.. oh, no, no! both tales are true,
Her pure cheek's story and the forester's!
Would she, or could she, err--much less, confound
All guilts of treachery, of craft, of... Heaven
Keep me within its hand!--I will sit here
Until thought settle and I see my course.
Avert, oh God, only this woe from me!
[As he sinks his head between his arms on the table,
GUENDOLEN'S voice is heard at the door.]
Lord Tresham!
[She knocks.]
Is Lord Tresham there?
[TRESHAM, hastily turning, pulls down the first book
above him and opens it.]
TRESHAM. Come in!
[She enters.]
Ha, Guendolen!--good morning.
GUENDOLEN. Nothing more?
TRESHAM. What should I say more?
GUENDOLEN. Pleasant question! more?
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,
What is all this? You are not well!
TRESHAM. Who, I?
You laugh at me.
GUENDOLEN. Has what I'm fain to hope,
Arrived then? Does that huge tome show some blot
In the Earl's 'scutcheon come no longer back
Than Arthur's time?
TRESHAM. When left you Mildred's chamber?
GUENDOLEN. 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
Of Earls no such ungracious.
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