(At close of quartette Tristan comes back to stage, evidently exhausted and much dishevelled; the servants follow him and again surround him.)
Tris. Oh, I thought I had eluded them! Leave off! Here's money! (Throws a purse.) Plague on your crazy pack! (The girls run to divide the money.) Ho! what is this? (He advances toward Plunket, who has hold of Nancy's arm.) You forget yourself! Forbear!
Plun. Who are you? What do you want? (A tussel threatens between the two men. Tristan backs down, afraid.)
Lady H. There, there! it's all right! (To Tristan.) We are ready to go now. (Takes his arm.)
Plun. I'd like to see you! With my money in your purse! You stay with us!
Tris. Fellow! do you know who this is?
Lady H. (aside to Tris.) No! no! don't betray me! Think what a scandal if this got to court! Don't you dare to tell them who I am!
Nan. (aside). We should be disgraced forever. Rather die than that!
Tris. Well, come, then. It is time for me to insist. I require you to come with me. (Tries to lead them off.)
Plun. (interferes). Not so fast! You belong here. These are my maids, hired and cash paid in advance! Ask the sheriff!
Sheriff (who has approached during the altercation, after a long confab with one of the other girls at one side). Have you taken the money?
Lady H. (draws it out of her purse and flings it at Lionel). Yes. But there it is; I had forgotten it.
(Lionel picks it up and offers it back. She refuses it. He insists.)
Sheriff. You took it of your own free will and now it is a bargain. You are bound to serve for one year. Highty, tighty! Do you think you can play fast and loose with a master in that fashion? No, no! Bound you are to him and with him you must go!
(During final chorus Plun. drives up his horse and cart and the two girls are handed into the cart. They drive away. Tristan tries to follow, but is restrained by the crowd. If the horse and cart cannot be had, the two girls may dodge about among the crowd, the men following them, and run off at last, the men chasing them.)
(The third act opens in the great hall of the farmhouse of Lionel and Plunket. At one side of stage at back is an outside door; on the other side, a window with bench in front of it. Another door is on the left. There are several chairs. A flight of stairs goes up from the right side, back corner. Two spinning wheels stand at rear, and farm tools hang about the walls.
During the instrumental prelude the outside door opens and the two men, Lionel and Plunket, enter, inviting the girls, Lady H. and Nancy, who are behind, to come in. They come in slowly, hesitatingly, half afraid.)
(Holds it toward her. Martha stamps her foot, slaps hat out of his hand and walks up stage. He, bewildered, hangs up his own hat.)
(Nancy suddenly throws Plunket's wheel over and runs off stage by back door, Plunket after her.)
Lady H. Nan—Betsy Ann! O stay with me! Heavens, she's left me!
Lio. Martha, why are you going? Are you afraid to stay alone with me?
Lady H. Afraid? Of you? Oh, no. (Smiles, but still hesitates.)
Lio. (aside). How could I ever have spoken harshly to her?
Lady H. (aside). Where has Nancy gone?
Lio. Martha, I will never again ask any toil of you, or any service that you dislike. Martha, I never saw any one before that seemed to me so pretty and so sweet! Are all girls as lovely as you?
Lady H. Don't you know?
Lio. I never noticed a girl before.
Lady H. (archly). Where have your eyes been?
Lio. Dreaming, I guess. I feel as if I had just awakened to all the beauty and joy there is in the world!
Lady H. Alas! and I feel as if I have already learned how shallow are all earthly joys! (Pensively.)
Lio. Poor little maid! You have had too hard a life. Such service has burdened you with care too soon. Here you will never again have to labor beyond your strength. I would myself do all disagreeable tasks rather than require them of you.
Lady H. Oh, I am a good-for-nothing. I never did a real day's work in all my life.
Lio. You must not scold yourself. Martha is my servant now, and I would not exchange her for a dozen others.
Lady H. But can you not see that I am not worth my salt? I shall only be an expense to you. I cannot earn a shilling a week. See my hands. (Shows them.) Do they look like useful members?
Lio. (takes them in his hands). So white and soft! Surely never servant before had such pretty fingers. Not a spot of toil!
Lady H. And so of course they are of no use to you, and you will not keep me here any longer. You will let them go—this useless pair of hands?
Lio. I cannot let them go!
Lady H. (tries to withdraw her hands). But if I work they will become hard and stained. I have never been taught—
Lio. Never worked before? Then I will teach you and share your every task. What can you do?
Lady H. I can sing a little.
Lio And you can smile. (He looks at her; her eyes fall.)
Lady H. Sing and smile! A working maid must do something more than that.
Lio. If you will stay with me here and smile and sing, you shall see how pleasant you will find it. You shall have no rough tasks. You shall have only kindness and happiness. You shall be like a sister in this house. These little hands will dispense blessing and peace. (Kisses them.)
Lady H. (draws her hands away and walks to the door. He follows.) Is it thus that masters treat a servant? (With dignity.)
Lio. Forgive me! I have forgotten everything. O, would that your station were different—or mine!
Lady H. (turns back). My station?—(recollects herself). But I am only a serving lass! (She laughs and returns down stage.)
Lio. And so you must do what I bid you. I require of you a song.
Lady H. Oh, I am too shy to sing.
Lio. (takes the flowers from her dress). I'll exchange this nosegay for a song. (Music of "Last Rose of Summer" may be played softly here.)
Lady H. Ah! you jest.
Lio. No, I command!
Lady H. (coldly). Command, sir?
Lio. Nay, I entreat (kneels, laughingly).
(Lady H. takes one of the flowers he offers, and plays with it as she sings. He puts the other flowers presently into the breast of his coat.)
Lady H. Ah, your entreaty I cannot withstand. (Sings.)
(Aside.) His eyes betray he loves me,
Lio. (speaks). Martha!
Lady H. Master!
Lio. My heart can no longer be denied. I have loved you from the first moment I saw you yonder at Richmond market. Martha (takes her hand again).
Lady H. Ah, no, no! (Turns her face away.)
Lio. Love at first sight! First love at first sight!
Lady H. No more, no more! Oh, be silent!
Lio. Martha, I shall never love woman but you. (Puts his arm around her.)
Lady H. (tries to escape). Oh, I must go, I must go! (Pulls away.)
Lio. Stay and hear me. Stay—and be my wife!—
Lady H. Oh, what is he saying?
Lio. See, I am at your feet—in earnest now! (Kneels.)
Lady H. (aside). Oh, how can I elude him? (Begins to laugh.) Don't think me heartless, but really (affectedly) to see you kneeling there is so funny!
Lio. But when we are married all difference of birth and station will be wiped out; you will forget that you were once my servant; you will have in me forever a slave!
Lady H. (is touched, and then begins to laugh hysterically again). Ha! ha! ha! This is ridiculous! If you only knew how funny you are!
(Plunket runs on dragging Nancy. Lionel rises and Lady H. runs toward Nancy whom Plunket swings on to the stage.)
Plun. There, my girl! Don't you try that game again! Where do you suppose she was? the vixen! In the kitchen, smashing dishes, bottles, glasses, everything she could lay her hands on! She made me look lively, too, before I caught her. My eye!
Nan. If you don't let me go, I'll scratch it out!
Plun. (releasing her). Jupiter! I believe you would! She has spirit. I confess I like to see it.
Nan. Martha, Martha, what are we going to do? (Twelve o'clock strikes slowly as they speak.)
Plun. Pooh! What ails you now? My patience is worn out! Get to bed, you idle baggage! You are a hard case, that's easy to see.
(Girls go out and close door, before orchestral ending. Then the men retire after locking the outer door. Girls open their door again, peep out, run back, and shut door, etc.; then come out again, watching with finger on lips for interruptions. They speak.)
Lady H. Nancy!
Nancy. My lady.
Lady H. This is our chance.
Nancy. What shall we do?
Lady H. What do you say?
Nan. Can we escape so—all alone?
Lady H. We are locked in, besides.
Nan. What an awful time we are having!
Lady H. Awful day—aw-ful-ler night—the day was bad, but this is worse. We are in a scrape!
Nan, Still—those fellows might be worse! (Looks at Lady H. slyly.)
Lady H. (with dignity). They are well meaning.
Nan. (archly). And polite.
Lady H. If the Queen should hear of it!
Nan. Good bye us!
Lady H. (grasps Nancy and they run across stage to their door). What is it? O who is coming?
Nan. Steps—a voice—help is near!
Tristan (outside whispers loudly). Cousin, cousin!
Lady H. Tristan! O joy! O horrors!
Nan. What will he think?
Lady H. He will scold us—and we deserve it. But he will save us!
Tris. Yes, here I am, faithful still. Cousin. (Looks around.) What a vulgar habitation! That I should live to see you in a place like this. (Shudders.)
Nan. Hush! You'll wake everybody up.
Lady H. Don't stop to preach. Just go.
Tris. I have a carriage at the corner. Come, make haste.
(A forest. A small inn at left. Plunket and several of his farm hands discovered sitting at table. Plunket rises and sings his song, the men joining in chorus.)
(At close of chorus after Plunket's song, horns are heard outside,—the opening strains of the next number. When it stops, at end of second brace, he speaks.)
Plun. Aha! the hunt is up. They told me the Queen would hunt today.
One of Men. Yes, with all her ladies. No doubt the men-folk will follow, too!
Plun. Start along, you, then. I'll go in and pay the score.
(As music begins again the court ladies run on in hunting costume. They wear short walking skirts, caps and high boots, perhaps, and all carry long spears. Nancy is with them. She carries a whip instead of a spear, and wears a long riding habit draped up over high boots.)
(Girls stroll about stage and sit at table. Nancy comes forward alone.)
Plunket. Halloo! There seems to be good game afoot here. I'll see if I have any luck at the chase myself! (Walks towards the ladies.)
Nan. (looking around). Where can Lady Harriet be? She seems to avoid society more than ever. She is very unhappy, and has been so ever since—(addresses Plunket) My good man, can you tell me—(stops in agitation)
Plun. What, Betsy Ann! You? In these togs!
Nan. (distantly). Well, my good man, what is it?
Plun. I am not your good man! But you are my bad maid! Just you wait! I'll make you pay for all the trouble you've given me. What are you doing here in this masquerade?
Nan. Are you crazy?
Plun. No use to pretend! I know you. Come along home with me!
Nan. (shrieks as he seizes her wrist). Help! Help!
Plun. What a wicked little hussy you are!
Nan. What an impudent big clodhopper you are!
Nan. Here is game for you, girls. Let's see how he will like your spears!
Chorus (speaking all together). We'll give him a taste of our spear points! He won't bother her long! At him, now! There's safety in numbers! (Repeating.)
Plun. Gently, gently—Hold on! This is turning the tables in good earnest. Ouch!!! Those remarks are a little too pointed for me. (Dodges.) I never expected to see myself run from a woman, but here goes! (He runs off, the ladies after him, shouting incoherently, as above.Nancy enters inn.)
(Enter Lionel. He looks more absent-minded and dreamy than ever. He seems dejected and ill. Murmurs to himself.)
Lio. I will detach thee from thy frail trembling stem. O thou lovely rose of summer, thou shalt lie upon my heart, forever more! (Takes withered flower from his breast and kisses it, then looks around him.)
Where am I? I feel that I am near her. Martha, Martha! thou star of my heart! I see her before me, with her beautiful pure smile, radiant in youth and sweetness. O Martha, I feel thee near! (Sings.)
(At the close of his song Lionel goes to the back of stage and stands alone. Sir Tristan and Lady Harriet enter.)
Tris. The ladies are all out of sight. Why did you leave their company, fair cousin?
Lady H. (pointedly). Because I wished to be alone!
Tristan. To remain alone—with me?
Lady H. With you?—(laughs a little) Alone or with you—it's quite the same thing!—-I am low-spirited, that is what I mean. I don't want to see anybody.
Tris. What should make you so sad?
Lady H. I am sure I know no more than you about it. It is a mystery even to myself.
Tris. But to remain alone in this secluded spot—is it quite—er—you know—
Lady H. But it is exactly what I want. Good bye!
Tris. But I will soon return—soon—soon—(looks back anxiously as he goes)
Lady H. Oh, it is so good to be alone, with only my sad memories for company! But if he were only here—this loneliness were sweet.
Lio. (wanders down stage and sees her). Ah! that voice!
Lady H. Oh, heaven—what do I see?—
Lionel. A lady?—
Lady H. He is here, then—even as I said!
Lio. 'Tis she—even as I said—Martha, Martha!
Lady H. O, what shall I do now? How shall I elude him?—
Lio. O, Martha, you have come back to me—O, thank heaven, thank heaven! It is Martha, her very self—Martha, who ran away from me!
Lady H. O, how can I bear it! what a tragedy is this! To find—again—and to lose!
Lio. Before mine eyes beheld thee, my heart recognized thee—
Lady H. Recognized me? Surely you are mistaken, sir!
Lio. No! Every line of your face is graven on my heart. I cannot be wrong. It is Martha's voice that I hear. There can be no mistake.
Lady H. You are dreaming!
Lio. If this be a dream, O let me never awake from it! Ah, I would dream thus forever. Disturb not so sweet a slumber!
Lady H. O go, I beg you go!
Lio. No, no. In my dream let me take your hand, "as I did once—do you remember? Let me kiss it—thus—to tell my love.
Lady H. I can no longer tolerate such gross impertinence. Will you go, sir?
Lio. Wherefore this pretence? Why do you disown me?
Lady H. Hence, peasant clown—begone!
Lio. I, a peasant? I, your master? Patience is thrown away on you! I have been too gentle. Now I command you to come instantly with me! (Takes her arm.)
Lady H. Tristan—help, help!