Act I

Scene.⁠—A Sculptor’s studio. Arthur Gervaise working at a clay figure and humming a tune. A knock.

Gervaise Come in. Throws a wet cloth over the clay. Enter Warren by the door communicating with the house. Ah, Warren! How do you do?
Warren How are you, Gervaise? I’m delighted to see you once more. I have but just heard of your return.
Gervaise I’ve been home but a fortnight. I was just thinking of you.
Warren I was certain I should find you at work.
Gervaise You see my work can go on by any light. It is more independent than yours.
Warren I wish it weren’t, then.
Gervaise Why?
Warren Because there would be a chance of our getting you out of your den sometimes.
Gervaise Like any other wild beast when the dark falls⁠—eh?
Warren Just so.
Gervaise And where the good?
Warren Why shouldn’t you roar a little now and then like other honest lions?
Gervaise I doubt if the roaring lions do much beyond roaring.
Warren And I doubt whether the lion that won’t even whisk his tail, will get food enough shoved through his bars to make it worth his while to keep a cage in London.
Gervaise I certainly shall not make use of myself to recommend my work.
Warren What is it now?
Gervaise Oh, nothing!⁠—only a little fancy of my own.
Warren There again! The moment I set foot in your study, you throw the sheet over your clay, and when I ask you what you are working at⁠—“Oh⁠—a little fancy of my own!”
Gervaise I couldn’t tell it was you coming.
Warren Let me see what you’ve been doing, then.
Gervaise Oh, she’s a mere Lot’s-wife as yet!
Warren Approaching the figure. Of course, of course! I understand all that.
Gervaise Laying his hand on his arm. Excuse me: I would rather not show it.
Warren I beg your pardon.⁠—I couldn’t believe you really meant it.
Gervaise I’ll show you the mould if you like.
Warren I don’t know what you mean by that: you would never throw a wet sheet over a cast! Gervaise lifts a painting from the floor and sets it on an easel. Warren regards it for a few moments in silence. Ah! by Jove, Gervaise! someone sent you down the wrong turn: you ought to have been a painter. What a sky! And what a sea! Those blues and greens⁠—rich as a peacock’s feather-eyes! Superb! A tropical night! The dolphin at its last gasp in the west, and all above, an abyss of blue, at the bottom of which the stars lie like gems in the mineshaft of the darkness!
Gervaise You seem to have taken the wrong turn, Warren! You ought to have been a poet.
Warren Such a thing as that puts the slang out of a fellow’s bend.
Gervaise I’m glad you like it. I do myself, though it falls short of my intent sadly enough.
Warren But I don’t for the life of me see what this has to do with that. You said something about a mould.
Gervaise I will tell you what I meant. Every individual aspect of nature looks to me as if about to give birth to a human form, embodying that of which itself only dreams. In this way landscape-painting is, in my eyes, the mother of sculpture. That Apollo is of the summer dawn; that Aphrodite of the moonlit sea; this picture represents the mother of my Psyche.
Warren Under the sheet there?
Gervaise Yes. You shall see her some day; but to show your work too soon, is to uncork your champagne before dinner.
Warren Well, you’ve spoiled my picture. I shall go home and scrape my canvas to the bone.
Gervaise On second thoughts, I will show you my Psyche. Uncovers the clay. Warren stands in admiration. Enter Waterfield by same door.
Waterfield Ah, Warren! here you are before me! Mr. Gervaise, I hope I see you well.
Warren Mr. Waterfield⁠—an old friend of yours, Gervaise, I believe.
Gervaise I cannot appropriate the honour.
Waterfield I was twice in your studio at Rome, but it’s six months ago, Mr. Gervaise. Ha! Using his eyeglass. What a charming figure! A Psyche! Wings suggested by⁠—Very skilful! Contour lovely! Altogether antique in pose and expression!⁠—Is she a commission?
Gervaise No.
Waterfield Then I beg you will consider her one.
Gervaise Excuse me; I never work on commission⁠—at least never in this kind. A bust or two I have done.
Waterfield By Jove!⁠—I should like to see your model!⁠—This is perfect. Are you going to carve her?
Gervaise Possibly.
Waterfield Uncommissioned?
Gervaise If at all.
Waterfield Well, I can’t call it running any risk. What lines!⁠—You will let me drop in some day when you’ve got your model here?
Gervaise Impossible.
Waterfield You don’t mean⁠—?
Gervaise I had no model.
Waterfield No model? Ha! ha!⁠—You must excuse me! Gervaise takes up the wet sheet. I understand. Reasons. A little mystery enhances⁠—eh?⁠—is convenient too⁠—balks intrusion⁠—throws the drapery over the mignonette. I understand. Gervaise covers the clay. Oh! pray don’t carry out my figure. That is a damper now!
Gervaise I am not fond of acting the showman. You must excuse me: I am busy.
Waterfield Ah well!⁠—some other time⁠—when you’ve got on with her a bit. Good morning. Ta, ta, Warren.
Gervaise Good morning. This way, if you please. Shows him out by the door to the street. How did the fellow find his way here?
Warren I am the culprit, I’m sorry to say. He asked me for your address, and I gave it him.
Gervaise How long have you known him?
Warren A month or two.
Gervaise Don’t bring him here again.
Warren Don’t say I brought him. I didn’t do that. But I’m afraid you’ve not seen the last of him.
Gervaise Oh yes, I have! Old Martha would let in anybody, but I’ve got a man now.⁠—William!
Enter Col. Gervaise dressed as a servant.
You didn’t see the gentleman just gone, I’m afraid, William?
Col. Gervaise No, sir.
Gervaise Don’t let in anyone calling himself “Waterfield.”
Col. Gervaise No, sir.
Gervaise I’m going out with Mr. Warren. I shall be back shortly.
Col. Gervaise Very well, sir. Exit into the house.
Gervaise To Warren. I can’t touch clay again till I get that fellow out of my head.
Warren Come along, then.
Exeunt Gervaise and Warren Reenter Col. Gervaise polishing a boot. Regards it with dissatisfaction.
Col. Gervaise Confound the thing! I wish it were a scabbard. When I think I’m getting it all right⁠—one rub more and it’s gone dull again!
The house-door opens slowly, and Thomas peeps cautiously in.
Thomas What sort of a plaze be this, maister?
Col. Gervaise You ought to have asked that outside. How did you get in?
Thomas By th’ dur-hole. Iv yo leave th’ dur oppen, th’ dogs’ll coom in.
Col. Gervaise I must speak to Martha again. She will leave the street-door open!⁠—Well, you needn’t look so frightened. It ain’t a robbers’ cave.
Thomas That be more’n aw knaw⁠—not for sartin sure, maister. Nobory mun keawnt upon nobory up to Lonnon, they tells mo. But iv a gentleman axes mo into his heawse, aw’m noan beawn to be afeard. Aw’ll coom in, for mayhap yo can help mo. It be a coorous plaze. What dun yo mak here?
Col. Gervaise What would you think now?
Thomas It looks to mo like a mason’s shed⁠—a greight one.
Col. Gervaise You’re not so far wrong.
Thomas Advancing. It do look a queer plaze. Aw be noan so sure abeawt it. But they wonnot coot mo throat beout warnin’. Aw’ll bother noan. Sits down on the dais and wipes his face. Well, aw be a’most weary.
Col. Gervaise Is there anything I can do for you?
Thomas Nay, aw donnot know; but beout aw get somebory to help mo, aw dunnot think aw’ll coom to th’ end in haste. Aw’re a lookin’ for summut aw’ve lost, mou.
Col. Gervaise Did you come all the way from Lancashire to look for it?
Thomas Eh, lad! aw thowt thae’rt beawn to know wheer aw coom fro!
Col. Gervaise Anybody could tell that, the first word you spoke. I mean no offence.
Thomas Looking disappointed. Well, noan’s ta’en. But thae dunnot say thae’s ne’er been to Lancashire thisel’?
Col. Gervaise No, I don’t say that: I’ve been to Lancashire several times.
Thomas Wheer to?
Col. Gervaise Why, Manchester.
Thomas That’s noan ov it.
Col. Gervaise And Lancaster.
Thomas Tut! tut! That’s noan of it, nayther.
Col. Gervaise And Liverpool. I was once there for a whole week.
Thomas Nay, nay. Noather o’ those plazes. Fur away off ’em.
Col. Gervaise But what does it matter where I have or haven’t been?
Thomas Mun aw tell tho again? Aw’ve lost summut, aw tell tho. Didsto ne’er hear tell ov th’ owd woman ’at lost her shillin’? Hoo couldn’t sit her deawn beawt hoo feawnd it! Yon’s me. Hides his face in his hands.
Col. Gervaise Ah! now I begin to guess! Aside.⁠—You don’t mean you’ve lost your⁠—
Thomas Starting up and grasping his stick with both hands. Aw do mane aw’ve lost mo yung lass; and aw dunnot say thae’s feawnd her, but aw do say thae knows wheer hoo is. Aw do. Theighur! Nea then!
Col. Gervaise What on earth makes you think that? I don’t know what you’re after.
Thomas Thae knows well enough. Thae knowed what aw’d lost afoor aw tou’d tho yo’ be deny in’ your own name. Thae knows. Aw’ll tay tho afore the police, beout thou gie her oop. Aw wull.
Col. Gervaise What story have you to tell the police then? They’ll want to know.
Thomas Story saysto? The dule’s i’ th’ mon! Didn’t aw seigh th’ mon ’at stealed her away goo into this heawse not mich over hauve an hour ago?⁠—Aw seigh him wi’ mo own eighes.
Col. Gervaise Why didn’t you speak to him?
Thomas He poppit in at th’ same dur, and there aw’ve been a-watching ever since. Aw’ve not took my eighes off ov it. He’s somewheeres now in this same heawse.
Col. Gervaise He may have been out in the morning aside.⁠—But you see there are more doors than one to the place. There is a back door; and there is a door out into the street.
Thomas Eigh! eigh! Th’ t’one has to do wi’ th’ t’other⁠—have it? Three dur-holes to one shed! That looks bad!
Col. Gervaise He’s not here, whoever it was. There’s not a man but myself in the place.
Thomas Hea am aw to know yo’re not playin’ a marlock wi’ mo? He’ll be oop i’ th’ heawse theer. Aw mun go look going.
Col. Gervaise Preventing him. And how am I to know you’re not a housebreaker?
Thomas Dun yo think an owd mon like mosel’ would be of mich use for sich wark as that, mon?
Col. Gervaise The more fit for a spy, though, to see what might be made of it.
Thomas Eh, mon! Dun they do sich things as you? But aw’m seechin’ nothin’, man nor meawse, that donnot belung me. Aw tell yo true. Gie mo mo Mattie, and aw’ll trouble yo no moor. Aw winnot⁠—if yo’ll give mo back mo Mattie. Comes close up to him and lays his hand on his arm. Be yo a feyther, mon?
Col. Gervaise Yes.
Thomas Ov a pratty yung lass?
Col. Gervaise Well, no. I have but a son.
Thomas Then thae winnot help mo?
Col. Gervaise I shall be very glad to help you, if you will tell me how.
Thomas Tell yor maister ’at Mattie’s owd feyther’s coom a’ the gait fro Rachda to fot her whoam, and aw’ll be much obleeged to him iv he’ll let her goo beout lunger delay, for her mother wants her to whoam: hoo’s but poorly. Tell yor maister that.
Col. Gervaise But I don’t believe my master knows anything about her.
Thomas Aw’re tellin’ tho, aw seigh’ th’ mon goo into this heawse but a feow minutes agoo?
Col. Gervaise You’ve mistaken somebody for him.
Thomas Well, aw’m beawn to tell tho moore. Twothre days ago, aw seigh mo chylt coom eawt ov this same dur⁠—aw mane th’ heawsedur, yon.
Col. Gervaise Are you sure of that?
Thomas Sure as death. Aw seigh her back.
Col. Gervaise Her back! Who could be sure of a back?
Thomas By th’ maskins! dosto think I dunnot know mo Mattie’s back? I seign her coom eawt o’ that dur, aw tell tho!
Col. Gervaise Why didn’t you speak to her?
Thomas Aw co’d.
Col. Gervaise And she didn’t answer?
Thomas Aw didn’t co’ leawd. Aw’re not willin’ to have ony mak ov a din.
Col. Gervaise But you followed her surely?
Thomas Aw did; but aw’re noan so good at walkin’ as aw wur when aw coom; th’ stwons ha’ blistered mo fet. An it’re the edge o’ dark like. Aw connot seigh weel at neet, wi o’ th’ lamps; an afoor aw geet oop wi’ her, hoo’s reawnd th’ nook, and gwon fro mo seet.
Col. Gervaise There are ten thousands girls in London you might take for your own under such circumstances⁠—not seeing more than the backs of them.
Thomas Ten theawsand girls like mo Mattie, saysto?⁠—wi’her greight eighes and her lung yure?⁠—Puh!
Col. Gervaise But you’ve just said you didn’t see her face!
Thomas Dunnot aw know what th’ face ov mo chylt be like, beout seein’ ov it? Aw’m noan ov a lump-yed. Nobory as seigh her once wouldn’t know her again.
Col. Gervaise Aside. He’s a lunatic!⁠—I don’t see what I can do for you, old fellow.
Thomas Rising. And aw met ha’ known it beout axin’! O’reet! Aw’re a greight foo’! But aw’re beawn to coom in: aw lung’d to goo through th’ same dur wi’ mo Mattie. Good day, sir. It be like maister, like mon! God’s curse upon o’ sich! Turns his back. After a moment turns again. Noa. Aw winnot say that; for mo Mattie’s sake aw winnot say that. God forgie you! Going by the house.
Col. Gervaise This way, please! Opening the street-door.
Thomas Aw see. Aw’m not to have a chance ov seein’ oather Mattie or th’ mon. Exit.
Col. Gervaise resumes his boot absently. Reenter Thomas, shaking his fist.
Thomas But aw tell tho, aw’ll stick to th’ place day and neet, aw wull. Aw wull. Aw wull.
Col. Gervaise Come back tomorrow.
Thomas Coom back, saysto? Aw’ll not goo away growing fierce. Wilto gie mo mo Mattie? Aw’m noan beawn to ston here so mich lunger. Wilto gie mo mo Mattie?
Col. Gervaise I cannot give you what I haven’t got.
Thomas Aw’ll break thi yed, thou villain! Threatening him with his stick. Eh, Mattie! Mattie! to loe sich a mon’s maister more’n me! I would dey fur thee, Mattie. Exit.
Col. Gervaise It’s all a mistake, of course. There are plenty of young men⁠—but my Arthur’s none of such. I cannot believe it of him. The daughter! If I could find her, she would settle the question. It begins to grow dark. I must help the old man to find her. He’s sure to come back. Arthur does not look the least like it. But⁠—polishes vigorously. I cannot get this boot to look like a gentleman’s. I wish I had taken a lesson or two first. I’ll get hold of a shoeblack, and make him come for a morning or two. No, he does not look like it. There he comes. Goes on polishing.
Enter Gervaise.
Gervaise William!
Col. Gervaise Turning. Yes, sir.
Gervaise Light the gas. Anyone called?
Col. Gervaise Yes, sir.
Gervaise Who?
Col. Gervaise I don’t know, sir. Lighting the gas.
Gervaise You should have asked his name. Stands before the clay, contemplating it.
Col. Gervaise I’m sorry I forgot, sir. It was only an old man from the country⁠—after his daughter, he said.
Gervaise Came to offer his daughter, or himself perhaps. Begins to work at the figure.
Col. Gervaise Watching him stealthily. He looked a respectable old party⁠—from Lancashire, he said.
Gervaise I dare say. You will have many such callers. Take the address. Models, you know.
Col. Gervaise If he calls again, sir?
Gervaise Ask him to leave his address, I say.
Col. Gervaise But he told me you knew her.
Gervaise Possibly. I had a good many models before I left. But it’s of no consequence; I don’t want any at present.
Col. Gervaise He seemed in a great way, sir⁠—and swore. I couldn’t make him out.
Gervaise Ah! hm!
Col. Gervaise He says he saw her come out of the house.
Gervaise Has there been any girl here? Have you seen any about?
Col. Gervaise No, sir.
Gervaise My aunt had a dressmaker to meet her here the other evening. I have had no model since I came back.
Col. Gervaise The man was in a sad taking about her, sir. I didn’t know what to make of it. There seemed some truth⁠—something suspicious.
Gervaise Perhaps my aunt can throw some light upon it. Col. Gervaise lingers. That will do. Exit Col. Gervaise. How oddly the man behaves! A sunstroke in India, perhaps. Or he may have had a knock on the head. I must keep my eye on him. Stops working, steps backward, and gazes at the Psyche. She is growing very like someone! Who can it be? She knows she is puzzling me, the beauty! See how she is keeping back a smile! She knows if she lets one smile out, her whole face will follow it through the clay. How strange the half-lights of memory are! You know and you don’t know⁠—both at once. Like a bat in the twilight you are sure of it, and the same moment it is nowhere. Who is my Psyche like?⁠—The forehead above the eyebrow, and round by the temple? The half-playful, half-sorrowful curve of the lip? The hope in the lifted eyelid? There is more there than ever I put there. Some power has been shaping my ends. By heaven, I have it!⁠—No⁠—yes⁠—it is⁠—it is Constance⁠—momently dawning out of the clay! What does this mean? She never gave me a sitting⁠—at least, she has not done so for the last ten years⁠—yet here she is⁠—she, and no other! I never thought she was beautiful. When she came with my aunt the other day though, I did fancy I saw a new soul dawning through the lovely face. Here it is⁠—the same soul breaking through the clay of my Psyche!⁠—I will give just one touch to the corner of the mouth.
Gives a few touches, then steps back again and contemplates the figure. Turns away and walks up and down. The light darkens to slow plaintive music, which lasts for a minute. Then the morning begins to dawn, gleaming blue upon the statues and casts, and revealing Gervaise seated before his Psyche, gazing at her. He rises, and exit. Enter Col. Gervaise and looks about.
Col. Gervaise I don’t know what to make of it! Or rather I’m afraid I do know what to make of it! It looks bad. He’s not been in bed all night. But it shows he has some conscience left⁠—and that’s a comfort.
Enter Mrs. Clifford, peeping round cautiously.
Col. Gervaise What, Clara! you here so early!
Mrs. Clifford Well, you know, brother, you’re so fond of mystery!
Col. Gervaise It’s very kind of you to come! But we must be very careful; I can’t tell when my master may be home.
Mrs. Clifford Has he been out all night, then?
Col. Gervaise Oh no; he’s just gone.
Mrs. Clifford I never knew him such an early bird. I made sure he was safe in bed for a couple of hours yet. But I do trust, Walter, you have had enough of this fooling, and are prepared to act like a rational man and a gentleman.
Col. Gervaise On the contrary, Clara, with my usual obstinacy, I am more determined than ever that my boy shall not know me, until, as I told you, I have rendered him such service as may prove me not altogether unworthy to be his father. Twenty years of neglect will be hard to surmount.
Mrs. Clifford But mere menial service cannot discharge the least portion of your obligations. As his father alone can you really serve him.
Col. Gervaise You persist in misunderstanding me. This is not the service I mean. I scorn the fancy. This is only the means, as I told you plainly before, of finding out how I may serve him⁠—of learning what he really needs⁠—or most desires. If I fail in discovering how to recommend myself to him, I shall go back to India, and content myself with leaving him a tolerable fortune.
Mrs. Clifford How ever a hair-brained fellow like you, Walter, could have made such a soldier!⁠—Why don’t you tell your boy you love him, and have done with it?
Col. Gervaise I will, as soon as I have proof to back the assertion.
Mrs. Clifford I tell you it is rank pride.
Col. Gervaise It may be pride, sister; but it is the pride of a repentant thief who puts off his confession until he has the money in his hand to prove the genuineness of his sorrow.
Mrs. C. It never was of any use to argue with you, Walter; you know that, or at least I know it. So I give up.⁠—I trust you have got over your prejudice against his profession. It is not my fault.
Col. Gervaise In truth, I had forgotten the profession⁠—as you call it⁠—in watching the professor.
Mrs. Clifford And has it not once occurred to you to ask how he may take such watching?
Col. Gervaise By the time he is aware of it, he will be ready to understand it.
Mrs. Clifford But suppose he should discover you before you have thus established your position?
Col. Gervaise I must run the risk.
Mrs. Clifford Suppose then you should thus find out something he would not have you know?
Col. Gervaise Hurriedly. Do you imagine his servant might know a thing he would hide from his father?
Mrs. Clifford I do not, Walter. I can trust him. But he might well resent the espionage of even his father. You cannot get rid of the vile look of the thing.
Col. Gervaise Again I say, my boy shall be my judge, and my love shall be my plea. In any case I shall have to ask his forgiveness. But there is his key in the lock! Run into the house.
Exit Mrs. Clifford Enter Gervaise, and goes straight to the Psyche.
Col. Gervaise Breakfast is waiting, sir.
Gervaise By and by, William.
Col. Gervaise You haven’t been in bed, sir!
Gervaise Well? What of that?
Col. Gervaise I hope you’re not ill, sir.
Gervaise Not in the least: I work all night sometimes.⁠—You can go. Col. Gervaise lingers, with a searching gaze at the Psyche.⁠—I don’t want anything.
Col. Gervaise Pardon me, sir, but I am sure you are ill. You’ve done no work since last night.
Gervaise With displeasure. I am quite well, and wish to be alone.
Col. Gervaise Mayn’t I go and fetch a doctor, sir? It is better to take things in time.
Gervaise You are troublesome. Exit Col. Gervaise.⁠—What can the fellow mean? He looked at me so strangely too! He’s officious⁠—that’s all, I dare say. A good sort of man, I do think! William!⁠—What is it in the man’s face?⁠—Enter Col. Gervaise. Is the breakfast ready?
Col. Gervaise Quite ready, sir.
Gervaise I’m sorry I spoke to you so hastily. The fact is⁠—
Col. Gervaise Don’t mention it, sir. Speak as you will to me; I shan’t mind it. When there’s anything on a man’s conscience⁠—I⁠—I⁠—I mean on a man’s mind⁠—
Gervaise What do you mean?
Col. Gervaise I mean, when there is anything there, he can’t well help his temper, sir.
Gervaise I don’t understand you; but, anyhow, you⁠—go too far, William.
Col. Gervaise I beg your pardon, sir: I forgot myself. I do humbly beg your pardon. Shall I make some fresh coffee, sir? It’s not cold⁠—only it’s stood too long.
Gervaise The coffee will do well enough. Exit Col. Gervaise.⁠—Is she so beautiful? Turning to the Psyche.⁠—Is there a likeness?⁠—I see it.⁠—Nonsense! A mere chance confluence of the ideal and the actual.⁠—Even then the chance must mean something. Such a mere chance would indeed be a strange one!
Enter Constance.
Oh, my heart! here she comes! my Psyche herself!⁠—Well, Constance!
Constance Oh, Arthur, I am so glad I’ve found you! I want to talk to you about something. I know you don’t care much about me now, but I must tell you, for it would be wrong not.
Gervaise Aside. How beautiful she is! What can she have to tell me about? It cannot be⁠—it shall not be⁠—. Sit down, won’t you? Offering her a chair.
Constance No. You sit there pointing to the dais, and I will sit here placing herself on the lower step. It was here I used to sit so often when I was a little girl. Why can’t one keep little? I was always with you then! Sighs.
Gervaise It is not my fault, Constance.
Constance Oh no! I suppose it can’t be. Only I don’t see why. Oh, Arthur, where should I be but for you! I saw the old place yesterday. How dreadful and yet how dear it was!
Gervaise Who took you there?
Constance Nobody. I went alone.
Gervaise It was hardly safe.⁠—I don’t like your going out alone, Constance.
Constance Why, Arthur! I used to know every court and alley about Shoreditch better than I know Berkeley Square now!
Gervaise But what made you go there?
Constance I went to find a dressmaker who has been working for my aunt, and lost my way. And⁠—would you believe it?⁠—I was actually frightened!
Gervaise No wonder! There are rough people about there.
Constance I never used to think them rough when I lived among them with my father and mother. There must be just as good people there as anywhere else. Yet I could not help shuddering at the thought of living there again!⁠—How strange it made me feel! You have been my angel, Arthur. What would have become of me if you hadn’t taken me, I dare not think.
Gervaise I have had my reward, Constance: you are happy.
Constance Not quite. There’s something I want to tell you.
Gervaise Tell on, child.
Constance Oh, thank you!⁠—that is how you used to talk to me. Hesitates.
Gervaise With foreboding. Well, what is it?
Constance Pulling the fingers of her gloves. A gentleman⁠—you know him⁠—has been⁠—calling upon aunt⁠—and me. We have seen a good deal of him.
Gervaise Who is he?
Constance Mr. Waterfield. Keeps her eyes on the floor.
Gervaise Well?
Constance He says⁠—he⁠—he⁠—he wants me to marry him.⁠—Aunt likes him.
Gervaise And you?
Constance I like him too. I don’t think I like him enough⁠—I dare say I shall. It is so good of him to take poor me! He is very rich, they say.
Gervaise Have you accepted him?
Constance I am afraid he thinks so.⁠—Ye⁠—e⁠—s.⁠—I hardly know.
Gervaise Haven’t you⁠—been rather⁠—in a hurry⁠—Constance?
Constance No, indeed! I haven’t been in a hurry at all. He has been a long time trying to make me like him. I have been too long a burden to Mrs. Clifford.
Gervaise So! it is her doing, then!
Constance You were away, you know.
Gervaise Bitterly. Yes; too far⁠—chipping stones and making mud-pies!
Constance I don’t know what you mean by that, Arthur.
Gervaise Oh⁠—nothing. I mean that⁠—that⁠—Of course if you are engaged to him, then⁠—
Constance I’m afraid I’ve done very wrong, Arthur. If I had thought you would care!⁠—I knew aunt would be pleased!⁠—she wanted me to have him, I knew.⁠—I ought to do what I can to please her⁠—ought I not? I have no right to⁠—
Gervaise Surely, surely. Yes, yes; I understand. It was not your fault. Only you mustn’t marry him, if you⁠—. Thank you for telling me.
Constance I ought to have told you before⁠—before I let him speak to me again. But I didn’t think you would care⁠—not much.
Gervaise Yes, yes.
Constance Looking up with anxiety. Ah! you are vexed with me, Arthur! I see how wrong it was now. I never saw you look like that. I am very, very sorry. Bursts into tears.
Gervaise No, no, child! Only it is rather sudden, and I want to think about it. Shall I send William home with you?
Constance No, thank you. I have a cab waiting. You’re not angry with your little beggar, Arthur?
Gervaise What is there to be angry about, child?
Constance That I⁠—did anything without asking you first.
Gervaise Nonsense! You couldn’t help it. You’re not to blame one bit.
Constance Oh, yes, I am! I ought to have asked you first. But indeed I did not know you would care. Goodbye.⁠—Shall I go at once?
Gervaise Goodbye. Exit Constance, looking back troubled. Come at last! Oh fool! fool! fool! In love with her at last!⁠—and too late! For three years I haven’t seen her⁠—have not once written to her! Since I came back I’ve seen her just twice⁠—and now in the very hell of love! The ragged little darling that used to lie coiled up there in that corner! If it were my sister, it would be hard to lose her so! And to such a fellow as that!⁠—not even a gentleman! How could she take him for one! That does perplex me! Ah, well! I suppose men have borne such things before, and men will bear them again! I must work! Nothing but work will save me. Approaches the Psyche, but turns from it with a look of despair and disgust. What a fool I have been!⁠—Constance! Constance!⁠—A brute like that to touch one of her fingers! God in heaven! It will drive me mad. Rushes out, leaving the door open.
Enter Col. Gervaise.
Col. Gervaise Gone again! and without his breakfast! My poor boy! There’s something very wrong with you! It’s that girl! It must be! But there’s conscience in him yet!⁠—It is all my fault. If I had been a father to him, this would never have happened.⁠—If he were to marry the girl now?⁠—Only, who can tell but she led him astray? I have known such a thing. Sits down and buries his face in his hands.
Enter Waterfield.
Waterfield Is Mr. Gervaise in?
Col. Gervaise Rising. No, sir.
Waterfield Tell him I called, will you? Exit.
Col. Gervaise Yes, sir.⁠—Forgot again. Young man;⁠—gentleman or cad?⁠—don’t know; think the latter.
Enter Thomas.
Thomas Han yo heard speyk ov mo chylt yet, sir?
Col. Gervaise Starting up. In the name of God, I know nothing of your child; but bring her here, and I will give you a hundred pounds⁠—in golden sovereigns.
Thomas Hea am aw to fot her yere, when I dunnot know wheer hoo be, sir?
Col. Gervaise That’s your business. Bring her, and there will be your money.
Thomas Dun yo think, sir, o’ the gouden suverings i’ th’ Bank ov England would put a sharper edge on mo oud eighes when they look for mo lass? Eh, mon! Yo dunnot know the heart ov a feyther⁠—ov the feyther ov a lass-barn, sir. Han yo kilt and buried her, and nea be yo sorry for’t? I’ hoo be dead and gwoan, tell mo, sir, and aw’ll goo whoam again, for mo oud lass be main lonesome beout mo, and we’ll wait till we goo to her, for hoo winnot coom no moor to us.
Col. Gervaise For anything I know, your daughter is alive and well. Bring her here, I say, and I will make you happy.
Thomas Aw shannot want thes or thi silverings either to mak mo happy then, maister. Iv aw hed a houd o’ mo lass, it’s noan o’ yere aw’d be a coomin’ wi’ her. It’s reet streight whoam to her mother we’d be gooin’, aw’ll be beawn. Nay, nay, mon!⁠—aw’m noan sich a greight foo as yo tak mo for.
Exit. Col. Gervaise follows him. Enter. Gervaise Sits down before the Psyche, but without looking at her.
Gervaise Oh those fingers! They are striking terrible chords on my heart! I will conquer it. But I will love her. The spear shall fill its own wound. To draw it out and die, would be no victory. “I’ll but lie down and bleed awhile, and then I’ll rise and fight again.” Brave old Sir Andrew!
Enter Col. Gervaise.
Col. Gervaise I beg your pardon, sir⁠—a young man called while you were out.
Gervaise Listlessly. Very well, William.
Col. Gervaise Is there any message, if he calls again, sir? He said he would.
Gervaise No. Col. Gervaise lingers. You can go.
Col. Gervaise I hope you feel better, sir?
Gervaise Quite well.
Col. Gervaise Can I get you anything, sir?
Gervaise No, thank you; I want nothing.⁠—Why do you stay?
Col. Gervaise Can’t you think of something I can do for you, sir?
Gervaise Fetch that red cloth.
Col. Gervaise Yes, sir.
Gervaise Throw it over that⁠—
Col. Gervaise This, sir?
Gervaise No, no⁠—the clay there. Thank you. A knock at the door. See who that is.
Col. Gervaise Are you at home, sir?
Gervaise That depends. Not to Mr. Waterfield. Oh, my head! my head! Exit Col. Gervaise.
Enter Constance. Gervaise starts, but keeps his head leaning on his hand.
Constance I forgot to say to you, Arthur⁠—. But you are ill! What is the matter, dear Arthur?
Gervaise Without looking up. Nothing⁠—only a headache.
Constance Do come home with me, and let aunt and me nurse you. Don’t be vexed with me any more. I will do whatever you like. I couldn’t go home without seeing you again. And now I find you ill!
Gervaise Not a bit. I am only dreadfully busy. I must go out of town. I am so busy! I can’t stay in it a moment longer. I have so many things to do.
Constance Mayn’t I come and see you while you work? I never used to interrupt you. I want so to sit once more in my old place. Draws a stool towards him.
Gervaise No, no⁠—not⁠—not there! Constance used to sit there. William!
Constance You frighten me, Arthur!
Enter Col. Gervaise.
Gervaise Bring a chair, William.
Constance sits down like a chidden child. Exit Col. Gervaise.
Constance I must have offended you more than I thought, Arthur! What can I say? It is so stupid to be always saying “I am sorry.”
Gervaise No, no. But someone may call.
Constance You mean more than that. Will you not let me understand?
Gervaise Your friend Mr. Waterfield called a few minutes ago. He will be here again presently, I dare say.
Constance Indifferently. Indeed!
Gervaise I suppose you appointed⁠—expected⁠—to meet him here.
Constance Arthur! Do you think I would come to you to meet him? I saw him this morning; I don’t want to see him again. I wish you knew him.
Gervaise Why should you want me to know him?
Constance Because you would do him good.
Gervaise What good does he want done him?
Constance He has got beautiful things in him⁠—talks well⁠—in bits⁠—arms and feet and faces⁠—never anything like⁠—turning to the Psyche Why have you⁠—? Has she been naughty too?
Gervaise Is it only naughty things that must be put out of sight, Constance?
Constance Dear Arthur! you spoke like your own self then.
Gervaise Rising hurriedly. Excuse me. I must go. It is very rude, but⁠—William!
Enter Col. Gervaise.
Col. Gervaise Yes, sir.
Gervaise Fetch a hansom directly.
Col. Gervaise Yes, sir. Exit.
Constance You do frighten me, Arthur! I am sure you are ill.
Gervaise Not at all. I have an engagement.
Constance I must go then⁠—must I?
Gervaise Do not think me unkind?
Constance I will not think anything you would not have me think.
Reenter Col. Gervaise.
Col. Gervaise The cab is at the door, sir.
Gervaise Thank you. Then show Miss Lacordère out. Stay. I will open the door for her myself. Exeunt Gervaise and Constance.
Col. Gervaise He speaks like one in despair, forcing every word! If he should die! Oh, my God!
Reenter Gervaise Walks up and down the room.
Col. Gervaise Ain’t you going, sir?
Gervaise No. I have sent the lady in the cab.
Col. Gervaise Then hadn’t you better lie down, sir?
Gervaise Lie down! What do you mean? I’m not in the way of lying down except to sleep.
Col. Gervaise And let me go for the doctor, sir?
Gervaise The doctor! Ha! ha ha!⁠—You are a soldier, you say?
Col. Gervaise Yes, sir.
Gervaise Right. We’re all soldiers⁠—or ought to be. I will put you to your catechism. What is a soldier’s first duty?
Col. Gervaise Obedience, sir.
Gervaise sits down and leans his head on his hands. Col. Gervaise watches him.
Gervaise Ah! obedience, is it? Then turn those women out. They will hurt you⁠—may kill you; but you must not mind that. They burn, they blister, and they blast, for as white as they look! The hottest is the white fire. But duty, old soldier!⁠—obedience, you know!⁠—Ha! ha! Oh, my head! my head! I believe I am losing my senses, William. I was in a bad part of the town this morning. I went to see a place I knew long ago. It had gone to hell⁠—but the black edges of it were left. There was a smell⁠—and I can’t get it out of me. Oh, William! William! take hold of me. Don’t let them come near me. Psyche is laughing at me. I told you to throw the red cloth over her.
Col. Gervaise My poor boy!
Gervaise Don’t fancy you’re my father, though! I wish you were. But I cannot allow that.⁠—Why the devil didn’t you throw the red cloth over that butterfly? She’s sucking the blood from my heart.
Col. Gervaise You said the Psyche, sir! The red cloth is over the Psyche, sir. Look.
Gervaise Yes. Yes. I beg your pardon. Take it off. It is too red. It will scorch her wings. It burns my brain. Take it off, I say! Col. Gervaise uncovers the Psyche. There! I told you! She’s laughing at me! Ungrateful child! I’m not her Cupid. Cover her up. Not the red cloth again. It’s too hot, I say. I won’t torture her. I am a man and I can bear it. She’s a woman and she shan’t bear it.
Sinks back in his chair. Col. Gervaise lays him on the dais, and sits down beside him.
Col. Gervaise His heart’s all right! And when a fellow’s miserable over his faults, there must be some way out of them.⁠—But the consequences?⁠—Ah! there’s the rub.
Gervaise What’s the matter? Where am I?
Col. Gervaise I must fetch a doctor, sir. You’ve been in a faint.
Gervaise Why couldn’t I keep in it? It was very nice: you know nothing⁠—and that’s the nicest thing of all. Why is it we can’t stop, William?
Col. Gervaise I don’t understand you, sir.
Gervaise Stop living, I mean. It’s no use killing yourself, for you don’t stop then. At least they say you go on living all the same. If I thought it did mean stopping, William⁠—
Col. Gervaise Do come to your room, sir.
Gervaise I won’t. I’ll stop here. How hot it is! Don’t let anybody in.
Stretches out his hand. Col. Gervaise holds it. He falls asleep.
Col. Gervaise What shall I do? If he married her, he’d be miserable, and make her miserable too. I’ll take her away somewhere. I’ll be a father to her; I’ll tend her as if she were his widow. But what confusions would follow! Alas! alas! one crime is the mother of a thousand miseries! And now he’s in for a fever⁠—typhus, perhaps!⁠—I must find this girl!⁠—What a sweet creature that Miss Lacordère is! If only he might have her! I don’t care what she was.
Gervaise Don’t let them near me, William! They will drive me mad. They think I shall love them. I will not. If she comes one step nearer, I shall strike her. You Diana! Hecate! Hellcat!⁠—Fire-hearted Chaos is burning me to ashes! My brain is a cinder! Some water, William!
Col. Gervaise Here it is, sir.
Gervaise But just look to Psyche there. Ah, she’s off! There she goes! melting away in the blue, like a dissolving vapour. Bring me my field-glass, William. I may catch a glimpse of her yet. Make haste.
Col. Gervaise Pray don’t talk so, sir. Do be quiet, or you will make yourself very ill. Think what will become of me if⁠—
Gervaise What worse would you be, William? You are a soldier. I must talk. You are all wrong about it: it keeps me quiet holding his head with both hands. I should go raving mad else wildly. Give me some water. He drinks eagerly, then looks slowly round the room. Now they are gone, and I do believe they won’t come again! I see everything⁠—and your face, William. You are very good to me⁠—very patient! I should die if it weren’t for you.
Col. Gervaise I would die for you, sir.
Gervaise Would you? But perhaps you don’t care much for your life. Anybody might have my life for the asking. I dare say it’s just as good to be dead.⁠—Ah! there is a toad⁠—a toad with a tail! No; it’s a toad with a slowworm after him. Take them away, William!⁠—Thank you.⁠—I used to think life pleasant, but now⁠—somehow there’s nothing in it. She told me the truth about it⁠—Constance did. Don’t let those women come back. What if I should love them, William!⁠—love and hate them both at once! William! William! A knock at the door. See who that is. Mind you don’t let them in.
Col. Gervaise Martha is there, sir.
Gervaise She’s but an old woman; she can’t keep them out. They would walk over her. All the goddesses have such long legs! You go and look. You’ll easily know them: if they’ve got no irises to their eyes, don’t let them in, for the love of God, William! Real women have irises to their eyes: those have none⁠—those frightful snowy beauties.⁠—And yet snow is very nice! And I’m so hot! There they come again! Exit Col. Gervaise.
Enter Mrs. Clifford.
Gervaise Aunt! aunt! help me! There they come!
Mrs. Clifford What is it, my Arthur? They shan’t hurt you. I am here. I will take care of you.
Gervaise Yes, yes, you will! I am not a bit afraid of them now. Do you know them, aunt? I’ll tell you a secret: they are Juno and Diana and Venus.⁠—They hate sculptors. But I never wronged them. Three white women⁠—only, between their fingers and behind their knees they are purple⁠—and inside their lips, when they smile⁠—and in the hollows of their eyes⁠—ugh! They want me to love them; and they say you are all⁠—all of you women⁠—no better than they are. I know that is a lie; for they have no eyelids and no irises to their eyes.
Mrs. Clifford Dear boy, they shan’t come near you. Shall I sing to you, and drive them away?
Gervaise No, don’t. I can’t bear birds in my brain.
Mrs. Clifford How long have you had this headache? Laying her hand on his forehead.
Gervaise Only a year or two⁠—since the white woman came⁠—that woman pointing to the Psyche. She’s been buried for ages, and won’t grow brown.
Mrs. Clifford There’s no woman there, Arthur.
Gervaise Of course not. It was an old story that bothered me. Oh, my head! my head!⁠—There’s my father standing behind the door and won’t come in!⁠—He could help me now, if he would. William! show my father in. But he isn’t in the story⁠—so he can’t.
Mrs. Clifford Do try to keep yourself quiet, Arthur. The doctor will be here in a few minutes.
Gervaise He shan’t come here! He would put the white woman out. She does smell earthy, but I won’t part with her. A knock. What a devil of a noise! Why don’t they use the knocker? What’s the use of taking a sledgehammer?
Mrs. Clifford It’s that stupid James!
Enter Constance. Mrs. Clifford goes to meet her.
Mrs. Clifford Constance, you go and hurry the doctor. I will stay with Arthur.
Constance Is he very ill, aunt?
Mrs. Clifford I’m afraid he is.
Gervaise Sitting up. Constance! Constance!
Constance Here I am! Running to him.
Gervaise Oh, my head! I wish I could find somewhere to lay it!⁠—Sit by me, Constance, and let me lay my head on your shoulder⁠—for one minute⁠—only one minute. It aches so! She sits down by him. His head sinks on her shoulder. Mrs. Clifford looks annoyed, and exit.
Constance Thank you, thank you, dear Arthur! Sobbing. You used to like me! I could not believe you hated me now. You have forgiven me? Dear head!
He closes his eyes. Slow plaintive music.
Gervaise Half waking. I can’t read. When I get to the bottom of the page, I wonder what it was all about. I shall never get to Garibaldi! and if I don’t, I shall never get farther. If I could but keep that one line away! It drives me mad, mad. “He took her by the lily-white hand.”⁠—I could strangle myself for thinking of such things, but they will come!⁠—I won’t go mad. I should never get to Garibaldi, and never be rid of this red-hot ploughshare ploughing up my heart. I will not go mad! I will die like a man.
Constance Arthur! Arthur!
Gervaise God in heaven! she is there! And the others are behind her!⁠—Psyche! Psyche! Don’t speak to those women! Come alone, and I will tear my heart out and give it you.⁠—It is Psyche herself now, and the rest are gone! Psyche⁠—listen.
Constance It’s only me, Arthur! your own little Constance! If aunt would but let me stay and nurse you! But I don’t know what’s come to her: she’s not like herself at all.
Gervaise Who’s that behind you?
Constance Behind me? Looking round. There’s nobody behind me.
Gervaise I thought there was somebody behind you. William!⁠—What can have become of William?
Constance I dare say aunt has sent him somewhere.
Gervaise Then he’s gone! he’s gone!
Constance You’re not afraid of being left alone with me, Arthur?
Gervaise Oh no! of course not?⁠—What can have become of William? Don’t you know they sent him⁠—not those women, but the dead people⁠—to look after me? He’s a good fellow. He said he would die for me. Ha! ha! ha! Not much in that⁠—is there?
Constance Don’t laugh so, dear Arthur.
Gervaise Well, I won’t. I have something to tell you, Constance. I will try to keep my senses till I’ve told you.
Constance Do tell me. I hope I haven’t done anything more to vex you. Indeed I am sorry. I won’t speak to that man again, if you like. I would rather not⁠—if you wish it.
Gervaise What right have I to dictate to you, my child?
Constance Every right. I am yours. I belong to you. Nobody owned me when you took me.
Gervaise Don’t talk like that; you will drive me mad.
Constance Arthur! Arthur!
Gervaise Listen to me, Constance. I am going to Garibaldi. He wants soldiers. I must not live an idle life any longer.⁠—We must part, Constance.⁠—Goodbye, my darling!
Constance No, no; not yet; we’ll talk about it by-and-by. You see I shall have ever so many things to make for you before you can go! Smiling.
Gervaise Garibaldi can’t wait, Constance⁠—and I can’t wait. I shall die if I stop here.
Constance Oh, Arthur, you are in some trouble, and you won’t tell me what it is, so I can’t help you!
Gervaise I shall be killed, I know. I mean to be. Will you think of me sometimes? Give me one kiss. I may have a last kiss.
Constance Weeping. My heart will break if you talk like that, Arthur. I will do anything you please. There’s something wrong, dreadfully wrong! And it must be my fault!⁠—Oh! there’s that man! Starting up. He shall not come here.
Runs to the house-door, and stands listening, with her hand on the key.

End of Act I.