ThepassageinthatoldItalianbookWehuntedforsolongisfound，say，found——
AndifIletitslipagain……yousee，Thatshemustcome——andinstantly！
GUENDOLEN。I’lldiePiecemeal，recordthat，iftherehavenotgloomedSomebloti’the’scutcheon！
TRESHAM。Go！or，Guendolen，Beyouatcall，——WithAustin，ifyouchoose，——
Intheadjoininggallery！Therego！
[GUENDOLENgoes。]
Anotherlessontome！YoumightbidAchilddisguisehisheart’ssore，andconductSomeslyinvestigationpointbypointWithasmoothbrow，aswellasbidmecatchTheinquisitorialclevernesssomepraise。
Ifyouhadtoldmeyesterday，\"There’soneYouneedsmustcircumventandpractisewith，Entrapbypolicies，ifyouwouldwormThetruthout:andthatoneis——Mildred！\"There，There——reasoningisthrownawayonit！
Proveshe’sunchaste……why，youmayafterproveThatshe’sapoisoner，traitress，whatyouwill！
WhereIcancomprehendnought，nought’stosay，Ordo，orthink。ForceonmebutthefirstAbomination，——thenoutpourallplagues，AndIshallne’ermakecountofthem。
EnterMILDRED
MILDRED。WhatbookIsitIwanted，Thorold？GuendolenThoughtyouwerepale；youarenotpale。Thatbook？
That’sLatinsurely。
TRESHAM。Mildred，here’saline，（Don’tleanonme:I’llEnglishitforyou）
\"Loveconquersallthings。\"Whatloveconquersthem？
Whatloveshouldyouesteem——bestlove？
MILDRED。Truelove。
TRESHAM。Imean，andshouldhavesaid，whoseloveisbestOfallthatloveorthatprofesstolove？
MILDRED。
Thelist’ssolong:there’sfather’s，mother’s，husband’s……
TRESHAM。Mildred，Idobelieveabrother’sloveForasolesistermustexceedthemall。
Forseenow，onlysee！there’snoalloyOfearththatcreepsintotheperfect’stgoldOfotherloves——nogratitudetoclaim；
Younevergaveherlife，notevenaughtThatkeepslife——nevertendedher，instructed，Enrichedher——so，yourlovecanclaimnorightO’erhersavepurelove’sclaim:that’swhatIcallFreedomfromearthliness。You’llneverhopeTobesuchfriends，forinstance，sheandyou，Aswhenyouhuntedcowslipsinthewoods，Orplayedtogetherinthemeadowhay。
Ohyes——withage，respectcomes，andyourworthIsfelt，there’sgrowingsympathyoftastes，There’sripenedfriendship，there’sconfirmedesteem:
——Muchheadthesemakeagainstthenewcomer！
Thestartlingapparition，thestrangeyouth——
Whomonehalf—hour’sconversingwith，or，say，Meregazingat，shallchange（beyondallchangeThisOvideversangabout）yoursoul……Hersoul，thatis，——thesister’ssoul！Withher’Twaswinteryesterday；now，alliswarmth，Thegreenleaf’sspringingandtheturtle’svoice，\"Ariseandcomeaway！\"Comewhither？——farEnoughfromtheesteem，respect，andallThebrother’ssomewhatinsignificantArrayofrights！Allwhichheknowsbefore，Hascalculatedonsolongago！
Ithinksuchlove，（apartfromyoursandmine，）
Contentedwithitslittletermoflife，Intendingtoretirebetimes，awareHowsoonthebackgroundmustbeplacedforit，——Ithink，amsure，abrother’sloveexceedsAlltheworld’sloveinitsunworldliness。
MILDRED。Whatisthisfor？
TRESHAM。This，Mildred，isitfor！
Or，no，Icannotgotoitsosoon！
That’soneofmanypointsmyhasteleftout——
Eachday，eachhourthrowsforthitssilk—slightfilmBetweenthebeingtiedtoyoubybirth，Andyou，untilthoseslenderthreadscomposeAwebthatshroudsherdailylifeofhopesAndfearsandfancies，allherlife，fromyours:
Socloseyouliveandyetsofarapart！
AndmustIrendthisweb，tearup，breakdownThesweetandpalpitatingmysteryThatmakeshersacred？You——foryouImean，ShallIspeak，shallInotspeak？
MILDRED。Speak！
TRESHAM。Iwill。
Isthereastorymencould——anymanCouldtellofyou，youwouldconcealfromme？
I’llneverthinkthere’sfalsehoodonthatlip。
Say\"Thereisnosuchstorymencouldtell，\"
AndI’llbelieveyou，thoughIdisbelieveTheworld——theworldofbettermenthanI，AndwomensuchasIsupposeyou。Speak！
[Afterapause。]
Notspeak？Explainthen！Clearitupthen！MoveSomeofthemiserableweightawayThatpresseslowerthanthegrave。Notspeak？
Someofthedeadweight，Mildred！Ah，ifI
CouldbringmyselftoplainlymaketheirchargeAgainstyou！MustI，Mildred？Silentstill？
[Afterapause。]
IsthereagallantthathasnightbynightAdmittancetoyourchamber？
[Afterapause。]
Then，hisname！
Tillnow，Ionlyhadathoughtforyou:
Butnow，——hisname！
MILDRED。Thorold，doyoudeviseFitexpiationformyguilt，iffitTherebe！’TisnoughttosaythatI’llendureAndblessyou，——thatmyspirityearnstopurgeHerstainsoffinthefiercerenewingfire:
Butdonotplungemeintootherguilt！
Oh，guiltenough！Icannottellhisname。
TRESHAM。Thenjudgeyourself！HowshouldIact？Pronounce！
MILDRED。Oh，Thorold，youmustnevertemptmethus！
TodiehereinthischamberbythatswordWouldseemlikepunishment:soshouldIglide，Likeanarch—cheat，intoextremestbliss！
’Twereeasilyarrangedforme:butyou——
Whatwouldbecomeofyou？
TRESHAM。AndwhatwillnowBecomeofme？I’llhideyourshameandmine>Fromeveryeye；thedeadmustheavetheirheartsUnderthemarbleofourchapel—floor；
Theycannotriseandblastyou。YoumaywedYourparamouraboveourmother’stomb；
Ourmothercannotmovefrom’neathyourfoot。
Wetoowillsomehowwearthisonedayout:
Butwithto—morrowhastenshere——theEarl！
Theyouthwithoutsuspicion。Facecancome>FromHeavenandheartfrom……whenceproceedsuchhearts？
IhavedispatchedlastnightatyourcommandAmissivebiddinghimpresenthimselfTo—morrow——here——thusmuchissaid；therestIsunderstoodasif’twerewrittendown——
\"Hissuitfindsfavorinyoureyes。\"NowdictateThismorning’sletterthatshallcountermandLastnight’s——dodictatethat！
MILDRED。But，Thorold——ifIwillreceivehimasIsaid？
TRESHAM。TheEarl？
MILDRED。Iwillreceivehim。
TRESHAM[startingup]。Hothere！Guendolen！
GUENDOLENandAUSTINenterAnd，Austin，youarewelcome，too！Lookthere！
Thewomanthere！
AUSTINandGUENDOLEN。How？Mildred？
TRESHAM。Mildredonce！
Nowthereceivernightbynight，whensleepBlessestheinmatesofherfather’shouse，——Isay，thesoftslywantonthatreceivesHerguilt’saccomplice’neaththisroofwhichholdsYou，Guendolen，you，Austin，andhasheldAthousandTreshams——neveronelikeher！
Nolighterofthesignal—lampherquickFoulbreathnearquenchesinhoteagernessTomixwithbreathasfoul！noloosenerO’thelattice，practisedinthestealthytread，Thelowvoiceandthenoiselesscome—and—go！
Notonecomposerofthebacchant’smienInto——whatyouthoughtMildred’s，inaword！
Knowher！
GUENDOLEN。Oh，Mildred，looktome，atleast！
Thorold——she’sdead，I’dsay，butthatshestandsRigidasstoneandwhiter！
TRESHAM。Youhaveheard……
GUENDOLEN。Toomuch！Youmustproceednofurther。
MILDRED。Yes——
Proceed！All’struth。Gofromme！
TRESHAM。Allistruth，Shetellsyou！Well，youknow，oroughttoknow，AllthisIwouldforgiveinher。I’dconEachprecepttheharshworldenjoins，I’dtakeOurancestors’sternverdictsonebyone，I’dbindmyselfbeforethentoexactTheprescribedvengeance——andonewordofhers，Thesightofher，thebareleastmemoryOfMildred，myonesister，myheart’sprideAboveallprides，myallinallsolong，Wouldscattereverytraceofmyresolve。
WhatwereitsilentlytowasteawayAndseeherwasteawayfromthisdayforth，Twoscathedthingswithleisuretorepent，Andgrowacquaintedwiththegrave，anddieTiredoutifnotatpeace，andbeforgotten？
Itwerenotsoimpossibletobear。
Butthis——that，freshfromlastnight’spledgerenewedOflovewiththesuccessfulgallantthere，Shecalmlybidsmehelphertoentice，InveigleanunconscioustrustingyouthWhothinksherallthat’schasteandgoodandpure，——Invitesmetobetrayhim……whosofitAshonour’sselftocovershame’sarch—deed？
——Thatshe’llreceiveLordMertoun——（herownphrase）——
This，whocouldbear？Why，youhaveheardofthieves，Stabbers，theearth’sdisgrace，whoyethavelaughed，\"Talknottomeoftorture——I’llbetrayNocomradeI’vepledgedfaithto！\"——youhaveheardOfwretchedwomen——allbutMildreds——tiedBywildillicittiestoloselsvileYou’dtemptthemtoforsake；andthey’llreply\"Gold，friends，repute，Ileftforhim，IfindInhim，whyshouldIleavehimthen，forgold，Reputeorfriends？\"——andyouhavefeltyourheartRespondtosuchpooroutcastsoftheworldAstosomanyfriends；badasyouplease，You’vefelttheywereGod’smenandwomenstill，So，nottobedisownedbyyou。ButsheThatstandsthere，calmlygivesherloverupAsmeanstowedtheEarlthatshemayhideTheirintercoursethesurelier:and，forthis，Icursehertoherfacebeforeyouall。
Shamehuntherfromtheearth！ThenHeavendorightToboth！Ithearsmenow——shalljudgeherthen！
[ASMILDREDfaintsandfalls，TRESHAMrushesout。]
AUSTIN。Stay，Tresham，we’llaccompanyyou！
GUENDOLEN。We？
What，andleaveMildred？We？Why，where’smyplaceButbyherside，andwhereyoursbutbymine？
Mildred——oneword！Onlylookatme，then！
AUSTIN。No，Guendolen！IechoThorold’svoice。
Sheisunworthytobehold……
GUENDOLEN。Ustwo？
Ifyouspokeonreflection，andifI
Approvedyourspeech——ifyou（toputthethingAtlowest）youthesoldier，boundtomakeTheking’scauseyoursandfightforit，andthrowRegardtoothersofitsrightorwrong，——Ifwithadeath—whitewomanyoucanhelp，Letalonesister，letaloneaMildred，Youlefther——orifI，hercousin，friendThismorning，playfellowbutyesterday，Whosaid，orthoughtatleastathousandtimes，\"I’dserveyouifIcould，\"shouldnowfaceroundAndsay，\"Ah，that’stoonlysignifyI’dserveyouwhileyou’refittoserveyourself:
SolongasfiftyeyesawaittheturnOfyourstoforestallitsyethalf—formedwish，I’llproffermyassistanceyou’llnotneed——
Wheneverytongueispraisingyou，I’lljoinThepraisers’chorus——whenyou’rehemmedaboutWithlivesbetweenyouanddetraction——livesTobelaiddownifarudevoice，rasheye，RoughhandshouldviolatethesacredringTheirworshipthrowsaboutyou，——thenindeed，Who’llstandupforyoustoutasI？\"IfsoWesaid，andsowedid，——notMildredthereWouldbeunworthytobeholdusboth，Butweshouldbeunworthy，bothofus。
Tobebeheldby——by——yourmeanestdog，Which，ifthatswordwerebrokeninyourfaceBeforeacrowd，thatbadgetornoffyourbreast，Andyoucastoutwithhootingandcontempt，——Wouldpushhiswaythro’allthehooters，gainYourside，gooffwithyouandallyourshameTothenextditchyouchoosetodiein！Austin，Doyouloveme？Here’sAustin，Mildred，——here’sYourbrothersayshedoesnotbelievehalf——
No，norhalfthat——ofallheheard！Hesays，Lookupandtakehishand！
AUSTIN。LookupandtakeMyhand，dearMildred！
MILDRED。I——Iwassoyoung！
Beside，Ilovedhim，Thorold——andIhadNomother；Godforgotme:so，Ifell。
GUENDOLEN。Mildred！
MILDRED。Requirenofurther！DidIdreamThatIcouldpalliatewhatisdone？All’strue。
Now，punishme！Awomantakesmyhand？
Letgomyhand！Youdonotknow，Isee。
IthoughtthatThoroldtoldyou。
GUENDOLEN。Whatisthis？
Wherestartyouto？
MILDRED。Oh，Austin，loosenme！
Youheardthewholeofit——youreyeswereworse，Intheirsurprise，thanThorold’s！Oh，unlessYoustaytoexecutehissentence，looseMyhand！HasThoroldgone，andareyouhere？
GUENDOLEN。Here，Mildred，wetwofriendsofyourswillwaitYourbidding；beyousilent，sleepormuse！
Only，whenyoushallwantyourbiddingdone，Howcanwedoitifwearenotby？
Here’sAustinwaitingpatientlyyourwill！
Onespirittocommand，andonetoloveAndtobelieveinitanddoitsbest，Poorasthatis，tohelpit——why，theworldHasbeenwonmanyatime，itslengthandbreadth，Byjustsuchabeginning！
MILDRED。IbelieveIfonceIthrewmyarmsaboutyourneckAndsunkmyheaduponyourbreast，thatI
Shouldweepagain。
GUENDOLEN。Letgoherhandnow，Austin！
Waitforme。PacethegalleryandthinkOntheworld’sseemingsandrealities，UntilIcallyou。
[AUSTINgoes。]
MILDRED。No——Icannotweep。
Nomoretearsfromthisbrain——nosleep——notears！
OGuendolen，Iloveyou！
GUENDOLEN。Yes:and\"love\"
Isashortwordthatsayssoverymuch！
Itsaysthatyouconfideinme。
MILDRED。Confide！
GUENDOLEN。Yourlover’sname，then！I’vesomuchtolearn，EreIcanworkinyourbehalf！
MILDRED。Myfriend，YouknowIcannottellhisname。
GUENDOLEN。AtleastHeisyourlover？andyoulovehimtoo？
MILDRED。Ah，doyouaskmethat，——butIamfallenSolow！
GUENDOLEN。Youlovehimstill，then？
MILDRED。MysolepropAgainsttheguiltthatcrushesme！Isay，EachnightereIliedown，\"Iwassoyoung——
Ihadnomother，andIlovedhimso！\"
AndthenGodseemsindulgent，andIdareTrusthimmysoulinsleep。
GUENDOLEN。HowcouldyouletusE’entalktoyouaboutLordMertounthen？
MILDRED。Thereisacloudaroundme。
GUENDOLEN。ButyousaidYouwouldreceivehissuitinspiteofthis？
MILDRED。Isaythereisacloud……
GUENDOLEN。Nocloudtome！
LordMertounandyourloverarethesame！
MILDRED。Whatmaddestfancy……
GUENDOLEN[callingaloud。]Austin！（spareyourpains——
WhenIhavegotatruth，thattruthIkeep）——
MILDRED。Byallyoulove，sweetGuendolen，forbear！
HaveIconfidedinyou……
GUENDOLEN。Justforthis！
Austin！——Oh，nottoguessitatthefirst！
ButIdidguessit——thatis，Idivined，Feltbyaninstincthowitwas:whyelseShouldIpronounceyoufreefromallthatheapOfsinswhichhadbeenirredeemable？
Ifelttheywerenotyours——whatotherwayThanthis，notyours？Thesecret’swhollymine！
MILDRED。Ifyouwouldseemediebeforehisface……
GUENDOLEN。I’dholdmypeace！AndiftheEarlreturnsTo—night？
MILDRED。AhHeaven，he’slost！
GUENDOLEN。Ithoughtso。Austin！
EnterAUSTIN
Oh，wherehaveyoubeenhiding？
AUSTIN。Thorold’sgone，Iknownothow，acrossthemeadow—land。
IwatchedhimtillIlosthimintheskirtsO’thebeech—wood。
GUENDOLEN。Gone？Allthwartsus。
MILDRED。Thoroldtoo？
GUENDOLEN。Ihavethought。FirstleadthisMildredtoherroom。
Goontheotherside；andthenwe’llseekYourbrother:andI’lltellyou，bytheway，Thegreatestcomfortintheworld。YousaidTherewasacluetoall。Remember，Sweet，Hesaidtherewasaclue！Iholdit。Come！
ACTIII
SCENEI。——TheendoftheYew—treeAvenueunderMILDRED’SWindow。
AlightseenthroughacentralredpaneEnterTRESHAMthroughthetreesAgainhere！ButIcannotlosemyself。
Theheath——theorchard——IhavetraversedgladesAnddellsandboskypathswhichusedtoleadIntogreenwild—wooddepths，bewilderingMyboy’sadventurousstep。AndnowtheytendHitherorsoonorlate；theblackestshadeBreaksup，thethrongedtrunksofthetreesopewide，AndthedimturretIhavefledfrom，frontsAgainmystep；theveryriverputItsarmaboutmeandconductedmeTothisdetestedspot。Whythen，I’llshunTheirwillnolonger:doyourwillwithme！
Oh，bitter！TohaverearedatoweringschemeOfhappiness，andtobeholditrazed，Werenothing:allmenhope，andseetheirhopesFrustrate，andgrieveawhile，andhopeanew。
ButI……tohopethatfromalinelikeoursNohorridprodigylikethiswouldspring，WerejustasthoughIhopedthatfromtheseoldConfederatesagainstthesovereignday，Childrenofolderandyetoldersires，Whoselivingcoralberriesdropped，asnowOnme，onmanyabaron’ssurcoatonce，Onmanyabeauty’swhimple——wouldproceedNopoison—tree，tothrust，fromhellitsroot，Hitherandthitheritsstrangesnakyarms。
WhycameIhere？WhatmustIdo？
[Abellstrikes。]
Abell？
Midnight！and’tisatmidnight……Ah，Icatch——Woods，river，plains，Icatchyourmeaningnow，AndIobeyyou！Hist！Thistreewillserve。
[Heretiresbehindoneofthetrees。Afterapause，enterMERTOUNcloakedasbefore。]
MERTOUN。Nottime！BeatoutthylastvoluptuousbeatOfhopeandfear，myheart！IthoughttheclockI’thechapelstruckasIwaspushingthroughTheferns。AndsoIshallnomoreseeriseMylove—star！Oh，nomatterforthepast！
SomuchthemoredelicioustasktowatchMildredrevive:topluckout，thornbythorn，AlltracesoftheroughforbiddenpathMyrashloveluredherto！EachdaymustseeSomefearofherseffaced，somehoperenewed:
Thentherewillbesurprises，unforeseenDelightsinstore。I’llnotregretthepast。
[Thelightisplacedaboveinthepurplepane。]
Andsee，mysignalrises，Mildred’sstar！
IneversawitlovelierthannowItrisesforthelasttime。Ifitsets，’Tisthatthere—assuringsunmaydawn。
[Ashepreparestoascendthelasttreeoftheavenue，TRESHAMarrestshisarm。]
Unhandme——peasant，byyourgrasp！Here’sgold。
’Twasamadfreakofmine。IsaidI’dpluckAbranchfromthewhite—blossomedshrubbeneathThecasementthere。Takethis，andholdyourpeace。
TRESHAM。Intothemoonlightyonder，comewithme！
Outoftheshadow！
MERTOUN。Iamarmed，fool！
TRESHAM。Yes，Orno？You’llcomeintothelight，orno？
Myhandisonyourthroat——refuse！——
MERTOUN。Thatvoice！
WherehaveIheard……no——thatwasmildandslow。
I’llcomewithyou。
[Theyadvance。]
TRESHAM。You’rearmed:that’swell。DeclareYourname:whoareyou？
MERTOUN。（Tresham！——sheislost！）
TRESHAM。Oh，silent？Doyouknow，youbearyourselfExactlyas，incuriousdreamsI’vehadHowfelons，thiswildearthisfullof，lookWhenthey’redetected，stillyourkindhaslooked！
Thebravoholdsanassuredcountenance，Thethiefisvolubleandplausible，ButsilentlytheslaveoflusthascrouchedWhenIhavefancieditbeforeaman。
Yourname！
MERTOUN。IdoconjureLordTresham——ay，Kissinghisfoot，ifsoImightprevail——
ThatheforhisownsakeforbeartoaskMyname！Asheaven’sabove，hisfuturewealOrwoedependsuponmysilence！Vain！
Ireadyourwhiteinexorableface。
Knowme，LordTresham！
[Hethrowsoffhisdisguises。]
TRESHAM。Mertoun！
[Afterapause。]
Drawnow！
MERTOUN。HearmeButspeakfirst！
TRESHAM。Notoneleastwordonyourlife！
BesurethatIwillstrangleinyourthroatTheleastwordthatinformsmehowyouliveAndyetseemwhatyouseem！Nodoubt’twasyouTaughtMildredstilltokeepthatfaceandsin。
WeshouldjoinhandsinfranticsympathyIfyouoncetaughtmetheunteachable，Explainedhowyoucanlivesoandsolie。
WithGod’shelpIretain，despitemysense，Theoldbelief——alifelikeyoursisstillImpossible。Nowdraw！
MERTOUN。Notformysake，DoIentreatahearing——foryoursake，Andmost，forhersake！
TRESHAM。Ha，ha，whatshouldI
Knowofyourways？Amiscreantlikeyourself，Howmustonerousehisire？Ablow？——that’sprideNodoubt，tohim！Onespurnshim，doesonenot？
Orsetsthefootuponhismouth，orspitsIntohisface！Come！Which，orallofthese？
MERTOUN。’TwixthimandmeandMildred，Heavenbejudge！
CanIavoidthis？Haveyourwill，mylord！
[Hedrawsand，afterafewpasses，falls。]
TRESHAM。Youarenothurt？
MERTOUN。You’llhearmenow！
TRESHAM。Butrise！
MERTOUN。Ah，Tresham，sayInot\"you’llhearmenow！\"
AndwhatprocuresamantherighttospeakInhisdefencebeforehisfellowman，But——Isuppose——thethoughtthatpresentlyHemayhaveleavetospeakbeforehisGodHiswholedefence？
TRESHAM。Nothurt？Itcannotbe！
Youmadenoefforttoresistme。WhereDidmyswordreachyou？WhynothavereturnedMythrusts？Hurtwhere？
MERTOUN。Mylord——
TRESHAM。Howyoungheis！
MERTOUN。LordTresham，Iamveryyoung，andyetIhaveentangledotherliveswithmine。
Doletmespeak，anddobelievemyspeech！
ThatwhenIdiebeforeyoupresently，——
TRESHAM。CanyoustayheretillIreturnwithhelp？
MERTOUN。Oh，staybyme！WhenIwaslessthanboyIdidyougrievouswrongandknewitnot——
Uponmyhonour，knewitnot！Onceknown，IcouldnotfindwhatseemedabetterwayTorightyouthanItook:mylife——youfeelHowlessthannothingwerethegivingyouThelifeyou’vetaken！ButIthoughtmywayThebetter——onlyforyoursakeandhers:
Andasyouhavedecidedotherwise，WouldIhadaninfinityoflivesToofferyou！Nowsay——instructme——think！
Canyou，fromthebriefminutesIhaveleft，Ekeoutmyreparation？Ohthink——think！
ForImustwringapartial——dareIsay，Forgivenessfromyou，ereIdie？
TRESHAM。IdoForgiveyou。
MERTOUN。Waitandponderthatgreatword！
Because，ifyouforgiveme，IshallhopeTospeaktoyouof——Mildred！
TRESHAM。Mertoun，hasteAndangerhaveundoneus。’TisnotyouShouldtellmeforanoveltyyou’reyoung，Thoughtless，unabletorecallthepast。
Bebutyourpardonampleasmyown！
MERTOUN。Ah，Tresham，thatasword—strokeandadropOfbloodortwo，shouldbringallthisaboutWhy，’twasmyveryfearofyou，myloveOfyou——（whatpassionlikeaboy’sforoneLikeyou？）——thatruinedme！Idreamedofyou——
You，allaccomplished，courtedeverywhere，Thescholarandthegentleman。IburnedToknitmyselftoyou:butIwasyoung，AndyoursurpassingreputationkeptmeSofaraloof！Oh，whereforeallthatlove？
Withlessoflove，mygloriousyesterdayOfpraiseandgentlestwordsandkindestlooks，Hadtakenplaceperchancesixmonthsago。
Evennow，howhappywehadbeen！AndyetIknowthethoughtofthisescapedyou，Tresham！
Letmelookupintoyourface；Ifeel’Tischangedaboveme:yetmyeyesareglazed。
Where？where？
[Asheendeavourstoraisehimself，hiseyecatchesthelamp。]
Ah，Mildred！WhatwillMildreddo？
Tresham，herlifeisboundupinthelifeThat’sbleedingfastaway！I’lllive——mustlive，There，ifyou’llonlyturnmeIshallliveAndsaveher！Tresham——oh，hadyoubutheard！
Hadyoubutheard！WhatrightwasyourstosetThethoughtlessfootuponherlifeandmine，Andthensay，asweperish，\"HadIthought，Allhadgoneotherwise\"？We’vesinnedanddie:
Neveryousin，LordTresham！foryou’lldie，AndGodwilljudgeyou。
TRESHAM。Yes，besatisfied！
Thatprocessisbegun。
MERTOUN。AndshesitsthereWaitingforme！Now，sayyouthistoher——
You，notanother——say，IsawhimdieAshebreathedthis，\"Iloveher\"——youdon’tknowWhatthosethreesmallwordsmean！Say，lovingherLowersmedownthebloodyslopetodeathWithmemories……Ispeaktoher，notyou，Whohadnopity，willhavenoremorse，Perchanceintendher……Diealongwithme，DearMildred！’tissoeasy，andyou’ll’scapeSomuchunkindness！CanIlieatrest，Withrudespeechspokentoyou，ruderdeedsDonetoyou？——heartlessmenshallhavemyheart，AndItieddownwithgrave—clothesandtheworm，Aware，perhaps，ofeveryblow——ohGod！——
Uponthoselips——yetofnopowertotearThefelonstripebystripe！Die，Mildred！LeaveTheirhonourableworldtothem！ForGodWe’regoodenough，thoughtheworldcastsusout。
[Awhistleisheard。]
TRESHAM。Ho，Gerard！
EnterGERARD，AUSTINandGUENDOLEN，withlightsNoonespeak！Youseewhat’sdone。
Icannotbearanothervoice。
MERTOUN。There’slight——
Lightallaboutme，andImovetoit。
Tresham，didInottellyou——didyounotJustpromisetodeliverwordsofmineToMildred？
TRESHAM。Iwillbearthosewordstoher。
MERTOUN。Now？
TRESHAM。Now。Liftyouthebody，andleavemeThehead。
[AstheyhavehalfraisedMERTOUN，heturnssuddenly。]
MERTOUN。Iknewtheyturnedme:turnmenotfromher！
There！stayyou！there！
[Dies。]
GUENDOLEN[afterapause]。Austin，remainyouhereWithThorolduntilGerardcomeswithhelp:
Thenleadhimtohischamber。ImustgoToMildred。
TRESHAM。Guendolen，IheareachwordYouutter。DidyouhearhimbidmegiveHismessage？Didyouhearmypromise？I，AndonlyI，seeMildred。
GUENDOLEN。Shewilldie。
TRESHAM。Ohno，shewillnotdie！IdarenothopeShe’lldie。Whatgroundhaveyoutothinkshe’lldie？
Why，Austin’swithyou！
AUSTIN。HadwebutarrivedBeforeyoufought！
TRESHAM。Therewasnofightatall。
Heletmeslaughterhim——theboy！I’lltrustThebodytheretoyouandGerard——thus！
Nowbearhimonbeforeme。
AUSTIN。Whitherbearhim？
TRESHAM。Oh，tomychamber！Whenwemeettherenext，Weshallbefriends。
[TheybearoutthebodyofMERTOUN。]
Willshedie，Guendolen？
GUENDOLEN。Whereareyoutakingme？
TRESHAM。Hefelljusthere。
Nowanswerme。Shallyouinyourwholelife——YouwhohavenoughttodowithMertoun’sfate，Nowyouhaveseenhisbreastupontheturf，Shallyoue’erwalkthiswayifyoucanhelp？
WhenyouandAustinwanderarm—in—armThroughourancestralgrounds，willnotashadeBeeveronthemeadowandthewaste——
AnotherkindofshadethanwhenthenightShutsthewoodsidewithallitswhispersup？
ButwillyoueversoforgethisbreastAscarelesslytocrossthisbloodyturfUndertheblackyewavenue？That’swell！
Youturnyourhead:andIthen？——
GUENDOLEN。WhatisdoneIsdone。Mycareisfortheliving。Thorold，Bearupagainstthisburden:moreremainsTosettheneckto！
TRESHAM。DearandancienttreesMyfathersplanted，andIlovedsowell！
WhathaveIdonethat，likesomefabledcrimeOfyore，letslooseaFuryleadingthusHermiserabledanceamidstyouall？
Oh，nevermoreformeshallwindsintoneWithallyourtopsavastantiphony，DemandingandrespondinginGod’spraise！
Hersyearenow，notmine！Farewell——farewell！
SCENEII。——MILDRED’SChamberMILDREDaloneHecomesnot！IhaveheardofthosewhoseemedResourcelessinprosperity，——youthoughtSorrowmightslaythemwhenshelisted；yetDidtheysogatheruptheirdiffusedstrengthAtherfirstmenace，thattheybadeherstrike，Andstoodandlaughedhersubtlestskilltoscorn。
Oh，’tisnotsowithme！Thefirstwoefell，Andtherestfalluponit，notonme:
ElseshouldIbearthatHenrycomesnot？——failsJustthisfirstnightoutofsomanynights？
Lovingisdonewith。Werehesittingnow，Assofewhourssince，onthatseat，we’dloveNomore——contrivenothousandhappywaysTohidelovefromtheloveless，anymore。
IthinkImighthaveurgedsomelittlepointInmydefence，toThorold；hewasbreathlessFortheleasthintofadefence:butno，Thefirstshameover，allthatwouldmightfall。
NoHenry！YetImerelysitandthinkThemorn’sdeedo’erando’er。ImusthavecreptOutofmyself。AMildredthathaslostHerlover——oh，IdarenotlookuponSuchwoe！Icrouchawayfromit！’Tisshe，Mildred，willbreakherheart，notI！TheworldForsakesme:onlyHenry’sleftme——left？
WhenIhavelosthim，forhedoesnotcome，AndIsitstupidly……OhHeaven，breakupThisworsethananguish，thismadapathy，Byanymeansoranymessenger！
TRESHAM[without]。Mildred！
MILDRED。Comein！Heavenhearsme！
[EnterTRESHAM。]
You？alone？
Oh，nomorecursing！
TRESHAM。Mildred，Imustsit。
There——yousit！
MILDRED。Sayit，Thorold——donotlookThecurse！deliverallyoucometosay！
Whatmustbecomeofme？Oh，speakthatthoughtWhichmakesyourbrowandcheekssopale！
TRESHAM。Mythought？
MILDRED。Allofit！
TRESHAM。Howwewadedyears——ago——
Afterthosewater—lilies，tilltheplash，Iknownothow，surprisedus；andyoudaredNeitheradvancenorturnback:so，westoodLaughingandcryinguntilGerardcame——
Oncesafeupontheturf，theloudesttoo，Foroncemorereachingtherelinquishedprize！
Howidlethoughtsare，somemen’s，dyingmen’s！
Mildred，——
MILDRED。YoucallmekindlierbymynameThanevenyesterday:whatisinthat？
TRESHAM。ItweighssomuchuponmymindthatI
Thismorningtookanofficenotmyown！
Imight……ofcourse，Imustbegladorgrieved，Contentornot，ateverylittlethingThattouchesyou。ImaywithawrungheartEvenreproveyou，Mildred；Ididmore:
Willyouforgiveme？
MILDRED。Thorold？doyoumock？
Ohno……andyetyoubidme……saythatword！
TRESHAM。Forgiveme，Mildred！——areyousilent，Sweet？
MILDRED[startingup]。WhydoesnotHenryMertouncometo—night？
Areyou，too，silent？
[Dashinghismantleaside，andpointingtohisscabbard，whichisempty。]
Ah，thisspeaksforyou！
You’vemurderedHenryMertoun！Nowproceed！
WhatisitImustpardon？Thisandall？
Well，Idopardonyou——IthinkIdo。
Thorold，howverywretchedyoumustbe！
TRESHAM。Hebademetellyou……
MILDRED。WhatIdoforbidYourutteranceof！SomuchthatyoumaytellAndwillnot——howyoumurderedhim……but，no！
You’lltellmethathelovedme，nevermoreThanbleedingouthislifethere:mustIsay\"Indeed，\"tothat？Enough！Ipardonyou。
TRESHAM。Youcannot，Mildred！fortheharshwords，yes:
OfthislastdeedAnother’sjudge:whosedoomIwaitindoubt，despondencyandfear。
MILDRED。Oh，true！There’snoughtformetopardon！True！
Youloosemysoulofallitscaresatonce。
Deathmakesmesureofhimforever！YouTellmehislastwords？Heshalltellmethem，Andtakemyanswer——notinwords，butreadingHimselftheheartIhadtoreadhimlate，Whichdeath……
TRESHAM。Death？Youaredyingtoo？WellsaidOfGuendolen！Idarednothopeyou’ddie:
Butshewassureofit。
MILDRED。TellGuendolenIlovedher，andtellAustin……
TRESHAM。Himyouloved:
Andme？
MILDRED。Ah，Thorold！Was’tnotrashlydoneToquenchthatblood，onfirewithyouthandhopeAndloveofme——whomyoulovedtoo，andyetSufferedtositherewaitinghisapproachWhileyouwereslayinghim？Oh，doubtlesslyYoulethimspeakhispoorconfusedboy’s—speech——DohispoorutmosttodisarmyourwrathAndrespiteme！——youlethimtrytogiveThestoryofourloveandignorance，Andthebriefmadnessandthelongdespair——
Youlethimpleadallthis，becauseyourcodeOfhonourbidsyouhearbeforeyoustrike:
Butattheend，ashelookedupforlifeIntoyoureyes——youstruckhimdown！
TRESHAM。No！No！
HadIbutheardhim——hadIlethimspeakHalfthetruth——less——hadIlookedlongonhimIhaddesisted！Why，ashelaythere，Themoononhisflushedcheek，IgatheredallThestoryerehetoldit:IsawthroughThetroubledsurfaceofhiscrimeandyoursAdepthofpurityimmovable，HadIbutglanced，whereallseemedturbidestHadgleamedsomeinlettothecalmbeneath；
Iwouldnotglance:mypunishment’sathand。
There，Mildred，isthetruth！andyou——sayon——
Youcurseme？
MILDRED。AsIdareapproachthatHeavenWhichhasnotbadealivingthingdespair，Whichneedsnocodetokeepitsgracefromstain，ButbidsthevilestwormthatturnsonitDesistandbeforgiven，——I——forgivenot，Butblessyou，Thorold，frommysoulofsouls！
[Fallsonhisneck。]
There！Donotthinktoomuchuponthepast！
Thecloudthat’sbrokewasallthesameacloudWhileitstoodupbetweenmyfriendandyou；
Youhurthim’neathitsshadow:butisthatSopastretrieve？Ihavehisheart，youknow；
Imaydisposeofit:Igiveityou！
Itlovesyouasmineloves！Confirmme，Henry！
[Dies。]
TRESHAM。Iwishtheejoy，Beloved！IamgladInthyfullgladness！
GUENDOLEN[without]。Mildred！Tresham！
[EnteringwithAUSTIN。]
Thorold，Icoulddesistnolonger。Ah，sheswoons！
That’swell。
TRESHAM。Oh，betterfarthanthat！
GUENDOLEN。She’sdead！
Letmeunlockherarms！
TRESHAM。ShethrewthemthusAboutmyneck，andblessedme，andthendied:
You’llletthemstaynow，Guendolen！
AUSTIN。LeaveherAndlooktohim！Whatailsyou，Thorold？
GUENDOLEN。WhiteAsshe，andwhiter！Austin！quick——thisside！
AUSTIN。Afrothisoozingthroughhisclenchedteeth；
Bothlips，wherethey’renotbittenthrough，areblack:
Speak，dearestThorold！
TRESHAM。SomethingdoesweighdownMyneckbesideherweight:thanks:IshouldfallButforyou，Austin，Ibelieve！——there，there，’Twillpassawaysoon！——ah，——Ihadforgotten:
Iamdying。
GUENDOLEN。Thorold——Thorold——whywasthis？
TRESHAM。Isaid，justasIdrankthepoisonoff，Theearthwouldbenolongerearthtome，Thelifeoutofalllifewasgonefromme。
Thereareblindwaysprovided，thefore—doneHeart—wearyplayerinthispageant—worldDropsoutby，lettingthemainmasquedefileBytheconspicuousportal:Iamthrough——
Justthrough！
GUENDOLEN。Don’tleavehim，Austin！Deathisclose。
TRESHAM。AlreadyMildred’sfaceispeacefuller，Iseeyou，Austin——feelyou；here’smyhand，Putyoursinit——you，Guendolen，yourstoo！
You’relordandladynow——you’reTreshams；nameAndfameareyours:youholdour’scutcheonup。
Austin，noblotonit！YouseehowbloodMustwashoneblotaway:thefirstblotcameAndthefirstbloodcame。Tothevainworld’seyeAll’sgulesagain:nocaretothevainworld，>Fromwhencetheredwasdrawn！
AUSTIN。Noblotshallcome！
TRESHAM。Isaidthat:yetitdidcome。Shoulditcome，VengeanceisGod’s，notman’s。Rememberme！
[Dies。]
GUENDOLEN[lettingfallthepulselessarm]。
Ah，Thorold，wecanbut——rememberyou！