I will never see him again--let that be enough. Oh, my heart! my heart! I feel as if I was stifling for want of breath! (She tries to speak lightly.) Is there a form of hysterics, Godfrey, that bursts into words instead of tears? What does it matter? You will get over your love for me now. I have dropped to my right place in your estimation, haven't I? (The hysterical passion returns and overpowers her.) Don't notice me! don't pity me! For God's sake, go! (She bursts into tears.)
Godfrey (to himself). Franklin Blake!--I see my way. (He drops on one knee, and takes RACHEL'S hand.) Rachel, you have spoken of your place in my estimation. Judge what that place is, when I implore you on my knees to let the cure of your poor wounded heart be my care!
Rachel (looking at him in amazement). You can't have listened to what I said to you.
Godfrey. Not a word of it has been lost on me!
Rachel (sadly). You are speaking under a generous impulse. I am generous enough, on my side, not to take advantage of it.
Godfrey. I am speaking in the full possession of my reason. Rachel, it is your duty to yourself to forget this ill-placed attachment. At your age, and with your attractions, can you sentence yourself to a single life? Impossible! You may marry some other man some years hence. Or you may marry the man who now pleads with you, and who asks of heaven no purer joy than to make you his wife.
Rachel (struggling against herself). Say no more! You are trying to reconcile me to reasons which have been in my mind already. When I have tried to find my way back to my own self-respect, I confess I have thought of another marriage. I confess I have remembered your expressions of attachment to me. (GODFREY attempts to speak.) Don't tempt me, Godfrey! I am wretched enough and reckless enough, if you press me, to marry you on your own terms. Take the warning, and say no more!
Godfrey. I won't rise from my knees until you have said "Yes."
Rachel (beginning to yield). You will repent, and I shall repent, when it is too late.
Godfrey. We shall both bless the day when I pressed and you yielded.
Rachel (still yielding).You won't hurry me, Godfrey?
Godfrey. My time shall be yours.
Rachel. You won't ask me for more than I can give.
Godfrey. My angel! I only ask you to give me yourself.
Rachel (faintly). Take me! (Her head drops. GODFREY puts his arm round her. She submits for a moment, then draws back with a start.) Leave me for a little while. I am dreadfully agitated. Let me compose myself.
Godfrey. When may I see you again?
Rachel. Wait for me in the garden. I will join you in a few minutes.
Godfrey. Till then-- (He kisses his hand to her, turns away to the window with an air of relief, and speaks aside.) The best day's work I ever did in my life! (He goes out on the right.)
Rachel (confusedly). Have I given him my promise? Am I engaged to be his wife? Why not? What have I done that is not wise and right? He is a good man--he is a true man; he will help me forget. (She pauses thoughtfully. BETTEREDGE appears at the hall door and looks in.)
Betteredge (in a whisper to himself). Nobody with her! Now for Mr. Franklin! (He disappears again. RACHEL continues.)
Rachel (pursuing her thoughts). I don't expect to be happy, but surely I ought to feel contented, at least? Who could wish for truer devotion than Godfrey's? (She pauses again, and suddenly starts to her feet.) Franklin! I'm thinking of Franklin again! Oh, how base I am--how hatefully, shamefully weak! Will nothing shake that man's fatal influence over me? (FRANKLIN appears at the hall door. RACHEL, standing with her back turned on him, walks angrily to the right.) I will forget him! I will be true to Godfrey, if I break my heart in doing it! (She turns to walk back again and sees FRANKLIN. She stops instantly, in dead silence, rooted to the spot. FRANKLIN, in silence on his side, slowly advances a few steps towards her and pauses. They look at each other.)
Franklin (softly). Rachel!
Rachel (rousing herself, and looking at him with contemptuous surprise). Another lie? More treachery?
Franklin (louder). Rachel!
Rachel (with bitter deliberation).You have even degraded my honest old servant. Betteredge told me you had left the house. And now you steal your way in here, when I am alone. (She speaks her next words, not angrily but with contemptuous calmness.) You coward. You mean, miserable, heartless coward.
Franklin (controlling himself). I remember the time, Rachel, when you could have told me that I had offended you in a worthier way than that. I regret that I permitted Betteredge to deceive you. I ask your pardon.
Rachel (with ironical humility). I suppose I ought to ask your pardon? Perhaps there is some excuse for me. After what you have done, it does seem a cowardly action to try the experiment of taking me by surprise. But that is only a woman's view. I should have done better if I had controlled myself, and said nothing.
Franklin (stung by her tone). If my honour were not in your hands, I would leave you this instant, and never see you again. (He pauses, overcome by his agitation, and supports himself by resting his hand on a chair; then continues, in faint, sad tones.) I am weak and ill; I am not able to control myself as I ought. Be just to me, Rachel; I only ask you to be just. You speak of what I have done. What have I done?
Rachel (with rising anger).You ask that question of me?
Franklin. I ask more. I ask why you insulted me before Betteredge and the police-officer. I ask what was in your mind when you said: "Franklin Blake, you are beneath being insulted, and you know it."
Rachel (pointing to the door). Leave the room!
Franklin. Not until you have answered me!
Rachel. You refuse?
Franklin. I refuse!
Rachel (in violent exasperation). There is one last degradation left for you--you shall be turned out by the servants. (She approaches the table on which the bell is placed. FRANKLIN takes her by the hand, as she tries to touch the bell.)
Franklin (firmly). Look at me!
Rachel (feeling the influence of his eye and his touch). Let me go!
Franklin (tenderly, still holding her hand). Rachel, you once loved me.
Rachel (struggling more and more feebly against his influence over her). Let me go!
Franklin (more and more tenderly). Remember the happy old times when we were children together. Let the memory of your mother plead for me. I was her favourite; she could hardly have been fonder of me if I had been her own son!
Rachel (melting into tears). Don't speak of it, Franklin! You break my heart! Why do you come here to humiliate yourself? Why do you come here to humiliate me? Are you afraid I shall expose you? Have you not seen for yourself that I can't expose you? I can't tear you out of my heart! No matter how falsely I may be suspected, no matter how vilely I may be wronged, the secret of your infamy is safe in my keeping! (FRANKLIN draws back from her slowly, overwhelmed by her last words.)
Franklin (in low tones of horror). My infamy?
Rachel (with a sudden outbreak of despair).