In the same perspective as Scene III. is the Heavenly
City on the Hill. Thronging spirits move to
and fro.
The distance is full of radiance and of happy social
life. In the foreground is seen a dim and desolate
place. It is cavernous and mountainous. Its extreme
edge yawns over a black space, like a gulf or pit, or
it might be the mouth of an underground river. Here
and there is a stark, dead tree. A narrow footpath
winds among the crags. The path turns a sharp
corner between boulders; and the fair contrast of a
sunny country smiles beyond it. Rosebushes in full
bloom peer above the top of the rocks. The annunciation
lily is still prominent among the flowers. No
sign of life appears in the mountainous foreground.
Suddenly, silently, and swiftly, moving from the
sunny land, around the sharp turn in the pathway,
feet and face set toward the cavernous region,
_Enter_ AZRAEL, _Angel of Death_. (_The
Angel is immovable of manner. But
an obvious tenderness wars with the
solemnity of his expression. He looks
neither to the right nor to the left, but
glides over the rough path steadily;
his robe, which is of dull, white gauze,
conceals his feet; his wings are
folded; he carries no flaming sword,
nor any weapon._)
(_After a moment’s interval, following_ THE ANGEL _quickly_,)
_Enter_ DR. THORNE (_his robe is much
paler, but still of a purplish tint. It
is now clasped by the golden cross.
He cries aloud_). Azrael!
ECHO (_from the caverns_). Azrael!
(AZRAEL _makes no reply. Moves on steadily._)
DR. THORNE (_in a lower voice_). Azrael, Angel of Death!
(AZRAEL _turns his head, but without pausing_.)
DR. THORNE. In the name of Him who strove with thee, and conquered
thee--whither goest thou, Azrael?
(AZRAEL _pauses. He looks over his folded wing at the man; regards him
steadily; does not speak; moves on again._ DR. THORNE _utters an
inarticulate exclamation. He follows the Angel. Halfway down the path he
stops, perplexed. His expression is anxious._ AZRAEL _moves on. He does
not again look back; glides to the edge of the ravine. The scene
darkens. The Angel does not pause, but can be seen to cross the gulf
fleetly. He does not fly, but appears to tread the air across the
space._)
[_Vanish_ AZRAEL.
(DR. THORNE _stands alone in the gloom. His eyes are fixed upon the spot
where the Angel disappeared. A low, rushing sound, as of water, can now
be heard._)
DR. THORNE (_shudders; speaks_). It seems like an underground river.
Horrible! (_Calls._) Azrael! Tell me thine errand--in this fearful
place!
(AZRAEL _neither replies nor appears. It grows very dark. The
perspective of the Heavenly City fades. The rushing of the river can be
heard. Now, through the unearthly gloom, upon the hither side of the
gulf, slowly grow to form the outlines of a Woman. She stretches her
arms out with the motion of one feeling her way. She moves with
difficulty, tripping sometimes, but regaining her footing bravely. Her
robe is light. Her face cannot be recognized._)
DR. THORNE (_on whose sensitive countenance falls the only light in the
scene, shows an unaccountable emotion. He murmurs_). It is a
woman--alone--exhausted ... and a stranger. As I serve her, so may God
send some soul of fire and snow to serve my dear wife--in _her_ hour of
mortal need! (_He advances towards the woman with a chivalrous
sympathy._)
(The Woman _moves on steadily; weakens; reels, but holds her ground. It
can now be seen that her eyes are closed. She falls. She does not cry
out._)
DR. THORNE. How brave you are! Keep courage. (_Catches her before she
touches the ground. She lies in his arms in a faint or collapse._)
(DR. THORNE _carries her along midway of the scene_.)
(_It lightens slowly. As it does so, it can be seen that the woman is
young and fair, and fine of nature. Her robe is of dazzling white; it
has a surface like that of satin-finished gauze, which reflects all the
light there is. Her long, dark hair is disordered, and falls about her.
She is pale. Her eyes do not open. She lies helplessly in his arms._)
(DR. THORNE _lays her gently against the trunk of a dead tree, which has
fallen across a hollow in the cliff, and which rests so as to support
the woman. He seats himself beside her; bends to examine her face._)
DR. THORNE (_recognizes the face of the woman; cries in a voice that
rings through the hills_). _Helen!_
THE ECHO (_takes up the cry_). _Helen!_
HELEN THORNE (_is half-conscious and confused; does not open her eyes;
murmurs_). Will it last long?
DR. THORNE (_clasps her reverently. As his arms touch her, they can be
seen to tremble. He moans_). My--poor--wife!
HELEN THORNE (_still lying with closed eyes; murmurs, but more
distinctly_). I said I would die two deaths for him.... Are they over,
yet?... if that would help him any ... where he had gone. (_Opens her
eyes, but they see nothing. Dreamily and solemnly, as if repeating a
familiar prayer, she speaks softly._) Great God! I will die ten deaths
for him ... and count myself a happy woman ... if that will make it any
easier for _him_.
DR. THORNE (_groaning, puts his wife gently from him, as if she were a
being too sacred for his touch. Turns his face from her; speaks_). I am
not fit!... I dare not touch her!
HELEN THORNE (_praying_). Dear Lord! I would die for him ... as Thou
didst die for us.... If that could be.... _Dear_ Lord!
DR. THORNE (_utterly broken_). I am a sinful man, O God! (_Removes from
her, and stands with his face in his hands._)
HELEN THORNE (_recovering full consciousness, and with it sudden
strength, lifts herself to a sitting posture; looks about her; half
rises. Suddenly she recognizes her husband, where he stands aloof. She
cries plaintively_). Esmerald?--Isn’t it over yet? _Esmerald!_ Have you
forgotten me? Don’t you _care_ for me any more?... (_piteously_). Oh,
Death! I did not think that thou wouldst _crucify_ me ... _so_!
(_Sudden darkness falls. When it passes, the gulf, the dark mountain,
the underground river, the ravines are gone. Slow and sweet light
returns softly. It is the setting of the sun. The perspective of the
Heavenly City and spirits are as before. The grim scenery surrounding
the mouth of the River of Death has given place to a fair meadow, sunny
and open. Some of the boulders remain, and the path which cut through
the ravine now runs across the field. Clumps of trees and thick shrubs
break the space between the foreground and the distant spirits, and the
path turns a curve through a thicket of roses. Lilies as before grow
higher than any other flowers, and nearer to the eye._)
HELEN THORNE (_stands, tall and glorious. Faint color has returned to
her pale face. Her expression is radiant. She looks downward and
stretches down her hands; speaks, very softly_). Dear!
DR. THORNE (_prostrate at his wife’s feet, speaks_). Forgive! _Forgive_
me, Helen.
(HELEN THORNE _smiles divinely. Stoops to lift him up._)
(DR. THORNE _resists her still, and, fallen at her feet, he draws the
hem of her robe slowly to his lips. Then he lays his cheek upon her feet
before he reverently kisses them._)
DR. THORNE. I said ... oh, I have broken my heart for what I said ... to
you!
HELEN THORNE (_reaches down her beautiful arms to him. Draws him up_).
Why, my poor Love! My dear Love! Did you think I would remember _that_?
(DR. THORNE _arises. Holds out his shaking arms; does not speak._)
(HELEN THORNE _in silence creeps to him, not royally, like a wife who
was wronged; but like the sweetest woman in the world, who loves him
because she cannot help it, and would not if she could. Her face falls
upon his breast._)
(DR. THORNE, _as if she were a goddess, still not daring to caress her,
lays his cheek upon her soft hair. Before her face, but not touching it,
he delicately curves his hand as if he enclosed a sacred flame from the
rude air._)
HELEN THORNE (_lifts her face to his. Her eyes, all womanly, turn to him
in Paradise as they did on earth. She speaks softly_). I am in Heaven
... after all!
DR. THORNE. And I have never been there ... until now! (_He clasps her
slowly to his heart; turns her face back upon his arm and reverently
looks at it; scans it adoringly; humbly crying._) Helen! _Helen!_
(DR. THORNE _kisses his wife’s brow--eyes--cheek--and then her lips.
Suddenly, around the curve in the path where the thicket of roses
blossoms, running rapidly_,)
_Enter_ LADDIE (_carrying a stalk of the
white lilies. He cries_). Papa! Papa!
I’ve lost you, Papa! (_The child runs
down the path. Closely following
him, fair and gentle, brightly smiling_,)
_Enter_ MRS. FAYTH. (_She draws back
quickly; utters an inarticulate exclamation;
extends her hands in an impulsive
gesture of delight. But she
withdraws and puts her finger on her
lips. She retreats without speaking._)
(MRS. FAYTH, _hidden for a moment behind the thicket of roses, reappears
beyond with the other spirits. The group of spirits stirs upward in the
bright scenery._)
(DR. THORNE _and_ his Wife, _having seen or heard nothing, still stand
rapt, embracing solemnly_.)
LADDIE (_stops on the path, irresolute. Frowns a little in pretty,
childish perplexity; makes as if he would go back; looks at the two
again. Then suddenly darts forward; cries_). Why, that’s my Mamma!
(_Springs to her; clutches at her white robe, pulls at her hand._)
HELEN THORNE (_recognizes the child instantly, despite his larger
stature; she cries out_). Why, my little boy! Mother’s baby boy! Oh!
_you_ again, ... you, too! My little, little boy. (_Catches him to her;
kisses him wildly; holds him, and releases him, and holds him again.
Murmurs half-intelligible words brokenly._) Mother’s baby!... Mother’s
beauty!... Oh, mamma _missed_ you, sonny-boy--
(DR. THORNE _does not speak. His face is shining. He holds his wife
within his arms as if he feared to lose her if he loosened them._)
(THE CHILD, _laughing softly, fondles his mother. The three stand
clinging together rapturously._)
VOICES (_from beyond the rose thicket chant_).
“As it was in the beginning, is now,
And ever shall be,
World without end. Amen.”
(_Chorus of spirits from the region of the Temple on the Heavenly Hill
very softly sing._)
“O Paradise! O Paradise!
The world is growing old.
Who would not see that heavenly land,
Where love is never cold?” ...
(_As they sing, the fair country brightens subtly, and all the heavenly
scene is radiant. The moving groups of spirits seem to be joining in the
song._)
(DR. THORNE _and_ his Wife, _turning, look into one another’s faces.
They do not speak._)
(_Now, delicately, it shall be seen to darken on the bright land, and a
holy half-light touches every outline._)
(The Child _leaves his parents. He walks a few steps away, shading his
eyes with one hand, as if he saw invisible glory; in the other hand he
carries the annunciation lily._)
(_Vaguely at first, then more definitely; slowly and solemnly_,)
_Enter_ JESUS THE CHRIST.
(_The_ Sacred Figure _advances towards the_ Man _and_ Woman, _who are
unconscious of the approach. Its hands are stretched in benediction. It
stands for a moment, mutely, and unseen by them._)
(The Boy _runs towards it fearlessly; seats himself upon the
meadow-grass at the feet of the_ Figure.)
(_The_ Sacred Figure _stirs towards the child. All the light in the
scene now falls from the_ Figure.)
(_The_ Man, _the_ Woman, _and the_ Child _receive its full effulgence_.)
VOICES FROM BEYOND (_sing_).
“Where loyal hearts and true
Stand ever in the light,
Enraptured through and through”--
(_The_ Man _and the_ Woman _now perceive the_ Sacred Figure. _They fall
to their knees. The man’s arm still encircles his wife. They bow their
heads before the Divine Presence._)
(_The_ Child, _with the lifted lily, remains at the feet of the_
CHRIST.)
VOICES FROM BEYOND (_repeat_).
“Enraptured through and through,
In God’s most holy sight.”
(_The_ Sacred Figure _dims and slowly fades. With it disappears the
stalk of annunciation lilies. The light returns softly upon the
celestial scenery._)
(_The_ Sacred Figure _vanishes_.)
(_The_ Man, _the_ Woman, _and_ Child _stay gazing after it_.)
(_Now a mist breathes upon the Heavenly City and the sunny country. All
the outlines of the happy scenery blur and faint._)
(_The groups of spirits grow dim._)
(_Distant music softly sustains the strains of the song; but without
words._)
(_And now the golden mist slowly envelops the_ Man, _the_ Woman, _and
the_ Child, _who remain for a moment before the eyes--a vision--solemn,
tender, and half unreal_.)
(_The music continues very faintly. The strain slowly ceases._)
(_The mist dulls, deepens, and thickens, till it rolls like an
impenetrable curtain before the vanished scene._)
END OF THE DRAMA.
The Riverside Press
_Electrotyped and printed by H. O. Houghton & Co.
Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A._
End of Project Gutenberg's Within the Gates, by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps