Fires of St. John - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
Now, little one----
[Gertrude _exits with a sigh_.]
Marie.
[_Quickly and suppressed_.] Did you find her? [George _nods_.] Will she come? Why don't you answer?
George.
Marie, when you exacted this promise from me this morning, I did not realize what it meant. I had never seen your--I don't want to speak that word--I had never seen this person until to-day. She must not come to this house, secretly--she must not!!!
Marie.
George!!!
George.
Take uncle into your confidence, at least.
Marie.
No, no one--no one but you!!
George.
What do you want with her? You know you belong to this house. Here you have everything your heart desires. Here you have love--here you have----
Marie.
[_Interrupts him_.] Bread! Why don't you say it? Yes, here I have bread!
George.
I did not mean to say that.
Marie.
No; but I did! And do I not earn it, as well as the little love I obtain in this house? I am "The Calamity Child"--and I do not ask for charity.
George.
You seem to be possessed of the very devil to-day!
Marie.
Perhaps!
George.
I implore you, do not insist. I fear the consequence. You will see! for whatever is done against nature, punishes itself.
Marie.
And is it against nature when a child cries out for its own mother?
George.
She is not your mother; your mother is in this house.
Marie.
Gertrude's mother is in this house, not mine. A mother must feel for her child, she must see----
George.
Sh--s.h.!.+
[_Enter_ Gertrude.]
Gertrude.
You two are continually talking in whispers; can't you tell _me_? It makes me so unhappy!
Marie.
[_Caressing her_.] But darling, it is all done for your sake!
[_During this_, George _looks at her disapprovingly, while_ Marie _casts a timid glance at him_.]
Brauer.
[_Enters_.] At last you have come. Where in thunder have you been all day? It almost seemed to me as if you were trying to avoid me!
George.
But, uncle----
Brauer.
Well, girls, have you prepared the pastor's eggnog?
Marie.
Oh, I had entirely forgotten it.
Brauer.
Then see to it at once. And don't forget the sugar, you know.
