Carlyon Sahib Part 28

And then?

VERA.

[_Sweeping her other hand across her brow._] I won't say it. I never thought of it myself; it is only _your_ thought drilling itself into my brain!

CARLYON.

You can _help_ Rheinhardt when he operates.

VERA.

They will never let me help.

CARLYON.

Don't you see, if you go to India to nurse him, Rheinhardt will think you are in love with the man?

VERA.

[_Appealing for mercy._] I believe I was once---- Oh, Father! Father!

CARLYON.

[_Lets her go; moving towards door._] Think of it by yourself. [_Turning to her._] I leave you your full freedom! [_To himself._] I wish Elizabeth were here.

VERA.

Oh, don't leave me alone!

CARLYON.

[_Continuing, without regard to her appeal._] Think of it quietly!

[_Exit_ CARLYON, R.

[VERA _follows_ CARLYON _towards the door, then runs to the window and puts her head out_.

_Enter_ ELIZABETH.

ELIZABETH.

Vera, my eagle is dead! [VERA _silent_.] I felt sure it was coming, he has been so changed these last days,--he has been afraid of things!

VERA.

[_Looking round for a moment, startled, as if she did not understand._]

Oh, the eagle! [_Leans out again._

ELIZABETH.

Why, childie! Are you crying? What is the matter?

VERA.

Don't mind me, Elizabeth. I feel just like a child crying.

ELIZABETH.

You have been studying too much. That is it!

VERA.

No, I am only left alone.

ELIZABETH.

Why are you alone? You need not be, dear.

[_Goes up and offers_ VERA _her hand_.

VERA.

[_Reaching her hand back to_ ELIZABETH, _without looking in_.] Thank you, Elizabeth. You are kind to me. But you cannot be any good to me now.

ELIZABETH.

Very well, my dear. Only you will feel better if you trust somebody. It is always so.

VERA.

Who is there to trust? I mean to betray some one who trusts me.

ELIZABETH.

My dear, I think you had better come in from that window. [_Turns._]

What can you see to keep you out there?

VERA.

Would you like to know? [ELIZABETH _shows increasing emotion during this speech of_ VERA'S.] I see a sort of wide bottomless sheet of water,--it is only the spread of moonlight, you know. A great wide sheet of water--down there--and there is some one drowning in it. I can see his two eyes looking up to me from the depths of it, and there are his hands somewhere reaching out to me for help; and, do you know what, Elizabeth? I shall reach down and down until I can grip them, and then I shall hold him under the water till he is cold and dead---- he is cold already. That is what I see. It isn't a cheerful thing, is it? And then,--I don't know what it will be then; but now I can only see the eyes: they are not really like a man's eyes, they are like a child's eyes full of pain, and--[_turns and looks at_ ELIZABETH]--so trusting and innocent, like a little child being murdered!

ELIZABETH.

[_With a shriek._] No, no! G.o.d help me! Not a child's eyes! Not you too!

Oh, say you don't see them!

VERA.

[_Coming towards her._] Elizabeth! What is it? I have never seen you like this.