_To these_, DOROTHY, _L. U. E._ DOROTHY, _unseen by_ AUSTIN, _shrieks_.
_Sensation_. _Music stops_. _Tableau_
AUSTIN (_recovering his composure_). Your Royal Highness, suffer me to excuse the disrespect of this young gentleman. He has so much apology, and I have, I hope, so good a credit, as incline me to accept this blow.
But I must beg of your Highness, and, gentlemen, all of you here present, to bear with me while I will explain what is too capable of misconstruction. I am the rejected suitor of this young gentleman"s sister; of Miss Dorothy Musgrave: a lady whom I singularly honour and esteem; a word from whom (if I could hope that word) would fill my life with happiness. I was not worthy of that lady; when I was defeated in fair field, I presumed to make advances through her maid. See in how laughable a manner fate repaid me! The waiting-girl derided, the mistress denied, and now comes in this very ardent champion who publicly insults me. My vanity is cured; you will judge it right, I am persuaded, all of you, that I should accept my proper punishment in silence; you, my Lord Duke, to pardon this young gentleman; and you, Mr. Musgrave, to spare me further provocation, which I am determined to ignore.
DOROTHY (_rushing forward_, _falling at_ AUSTIN"S _knees_, _and seizing his hand_). George, George, it was for me. My hero! take me! What you will!
AUSTIN (_in an agony_). My dear creature, remember that we are in public. (_Raising her_.) Your Royal Highness, may I present you Mrs.
George Frederick Austin? (_The Curtain falls on a few bars of the_ "_La.s.s of Richmond Hill_.")
THE END
ADMIRAL GUINEA
DEDICATED WITH AFFECTION AND ESTEEM TO ANDREW LANG BY THE SURVIVORS OF THE _WALRUS_
SAVANNAH, this 27_th_ day of _September_ 1884
PERSONS REPRESENTED
JOHN GAUNT, called "ADMIRAL GUINEA," once Captain of the Slaver _Arethusa_.
ARETHUSA GAUNT, his Daughter.
DAVID PEW, a Blind Beggar, once Boatswain of the _Arethusa_
KIT FRENCH, a Privateersman.
MRS. DRAKE, Landlady of the _Admiral Benbow_ Inn.
The Scene is laid in the neighbourhood of Barnstaple. The Time is about the year 1760. The action occupies part of a day and night.
NOTE.-_Pa.s.sages suggested for omission in representation are enclosed in square brackets_, _thus_ [ ].
ACT I.
_The Stage represents a room in the Admiral Guinea"s house_: _fireplace_, _arm-chair_, _and table with Bible_, _L._, _towards the front_; _door C._, _with window on each side_, _the window on the R._, _practicable_; _doors_, _R. and L._, _back_; _corner cupboard_, _a bra.s.s-strapped sea-chest fixed to the wall and floor_, _R._; _cutla.s.ses_, _telescopes_, _s.e.xtant_, _quadrant_, _a calendar_, _and several maps upon the wall_; _a ship clock_; _three wooden chairs_; _a dresser against wall_, _R. C._; _on the chimney-piece the model of a brig and several sh.e.l.ls_. _The centre bare of furniture_. _Through the widows and the door_, _which is open_, _green trees and a small field of sea_.
SCENE I
ARETHUSA _is discovered_, _dusting_
ARETHUSA. Ten months and a week to-day! Now for a new mark. Since the last, the sun has set and risen over the fields and the pleasant trees at home, and on Kit"s lone ship and the empty sea. Perhaps it blew; perhaps rained; (_at the chart_) perhaps he was far up here to the nor"ard, where the icebergs sail; perhaps at anchor among these wild islands of the snakes and buccaneers. O, you big chart, if I could see him sailing on you! North and South Atlantic; such a weary sight of water and no land; never an island for the poor lad to land upon. But still, G.o.d"s there.
(_She takes down the telescope to dust it_.) Father"s spy-gla.s.s again; and my poor Kit perhaps with such another, sweeping the great deep!
SCENE II
ARETHUSA; _to her_, KIT, _C._ [_He enters on tiptoe_, _and she does not see or hear him_]
ARETHUSA (_dusting telescope_). At sea they have less dust at least: that"s so much comfort.
KIT. Sweetheart, ahoy!
ARETHUSA. Kit!
KIT. Arethusa.
ARETHUSA. My Kit! Home again-O my love!-home again to me!
KIT. As straight as wind and tide could carry me!
ARETHUSA. O Kit, my dearest. O Kit-O! O!
KIT. Hey? Steady, la.s.s: steady, I say. For goodness" sake, ease it off.
ARETHUSA. I will, Kit-I will. But you came so sudden.
KIT. I thought ten months of it about preparation enough.
ARETHUSA. Ten months and a week: you haven"t counted the days as I have.
Another day gone, and one day nearer to Kit: that has been my almanac.
How brown you are! how handsome!
KIT. A pity you can"t see yourself! Well, no, I"ll never be handsome: brown I may be, never handsome. But I"m better than that, if the proverb"s true; for I"m ten hundred thousand fathoms deep in love. I bring you a faithful sailor. What! you don"t think much of that for a curiosity? Well, that"s so: you"re right; the rarity is in the girl that"s worth it ten times over. Faithful? I couldn"t help it if I tried! No, sweetheart, and I fear nothing: I don"t know what fear is, but just of losing you. (_Starting_.) Lord, that"s not the Admiral?
ARETHUSA. Aha, Mr. Dreadnought! you see you fear my father.
KIT. That I do. But, thank goodness, it"s n.o.body. Kiss me: no, I won"t kiss you: kiss _me_. I"ll give you a present for that. See!