plays [40]
name of Miss Musgrave, my doors fly always open.
FENWICK. I believe, sir, you are acquainted with my cousin,
Richard Gaunt?
AUSTIN. The county member? An old and good friend. But you
need not go so far afield: I know your good house of Allonby
Shaw since the days of the Black Knight. We are, in fact, and at
a very royal distance, cousins.
FENWICK. I desired, sir, from the nature of my business, that
you should recognise me for a gentleman.
AUSTIN. The preliminary, sir, is somewhat grave.
FENWICK. My business is both grave and delicate.
AUSTIN. Menteith, my good fellow. (EXIT MENTEITH.) Mr.
Fenwick, honour me so far as to be seated. (THEY SIT.) I await
your pleasure.
FENWICK. Briefly, sir, I am come, not without hope, to appeal to
your good heart.
AUSTIN. From Miss Musgrave?
FENWICK. No, sir, I abused her name, and am here upon my own
authority. Upon me the consequence.
AUSTIN. Proceed.
FENWICK. Mr. Austin, Dorothy Musgrave is the oldest and dearest
of my friends, is the lady whom for ten years it has been my hope
to make my wife. She has shown me reason to discard that hope
for another: that I may call her Mrs. Austin.
AUSTIN. In the best interests of the lady (RISING) I question if
you have been well inspired. You are aware, sir, that from such
interference there is but one issue: to whom shall I address my
friend?
FENWICK. Mr. Austin, I am here to throw myself upon your mercy.
Strange as my errand is, it will seem yet more strange to you
that I came prepared to accept at your hands any extremity of
dishonour and not fight. The lady whom it is my boast to serve
has honoured me with her commands. These are my law, and by
these your life is sacred.
AUSTIN. Then, sir (WITH HIS HAND UPON THE BELL), his
conversation becomes impossible. You have me at too gross a
disadvantage; and, as you are a gentleman and respect another, I
would suggest that you retire.
FENWICK. Sir, you speak of disadvantage; think of mine. All my
life long, with all the forces of my nature, I have loved this
lady. I came here to implore her to be my wife, to be my queen;
my saint she had been always! She was too noble to deceive me.
She told me what you know. I will not conceal that my first mood
wasof anger: I would have killed you like a dog. But, Mr.
Austin - bear with me awhile - I, on the threshold of my life,
who have made no figure in the world, nor ever shall now, who had
but one treasure, and have lost it - if I, abandoning revenge,
trampling upon jealousy, can supplicate you to complete my
misfortune - O Mr. Austin! you who have lived, you whose
gallantry is beyond the insolence of a suspicion, you who are a
man crowned and acclaimed, who are loved, and loved by such a
woman - you who excel me in every point of advantage, will you
suffer me to surpass you in generosity?
AUSTIN. You speak from the heart. (SITS.) What do you want
with me?
FENWICK. Marry her.
AUSTIN. Mr. Fenwick, I am the older man. I have seen much of
life, much of society, much of love. When I was young, it was
expected of a gentleman to be ready with his hat to a lady, ready
with his sword to a man; to honour his word and his king; to be
courteous with his equals, generous to his dependants, helpful
and trusty in friendship. But it was not asked of us to be
quixotic. If I had married every lady by whom it is my fortune -
not my merit - to have been distinguished, the Wells would scarce
be spacious enough for my establishment. You see, sir, that
while I respect your emotion, I am myself conducted by
experience. And besides, Mr. Fenwick, is not love a warfare? has
it not rules? have not our fair antagonists their tactics, their
weapons, their place of arms? and is there not a touch of -
pardon me the word! of silliness in one who, having fought, and
having vanquished, sounds a parley, and capitulates to his own
prisoner? Had the lady chosen, had the fortune of war been
other, 'tis like she had been Mrs. Austin. Now
FENWICK. I believe, sir, you are acquainted with my cousin,
Richard Gaunt?
AUSTIN. The county member? An old and good friend. But you
need not go so far afield: I know your good house of Allonby
Shaw since the days of the Black Knight. We are, in fact, and at
a very royal distance, cousins.
FENWICK. I desired, sir, from the nature of my business, that
you should recognise me for a gentleman.
AUSTIN. The preliminary, sir, is somewhat grave.
FENWICK. My business is both grave and delicate.
AUSTIN. Menteith, my good fellow. (EXIT MENTEITH.) Mr.
Fenwick, honour me so far as to be seated. (THEY SIT.) I await
your pleasure.
FENWICK. Briefly, sir, I am come, not without hope, to appeal to
your good heart.
AUSTIN. From Miss Musgrave?
FENWICK. No, sir, I abused her name, and am here upon my own
authority. Upon me the consequence.
AUSTIN. Proceed.
FENWICK. Mr. Austin, Dorothy Musgrave is the oldest and dearest
of my friends, is the lady whom for ten years it has been my hope
to make my wife. She has shown me reason to discard that hope
for another: that I may call her Mrs. Austin.
AUSTIN. In the best interests of the lady (RISING) I question if
you have been well inspired. You are aware, sir, that from such
interference there is but one issue: to whom shall I address my
friend?
FENWICK. Mr. Austin, I am here to throw myself upon your mercy.
Strange as my errand is, it will seem yet more strange to you
that I came prepared to accept at your hands any extremity of
dishonour and not fight. The lady whom it is my boast to serve
has honoured me with her commands. These are my law, and by
these your life is sacred.
AUSTIN. Then, sir (WITH HIS HAND UPON THE BELL), his
conversation becomes impossible. You have me at too gross a
disadvantage; and, as you are a gentleman and respect another, I
would suggest that you retire.
FENWICK. Sir, you speak of disadvantage; think of mine. All my
life long, with all the forces of my nature, I have loved this
lady. I came here to implore her to be my wife, to be my queen;
my saint she had been always! She was too noble to deceive me.
She told me what you know. I will not conceal that my first mood
wasof anger: I would have killed you like a dog. But, Mr.
Austin - bear with me awhile - I, on the threshold of my life,
who have made no figure in the world, nor ever shall now, who had
but one treasure, and have lost it - if I, abandoning revenge,
trampling upon jealousy, can supplicate you to complete my
misfortune - O Mr. Austin! you who have lived, you whose
gallantry is beyond the insolence of a suspicion, you who are a
man crowned and acclaimed, who are loved, and loved by such a
woman - you who excel me in every point of advantage, will you
suffer me to surpass you in generosity?
AUSTIN. You speak from the heart. (SITS.) What do you want
with me?
FENWICK. Marry her.
AUSTIN. Mr. Fenwick, I am the older man. I have seen much of
life, much of society, much of love. When I was young, it was
expected of a gentleman to be ready with his hat to a lady, ready
with his sword to a man; to honour his word and his king; to be
courteous with his equals, generous to his dependants, helpful
and trusty in friendship. But it was not asked of us to be
quixotic. If I had married every lady by whom it is my fortune -
not my merit - to have been distinguished, the Wells would scarce
be spacious enough for my establishment. You see, sir, that
while I respect your emotion, I am myself conducted by
experience. And besides, Mr. Fenwick, is not love a warfare? has
it not rules? have not our fair antagonists their tactics, their
weapons, their place of arms? and is there not a touch of -
pardon me the word! of silliness in one who, having fought, and
having vanquished, sounds a parley, and capitulates to his own
prisoner? Had the lady chosen, had the fortune of war been
other, 'tis like she had been Mrs. Austin. Now