Part 12 (1/2)

SCENE II.--An Apartment in Master Heartwell's House.

[MASTER WALTER discovered looking through t.i.tle-deeds and papers.]

_Wal_. So falls out everything, as I would have it, Exact in place and time. This lord's advances Receives she,--as, I augur, in the spleen Of wounded pride she will,--my course is clear.

She comes--all's well--the tempest rages still.

[JULIA enters, and paces the room in a state of high excitement.]

_Julia_. What have my eyes to do with water? Fire Becomes them better!

_Wal_. True!

_Julia_. Yet, must I weep To be so monitored, and by a man!

A man that was my slave! whom I have seen Kneel at my feet from morn till noon, content With leave to only gaze upon my face, And tell me what he read there,--till the page I knew by heart, I 'gan to doubt I knew, Emblazoned by the comment of his tongue!

And he to lesson me! Let him come here On Monday week! He ne'er leads me to church!

I would not profit by his rank, or wealth, Though kings might call him cousin, for their sake!

I'll show him I have pride!

_Wal_. You're very right!

_Julia_. He would have had to-day our wedding-day!

I fixed a month from this. He prayed and prayed; I dropped a week. He prayed and prayed the more!

I dropped a second one. Still more he prayed!

And I took off another week,--and now I have his leave to wed, or not to wed!

He'll see that I have pride!

_Wal_. And so he ought.

_Julia_. O! for some way to bring him to my foot!

But he should lie there! Why, 'twill go abroad That he has cast me off. That there should live The man could say so! Or that I should live To be the leavings of a man!

_Wal_. Thy case I own a hard one!

_Julia_. Hard? 'Twill drive me mad!

His wealth and t.i.tle! I refused a lord-- I did!--that privily implored my hand, And never cared to tell him on't! So much I hate him now, that lord should not in vain Implore my hand again!

_Wal_. You'd give it him?

_Julia_. I would.

_Wal_. You'd wed that lord?

_Julia_. That lord I'd wed;-- Or any other lord,--only to show him That I could wed above him!

_Wal_. Give me your hand And word to that.

_Julia_. There! Take my hand and word!

_Wal_. That lord hath offered you his hand again.

_Julia_. He has?