Speed the Plough Part 4

SCENE III.

_A Grove._

[MORRINGTON _comes down the stage, wrapped in a great coat--He looks about--then at his watch, and whistles--which is answered._]

_Enter_ GERALD.

_Mor._ Here, Gerald! Well, my trusty fellow, is Sir Philip arrived?

_Ger._ No, sir; but hourly expected.

_Mor._ Tell me, how does the castle look?

_Ger._ Sadly decayed, sir.

_Mor._ I hope, Gerald, you were not observed.

_Ger._ I fear otherwise, sir; on the skirts of the domain I encountered a stripling with his gun; but I darted into that thicket, and so avoided him.

[HENRY _appears in the back ground, in a shooting dress, attentively observing them._]

_Mor._ Have you gained any intelligence?

_Ger._ None: the report that reached us was false--The infant certainly died with its mother--Hus.h.!.+ conceal yourself--we are observed--this way.

[_They retreat_--HENRY _advances._

_Henry._ Hold! as a friend, one word!

[_They exeunt, he follows them, and returns._

Again they have escaped me--"_The infant died with its mother_"--This agony of doubt is insupportable.

_Enter_ EVERGREEN.

_Everg._ Henry, well met.

_Henry._ Have you seen strangers?

_Everg._ No!

_Henry._ Two but now have left this place--They spoke of a lost child--My busy fancy led me to think I was the object of their search--I pressed forward, but they avoided me.

_Everg._ No, no; it could not be you; for no one on earth knows but myself, and----

_Henry._ Who? Sir Philip Blandford?

_Everg._ I am sworn, you know, my dear boy; I am solemnly sworn to silence.

_Henry._ True, my good old friend; and if the knowledge of who I am can only be obtained at the price of thy perjury, let me for ever remain ignorant--let the corroding thought still haunt my pillow, cross me at every turn, and render me insensible to the blessings of health and liberty--yet, in vain do I suppress the thought--who am I? why thus abandoned? perhaps the despised offspring of guilt--Ah! is it so?

[_Seizing him violently._

_Everg._ Henry, do I deserve this?

_Henry._ Pardon me, good old man! I'll act more reasonably--I'll deem thy silence mercy.

_Everg._ That's wisely said.

_Henry._ Yet it is hard to think, that the most detested reptile that nature forms, or man pursues, has, when he gains his den, a parent's pitying breast to shelter in; but I----

_Everg._ Come, come, no more of this.

_Henry._ Well!----I visited to-day that young man who was so grievously bruised by the breaking of his team.

_Everg._ That was kindly done, Henry.

_Henry._ I found him suffering under extreme torture, yet a ray of joy shot from his languid eye--for his medicine was administered by a father's hand--it was a mother's precious tear that dropped upon his wound--Oh, how I envied him!

_Everg._ Still on the same subject--I tell thee, if thou art not acknowledged by thy race, why, then become the n.o.ble founder of a new one.--Come with me to the castle, for the last time.

_Henry._ The last time!

_Everg._ Aye, boy; for, when Sir Philip arrives, you must avoid him.

_Henry._ Not see him! where exists the power that shall prevent me?

_Everg._ Henry, if you value your own peace of mind--if you value an old man's comfort, avoid the castle.

_Henry._ [_Aside._] I must dissemble with this honest creature--Well, I am content.

_Everg._ That's right--that's right,--Henry--Be but thou resigned and virtuous, and He, who clothes the lily of the field, will be a parent to thee. [_Exeunt._

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I.

_A Lodge belonging to the Castle._

_Dame Ashfield discovered making lace._

_Enter_ HANDY, _jun._

_Handy, jun._ A singular situation this my old dad has placed me in; brought me here to marry a woman of fas.h.i.+on and beauty, while I have been professing, and I've a notion feeling, the most ardent love for the pretty Susan Ashfield--Propriety says, take Miss Blandford--Love says, take Susan--Fas.h.i.+on says, take both--but would Susan consent to such an arrangement?--and if she refused, would I consent to part with her?--Oh, time enough to put that question, when the previous one is disposed of--[_Seeing_ DAME.] How do you do? How do you do?--Making lace, I perceive--Is it a common employment, here?

_Dame._ Oh, no, sir? n.o.body can make it in these parts but myself!--Mrs.