Or to thy charge I'll lay a broken heart! Walter. Julia. What's this? The strait I'm fallen into my patience cannot bear! It frights my reason-warps my sense of virtue ! I look at with abhorring! Walter. Listen to me. Julia. Listen to me, and heed me! If this contract Thou hold'st me to-abide thou the result! Answer to Heaven for what I suffer!-act! Prepare thyself for such calamity To fall on me, and those whose evil stars Can parallel lay thy account to live A smileless life, die an unpitied death- And when she saw her danger, and confess'd Her fault, compell'd her to complete her ruin! Walter. Julia. Hast done? Another moment, and I have. Be warn'd! Beware how you abandon me To myself! I'm young, rash, inexperienced! tempted By most insufferable misery! Bold, desperate, and reckless! Thou hast age, Power, freedom,-everything that I have not, Yet want, as none e'er wanted! Thou canst save me, Thou ought'st thou must! I tell thee, at his feet I'll fall a corse-ere mount his bridal bed! So choose betwixt my rescue and my grave: And quickly too! The hour of sacrifice Will summon me! Devise some speedy means To cheat the altar of its victim. Do it! Nor leave the task to me! Walter. Julia. Hast done? I have. Walter. Then list to me-and silently, if not With patience. [Brings chairs for himself and her How I watch'd thee from thy childhood, I'll not recall to thee. Thy father's wisdom- Your nonage should be pass'd in privacy, From your apt mind, that far outstripp'd your years, For in the rich ground, weeds, once taking root, Grow strong as flowers. He might be right or wrong! I thought him right; and therefore did his bidding. Most certainly he loved you-so did I; Ay! well as I had been myself your father! [His hand is resting upon his knee. Julia attempts to take it. He withdraws it; looks at her. She hangs her head. Well; you may take my hand! I need not say So soon fulfilment realised them all! Enough. You came to womanhood; your heart That's new unfolded by the smiling sun, And ne'er knew blight nor canker! When a good woman Is fitly mated, she grows doubly good How good soe'er before! I found the man I thought a match for thee; and, soon as found, Soon as you reach'd to womanhood. You liked My choice-accepted him. We came to town; Julia. You did! You did! Walter. Nay, check thy tears! Let judgment now, Not passion, be awake. On my return, I found thee-what? I'll not describe the thing ALL in our marriage garden A bonnier flower than ever Suckt the green warmth of the sod; |