The Plays of W. E. Henley and R. L. Stevenson

Mary. It is not true; it cannot be true.

Doctor. My dear young lady, you must have misunderstood your brother’s language.

Mary. O no; that I did not. That I am sure I did not.

Doctor (looking at door). The strange thing is.. the bolt.

Servant. It’s unco strange.

Doctor. Well, we have acted for the best.

Servant. Sir, I dinna think this should gang nae further.

Doctor. The secret is in our keeping. Affliction is enough without scandal.

Mary. Kind heaven, what does it mean?

Doctor. I think there is no more to be done.

Mary. I am here alone, Doctor; you pass my uncle’s door?

Doctor. The Procurator-Fiscal? I shall make it my devoir. Expect him soon. (Goes out with Maid.)

Mary (hastily searches the room). No, he is not there. She was right! O father, you can never know, praise God!

SCENE II

Mary, to whom Jean and afterwards Leslie

Jean (at door). Mistress.. !

Mary. Ah! Who is there? Who are you?

Jean. Is he no hame yet? I’m aye waitin’ on him.

Mary. Waiting for him? Do you know the Deacon? You?

Jean. I maun see him. Eh, lassie, it’s life and death.

Mary. Death.. O my heart!

Jean. I maun see him, bonnie leddie. I’m a puir body, and no fit to be seen speakin’ wi’ the likes o’ you. But O lass, ye are the Deacon’s sister, and ye hae the Deacon’s e’en, and for the love of the dear kind Lord, let’s in and hae a word wi’ him ere it be ower late. I’m bringin’ siller.

Mary. Siller? You? For him? O father, father, if you could hear! What are you? What are you.. to him?

Jean. I’ll be the best frien’ ’at ever he had; for, O dear leddie, I wad gie my bluid to help him.

Mary. And the.. the child?

Jean. The bairn?

Mary. Nothing! O nothing! I am in trouble, and I know not what I say. And I cannot help you; I cannot help you if I would. He is not here; and I believed he was; and ill.. ill; and he is not – he is.. O, I think I shall lose my mind!

Jean. Ay, it’s unco business.

Mary. His father is dead within there.. dead, I tell you.. dead!

Jean. It’s mebbe just as weel.

Mary. Well? Well? Has it come to this? O Walter, Walter! come back to me, or I shall die. (Leslie enters, C.)

Leslie. Mary, Mary! I hoped to have spared you this. (To Jean.) What – you? Is he not here?

Jean. I’m aye waitin’ on him.

Leslie. What has become of him? Is he mad? Where is he?

Jean. The Lord A’michty kens, Mr. Leslie. But I maun find him; I maun find him.

SCENE III

Mary, Leslie

Mary. O Walter, Walter! What does it mean?

Leslie. You have been a brave girl all your life, Mary; you must lean on me.. you must trust in me.. and be a brave girl till the end.

Mary. Who is she? What does she want with him? And he.. where is he? Do you know that my father is dead, and the Deacon not here? Where has he gone? He may be dead, too. Father, brother.. O God, it is more than I can bear!

Leslie. Mary, my dear, dear girl.. when will you be my wife?

Mary. O, do not speak.. not speak.. of it to-night. Not to-night! O not to-night!

Leslie. I know, I know dear heart! And do you think that I whom you have chosen, I whose whole life is in your love – do you think that I would press you now if there were not good cause?

Mary. Good cause! Something has happened. Something has happened.. to him! Walter..! Is he.. dead?

Leslie. There are worse things in the world than death. There is O.. Mary, he is your brother!

Mary. What? Dishonour!.. The Deacon!.. My God!

Leslie. My wife, my wife!

Mary. No, no! Keep away from me. Don’t touch me. I’m not fit.. not fit to be near you. What has he done? I am his sister. Tell me the worst. Tell me the worst at once.

Leslie. That, if God wills, dear, that you shall never know. Whatever it be, think that I knew it all, and only loved you better; think that your true husband is with you, and you are not to bear it alone.

Mary. My husband?.. Never.