Tresh. Come in! [She enters. Nothing more? Pleasant question! more? Ah, Guendolen-good morning. Tresh. What should I say more? Guen. This more! Did I besiege poor Mildred's brain Last night till close on morning with "the Earl ""The Earl "-whose worth did I asseverate Till I am very fain to hope that . . . Thorold, Arrived, then? Does that huge tome show some blot In the Earl's 'scutcheon come no longer back Than Arthur's time? Tresh. When left you Mildred's chamber? Guen. Oh late enough, I told you! The main thing To ask is, how I left her chamber, sure, Content yourself, she 'll grant this paragon I am not well-there is no hiding it. But tell her I would see her at her leisure That is, at once! here in the Library! That she must come-and instantly! Guen. I'll die Piecemeal, record that, if there have not gloomed Tresh. Go! or, Guendolen, Be you at call, with Austin, if you choose, In the adjoining gallery-There, go! [GUENDOLEN goes. Another lesson to me! you might bid A child disguise his heart's sore, and conduct Some sly investigation point by point With a smooth brow, as well as bid me catch If you had told me yesterday, "There's one "You needs must circumvent and practise with, "Entrap by policies, if you would worm "The truth out—and that one is-Mildred!" There-reasoning is thrown away on it! There Prove she's unchaste.. why you may after prove Abomination, then outpour all plagues, And I shall ne'er make count of them! Mil. Enter MILDRED. What book Is it I wanted, Thorold? Guendolen Thought you were pale-you are not pale! That book? That's Latin surely! Tresh. Mildred-here's a line (Don't lean on me-I'll English it for you) "Love conquers all things." What love conquers them? What love should you esteem-best love? Mil. True love. Tresh. I mean, and should have said, whose love is best Of all that love or that profess to love? Mil. The list's so long-there 's father's, mother's, husband's ... Tresh. Mildred, I do believe a brother's love For a sole sister must exceed them all! For see now, only see! there's no alloy Oh yes-with age, respect comes, and your worth Is felt, there's growing sympathy of tastes, There's ripened friendship, there's confirmed esteem, -Much head these make against the new-comer! The startling apparition-the strange youth— Whom one half-hour's conversing with, or, say, Mere gazing at, shall change (beyond all change This Ovid ever sang about!) your soul ... Her soul, that is, the sister's soul! With her Array of rights! all which he knows before- I think such love, (apart from yours and mine,) How soon the back-ground must be place for it, All the world's loves in its unworldliness. Mil. What is this for? Tresh. This, Mildred, is it for! Oh, no, I cannot go to it so soon! That's one of many points my haste left out Each day, each hour throws forth its silk-slight film Between the being tied to you by birth, And you, until those slender threads compose A web that shrouds her daily life of hopes So close you live and yet so far apart! And must I rend this web, tear up, break down That makes her sacred? You-for you I mean, Shall I speak-shall I not speak? Mil. Tresh. Speak! I will. Is there a story men could—any man Could tell of you, you would conceal from me? The world.. the world of better men than I, [After a pause.] Not speak? Explain then! clear it up, then! Move Some of the miserable weight away That presses lower than the grave! Some of the dead weight, Mildred! Not speak? Ah, if I Could bring myself to plainly make their charge [After a pause.] Is their a gallant that has night by night Admittance to your chamber? [After a pause.] Then, his name! Till now, I only had a thought for you— But now, his name! Mil. Thorold, do you devise Fit expiation for my guilt, if fit There be ! 'tis nought to say that I'll endure |