Martha Part 7

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 s.h.i.+lling 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 la.s.s! (_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._)

NO. 11.

LADY H. (_sings_). 'Tis the last rose of summer, Left blooming alone; All her lovely companions Are faded and gone.

No flower of her kindred, No rosebud is nigh, To reflect back her blushes Or give sigh for sigh.

I'll not leave thee, thou lone one, To pine on the stem, Since the lovely are faded, Go sleep thou with them.

Thus kindly I'll scatter Thy leaves o'er the bed, Where thy mates of the garden Lie scentless and dead.

(_Aside._) His eyes betray he loves me, Spite my lowly seeming lot, My rank I must remember, Ah, would 'twere all forgot.

His heart is true and loyal, Tie me her loves alone, O, would I were the lowly maid He longs to make his own.

LIO. All my proud rank forgetting For the maid I love alone, I'd lift her from her low estate, And make her all my own.

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._)