|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 61
STRANGER. But I can feel his presence. (He puts his hand to his
heart.) Can't you hear, far, far away, someone saying a rosary?
LADY. Yes, I can hear it. But it's not the Angels' Greeting. It's
the Curse of Deuteronomy! Woe unto us!
STRANGER. Then it must be in the convent of St. Saviour.
LADY. Woe! Woe!
STRANGER. Beloved. What is it?
LADY. Belov�d! Say that word again.
STRANGER. Are you ill?
LADY. No, but I'm in pain, and yet glad at the same time. Go and
ask my mother to make up my bed. But first give me your blessing.
STRANGER. Shall I ...?
LADY. Say you forgive me; I may die, if the child takes my life.
Say that you love me.
STRANGER. Strange: I can't get the word to cross my lips.
LADY. Then you don't love me?
STRANGER. When you say so, it seems so to me. It's terrible, but I
fear I hate you.
LADY. Then at least give me your hand; as you'd give it to someone
in distress.
STRANGER. I'd like to, but I can't. Someone in me takes pleasure in
your agony; but it's not I. I'd like to carry you in my arms and
bear your suffering for you. But I may not. I cannot!
LADY. You're as hard as stone.
STRANGER (with restrained emotion). Perhaps not. Perhaps not.
LADY. Come to me!
STRANGER. I can't stir from here. It's as if someone had taken
possession of my soul; and I'd like to kill myself so as to take
the life of the other.
LADY. Think of your child with joy. ...
STRANGER. I can't even do that, for it'll bind me to earth.
LADY. If we've sinned, we've been punished! Haven't we suffered
enough?
STRANGER. Not yet. But one day we shall have.
LADY (sinking down). Help me. Mercy! I shall faint!
(The STRANGER extends his hand, as if he had recovered from a
cramp. The LADY kisses it. The STRANGER lifts her up and leads her
to the door of the house.)
Curtain.
SCENE II
THE 'ROSE' ROOM
[A room with rose-coloured walls; it has small windows with iron
lattices and plants in pots. The curtains are rose red; the
furniture is white and red. In the background a door leading to a
white bed-chamber; when this door is opened, a large bed can be
seen with a canopy and white hangings. On the right the door
leading out of the house. On the left a fireplace with a coal
fire. In front of it a bath tub, covered with a white towel. A cradle
covered with white, rose-coloured and light-blue stuff. Baby
clothes are spread out here and there. A green dress hangs on the
right-hand wall. Four Sisters of Mercy are on their knees, facing
the door at the back, dressed in the black and white of Augustinian
nuns. The midwife, who is in black, is by the fireplace. The
child's nurse wears a peasant's dress, of black and white, from
Brittany. The MOTHER is standing listening by the door at the back.
The STRANGER is sitting on a chair right and is trying to read a
book. A hat and a brown cloak with a cape and hood hang nearby, and
on the floor there is a small travelling bag. The Sisters of Mercy
are singing a psalm. The others join in from time to time, but not
the STRANGER.]
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|