The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts

I will, madame.

Gertrude (she lets her handkerchief fall in the excitement of her passionate speech) You are deceiving me! You tell me this, because he loves you, because he has already insulted me by avowing it, and because you believe that he will not love me any longer. Now this will not do, Pauline, you must give me some pledge of your sincerity.

Pauline (aside) Her handkerchief! Ah! I see with it the key of her desk. It is there that the poison is locked up! (Aloud) Did you say pledges of my sincerity? I will give them to you. What do you demand?

Gertrude Really, I do not care for more than one proof that you mean what you say, and that is, that you should marry the other suitor.

Pauline

I will marry him.

Gertrude

And you must, at this very moment, plight your troth with him.

Pauline Go to him yourself, madame, and tell him; and then come here with my father, and —

Gertrude

And what?

Pauline

And I will give him my word; even though this be to give away my life.

Gertrude (aside) In what a tone she uttered that. With what resolution! And without tears – I feel sure she is keeping something back! (Aloud) And so you are quite resigned to this?

Pauline

I am.

Gertrude (aside)

I hope she is. (To Pauline) If you are sincere —

Pauline You are mendacity itself, and you always see a lie in other's words – Oh! Leave me, madame, you make me shudder.

Gertrude (aside) Well, she is candid at any rate. (Aloud) I am going to tell Ferdinand of your resolution – (Pauline nods in acquiescence.) But he will not believe me. Suppose you write a word to him?

Pauline Yes, I will write to him, and tell him not to go away. (Sits down and writes.) Here is the letter, madame.

Gertrude (reads) "I am going to marry M. de Rimonville – so that you may remain here. Pauline." (Aside) I do not quite understand this – I fear that there is some trick in it. I am going to let him leave; he will learn of the marriage when he is far away from this.

(Exit Gertrude.)

SCENE NINTH

Pauline (alone) Ferdinand is utterly lost to me now – I have always expected it; the world is either a paradise or a prison cell; and I, a young girl, have dreamed only of the paradise. But anyway I have the key of the desk, and I can return it after having taken out something which may serve to put an end to this terrible situation. Yes, that is what I will do!

SCENE TENTH

Pauline and Marguerite.

Marguerite Mademoiselle, my trunks are all packed. I am now going to begin packing here.

Pauline

Yes. (Aside) It is best to let her do so. (Aloud) Come here,

Marguerite, take this gold and conceal it among your things.

Marguerite

You are sure that your reasons for starting away are very urgent?

Pauline My poor Marguerite, who knows whether I shall be able to get away! But come, go on with your work.

(Exit Pauline.)

SCENE ELEVENTH

Marguerite (alone) And to think that I believed this fury was unwilling that mademoiselle should marry! Is it possible that mademoiselle should have concealed from me that her real love was being opposed? Yet her father is so good to her! He leaves her free to choose – Suppose I were to speak to the General – Oh! no, I would not run the risk of injuring my child.

SCENE TWELFTH

Marguerite and Pauline.

Pauline No one has seen me. Listen, Marguerite, first of all, take away the money that I gave you, and then let me think about the resolution which I have taken.

Marguerite

If I were in your place, mademoiselle, I would tell everything to the

General.

Pauline To my father? Unhappy woman, do not betray me! And let both of us respect the illusions, in the midst of which he lives.

Marguerite

Ah! Illusions! That is the very word.

Pauline

You may leave me now.

(Exit Marguerite.)

SCENE THIRTEENTH