ADENE.
You see what must come! I shall try to be just to your father--to spare him; but what good will it be? I shall wound you past all healing!
[_Breaking off._] Oh, why could not this have come to some one who did not love you? Or at least to some strong man, who could bear it and go his ways? I, Heaven help me, am a broken, crippled man; I could never ask for your love as an equal, never hope to make you my wife.
[_Pa.s.sionately._] But some little corner of your love I must have----
VERA.
[_Kneeling down by his chair, bending slightly over him._] Oh, dearest, dearest, you are ill and talking wildly! The wound in me is past healing; but it is _he_, not you, that struck it. How could _I_ ask you to spare him? I am bound up as one with him. And I claim now that we shall have our punishment! Dearest, what you thought of me in your anger was the truth! I did plot to screen him and keep you back. I tried that day to strike you with despair--to break down your spirit, to----
ADENE.
But you didn"t know what he had done! You can"t have known.
VERA.
No, I didn"t know that, and I didn"t know your courage. It was high above our reach, and we could not break it.--_You_ not a strong man!
_You_ to ask for a corner of my love! It is yours all, long ago. It is thrown at your feet for you to gather as you will! [_Throws herself down before him._] The love of one who wronged you, who plotted against you, who was sent here now to---- [_Breaking off with a paroxysm of self-abas.e.m.e.nt._] Oh, _he_, _he_, who knew me, could think I would do that!
ADENE.
Sent? Did he send you to me? To do what?
[_Preparing to rise._
VERA.
I can"t tell you. I have not done it. I have saved you from him.
[ADENE _has risen, and stands sternly thinking_. VERA _is huddled up at his feet, her face hidden in her hands. After a pause, he looks down at her, and changes from stern anger to tenderness._
ADENE.
My poor, poor love, let us forget him! [_Sitting and raising her._] Just for a little, forget him altogether.
VERA.
[_Startled--clutching the letter in her bosom and raising her head._]
You have nearly made me forget everything! [_Rising, smiling through her tears._] Forget my first business! _I_ can"t afford to break down and let myself be comforted, like another woman!
ADENE.
Why not? [_Tries to detain her._
VOICE OF RHEINHARDT INSIDE THE HOUSE.
Not back yet? It is quite dark. Bring the lamps. And set the punkah going again.
VERA.
No, no; you are my patient. You mustn"t comfort me. You are my sick child.
_Enter_ RHEINHARDT.
RHEINHARDT.
[_At door._] Hut!--Bah! [_Running forward and seizing_ ADENE"S _pulse_.]
Gott im Himmel! take him in! Take him in! He lies down flat, straight, this moment, just as he is! [_To_ VERA.] No, not you! Here, Nurse! Take him in. [_Calling._
VERA.
[_As_ RHEINHARDT _leads_ ADENE _off, after a moment of thought_.] Come back to me afterwards, Doctor. I want to speak to you.
[_Exeunt_ RHEINHARDT _and_ ADENE _into the sick-room, the_ NURSE _appearing at_ ADENE"S _door_.
_Enter_ PUNKAH BOY, _and sits in corner_ R., _working punkah_.
_Enter_ SELIM _with a lamp_. VERA _makes room for it on the table among the curios, then begins to put the curios into their box_.
[_Exit_ SELIM.
_Re-enter_ RHEINHARDT.
VERA.
[_While_ RHEINHARDT _is still at the door_.] I have been so foolish!
Have I done him any real harm?
RHEINHARDT.
Harm? No; it had to come, one way or another. So long as he sleeps!----
VERA.
I have heard from my father. He is coming here.
_Re-enter_ SELIM _with second lamp_.
RHEINHARDT.
Sir Carlyon coming here? When, does he say?
[SELIM _notices and trembles_.
VERA.
[_Looking at letter._] As far as I can judge, he might come to-night.
[SELIM, _listening acutely, trembles violently, clutches the poisoned knife which is still lying on the table, and glides off rapidly into the trees_.] That is, if he rides from Johilcund, as he says he will.