The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-10-19
Lady R. Oh yes, I will. A mere sketch


and absurdly fattered.
G. FIattered! (He holds the picture in his
hands, perusing it, How can you know?
Lady R. 1t is much prettier than Miss
Tyrrel.
c. What do you mean? Well, yes, be-
leve, If l remember right. that it was taken
from Miss Tyrrel.
Lady r. And l believe, if 1 remember
right, that it IS twice as pretty as Miss TYR
rel.
c.. You have never seen her.
Lady R. Indeed have.
c. indeed Where?
Lady r. Here.
G. In Rome?
Lady r. Here.
C. Here What do you mean?
Lady r. Here, in this room.
C. Clara, dare say that this is extremely
amusing to you. don't see the joke myself.
don't see why you should rake up this old
story. Yes, see. You wish TO quarrel to
find an excuse for not answering me, when I
ask YOU
Lady r. She was here.
G. The Tyrrels never leave Lindhurst.
Lady r. The Tyrrels are in Rome.
G. Is this true? Don't push this joke too
far
Lady r. 1t is true.
G. Then must SO.
Lady r. Why?
c. Is it true that the Tyrrels are here, in
Rome?
Lady R. 1t is true.
c. must 60 then. Oh, don't imagine
anything extraordinary. 1t is simple mat
ter. These people were kind to me, kind
with generous hospitality that is rare. l
stayed and stayed in their house until 1
thought that l should never 60, until l feared
that-Well, it came to this: here were people
who in honesty and good faith had treated
me like king, people Who
Lady r. Don't dilate upon the Tyrrel
character just now.
G. What was doing in return for all their
goodness? found myself trying to win the
love OF their only child, girl with no knowl-
edge OF the world, who had seen no men TO
speak of, and who might take Ole, even me,
for very fine fellow.
Lady r You were on the way to get what
| you wanted.
G. 1 was not scoundre. knew myself;
man who had knocked about the world, a
paintingivagabond. social cynic, not worthy
to touch her hand or look into her eyes.
High-fown you think; but 1 was not scoun-
drel and went away.
Lady r. But now?
q. Now? Well now, don't want to have
| to do the thing again.
| Lady R. Then it would be hard to see her
again and go?
G. Yes.
Lady r. You loved her?
| G. suppose so.
Lady r. l always thought you were not
bad fellow.
G. am not over good. 1 don't visa to
| open an old wound, That's not an extraor-
| binary virtue is it?
Lady r. Aud the girl? What of her?
=. BY this time she has seen scores of men
in all respects better than T, confound them.
She? Why She
Lady R. Stop. Don't say too much about
Miss Betty Tyrrel. Put her picture back
and drop the subject. Put the picture back
in its place.
G. Very well. I don't want to bore you.
$50 he goes to replace the picture, and draws
Then there is silence in the room for
time.)
Betty. Mr.. Huntley, am very sorry. did
not mean to listen.
G. Miss Tyrrel-Betty-is it you?
B. Oh, forgive me. did not mean to lis
ten.
G. And it is you indeed.
b. But did not mean it. Oh, you be-
lieve that did not hide myself here to lis.
ten!
c. You!
Lady R. 1t was my fault
G. What do you mean?
Lady r. Do attend to me. Miss Tyrrel
Is my friend. She came to fetch me after nv
sitting. Finding that the studio belonged to
you of al men in the world, she was fright
ened and put her there.
b. Thank you-oh, thank you. Mr.. Hunt
ley. it is so good of her to say that. But L
must tell you. We are living just opposite;
papa and mamma and 1; and never stopped
to think; and slipped out by myself; and I
did so want to see the place where you
worked. did not stop to think; that was
was where was wrong. And l found her
here and 1 was frightened.
Lady r. Yes, as told you, she was fright
ened, and put her in the corner. Good
heavens! Claud! aren't you going to say
something's Why do you stand there like a
tragedan or May pole? Oh, you men!
B. Won't you forgive me?
G. Forgive YOU? Why? Can you do any
any wrong? You have heard me say what I
never meant to say in the old days. am
glad that you have heard me. You will think
more kindly OF me some day, when-May
see you safe across the street? Will you say
all kind things for .me.to Mr.. and Mrs. Tyr
rel?
Lady R. Is the man fool?
B. You are not angry with me, then?
9: Are you not angry with me for having
b. was never angry with you, not even
when you went away so suddenly.
q. Were you sorry? Oh, take care, take
care, child! Don't deceive me or yourself.
Were you sorry when I went away?
B. We were all sorry, very sorry.
G. But you, you? You came here; would
you stay herewith me? Oh, child, il it pos
slbe that you should care for me?
B. Yes.
G. If I had known this!
Lady r. Any one but a man would have
known it years ago. CAS- she looks at Claud
and Betty, she begins to smile at her own
thoughts.) There were only two in Paradise
in the first apple orchard, unless you count
the serpent, and that is role for which l
have neither inclination nor capacity. EXIT.
And so ends the Comedy.l