(The third act opens in the great hall of the farmhouse of Lionel and Plunket. At one side of stage at back is an outside door; on the other side, a window with bench in front of it. Another door is on the left. There are several chairs. A flight of stairs goes up from the right side, back corner. Two spinning wheels stand at rear, and farm tools hang about the walls.
During the instrumental prelude the outside door opens and the two men, Lionel and Plunket, enter, inviting the girls, Lady H. and Nancy, who are behind, to come in. They come in slowly, hesitatingly, half afraid.)
No. 8.
Plun. and Lio. (sing).
Come in, my pretty maidens,
We've reached our home, you see.
Lady H. and Nan. O, we are in a pretty fix,
We only long to flee.
How safely to escape them
We'll seek from morn till mirk.
(Girls sit down). O, what a shabby dwelling,
O, how they'll make us work.
Lio. and Plun. Now, look alive!
Of work don't be afraid.
Lady H. and Nan. There's no hope, I'm afraid.
We've come to the end of our jest at last.
No. 9.
Plun. (points to door at left).
That's the room I mean to give them.
Lady H. and Nan. (rising).
Then good night, then good night.
(Starting toward door.)
Plun. What's that you say?
First put everything aright.
Lady H. O, with cold I'm all a-shiver!
Nan. O, I quake in every member.
Lio. Both to fainting, seem inclined.
Plun. Why, to spoil them you've a mind.
Nan. This denouement is provoking.
Plun. You've not told us your names yet, my maids.
Lady H. and Nan. We!
Lio. Yes, obey!
Plun. Obey at once, no joking.
Lady H. Martha is my name.
Lio. Martha?
Lady H. (looks at him). Yes.
Plun. Now, tell yours.
Nan. (aside). Mad masquerading!
Plun. Don't you know it?
Nan. Betsy Ann!
Plun. Betsy Ann? I rather like it!
Come here, my girl: lend a hand then, will you, Betsy?
(Pulls off his coat and offers it to her.)
Take my coat and hang it up.
Nan. Do't yourself!
Plun. You lazy hussy!
Lio. Come, you frighten her by scolding.
Speak more gently, say like that—
Martha, take away my hat.
(Holds it toward her. Martha stamps her foot, slaps hat out of his hand and walks up stage. He, bewildered, hangs up his own hat.)
Lio. O, how have I offended? I cannot understand.
Yes, I'm awfully perplexed.
Why should she act so grand?
Plun. Ah, what can be the matter?
I do not understand.
Some secret she is screening,
Her manner is so grand.
Nan. Ah, on my dignity I stand.
They give an order quite off hand!
Lady H.To tyranny I'll ne'er give in,
We'll fight them now, to win.
He thinks me strange and haughty
But on my right I stand,
Commanding I must withstand him,
Resist his harsh demand.
No. 10.
Plun. (draws spinning wheels to center of stage).
Come, your task awaits, the whirring wheel and spindle!
Lady H. and Nan. Set us spinning? We're to spin?
Lio. Yes, of course.
Plun. So begin.
How your claims to skill do dwindle.
Lady H. and Nan. Ha, ha, ha, spin, sir?
Plun. (imitating her laughter in anger).
Ha, ha, ha, so set to work and spin your task!
What you here for, may I ask?
Just to hold your hands and chatter?
What's the matter?
Nan. What a clatter.
Lio. Pray be calm, now, they're afraid.
Plun. Peace! Come, spin! we won't be cheated.
Lady H. and Nan. How, sir?
Lio. What?
Plun.Come, come.
(Places chairs at spinning wheels.)
Plun. Be seated. (They sit.)
Lady H. and Nan. 'Tis done.
Plun. Good! Now then, proceed.
(Imitating sound of spinning wheel.)
Thrum, thrum, thrum.
Nan. I can't, indeed.
Lio. Here's the distaff, firmly grasp it (To Lady H.),
'Twixt your fingers seize the skein.
Lady H. Must we with wet fingers clasp it?
Turn it? No, I won't!
How so? In vain.
I cannot, I cannot.
Place yourself then at the wheel.
(The two girls rise and the men sit one at each wheel.)
Plun. We'll make it reel.
All. While the wheel is swiftly spinning
Round it thus the flax is roll'd,
But moistened just at the beginning,
That more firmly it may hold.
See the wheel so swiftly spinning,
To thread the flax is thinning.
(Nancy suddenly throws Plunket's wheel over and runs off stage by back door, Plunket after her.)
(Lady H. turns to follow Nancy. Speaks.)
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 shilling 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 lass! (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,
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.)
Lady H. (tries to escape). Oh, I must go, I must go! (Pulls away.)
Lio. Stay and hear me. Stay—and be my wife!—
Lady H. Oh, what is he saying?
Lio. See, I am at your feet—in earnest now! (Kneels.)
Lady H. (aside). Oh, how can I elude him? (Begins to laugh.) Don't think me heartless, but really (affectedly) to see you kneeling there is so funny!
Lio. But when we are married all difference of birth and station will be wiped out; you will forget that you were once my servant; you will have in me forever a slave!
Lady H. (is touched, and then begins to laugh hysterically again). Ha! ha! ha! This is ridiculous! If you only knew how funny you are!
(Plunket runs on dragging Nancy. Lionel rises and Lady H. runs toward Nancy whom Plunket swings on to the stage.)
Plun. There, my girl! Don't you try that game again! Where do you suppose she was? the vixen! In the kitchen, smashing dishes, bottles, glasses, everything she could lay her hands on! She made me look lively, too, before I caught her. My eye!
Nan. If you don't let me go, I'll scratch it out!
Plun. (releasing her). Jupiter! I believe you would! She has spirit. I confess I like to see it.
Nan. Martha, Martha, what are we going to do? (Twelve o'clock strikes slowly as they speak.)
Plun. Pooh! What ails you now? My patience is worn out! Get to bed, you idle baggage! You are a hard case, that's easy to see.
(Quartet follows.)
Lady H., Nan., Plun. and Lio. Midnight chimes sound afar!
Lio.If the maid her love refuse me,
Yet I pledge my faithful heart,
In her glance faint hope is smiling,
Bringing comfort ere here we part.
Nan. Of our foolish prank I'm weary,
Tho' in play 'twas fain begun;
Yet our childish trick is working
Pain and sorrow to every one.
So good night!
Plun. Now good night and sleep in quiet,
Tho' you're fractious I am kind,
Naughty girls to work must settle,
Learn to mind.
Lady H. That to wound his heart I'm fated
Fills my heart with pity and pain,
Ah, our mad caprice is working
Pain and sorrow, all in vain.
Lio.Though her love she refuse me,
Yet I pledge my faithful heart,
So good night, good night!
(Girls go out and close door, before orchestral ending. Then the men retire after locking the outer door. Girls open their door again, peep out, run back, and shut door, etc.; then come out again, watching with finger on lips for interruptions. They speak.)
Lady H. Nancy!
Nancy. My lady.
Lady H. This is our chance.
Nancy. What shall we do?
Lady H. What do you say?
Nan. Can we escape so—all alone?
Lady H. We are locked in, besides.
Nan. What an awful time we are having!
Lady H. Awful day—aw-ful-ler night—the day was bad, but this is worse. We are in a scrape!
Nan, Still—those fellows might be worse! (Looks at Lady H. slyly.)
Lady H. (with dignity). They are well meaning.
Nan. (archly). And polite.
Lady H. If the Queen should hear of it!
Nan. Good bye us!
(A noise is heard outside at window.)
Lady H. (grasps Nancy and they run across stage to their door). What is it? O who is coming?
Nan. Steps—a voice—help is near!
Tristan (outside whispers loudly). Cousin, cousin!
Lady H. Tristan! O joy! O horrors!
Nan. What will he think?
Lady H. He will scold us—and we deserve it. But he will save us!
(Tristan enters through the window which girls help him open.)
Tris. Yes, here I am, faithful still. Cousin. (Looks around.) What a vulgar habitation! That I should live to see you in a place like this. (Shudders.)
Nan. Hush! You'll wake everybody up.
Lady H. Don't stop to preach. Just go.
Tris. I have a carriage at the corner. Come, make haste.
(They tiptoe about and sing.)
No. 12.
Lady H. and Nan.Hasten then, to fortune trust our lot,
thee well, thou humble cot.
'Tis our only chance to fly,
We'll not stop to say good bye.
Tris.Let's be off now in a hurry,
For their anger we'll not worry,
'Tis your only chance to fly,
We'll not stop to say good bye.
(As the curtain falls they have all three climbed out of window.)
Curtain.
