If you begin with this shocking carelessness about obligations which you have bound yourself to respect, how will you end? Who can say to what degradation you may not descend the next time you want money, and the next, and the next?
Franklin. May I say a word in my own defence?
Rachel. No. You may occupy your time in doing better than that. This poor man with his sick wife and child--I can't bear to think of it! Wait, Franklin. I have something more to say to you. Wait! (She goes to the writing-table and writes a cheque. FRANKLIN speaks to himself.)
Franklin (aside). She feels a "true interest in me!" Is that interest strong enough to stand my friend, if I own that I love her--if I ask her to be my wife? She is prettier than ever; and I am fonder of her than ever; and she refused Godfrey the last time he asked her. I think I'll risk it!
Rachel (rising, and giving FRANKLIN the cheque). Send that to my bankers, with your creditor's address in Paris. I am your creditor now. (FRANKLIN attempts to speak.) No! I want no thanks. I want amendment; I want you--oh, Franklin, I do really want you to be worthy of yourself!
Franklin (earnestly). It is in your power, Rachel, to make me all that you could wish.
Rachel (relenting). I don't understand you.
Franklin. I have loved you for years. (RACHEL tries to interrupt him.) Absence has only made you dearer to me than ever. Grant me the one aspiration of my life! I will answer for living worthily, if I may only live to be worthy of you.
Rachel (aside). He is making love to me! (To FRANKLIN). How dare you make love to me, when I am so angry with you?
Franklin (taking her hand). I have travelled night and day; I have returned to England only to see you. Don't I deserve a little indulgence? Am I not worthy of one kind look?
Rachel (aside). What a contemptible creature I am! Why don't I tell him to leave the room? (To FRANKLIN.) Have you got my hand?
Franklin. Yes, I've got your hand.
Rachel. Let go of it!
Franklin (kissing her hand). Say you forgive me.
Rachel (yielding). Oh, where is Miss Clack? where is Miss Clack?
Franklin. I am truly penitent, I am honestly desirous of being worthy of you. Don't cast me off! Say: "Franklin, you may hope."
Rachel. Will you let me go, if I do?
Franklin (still holding her hand). Yes, I will even make that sacrifice.
Rachel (yielding). "Franklin, you may hope."
Franklin (as before). May I hope that you love me?
Rachel (in a whisper). Yes!
Franklin. My darling Rachel. (He is on the point of taking her into his arms. The door on the left opens. MISS CLACK appears.) The devil take her!
Miss Clack. Oh, dear! dear! Have I come in at the wrong time? Shall I go back again, Rachel, and wait till you ring?
Rachel. Drusilla, you are perfectly insufferable! Don't stand there talking nonsense. Come and have some supper. (GODFREY enters by the hall door.)
Godfrey. I am not in the way, Rachel, am I?
Rachel. Good heavens! here is another modest person who is afraid of disturbing me! Make yourself of some use, Godfrey; open that bottle of wine. Betteredge seems to have deserted us. Franklin, ring the bell. (FRANKLIN rings. GODFREY and RACHEL busy themselves at the table. MISS CLACK approaches FRANKLIN with an expression of extreme penitence.)
Miss Clack. I am so sorry. I came in at the wrong time. It must be so unpleasant to be caught in a ridiculous position, with your arms like this. (She imitates FRANKLIN'S attempt to embrace RACHEL. FRANKLIN turns away angrily, and withdraws to the back, jealously watching GODFREY and RACHEL at the supper-table. BETTEREDGE enters by the hall door, answering the bell.)
Rachel (to BETTEREDGE). Where is Mr. Candy? I told you to invite him to sup with us.
Betteredge. The doctor has just arrived, miss. (He draws back from the hall door, and announces the doctor's name as he enters.) Mr. Candy! (As MR. CANDY approaches RACHEL, ANDREW enters by the hall door with a bottle of champagne. BETTEREDGE takes it from him, and points to the painters' utensils under the cabinet. ANDREW collects them and carries them out. BETTEREDGE opens the bottle of champagne, takes a glass, and approaches MISS CLACK, while RACHEL and MR. CANDY are speaking.)
Rachel (advancing to shake hands with him). I am glad to see you, Mr. Candy. Have you any news for me? How are you getting on in the neighbourhood?
Mr. Candy. Much as usual, Miss Rachel. The population employs the doctor freely, and only hesitates when it comes to the questions of paying him. (He notices GODFREY.) Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite! (MR. CANDY and GODFREY shake hands cordially. They remain in conversation with RACHEL.)
Betteredge (to MISS CLACK, speaking after MR. CANDY). I think you like it dry, miss? (Aside, looking at the bottle in his hand.) And plenty of it!
Miss Clack (modestly). I am so little used to luxuries, Mr. Betteredge. Do you really think it will do me good?
Betteredge (confidentially). That is my deliberate opinion, miss. (He fills the glass. MISS CLACK receives it with humble gratitude, takes a sip, discovers that it is really dry, and finishes the glass at a draught. GODFREY, leaving MR. CANDY and RACHEL, approaches BETTEREDGE and takes the bottle from him. BETTEREDGE relieves MISS CLACK of her empty glass.)
Godfrey. We will help ourselves, my good Betteredge. Don't you think you had better get another bottle?
Betteredge (looking at MISS CLACK'S empty glass). Yes, sir, I think I had. (He goes out by the hall door. GODFREY escorts MISS CLACK to the supper-table, where they join RACHEL. MR. CANDY discovers FRANKLIN and greets him cordially.)
Mr. Candy. Mr. Franklin Blake! Delighted to see you again, sir, after your long absence in foreign parts. (Shaking hands.) Excuse a professional remark. How feverish your hand is!
Franklin. I have been travelling a good deal lately, and I haven't recovered it yet.
Rachel (overhearing them). He has given up his cigars, Mr. Candy, and he has not had a good night's rest since. Is it because he has left off smoking?
Mr. Candy (speaking seriously). Unquestionably, Miss Rachel. (To FRANKLIN.) You should have dropped your cigars gradually, Mr. Blake. It's a serious trial to a man's nervous system to give up the habitual use of tobacco at a moment's notice. Take care what you eat and drink, sir, in the present state of your health. (He turns away to the supper-table.)
Franklin (to RACHEL). A medical consultation for nothing! (RACHEL goes to the supper-table. FRANKLIN speaks to himself.) I suspect he is right about my nerves. (He looks at his hand as he holds it out.) It trembles like the hand of an old man!
Rachel. Come and have some supper, Franklin! The doctor doesn't condemn you to absolute starvation, I am sure. (She addresses MR. CANDY.) Let me prescribe for him, Mr. Candy. Give Mr. Blake some of that game pie.
Franklin. Thank you, Rachel, I never eat supper.
Rachel. It's never too late to mend, Franklin. Begin now.
Mr. Candy (passing a plate with some pie on it to FRANKLIN, and speaking to him in a whisper.) Take my advice, don't eat it.