John Bull Part 23

_Mary._ I wished to come to this house in the morning, and now I would give the world to be out of it. Hark! here's somebody! Oh, mercy on me, 'tis he himself! What will become of me!

[_Retires towards the Back of the Scene._

_Enter FRANK ROCHDALE._

_Frank._ My father, then, shall see this visitor, whatever be the event. I will prepare him for the interview, and---- [_Sees MARY._]

Good Heaven! why--why are you here?

_Mary._ [_Advancing to him eagerly._] I don't come willingly to trouble you; I don't, indeed!

_Frank._ What motive, Mary, has brought you to this house? and who is the stranger under whose protection you have placed yourself, at the house on the heath? Surely you cannot love him!

_Mary._ I hope I do.

_Frank._ You hope you do!

_Mary._ Yes; for I think he saved my life this morning, when I was struggling with the robber, who threatened to kill me.

_Frank._ And had you taken no guide with you, Mary?--no protector?

_Mary._ I was thinking too much of one, who promised to be my protector always, to think of any other.

_Frank._ Mary----I----I----'twas I, then, it seems who brought your life into such hazard.

_Mary._ I hope I haven't said any thing to make you unhappy.

_Frank._ Nothing, my dearest Mary, nothing. I know it is not in your nature even to whisper a reproof. Yet, I sent a friend, with full power from me, to give you the amplest protection.

_Mary._ I know you did:--and he gave me a letter, that I might be protected, when I got to London.

_Frank._ Why, then, commit yourself to the care of a stranger?

_Mary._ Because the stranger read the direction of the letter--here it is, [_Taking it from her Pocket._] and said your friend was treacherous.

_Frank._ [_Looking at the Letter._] Villain!

_Mary._ Did he intend to lead me into a snare then?

_Frank._ Let me keep this letter.--I may have been deceived in the person I sent to you, but--d.a.m.n his rascality! [_Aside._] But, could you think me base enough to leave you, unsheltered? I had torn you from your home,--with anguish I confess it--but I would have provided you another home, which want should not have a.s.sailed.

Would this stranger bring you better comfort?

_Mary._ Oh, yes; he has; he has brought me my father.

_Frank._ Your father!--from whom I made you fly!

_Mary._ Yes; he has brought a father to his child,--that she might kiss off the tears her disobedience had forced down his aged cheeks, and restored me to the only home, which could give me any comfort, now.--And my father is here.

_Frank._ Here!

_Mary._ Indeed, I cou'dn't help his coming; and he made me come with him.

_Frank._ I--I am almost glad, Mary, that it has happened.

_Mary._ Are you?

_Frank._ Yes--when a weight of concealment is on the mind, remorse is relieved by the very discovery which it has dreaded. But you must not be waiting here, Mary. There is one in the house, to whose care I will entrust you.

_Mary._ I hope it isn't the person you sent to me to-day.

_Frank._ He! I would sooner cradle infancy with serpents.--Yet this is my friend! I will, now, confide in a stranger:--the stranger, Mary, who saved your life.

_Mary._ Is he here!

_Frank._ He is:--Oh, Mary, how painful, if, performing the duty of a son, I must abandon, at last, the expiation of a penitent! but so dependent on each other are the delicate combinations of probity, that one broken link perplexes the whole chain, and an abstracted virtue becomes a relative iniquity. [_Exeunt._

SCENE II.

_The Library._

_SIR SIMON ROCHDALE and his STEWARD, who appears to be quitting the Room. JOB THORNBERRY standing at a little Distance from them._

_Sir Simon._ Remember the money must be ready to-morrow, Mr.

Pennyman.

_Steward._ It shall, Sir Simon. [_Going._

_Sir Simon._ [_To JOB._] So, friend, your business, you say, is--and, Mr. Pennyman, [_STEWARD turns back._] give Robin Ruddy notice to quit his cottage, directly.

_Steward._ I am afraid, Sir Simon, if he's turned out, it will be his ruin.

_Sir Simon._ He should have recollected that, before he ruin'd his neighbour's daughter.

_Job._ [_Starting._] Eh!

_Sir Simon._ What's the matter with the man? His offence is attended with great aggravation.--Why doesn't he marry her?

_Job._ Aye! [_Emphatically._

_Sir Simon._ Pray, friend, be quiet.

_Steward._ He says it would make her more unfortunate still; he's too necessitous to provide even for the living consequence of his indiscretion.

_Sir Simon._ That doubles his crime to the girl.--He must quit. I'm a magistrate, you know, Mr. Pennyman, and 'tis my duty to discourage all such immorality.

_Steward._ Your orders must be obeyed, Sir Simon. [_Exit STEWARD._

_Sir Simon._ Now, yours is justice-business, you say. You come at an irregular time, and I have somebody else waiting for me; so be quick. What brings you here?