Jumps up.] Oh! I'm so glad he's gone. I am so dreadful hungry. I
should like a plate of corn beef and cabbage, eggs and bacon, or a slice
of cold ham and pickles.
Dun [Outside] Thank you, thank you.
Geo [Running back to seat.] Here he comes. Oh! I am so delicate.
Enter Dundreary.
Dun I beg you pardon, Miss Georgina, but I find upon enquiry that cows
don't give sardines. But I've arranged it with the dairy maid so that
you can have a seat by the window that overlooks the cow house and the
pig sty, and all the pretty things.
Geo I'm afraid I'm very troublesome.
Dun Yes, you're very troublesome, you are. No, I mean you're a lovely
sufferer, that's the idea. [They go up to cottage door.]
Enter Asa, running against Dundreary.
Dun There's that damned rhinoceros again. [Exit into cottage, with
Georgina.]
Asa There goes that benighted aristocrat and that little toad of a sick
gal. [Looks off.] There he's a settling her in a chair and covering her
all over with shawls. Ah! it's a caution, how these women do fix our
flint for us. Here he comes. [Takes out bottle.] How are you, hair dye.
[Goes behind dairy.]
Enter Dundreary.
Dun That lovely Georgina puts me in mind of that beautiful piece of
poetry. Let me see how it goes. The rose is red, the violet's blue. [Asa
tips his hat over his eyes.]
Dun [Repeats.]
Asa [Repeats business.]
Dun [Comes down, takes off hat, looking in it.] There must be something
alive in that hat. [Goes up, and commences again.] The rose is red, the
violet's blue, sugar is sweet, and so is somebody, and so is somebody
else.
Asa puts yoke on Dundreary's shoulders gently. Dundreary comes down with
pails.
Dun I wonder what the devil that is? [Lowers one, then the other, they
trip him up.] Oh, I see, somebody has been fishing and caught a pail.
[Goes hopping up stage, stumbling over against spinning wheel. Looks at
yarn on stick.] Why, what a little old man. [Sees Asa.] Say, Mr. Exile,
what the devil is this?
Asa That is a steam engine, and will bust in about a minute.
Dun Well, I haven't a minute to spare, so I'll not wait till it busts.
[Crosses to R., knocks against private box, R. H., apologizes.]
Asa Say, whiskers, I want to ask a favor of you.
Dun [Attempts to sneeze.] Now I've got it.
Asa Wal, but say. [Dundreary's sneezing bus.]
Asa [Takes his hand.] How are you. [Squeezes it.]
Dun There, you've spoiled it.
Asa Spoiled what?
Dun Spoiled what! why a magnificent sneeze.
Asa Oh! was that what you was trying to get through you?
Dun Get through me: he's mad.
Asa Wal, now, the naked truth is--[Leans arm on Dundreary's shoulder.
Bus. by Dundreary.] Oh, come now, don't be putting on airs. Say, do you
know Lieut. Vernon?
Dun Slightly.
Asa Wal, what do you think of him, on an average?
Dun Think of a man on an average?
Asa Wal, I think he's a real hoss, and he wants a ship.
Dun Well if he's a real hoss, he must want a carriage.
Asa Darn me, if that ain't good.
Dun That's good.
Asa Yes, that is good.
Dun Very good.
Asa Very good, indeed, _for you_.
Dun Now I've got it. [Tries to sneeze.]
Asa Wal, now, I say. [Dundreary trying to sneeze.]
Asa What, are you at that again?
Dundreary business. Asa bites his finger. Dundreary goes up, stumbles
against chair and comes down again.
Dun I've got the influenza.
Asa Got the what?
Dun He says I've got a wart. I've got the influenza.
Asa That's it exactly. I want your influence, sir, to get that ship.
Dun That's good.
Asa Yes, that's good, ain't it.
Dun Very good.
Asa Yes, darn me, if that ain't good.
Dun For you. Ha! ha! One on that Yankee.
Asa Well done, Britisher. Wal, now, about that ship?
Dun I want all my influence, sir, for my own w--w--welations.
[Stammering.]
Asa Oh! you want it for your own w--w--welations. [Mimicing.]
Dun I say, sir. [Asa pretends deafness. This bus. is ad. lib.]
Asa Eh?
Dun He's hard of hearing, and thinks he's in a balloon. Mister.
Asa Eh?
Dun He thinks he can hear with his nose. I say--
Asa Eh?
Dundreary turns Asa's nose around with his thumb. Asa puts his two hands
up to Dundreary's.
Dun Now he thinks he's a musical instrument. I say--
Asa What?
Dun You stutter. I'll give you a k--k--k--
Asa No you won't give me a kick.
Dun I'll give you a c--c--card to a doctor and he'll c--c--c--
Asa No he won't kick me, either.
Dun He's idiotic. I don't mean that, he'll cure you.
Asa Same one that cured you?
Dun The same.
Asa Wal, if you're cured I want to stay sick. He must be a mighty smart
man.
Dun A very clever man, he is.
Asa Wal, darn me, if there ain't a physiological change taking place.
Your whiskers at this moment--
Dun My whiskers!
Asa Yes, about the ends they're as black as a niggers in billing time,
and near the roots they're all speckled and streaked.
Dun [Horror struck.] My whiskers speckled and streaked?
Asa [Showing bottle.] Now, this is a wonderful invention.
Dun My hair dye. My dear sir.
Asa [Squeezing his hand.] How are you?
Dun Dear Mr. Trenchard.
Puts arm on shoulder. Asa repeats Dundreary business, putting on
eyeglass, hopping round the stage and stroking whiskers.
Dun He's mad, he's deaf, he squints, stammers and he's a hopper.
Asa Now, look here, you get the Lieut. a ship and I'll give you the
bottle. It's a fine swap.
Dun What the devil is a swap?
Asa Well, you give me the ship, and I'll give you the bottle to boot.
Dun What do I want of your boots? I haven't got a ship about me.
Asa You'd better make haste or your whiskers will be changed again.
They'll be a pea green in about a minute.
Dun [Crosses to L.] Pea green! [Exits hastily into house.]
Asa I guess I've got a ring in his nose now. I wonder how that sick gal
is getting along? Wal, darn me, if the dying swallow ain't pitching into
ham and eggs and home-made bread, wal, she's a walking into the fodder
like a farmer arter a day's work rail splitting. I'll just give her a
start. How de do, Miss, allow me to congratulate you on the return of
your appetite. [Georgina scream.] Guess I've got a ring in her pretty
nose now. [Looks off, R.] Hello! here comes the lickers and shooters,
it's about time I took my medicine, I reckon.
Enter, from R. 2. E., Sir E., Mrs. M. Florence, Vernon, Augusta, De
Boots, Wickens, Coyle, Sharpe, Binny, Skillet, Buddicombe, two servants
in livery, carrying tray and glasses, a wine basket containing four
bottles to represent champagne, knife to cut strings, some powerful acid
in one bottle for Asa--pop sure.
Sir E Now to distribute the prizes, and drink to the health of the
winner of the golden arrow.
Flo And there must stand the hero of the day. Come, kneel down.
Asa Must I kneel down?
Flo I am going to crown you Capt. of the Archers of Trenchard Manor.
Asa [Aside to Florence.] I've got the ship.
Flo No; have you?
Sir E Come, ladies and gentlemen, take from me. [Takes glasses, Starts
on seeing me in livery.] Who are these strange faces?
Coyle [In his ear.] Bailiffs, Sir Edward.
Sir E Bailiffs! Florence I am lost.
[Florence supports her father. At the same moment Dundreary enters with
letter and money. Georgina appears at dairy door as Dundreary comes
down, L. Asa cuts string of bottle, cork hits Dundreary. General
commotion as drop descends.]
ACT III.
Scene 1--Dairy set as before in Act 2d, Scene 2.
[Asa discovered on bench, R. C., whittling stick. Mary busy with milk
pans in dairy.]
Asa Miss Mary, I wish you'd leave off those everlasting dairy fixings,
and come and take a hand of chat along with me.
Mary What, and leave my work? Why, when you first came here, you thought
I could not be too industrious.
Asa Well, I think so yet, Miss Mary, but I've got a heap to say to you,
and I never can talk while you're moving about so spry among them pans,
pails and cheeses. First you raise one hand and then the other, and
well, it takes the gumption right out of me.
Mary [Brings sewing down.] Well, then, I'll sit here--[sits on bench
with Asa, vis-a-vis.] Well now, will that do?
Asa Well, no, Miss Mary, that won't do, neither; them eyes of yourn
takes my breath away.
Mary What will I do, then?
Asa Well, I don't know, Miss Mary, but, darn me, if you could do
anything that wasn't so tarnal neat and handsome, that a fellow would
want to keep on doing nothing else all the time.
Mary Well, then, I'll go away. [Rises.]
Asa [Stopping her.] No, don't do that, Miss Mary, for then I'll be left
in total darkness. [She sits.] Somehow I feel kinder lost, if I haven't
got you to talk to. Now that I've got the latitude and longitude of all
them big folks, found out the length of every lady's foot, and the
soft spot on everybody's head, they can't teach me nothing; but here,
[Whittling.] here I come to school.
Mary Then throw away that stick, and put away your knife, like a good
boy. [Throws away stick up stage.] I must cure you of that dreadful
trick of whittling.
Asa Oh, if you only knew how it helps me to keep my eyes off you, Miss
Mary.
Mary But you needn't keep your eyes off me.
Asa I'm afraid I must, my eyes are awful tale-tellers, and they might be
saying something you wouldn't like to hear, and that might make you mad,
and then you'd shut up school, and send me home feeling about as small
as a tadpole with his tail bobbed off.
Mary Don't be alarmed, I don't think I will listen to any tales that
your eyes may tell unless they're tales I like and ought to hear.
Asa If I thought they'd tell any other, Miss Mary, I pluck them right
out and throw them in the first turnip patch I came to.
Mary And now tell me more about your home in America. Do you know I've
listened to your stories until I'm half a backwoodsman's wife already?
Asa [Aside.] Wouldn't I like to make her a whole one.
Mary Yes, I can shut my eyes and almost fancy I see your home in the
backwoods. There are your two sisters running about in their sunbonnets.
Asa Debby and Nab? Yes!
Mary Then I can see the smoke curling from the chimney, then men and
boys working in the fields.
Asa Yes.
Mary The girls milking the cows, and everybody so busy.
Asa Yes.
Mary And then at night, home come your four big brothers from the hunt
laden with game, tired and foot sore, and covered with snow.
Asa That's so.
Mary Then how we lasses bustle about to prepare supper. The fire blazes
on the hearth, while your good old mother cooks the slapjacks.
Asa [Getting very excited.] Yes.
Mary And then after supper the lads and lasses go to a corn husking. The
demijohn of old peach brandy is brought out and everything is so nice.
Asa I shall faint in about five minutes, Miss Mary you're a darned sight
too good for this country. You ought to make tracks.
Mary Make what?
Asa Make tracks, pack up, and emigrate to the roaring old state of
Vermont, and live 'long with mother. She'd make you so comfortable, and
there would be sister Debby and Nab, and well, I reckon I'd be there,
too.
Mary Oh! I'm afraid if I were there your mother would find the poor
English girl a sad incumbrance.
Asa Oh, she ain't proud, not a mite, besides they've all seen Britishers
afore.
Mary I suppose you allude to my cousin, Edward Trenchard?
Asa Well, he wan't the only one, there was the old Squire, Mark
Trenchard.
Mary [Starting Aside.] My grandfather!
Asa Oh! he was a fine old hoss, as game as a bison bull, and as gray as
a coon in the fall; you see he was kinder mad with his folks here, so
he came over to America to look after the original branch of the family,
that's our branch. We're older than the Trenchard's on this side of the
water. Yes we've got the start of the heap.
Mary Tell me, Mr. Trenchard, did he never receive any letters from his
daughter?
Asa Oh yes, lots of them, but the old cuss never read them, though. He
chucked them in the fire as soon as he made out who they come from.
Mary [Aside.] My poor mother.
Asa You see, as nigh as we could reckon it up, she had gone and got
married again his will, and that made him mad, and well, he was a queer
kind of a rusty fusty old coon, and it appeared that he got older, and
rustier, and fustier and coonier every fall, you see it always took him
in the fall, it was too much for him. He got took down with the ague, he
was so bad the doctors gave him up, and mother she went for a minister,
and while she was gone the old man called me in his room, `come in, Asa,
boy,' says he, and his voice rang loud and clear as a bell, `come in,'
says he. Well I comed in; `sit down,' says he; well I sot down. You see
I was always a favorite with the old man. `Asa, my boy,' says he, takin'
a great piece of paper, `when I die, this sheet of paper makes you heir
to all my property in England'. Well, you can calculate I pricked up my
ears about that time, bime-by the minister came, and I left the room,
and I do believe he had a three day's fight with the devil, for that
old man's soul, but he got the upper hand of satan at last, and when
the minister had gone the old man called me into his room again. The
old Squire was sitting up in his bed, his face as pale as the sheet that
covered him, his silken hair flowing in silvery locks from under his red
cap, and the tears rolling from his large blue eyes down his furrowed
cheek, like two mill streams. Will you excuse my lighting a cigar? For
the story is a long, awful moveing, and I don't think I could get on
without a smoke. [Strikes match.] Wal, says he to me, and his voice was
not as loud as it was afore--it was like the whisper of the wind in
a pine forest, low and awful. `Asa, boy,' said he, 'I feel that I've
sinned in hardening my heart against my own flesh and blood, but I will
not wrong the last that is left of them; give me the light,' says he.
Wal I gave him the candle that stood by his bedside, and he took the
sheet of paper I was telling you of, just as I might take this. [Takes
will from pocket.] And he twisted it up as I might this, [Lights will,]
and he lights it just this way, and he watched it burn slowly and slowly
away. Then, says he, `Asa, boy that act disinherits you, but it leaves
all my property to one who has a better right to it. My own daughter's
darling child, Mary Meredith,' and then he smiled, sank back upon his
pillow, drew a long sigh as if he felt relieved, and that was the last
of poor old Mark Trenchard.
Mary Poor Grandfather. [Buries her face and sobs.]
Asa [After bus.] Wal, I guess I'd better leave her alone. [Sees half
burned will.] There lies four hundred thousand dollars, if there's a
cent. Asa, boy, you're a hoss. [Starts off, R. 1 C.]
Mary To me, all to me. Oh Mr. Trenchard, how we have all wronged poor
grandfather. What, gone? He felt after such tidings, he felt I should be
left alone--who would suspect there was such delicacy under that rough
husk, but I can hardly believe the startling news--his heiress--I, the
penniless orphan of an hour ago, no longer penniless, but, alas, an
orphan still, [Enter Florence.] with none to share my wealth, none to
love me.
Flo [Throwing arms around Mary's neck.] What treason is this, Mary, no
one to love you, eh, what's the matter? You've been weeping, and I met
that American Savage coming from here; he has not been rude to you?
Mary On no, he's the gentlest of human beings, but he has just told me
news that has moved me strangely.
Flo What is it, love?
Mary That all grandfather's property is mine, mine, Florence, do you
understand?
Flo What! he has popped, has he? I thought he would.
Mary Who do you mean?
Flo Who? Asa Trenchard, to be sure.
Mary Asa Trenchard, why, what put that in your head?
Flo Why how can Mark Trenchard's property be yours, unless you marry the
legatee.
Mary The legatee? Who?
Flo Why, you know Mark Trenchard left everything to Asa.
Mary No, no, you have been misinformed.
Flo Nonsence, he showed it to me, not an hour ago on a half sheet of
rough paper just like this. [Sees will.] Like this. [Picks it up.] Why
this is part of it, I believe.
Mary That's the paper he lighted his cigar with.
Flo Then he lighted his cigar with 80,000 pounds. Here is old Mark
Trenchard's signature.
Mary Yes, I recognize the hand.
Flo And here are the words ``Asa Trenchard, in consideration of sole
heir''--etc.--etc.--etc.
Mary Oh Florence, what does this mean?
Flo It means that he is a true hero, and he loves you, you little rogue.
[Embraces her.]
Mary Generous man. [Hides face in Florence's bosom.]
Flo Oh, won't I convict him, now. I'll find him at once.
Runs off, R. 3 E., Mary after her calling Florence!!! Florence!!! as
scene closes.
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