The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts Part 26

Vernon I was afraid so! And that, of course, I must attend to. But tell me--You must have had some terrible quarrel with your stepmother.

Pauline Let me hear no more of that creature. She deceives my father.

Vernon I know it.

Pauline She never loved him.

Vernon I was quite sure of that!

Pauline She has sworn to ruin me.

Vernon How? Is it in an affair of your heart that she wishes to do you harm?

Pauline Rather say, it is my life she threatens.

Vernon What a horrible suspicion! Pauline, my child, I love you well, you know I do. Tell me, can nothing save you?

Pauline In order to change my fate, it would be necessary that my father change his ideas. Listen; I am in love with M. Ferdinand.

Vernon I already know that. But who would hinder you from marrying him?

Pauline Can you keep a secret? Well, he is the son of General Marcandal!

Vernon My G.o.d! You may rely on my keeping that secret! Why, your father would fight with him to the death, if for nothing else, because he has had him under his roof for three years.

Pauline You will then see very plainly that there is no hope for me.

(Pauline sinks back overwhelmed with emotion in an armchair.)

Vernon Poor child! I fear she is going to faint. (He rings and calls) Marguerite! Marguerite!

SCENE FOURTEENTH

The same persons, Gertrude, Marguerite and the General.

Marguerite (running in) What is it, sir?

Vernon Get me a tea-urn of boiling water, into which you must drop some orange leaves.

(Exit Marguerite.)

Gertrude What is the matter with you, Pauline?

The General Dear child, do tell us?

Gertrude Oh, it is nothing! We can understand her feelings. It is because she sees her lot in life decided--

Vernon (to the General) Her lot decided? And in what way?

The General She is going to marry G.o.dard! (Aside) It seems to me as if she were giving up some love affair of which she did not wish to tell me. As far as I can understand from what my wife has told me, the unknown one is ineligible, and Pauline did not discover his unworthiness until yesterday.

Vernon And you believe this? Do not precipitate matters, General. We will talk it over this evening. (Aside) Before then I am going to have a few words with Madame de Grandchamp.

Pauline (to Gertrude) The doctor knows all!

Gertrude Ah!

Pauline (she puts back into the pocket of Gertrude the handkerchief and the key, while the latter is looking at Vernon, who converses with the General) Keep him away, for he is capable of telling all he knows to the General. We must at least protect Ferdinand.

Gertrude (aside) She is right. (Aloud) Doctor, I have just been informed that Francis, one of our best workmen, is sick; he hasn't appeared this morning, and you might go and visit him.

The General Francis? Oh! Vernon, you had better go and see him--

Vernon Doesn't he live at Pre-l'Eveque? (Aside) More than three leagues away.

The General Are you alarmed about Pauline?

Vernon It is simply an attack of nerves.

Gertrude I can take your place here, doctor, if that is so, can't I?

Vernon Yes. (To the General) I'll undertake to say that Francis is about as sick as I am! The fact of it is, I see rather too much and my presence is not desired--

The General (in a rage) What are you talking about? To whom do you refer?

Vernon Are you going to fly into a pa.s.sion again? Do calm yourself, my old friend, or you will cause yourself eternal remorse.

The General Remorse?

Vernon Just keep these people talking, till I return.

The General But--

Gertrude (to Pauline) Tell me, how do you feel now, my sweet angel?

The General Just look at them.

Vernon Ah! Well, women stab each other with a smile and a kiss.

SCENE FIFTEENTH

The same persons (except Vernon) and Marguerite.