Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (1963 page)

Ward.
(
drinking from the bottle, and then holding it up to the light
). May I keep what is left?

Stev.
To be sure you may.

Ward.
(
again looks round, then puts the bottle in the bag, and notices
MRS. S.
and
ROSE). Women among you! Are they English? Are they young? Let me look closer at them. (MRS. STEVENTON
and
ROSE
shrink back
.) No! that’s not her face! No! not found yet!

Mrs. S.
Do, pray, ask him something about the woman he is looking for.

Stev.
Who is it you want to find? Your wife? (WARDOUR
shakes his head.
) Who, then? What is she like?

Ward.
(
sorrowfully and gently
). Young, with a fair sad face, with kind tender eyes, with a soft clear voice. Young and loving and merciful. I keep her face in my mind, though I can keep nothing else. I must wander, wander, wander — restless, sleepless, homeless — till I find her! Over the ice and over the snow — tossing on the sea, tramping over the land — awake all night, awake all day — wander, wander, wander, till I find
her!

Enter
CRAYFORD,
from the inner cavern.

Cray.
Who is that?

Stev.
A poor mad —

Cray.
Mad? (
Looks steadily at
WARDOUR) Mad? (
Recoils.
) Steventon! Am
I
in my right senses? It is — (
seizing him
) — Richard Wardour! Alive! Alive to answer for Frank!

(
All start.
)

Ward.
Let me go!

Cray.
Why are you here alone? Where is Frank? You villain, where is Frank?

Ward.
(
vacantly
). Villain? — and where is Frank? Ah! I think I know your meaning. I think I dimly understand.

Cray.
(
to them all
). Look at this conscience-stricken wretch! Confess, unhappy ruin of a man! Confess the horrid deed!

(CLARA
appears at the side-entrance, restrained by
LUCY.)

Clara.
I
will
see for myself! I heard Richard’s name — I heard Frank’s name. (
She breaks away.
LUCY
hides her face in her hands.
CRAYFORD
tries to restrain
CLARA.) Let me by! let me by!

(
Faces
WARDOUR
standing alone, and stops petrified at the sight.
)

Ward.
(
with a loud cry of recognition
). Found!

(
Turns instantly and breaks his way out of the cavern.
LUCY
hurries to
CLARA’S
side.
)

Cray.
Follow him! On your lives follow him!

(
Exeunt several.
)

Clara.
Frank, Frank, Frank!

(
A murmur without.
WARDOUR
rushes in, breathless and staggering, bearing
FRANK
in his arms. Cheering from the Men outside. Great sensation.
)

Ward.
(
to
CLARA). Saved, saved for
you!
(
Releases
FRANK. CLARA
falls on
FRANK’S
bosom.
WARDOUR,
standing on the right, looks at them, and speaks again, after a moment, in a faint altered voice.
) He’s footsore and weary, Clara. But I have saved him — I have saved him for
you!
I may rest now — I may sleep at last — the task is done, the struggle is over.

(
He staggers, and is saved from falling by
CRAYFORD,
who tenderly places him on the ground, and supports him, resting
WARDOUR’S
head on his shoulder.
)

Clara
(
leading
FRANK
towards the back of the stage, on the left
). This way! Here — here, Frank, where you can rest!

(
Leads
FRANK,
with the assistance of the others, except
CRAYFORD,
to a chest at the back of the cave, where all close round him.
)

Frank (making an opening).
Where is Wardour? Help him! Never mind
me! Help Wardour.

(CLARA presses FRANK back to his seat on the chest, and kneels at his feet, endeavouring to compose him.)

Cray. (supporting WARDOUR).
Wardour! dear Wardour! Old friend, whom I have wronged, remember and forgive me!

Ward. (regardless of him, looking towards CLARA and FRANK).
I have made her happy. I may lay down my weary head now on the mother earth that hushes all her children to rest at last. Sink, heart! sink, sink to rest! Oh, look at them! They have forgotten me already.

Cray.
Wardour, look at me! Look at your old friend!

Ward. (vacantly).
My friend? Yes, yes, yes — he looks kindly at me — he looks like a friend. My eyes are dim, friend — my mind is dull — I have lost all memories, but the memory of her. Dead thoughts — all dead thoughts but that one! And yet, he looks kindly? Why has his face gone down with the wreck of all the rest? Hark ye, friend! Never let Frank know it! There was a time when the fiend within me hungered for his life.

Cray.
Hush! hush!

Ward. (lifting his head, and speaking with a momentary recovery of strength).
I took him away alone — away with me over the waste of snow — he on one side, and the Tempter on the other, and I between them — marching, marching, till the evening came, and the icebergs were in sight. I stood on the floating iceberg, looking down on him at my feet! And the Tempter crimsoned the sky with blood; the Tempter whispered me, “Leave him when he sleeps!” I set him his place to sleep in apart; but he crept between the devil and me, and nestled his head on my breast, and slept here. “Leave him! leave him!” the voice whispered. “Love him!” the lad’s voice answered, moaning and murmuring here in his sleep. Love him, Clara, for helping me! I heard the night-wind come up in the silence from the great deep. Far and near, far and near in the darkness, I heard the groaning of the floating ice; floating, floating to the clear water and the balmy air — and the wicked voice floated away with it — away, away, away for ever! Love him, love him, Clara, for helping me! No wind could float that away! Love him, Clara —

(His voice dies away, and his head sinks on CRAYFORD’S breast.)

Frank.
Help me up! I must go to him! Clara, come with me.
(Advances, supported between CLARA and STEVENTON.)
Wardour! Oh! help Wardour! Clara, speak to him!

Clara (kneeling behind WARDOUR as he lies, supported by CRAYFORD).
Richard!

(No answer.)

Frank (kneeling by CLARA, and placing his hand on WARDOUR’S bosom).
Richard!

Ward.
Ah! poor Frank. I didn’t forget you, Frank, when I came here to beg. I remembered you, lying down outside in the shadow of the rocks. I saved you your share of food and drink. Too weak to get at it now! A little rest, Frank! I shall soon be strong enough to carry you down to the ship.

Frank (appealing to all present, still on his knees).
Get something to strengthen him, for God’s sake! Oh, men! men! I should never have been here, but for him! He has given all his strength to my weakness; and now, see how strong I am, and how weak he is! Clara! I held by his arm all over the ice and snow. His hand dragged me from the drowning men, when we were wrecked. He kept watch, when I was senseless in the open boat. Speak to him, Clara — speak to him again!

Clara.
Richard, dear Richard! Have you forgotten me?

Ward.
Forgotten you?
(Lays his hand on FRANK’S head).
Should I have been strong enough to save him, if I could have forgotten you? Stay! Some one was here and spoke to me just now. Ah! Crayford! I recollect now.
(Embracing him).
Dear Crayford! Come nearer! My mind clears, but my eyes grow dim. You will remember me kindly, for Frank’s sake? Poor Frank! why does he hide his face? Is he crying? Nearer, Clara — I want to look my last at you. My sister, Clara! — Kiss me, sister, kiss me before I die!

(CLARA stoops, and kisses him. His head falls forward, and CRAYFORD lays him gently on the ground. FRANK hides his face on WARDOUR’S bosom, while CRAYFORD turns aside, struggling vainly to compose himself. The muffled report of the gun for sailing is heard, and a flag is run up to the masthead of the ship in the offing. The boat is pushed ashore, and the crew appear outside on the beach. LUCY crosses to CLARA (who has remained near FRANK), raises her, and points out to the ship. The curtain falls slowly.)

THE END.

In 1867 Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins collabourated to produce a stage play
titled No Thoroughfare: A Drama: In Five Acts
. This was the last stage production to be associated with Dickens, who died in June 1870. The play opened at the Adelphi Theatre on 26 December 1867.

The novel No Thoroughfare was also first published in 1867, in the Christmas number of Dickens’ periodical
All The Year Round
. There are thematic parallels with other books from Dickens’ mature writings, including
Little Dorrit
and especially
Our Mutual Friend
.

The publication of the story in
All The Year Round
represents an early example of commercial merchandising, promoting the story to those who were aware of the stage play, and the play to those who had met the book. The ‘chapters’ of the book are referred to as ‘acts’, and match the acts of the play.

NO THOROUGHFARE.

A Drama.

IN FIVE ACTS
.

(
Altered from the Christmas Story
,
for Performance on the Stage
.)