Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2038 page)

Julian.
Where is she?

The Servant.
Somewhere in the grounds, as we suppose, sir — on the side of the shrubbery.

Julian.
Did
you
see her?

The Servant.
No, sir. The lodge-keeper’s wife saw her — and then lost sight of her again among the trees.

Julian.
Is the lodge-keeper’s wife in the house?

The Servant.
No, sir. She sent her boy. She and her husband are waiting your orders at the lodge.

Julian.
Tell the boy I will be at the lodge immediately. (
The
SERVANT
goes out on the left.
LADY J.
takes
JULIAN’S
card out of her pocket and seats herself at a side-table, thinking.
MERCY
remains alone, near the chair that she has left.
JULIAN
continues to himself.
) Everything depends on my discovering her in time! (
He looks round at
MERCY
with an expression of alarm.
) If the two women meet now — who can say what mischief may not come of it! (
He turns to go out.
)

Lady J.
(
To
JULIAN,
from the table
). What are you going to do, Julian?

Julian.
I am going to direct the search in the grounds. (
He crosses to
MERCY,
and addresses her in low tones, with the deepest respect.
) I will return to you as soon as possible. I never was more in earnest in promising you my truest help and sympathy than I am now. (MERCY’S
head sinks again. She makes no answer.
JULIAN
looks at her compassionately — goes to the door on the right, turns, looks at her again, and speaks to himself.
) My faith in her is as firm as ever. It is the other woman whom I dread.

(
He goes out on the right.
MERCY
seats herself again.
LADY J.,
at the other end of the stage, lifts the pencil-case at her watch-chain, and writes on
JULIAN’S
card, repeating the words to herself in an undertone.
)

Lady J.
“To the inspector at the police-station. — The officer is wanted at Mablethorpe House.” (
She speaks.
) It’s well I made Julian give me his card. Nobody knows what may happen before Julian comes back. (GRACE
reappears, and remains behind a shrub until she enters.
LADY J.
puts the card in her pocket, and, turning towards
MERCY,
speaks to her sharply.
) My dear! do you know that the woman in black is trying to annoy us again?

Mercy
. Yes, Lady Janet.

Lady J.
I am going to set a man on guard at every door. You can’t stay here by yourself. Come with me.

Mercy
. I am not afraid to stay here by myself, Lady Janet.

Lady J.
Not afraid! Why, you fainted the last time you saw her.

Mercy
. I was not prepared for her then. I am prepared for her now.

Lady J.
Oh! stay by all means, if you like! I never met with such heroism in my life, out of a novel.

(
She advances to the door on the left.
MERCY
respectfully opens it for her. She goes out;
MERCY,
holding the door, looks after her sadly.
GRACE
noiselessly enters the room, and lays her hand on the chair which
MERCY
has just left.
)

Mercy
(
to herself — looking after
LADY JANET). Why should I be afraid of meeting with Grace Roseberry? I am resolved to atone for the wrong that I have done her. I wish I could speak to her at this moment.

(
She closes the door, and turning to go back to her chair sees
GRACE;
she starts violently with a cry of surprise, and grasps at the nearest chair to support herself.
)

Grace
(
taking her seat
). I forbid you to be seated in my presence.

Mercy
(
advancing a little
). You speak to me very harshly. I don’t deny that I have deserved it.

Grace
. No nearer to me! Stand there! Mercy Merrick, I have got you at last. You can’t escape me now.

Mercy
(
gently
). I have no wish to avoid you. I am too anxious to deserve your pardon to have any fear of seeing you.

Grace
. How dare you answer me in that tone? You talk as if you had your right and your place in this house.
I
have my right and my place here; and I am obliged to hang about the grounds, and fly from the servants, and hide like a thief, and wait like a beggar — and all for what? For the chance of having a word with You. Yes, you, madam — with the air of the Refuge and the dirt of the streets on you.

Mercy
(
resignedly
). If it is your pleasure to use hard words to me, I have no right to resent them.

Grace
. You have no right to anything! You have no right to the gown on your back! Who gave you that dress? Who gave you those jewels? Lady Janet gave them to Grace Roseberry. Are you Grace Roseberry? That dress is mine. Take off your bracelets and your brooch. They were meant for me.

Mercy
(
as before
). You may soon have them, Miss Roseberry. They will not be in my possession many hours longer.

Grace
. What do you mean?

Mercy
. I will restore all that I have taken from you. I am determined to confess the truth.

Grace
(
scornfully
). You confess! Are you the woman to give up your position in this house, and go back to the Refuge of your own accord? Not you!

Mercy
(
breaking out
). Miss Roseberry —
 
— ! (
She checks herself, and speaks aside.
) No! Anything rather than disappoint Julian Gray.

Grace
(
as before
).
You
won’t confess.
You
are of the sort that cheat and lie to the last. I am glad of it! I shall have the joy of exposing you before the whole house. Oh, how I long to see you with a policeman’s hand on your arm, and the mob mocking you on your way to gaol!

Mercy
(
entreatingly
). Spare me more insults. I have borne the bitterest words you can say to me. I promise you I will own the truth.

Grace
. To-day?

Mercy
. To-day.

Grace
. You are not far from the bell. Ring it.

Mercy
(
surprised
). Ring it?

Grace
. You have just promised me to own the truth. Call in Lady Janet; call in Mr. Gray and Mr. Holmcroft; call in the servants. Go down on your knees, and acknowledge yourself an impostor before them all. Then I will believe you — not before.

Mercy
(
warning her
). Don’t turn me against you! For your own sake, don’t go on provoking me much longer!

Grace
. You insolent creature! Do you mean to threaten me?

Mercy
(
restraining herself by a last effort
). Have some compassion on me. Badly as I have behaved to you, I am still a woman like yourself. I can’t face the shame of owning what I have done before the whole house —
 
—

Grace
(
interrupting her
). What did I say?

Mercy
(
with rising passion
). Hear me, you heartless woman, hear me! Lady Janet treats me like a daughter. Mr. Holmcroft is engaged to marry me. I can’t tell them to their faces that I have cheated them out of their love. But they shall know it for all that. Before I rest to-night I will tell the truth to Mr. Julian Gray.

Grace
(
laughing
). Ha! ha! ha! now we have come to it at last.

Mercy
(
as before
). Take care! take care!

Grace
(
ironically
). Mr. Julian Gray! I have been hiding in the conservatory — I have seen you and heard you. Confession becomes quite a luxury with Mr. Julian Gray.

Mercy
(
outraged
). No more! no more! Don’t put me beside myself! I warn you — you have tortured me enough already.

Grace
(
as before
). You are a woman with resources; you know the value of having two strings to your bow. if Mr. Holmcroft fails you, you have got Mr. Julian Gray. (
Suddenly changing to malicious triumph.
) I’ll see that Mr. Holmcroft’s eyes are opened. He shall know what a wretch he might have married but for Me.

(MERCY
suddenly advances close to
GRACE’S
chair.
GRACE
looks up at her, and shrinks under the suppressed fury of
MERCY’S
eyes.
)

Mercy
(
repeating
GRACE’S
last words very slowly
). You will see that Mr. Holmcroft’s eyes are opened? He shall know what a wretch he might have married but for
you?
(
A pause.
MERCY
continues with marked emphasis, still without raising her voice.
) Who are
you?

Grace
(
rallying her courage
). Stand back!

Mercy
(
as before
). Who are
you?

Grace
(
rising and drawing back
). How dare you ask me?

Mercy
(
with a scornful wave of her hand
). I ask you no more — I remember. You are the madwoman from the German hospital, who came here a week ago. I am not afraid of you this time. Sit down and rest yourself —
 
— Mercy Merrick!*

* The actress should note by a pause, Mercy’s audacity in calling Grace, to her face, by Mercy’s own name. Thus: — ”Sit down and rest yourself —
 
— ” (A pause; then with marked emphasis) — ”Mercy Merrick!”

Grace
. What does this mean?

Mercy
(
breaking out
). It means that there are limits to human endurance, it means that you have roused me at last. I recall every word I said just now. I am resolved to keep my place in this house. You have not the shadow of a proof against me. I deny that I have injured you! How was I to know that you would come to life again? Have I degraded your name and character? I have done honour to both. I have won everybody’s liking, and everybody’s respect. Who can shake my position? Who can injure Me? I am safe in your place. I am known by your name. I am Grace Roseberry and you are Mercy Merrick. Disprove it, if you can.