If I Had a Father

of my father. He has good reasons for what he does, though I admit there is something in it we don’t understand. Aside. If I could but understand how Constance⁠— Mrs. Clifford What do you say? What was that about Constance? Gervaise Oh, nothing, aunt. I was only thinking how difficult it is to understand people. Mrs. Clifford If you mean Constance, I agree with you. She is a most provoking girl. Gervaise Smiling. I am sorry to hear that, aunt. Mrs. Clifford I’m very glad you were never so silly as take a fancy to the girl. She would have led you a pretty dance! If you saw how she treats that unfortunate Waterfield! But what’s bred in the bone won’t out of the flesh. Gervaise There’s nothing bred in her I would have out, aunt. Mrs. Clifford Perhaps she originated her vulgarity. That is a shade worse. Gervaise Vulgarity, aunt! I cannot remember the meaning of the word when I think of her. Mrs. Clifford If you choose to insult me, Arthur⁠— Exit. Gervaise It is high time I were gone! If I should be called in now to settle matters between⁠—William! William!⁠—William! Enter Col. Gervaise. Gervaise Tomorrow, William. Not a word. If you will go with me, I shall be glad. If you will not, I shall go without you. Exit. Col. Gervaise Yes, sir.⁠—I wish Warren were here with the old man. I don’t know what to do till he comes. Enter Constance. Constance I thought my aunt was here, William. Col. Gervaise No, miss. She was here, but she’s gone again. Constance Could I see Mr. Gervaise for a moment? Col. Gervaise Certainly, miss. I’ll tell him. Constance Is he still determined on going, William? Col. Gervaise Yes, miss;⁠—tomorrow, he says. Constance Tomorrow! Col. Gervaise Yes, miss. I think he means to start for Dover in the morning. Constance What am I to do? Col. Gervaise What’s the matter, miss? Constance What can I do? I know he is angry with me. I don’t quite know why. I wish I had never⁠—I can’t help it now. My heart will break. Weeps. Col. Gervaise Don’t let him go to Dover tomorrow, miss. Constance He would have listened to me once. He won’t now. It’s all so different! Everything has gone wrong somehow. Col. Gervaise Do try to keep him from going, miss. Constance He would but think me forward. I could bear anything better than have him think ill of me. Col. Gervaise No fear of that, miss. The danger is all the other way. Constance What other way, William? Col. Gervaise He thinks you don’t care a bit about him.

Exit. Constance drops on the dais, nearly under the veiled Psyche.

Enter Gervaise and stands a moment regarding her.

Gervaise Constance. Constance Starting up, and flying to him with her hands clasped. Arthur! Arthur! don’t go. I can’t bear you to go. It’s all my fault, but do forgive me! Oh, do, do⁠—dear Arthur! Don’t go tomorrow. I shall be miserable if you do. Gervaise But why, my⁠—why, Constance? Constance I was your Constance once. Gervaise But why should I not go? Nobody wants me here. Constance Oh, Arthur! how can you be so cruel? Can it be that⁠—? Do say something. If you won’t say anything, how can I know what you are thinking⁠—what you wish? Perhaps you don’t like⁠—I would⁠—I have⁠—I won’t⁠—Oh, Arthur! do say something. Gervaise I have nothing to say, Constance. Constance Then I have lost you⁠—altogether! I dare say I deserve it. I hardly know. God help me! What can I have done so very wicked? Oh! why did you take me out of the streets? I should have been used to them by this time! They are terrible to me now. No, no, Arthur! I thank you⁠—thank you⁠—with my very soul! What might I not have been by this time! But I used to lie in that corner, and I daren’t now! Enter Col. Gervaise behind. It was a happy time, for I had not offended you then. Goodbye. Won’t you say one word to me?⁠—You will never see me again. She pauses a moment; then exit weeping⁠—by the back door, behind the Psyche. Col. Gervaise follows her. Gervaise How could she love that fellow? Looking up. Gone? gone! My Constance! My Psyche! I’ve driven her into the wild street! O my God! William! William! Constance! Which door? I won’t go, Constance⁠—I won’t. I will do anything you ask me. What was that she said?⁠—Goodbye! God in heaven!⁠—William! you idiot! where are you? William! He rushes out by the front door. Reenter Col. Gervaise by the back door. Col. Gervaise It was lucky I met Bill! He’s after her like the wind. That message will bring her back, I think. I could trust that boy with anything! But where is he? Enter Thomas. What, friend! here at last! Thank God! Just sit down a moment, will you? Peeps into the room off the study. He’s not there! I heard him calling this moment! Perhaps he’s in the house.⁠—Did you leave the door open, sir? Thomas Nay. Th’ dur wur oppen. Aw seigh sombory run eawt as aw coom oop. Col. Gervaise My boy! my boy! It will kill him!⁠—Stop here till I come back. Rushes out. Thomas Aw connot stop. Aw’m tired enough, God knows, to stop anywheeres; mo yed goes reawnd and reawnd, an’ aw’d fain lie mo deawn. But aw mun be gooin’. Nobory can tell what may be coomin to mo Mattie. Aw mun go look, go look! Ha! ha! they couldn’t keep mo, owd mon as aw wur! But aw wish aw hed a word wi’ th’ mon first. Enter Warren. Warren Aside. This must be the old fellow himself! Here he is after all! Peeps into the room. Thomas Theer be nobory theer, sir. Th’ maister’s run eawt, and th’ mon after him. Warren Run out! Thomas Aw niver says what aw donnot mane. An’ aw’m glad yo’re theer, sir; for William he towd mo to stay till he coom back; but aw’ve not geet so mich time to spare; and so be’s