You may wed
Your paramour above our mother's tomb;
Our mother cannot move from 'neath your foot.
We too will somehow wear this one day out:
But with to-morrow hastens here--the Earl!
The youth without suspicion. Face can come
>From Heaven and heart from... whence proceed such hearts?
I have dispatched last night at your command
A missive bidding him present himself
To-morrow--here--thus much is said; the rest
Is understood as if 'twere written down--
"His suit finds favor in your eyes." Now dictate
This morning's letter that shall countermand
Last night's--do dictate that!
MILDRED. But, Thorold--if
I will receive him as I said?
TRESHAM. The Earl?
MILDRED. I will receive him.
TRESHAM [starting up]. Ho there! Guendolen!
GUENDOLEN and AUSTIN enter
And, Austin, you are welcome, too! Look there!
The woman there!
AUSTIN and GUENDOLEN. How? Mildred?
TRESHAM. Mildred once!
Now the receiver night by night, when sleep
Blesses the inmates of her father's house,
--I say, the soft sly wanton that receives
Her guilt's accomplice 'neath this roof which holds
You, Guendolen, you, Austin, and has held
A thousand Treshams--never one like her!
No lighter of the signal-lamp her quick
Foul breath near quenches in hot eagerness
To mix with breath as foul! no loosener
O' the lattice, practised in the stealthy tread,
The low voice and the noiseless come-and-go!
Not one composer of the bacchant's mien
Into--what you thought Mildred's, in a word!
Know her!
GUENDOLEN.
Pages:
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48