Then let their wits, good Margaret, wander here! Poor wandering fools! MARGARET. IOLA (weeping). If your wisdom were equal to their folly I should learn my tasks much quicker Than I do. Hark! No more ;-they're gone! (Iola weeps-enter Grimes.) GRIMES. Whence these sounds? Iola-Margaret What is all this? These tears! IOLA. Dear father, I am very sad! GRIMES. Iola, it is foolish to shed tears! IOLA. Dear father, I have no secret from THEE! (Weeps.) I love him! GRIMES (passionately). Love him!-love whom? IOLA. Alas, alas! Speak, girl; who is 't? GRIMES. IOLA. Oh, look not thus! I cannot bear thy frown! GRIMES (violently). I say, again, thou hast deceived me! I, who have watched thee from thy very birth, GRIMES (very violently-disengaging her). Some lowborn wretch ! Some ragged, rusty fool, Who prowls by night, lest his right-tattered garb Should show a tongue in every rag, To tell the world he's beggared to its wealth! Mercy!-mercy! IOLA. GRIMES. What filthy mongrel whelp has dared to lift Father, I here declare IOLA. He ne'er has spoken word to me. 'Tis I- GRIMES (kissing her). And is this true? Poor child! Then listen, dear! Iola, a noble gentleman has seen thee once, And, having seen, desires an interview. To-morrow noon he comes. Perhaps 'tis he! IOLA. GRIMES. Why, very like, my girl. IOLA. Oh, dearest father, an' if so it be, There spoke my darling! GRIMES. To-morrow eve, my love, I am compelled A little bird is whispering in my ear, That when Sir William's here he'll fill my place So well, you will not miss your father. And now, good night! Sir William's not the man to root it out! At mass- 'tis very strange! That music There may be more in this than first I thought. 'Tis strange! Reciprocal the affection Cannot be. A sprinkle of live powder (Exit R.) On a slumbering spark has raised this blaze. Or I may lose five thousand pounds hard gold. (Exit slowly R.) ACT II. SCENE I.-An apartment in Grimes's house. Iola discovered. IOLA. WELL, Margaret will not tell me who it is (Retires to flat. Enter Grimes L.) GRIMES (musing). It was for gold !-Oh, yes, it was for gold! And now I have my glut of it! But will it cool my burning blood, which bears The life as lightning through my veins? Never- -till blood answer it! Girl (agitated), why art thou here? My father! IOLA. GRIMES (energetically). (Sees Iola.) What dost thou here? For the world to see thee? I tell thee, girl, that man is treacherous ! IOLA. My father!-my dear father! GRIMES (waving Iola away). Back, girl! This is no place for thee! To thy chamber! Th' undaunted gaze of man doth wither all (Iola, weeping, retires R.) My ruined hopes-my blighted happiness- But then to look upon her ;-to behold To see all this, with more of grace, but less of fear, Hence, to the winds of heaven, ye sickening thoughts! That I faint not amid the wreck of life! (Music outside.) Peace, you vile and ditch-like brawlers! |