C.)
MAG. (after pause). Go on.
MISS G. The man you love--were to have married, had your father survived to give him the means of pursuing his fortunes in this country; but who now, unless your uncle pleases to step into your father's place, must give you up.
MAG. Must give me up--and seek his fortunes in another land.
MISS G. And this is known to Michael Vanstone. Mr. Pendril has written to him on this very point, and his answer is arrived. Our good friend received it but this moment, and----
PENDRIL enters R. D., as NORAH enters C., followed by MR. CLARE. PEN. And can now acquaint you with its contents.
MISS G. Well, sir?
PEN. And yet I hesitate. In all my sad experience of the worst side of human nature, I have never met with a man who was so utterly dead to mercy.
MISS G. Do you mean to say that he takes the whole of his brother's fortune, and makes no provision whatever for his brother's orphan children?
PEN. He merely offers them a sum of money to meet their immediate wants; but it is so disgracefully insufficient, that I am really ashamed to name it.
MAG. Which offer is in that letter. Will you allow me, sir, to read it?
PEN. Do not, I beg of you; it is expressed so cruelly that------
MAG. I am sensible of your kindness in wishing to spare me pain, but I can bear it.
NORAH. Oh, Magdalen, why would you read it? You distress Mr. Pendril--you distress us all.
MAG. Something tells me I ought to read it. I know nothing yet, but that he has deprived us of our fortune. He must have some motives for so doing; it is but fair to him that we should know them. He has deliberately robbed us, and I think we have a right, if we desire it, to know the reason why.
CLARE (to PENDRIL). You have relieved your conscience, sir; give her the right she claims. It is her right, if she will have it. (PENDRIL extends the letter to MAGDALEN, who takes it, bows, and retires up. MR. CLARE and NORAH sink into seats beside table.)
CLARE (aside). What fools, to think that girl could be deterred from having her own way.
MISS G. (to PENDRIL). You may tell me, Mr. Pendril, at least, what are the contents of that letter.
PEN. Well, then, madam, he regards his brother's death as a providential interposition, which restores to him an inheritance which ought always to have been his. He considers that death also a punishment for his brother's conduct in imposing on society a woman who was not his wife; and, lastly, he regards his children as illegitimate, who must be content to earn their bread in the best way they can.
MISS G. Oh, infamous!
MAG. (having read the letter, comes down C., maintaining her composure). Mr. Pendril, may I ask if, in your letter to Mr. Vanstone, you stated all the circumstances of the position we have been left in?
PEN. All, and most minutely.
MAG. That my father had provided for us; and when his marriage made a second will in our favor necessary, that he was on the point of making it, when it pleased Heaven to remove him from the world?
PEN. Every item; and, in addition, that he had told me repeatedly he could never rest in his grave if he left you disinherited.
MAG. (returns the letter). Norah, (NORAH comes to her side and embraces her) if we should both of us grow old, and if you ever forget what we owe to Michael Vanstone, come to me and I will remind you!
CLARE (rises and takes MAGDALEN'S hand). What is this mask of yours hiding? Which of the extremes of human temperature does your courage start from, the dead cold or the white heat? (pauses) Not the cold extreme, whatever else it may be. (he resumes his seat.)
PEN. (folds up his papers). And now, ladies, my painful duty compels me to press for your reply. Do you accept Mr. Vanstone's offer, which Miss Magdalen is aware of, and----
MAG. (impetuously). Which is this--that the provision he makes for his brother's children, whom he robs of their inheritance, is the sum of one hundred pounds apiece.
NORAH. Then tell him, Mr. Pendril, that were I starving by the roadside, I would not touch one farthing of it.
MAG. And on my part, Mr. Pendril, tell him to think again before he throws me on the world with a bare one hundred pounds. I give him time to think.
PEN. You will allow me, ladies, to add, that all property belonging to you personally, such as dresses, jewelery, etc., are, of course, at your own disposal; and, though his instructions are that the estate and furniture shall be sold off without delay, I can undertake to say that your departure a week hence will be quite time enough.
MAG. If this is Mr. Michael Vanstone's house, sir, I am ready to leave it to-day.
NORAH. (embracing her). And I, Magdalen; and I!
PEN. But, of course, you have some friends, who will be only too happy to receive you.
MISS G. That is a question, Mr. Pendril, which it is my duty to answer. When they leave this house, they leave it with me; my home is their home, and my bread is their bread. Their parents trusted and loved me. For twelve happy years, they never let me remember that I was a governess, but only a companion and a friend; my memory of them is the memory of unvarying gentleness and goodness, and my life shall pay to their dear children the debt I owe to them, (embraces MAGDALEN and NORAH, C.)
CLARE. Miss Garth, you are a noble woman. I never envied a woman's feelings before, but I envy yours, I tell you that.
PEN. And I also, Mr. Clare; I also, be assured.
MISS G. And, fortunately, my sister's circumstances puts this act of justice in my power. She has a large house at Kensington, and under her roof, I am quite sure they will be as welcome as myself.
PEN. This is, at least, one gleam of sunshine; and, under its radiance, I take my leave.
CLARE. Miss Garth, will you and Miss Vanstone be kind enough to accompany Mr. Pendril to the gate? I have a word for Magdalen alone.
MISS G. With pleasure, sir. Come, Norah.
[Exit with NORAH and PENDRIL, C.
CLARE. How old are you?
MAG. I was eighteen last birthday, (approaches CLARE, resting her hand on the table.)
CLARE.