The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts Part 28

G.o.dard I would not complain, if the subject were not marriage. Marriage, General, is at once the cause and the effect of sentiment.

The General Pardon me, G.o.dard, I am a little hasty, as you know.

Pauline (to G.o.dard) Sir--(Aside) Oh, how I suffer! (Aloud) Sir, why should poor young girls--

G.o.dard Poor? No, no, mademoiselle; you are not poor. You have four hundred thousand francs.

Pauline Why should weak young girls--

G.o.dard Weak?

Pauline Well, then, innocent young persons--be so very fastidious about the character of the man who presents himself as their lord and master? If you love me, will you punish yourself--will you punish me--because your love has been submitted to a test?

G.o.dard Of course, from that point of view--

The General Oh! These women! These women!

G.o.dard You may just as well say, "These daughters."

The General Yes, for I am quite sure that mine has more brains than I have.

SCENE SEVENTEENTH

The same persons, Gertrude and then Napoleon.

Gertrude How has it turned out, M. G.o.dard?

G.o.dard Ah, Madame! General! My happiness is complete, and my dream fulfilled.

For now I am to be admitted into a family like yours. To think that I --Ah! Madame! General! (Aside) I'd like to find out the mystery, for she has precious little love for me.

Napoleon (entering) Papa, I have won the school medal--Good-day, mamma--and where is Pauline? And so you are sick? Poor little sister! I'll tell you something--I have found out where justice comes from.

Gertrude And who told you? Ah! see what a lovely boy he is!

Napoleon The master told me that justice comes from G.o.d.

G.o.dard It is very plain that your master was not born in Normandy.

Pauline (in a low voice to Marguerite) O Marguerite! Dear Marguerite! Do send them all away.

Marguerite Gentlemen, Mlle. Pauline desires to take a little nap.

The General Just so, Pauline, we will leave you, and you need not get up till dinner time.

Pauline I will certainly get up then if I can. Father, kiss me before you go.

The General (kissing her) My darling child! (To Napoleon) Come, my boy.

(They all go out, except Pauline, Marguerite and Napoleon.)

Napoleon (to Pauline) And how is it you do not kiss me? Tell me what ails you?

Pauline Oh! I am dying!

Napoleon Do people die? Pauline, what is death made of?

Pauline Death--is made--like this--

(Pauline falls back into Marguerite's arms.)

Marguerite Oh! My G.o.d! Help! Help!

Napoleon Oh! Pauline, you frighten me! (Running away.) Mamma! Mamma!

Curtain to the Fourth Act.

ACT V

SCENE FIRST

(The chamber of Pauline as before.)

Pauline, Ferdinand and Vernon.

(Pauline lies stretched upon her bed. Ferdinand holds her hand in an att.i.tude of profound grief and despair. It is just before dawn and a lamp is burning.)

Vernon (seated near the table) I have seen thousands of dead men on the field of battle and in the ambulances, yet the death of this young girl under her father's roof moves me more profoundly than all those heroic sufferings. Death is perhaps a thing foreseen on the field of battle--it is even expected there; while here, it is not only the pa.s.sing away of a single person, but a whole family is plunged in tears and fond hopes vanish. Here is this child, of whom I was so fond, murdered, poisoned--and by whom?

Marguerite has rightly guessed the secret of this struggle between two rivals. It was impossible to refrain from communicating at once with the authorities. In the meantime, G.o.d knows I have used every effort to s.n.a.t.c.h this young life from the grave. (Ferdinand raises his head and listens to the doctor) I have even brought this poison, which may act as an antidote to the other; but the princes of medical science should have been present to witness the experiment! No man ought to venture upon such a throw of the dice.

Ferdinand (rises and approaches the doctor) Doctor, when the magistrates arrive, will you explain this experiment of yours; they will be sure to sanction it; and you may be sure that G.o.d, yes G.o.d, will hear me. He will work some miracle, He will give her back to me!

Vernon I should have ventured upon it before the action of the poison had wrought its full effects. If I did so now, I should be looked upon as the poisoner. No (he places a little flask upon the table), it would be useless now, and to give it with the most disinterested motives would be looked upon as a crime.

Ferdinand (after holding a mirror before Pauline's lips) Anything, everything is yet possible; she still breathes.

Vernon She will not live till daylight.