RHEINHARDT.
_Ride_ from Johilcund! Gott in Himmel! Let me look. [VERA _gives him the letter_.] From Bombay. [_Looking at the envelope._] Nineteenth, twentieth. Ah, yes. He ought to get here to-morrow midday.
VERA.
[_With constraint._] Has Mr. Adene said anything to you about him?
RHEINHARDT.
[_Same manner._] Yes. [_Their eyes meet and then avoid each other._]
There is no need for them to meet. [_Slight pause._] And you--you have said all your say with Mr. Adene?
VERA.
Yes.
RHEINHARDT.
He is a good man. Yes, he is a brave fellow. That is settled. And old Rheinhardt will go back to Zurich, Universitatstra.s.se, hundert und zwolf; and will grow fat; and will write fat, fat books!
VERA.
[_Tenderly, going up to him._] And save more people"s lives, and make more pupils love him.
RHEINHARDT.
Ach! you say that? We have had a happy time here, we two; two good companions--_nicht so?_ And it is over. Bah!--it will be there to think about, in the nights, when it is warm and still like this--and I smoke!
VERA.
Isn"t it wonderfully still? You can hear every sound. Hark! there is some one riding on the road.
[_They listen together for a moment. Then_ RHEINHARDT _looks at her and says abruptly_:
RHEINHARDT.
Good-night! [_Exit_ RHEINHARDT, _up_.
VERA.
Good-night!
[_She waits listening to the horse hoofs, which are heard more and more distinctly; then comes the sound of a man dismounting on a stone floor._ VERA _turns to_ PUNKAH BOY, _who is wide awake and listening, and makes a sign to him. He runs back_ L., _and immediately returns, crying, "Kal[^y]ona Sahib." Excited whispers of the name are heard, off; then_ CARLYON"S _voice speaking to the servants in Hindustani_.
_Enter_ CARLYON, _from_ L. _back round the house_.
CARLYON.
[_Coming forward impulsively._] Vera, it gives me fresh life to see your face! [_Kisses her, then throws himself into the chair. She stands helpless, having stifled her first impulse to run forward and greet him._] Great Heavens, how tired I am! I have ridden fifty miles since midday. [_Throwing himself back and stretching his arms out._] Ah, I suppose I should not have thought much of it once!
VERA.
[_Constrainedly._] Why have you come?
CARLYON.
I thought your heart might fail you. You were all alone.
VERA.
You thought I had been long?
CARLYON.
I was anxious at not hearing from you. I knew it was a heavy burden for you, and I came to help. Did you need help?
VERA.
None.
[_Pause._ CARLYON _gets up and walks a little way, then turns._
CARLYON.
Then why is it not done?
VERA.
It is done--almost all.
CARLYON.
It is? Oh, thank G.o.d! I was so tired! I felt this man as a terror hanging over me. I seemed like an old man just now, for the first time.
[_Pause; he walks again, then looks at her closely._] You are pale. He is not actually dead?
VERA.
No, he is not dead.
CARLYON.
You do not like to speak of it? Never mind.--Vera, you have been a good and brave daughter to me. You have given me rest, the first time in my life I have ever needed it.
VERA.
There is no rest for you here.
[_She stands leaning backward slightly against the wall, and speaks with effort, throwing the lamplight full on his face._