Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2045 page)

SAGE.

It’s no use, Miss — the flowers in the park garden are under my charge, and must not be picked. What would Mr. Armadale say?

MISS M. (
half angry, half crying
).

If Mr. Armadale is the gentleman I take him for, he would say, “Come into my garden, Miss Milroy, as often as you like, and take as many nosegays as you please.”

ALLAN (
advancing
).

“Come into my garden, Miss Milroy, as often as you like, and take as many nosegays as you please.”

MISS M.

That man again! How dare you mock me in that way, sir? Who are you?

ALLAN.

I’ll make a clean breast of it to
you,
Miss Milroy. I’m Allan Armadale! (ABRAHAM SAGE
takes off his hat, and waits for an opportunity of speaking.
)

MISS M. (
thunderstruck
).

Mr. Armadale! (
Drops the flowers, and clasps her hands in despair.
) Oh, heavens! I shall sink into the earth!

ALLAN.

Suppose we pick up the flowers first? (
He kneels and puts the flowers back into
MISS MILROY’S
lap.
)

SAGE.

I bid you humbly welcome to Thorpe-Ambrose, sir. My name is Abraham Sage. I have been head gardener here for forty years, and my late employer had the highest opinion of me.

(
Neither
ALAN
nor
MISS MILROY
notice
SAGE. MISS MILROY
is ashamed to receive the flowers, and
ALLAN
insists on putting them back into her dress.
SAGE
waits immovably for his next opportunity.
)

MISS M.

Don’t, Mr. Armadale — pray don’t! I’m so ashamed of the things I said to you. My tongue ran away with me — it did indeed! What
must
you think of me?

ALLAN (
putting the last flower back, and rising to his feet.
)

I think you’re the prettiest girl I’ve met with for many a long day. I beg your pardon, Miss Milroy.
My
tongue ran away with me that time.

SAGE (
seeing his next opportunity
).

My name, sir, is Abraham Sage. I’ve been employed in the grounds for forty years —
 
—

ALLAN.

You shall be employed for forty years more, if you’ll only hold your tongue and take yourself off. (SAGE
never stirs.
) Well?

SAGE.

I should wish to speak to you, sir, on the subject of my son. My son has been employed in the grounds for twenty years. He is strictly sober. He is remarkably industrious. And he belongs to the Church of England, without encumbrances. (ALLAN
makes a gesture of impatience.
) I humbly thank you, in my son’s name and in my own. I’ll go to the house now and tell them all that Mr. Armadale is here.

ALLAN.

You will do nothing of the kind, Mr. Sage. When the time comes I’ll tell them myself.

SAGE (
going out
).

I couldn’t think of letting you do it, sir. Don’t you be afraid of my legs! They’re shaky to look at, I grant you. Never you fear — my legs will take me as far as the house. (
Exit
).

ALLAN (
to
MIDWINTER,
who has remained at the back.
)

Midwinter! Stop that old fool! (MIDWINTER
laughs, makes a sign in the affirmative, and follows
SAGE. ALLAN
turns to
MISS M.) That gentleman is my new steward, Miss Milroy, and my best friend. Come into the garden and get some more flowers. (
He gives
MISS MILROY
his arm.
) Which is the way?

MISS M. (
laughing
).

Fancy your asking your way about your own grounds! (
Suddenly drawing back from
ALLAN.) Stop! I had forgotten that horrid Miss Gwilt! Mr. Armadale, my new governess is coming to-day. I must wait at home to receive her.

ALLAN.

She hasn’t come yet. Just a little stroll. Give me a faint notion of my own property!

MISS M.

Impossible! If I don’t go in directly, papa will be coming out to look for me. (
The
MAJOR
appears at the door of the cottage.
) Here he is. Papa, a surprise for you. This is Mr. Armadale.

MAJOR M.

Mr. Armadale! I had no idea you had arrived at Thorpe-Ambrose already. Pray come into my little cottage. The luncheon is on the table. Will you waive all ceremony, and join us?

ALLAN.

With the greatest pleasure, Major Milroy!

MISS M.

Papa, the key of the cellar. I’m butler, Mr. Armadale. We’ve got a little sherry, and a little claret, and a
very
little champagne. Which wine will you have? Please say champagne!

MAJOR M. (
laughing
).

If you ever have a daughter of your own, Mr. Armadale, don’t begin as I have done by letting her have her own way. (
He gives
MISS M.
the key. Enter
MIDWINTER
at the back.
)

MID. (
to
ALLAN).

It was useless to speak to that obstinate old man. I have been myself to the house, and I have explained everything to the Mayor. A little civility from you will soon set things right again.

ALLAN.

See what an invaluable steward you are already! (
He turns to
MAJOR MILROY.) Major Milroy, let me introduce my friend, Mr. Midwinter.

MAJOR M.

Will you lunch with us at the cottage, Mr. Midwinter?

MID.

Pray excuse me, sir. I have a letter to read —
 
—

ALLAN (
interrupting him
).

All right! Get done with it as soon as you can, and join us at the Major’s table. (
Giving his arm to
MISS MILROY.) Now for the champagne!

(ALLAN, MISS MILROY,
and
MAJOR MILROY
enter the cottage.
)

MID.

Alone at last! (
He takes a letter from his pocket.
) What does this mean? I find it waiting for me — forwarded from my London lodgings — when I enter Allan’s house for the first time. (
He opens the envelope, and takes out a letter and a sealed enclosure which he finds inside. He places the enclosure on the table, and reads the letter first.
) “Sir, — I have only to-day discovered your address in London, thanks to Dr. Downward.” (
He speaks.
) Doctor Downward? Ah, yes! the first doctor whom I found at home when the lady was saved from drowning. (
He reads.
) “I had occasion not long since to consult the doctor professionally. In the course of conversation he mentioned a case of attempted drowning to which he had been called in, and I became thus informed that your address was to be found in the records of the police court as witness in the case.” (
He speaks.
) Quite true! How often I have thought of that beautiful woman since! (
He reads.
) “The object of my letter is to inform you, as your father’s executor, of your father’s death abroad.” (
He speaks.
) Dead! And we have been strangers to one another since I was a child! (
He reads.
) “You will receive the income which you inherit from your father, on applying at the enclosed address.”

(
Enter
ALLAN
from the cottage.
)

ALLAN.

Hav’nt you done? We are all waiting for you.

MID.

Pray don’t wait; I can’t join you yet. I will be with you later.

ALLAN.

Don’t be long. (
He returns to the cottage.
)

MID. (
resuming his reading
).

Where did I leave off? Here it is! (
He reads.
) . . . “on applying at the enclosed address. Be pleased, in signing the necessary receipts, to sign your family name.” (
He speaks.
) My family name? What does he mean? (
He reads.
) “Your rightful name, concealed by your father for some reason unknown to all his friends, is — Allan Armadale!” (
He starts back, thunderstruck.
) Am I dreaming in broad daylight? Am I mad?
My
name “Alan Armadale!”
My
name the same as my friend’s! (
He turns as if to enter the cottage, then checks himself.
) No! Let me finish the letter first. (
He reads.
) “The sealed letter enclosed in this was found among your father’s papers. I forward it, as you see, unopened, and remain your obedient servant.” The sealed letter may solve the mystery. Where did I put it? (
He takes the letter from the table, breaks the seal, seats himself at the table and reads.
) “My son! I have left you among strangers, under a false name. These lines, written on my deathbed, will tell you why. You are a cousin of Allan Armadale, of Thorpe-Ambrose; his father and I were brothers.” (
He speaks.
) Brothers! Allan’s father and my father brothers! Oh, what a discovery, for Allan as well as for me! (
He reads.
) “You and your cousin were both christened by the name of a wealthy member of our family, whose favour we were alike interested in trying to gain. So you come by the name I leave you — Christian name and surname the same as your cousin’s.” (
He speaks.
) Now I understand it — Christian name and surname the same as Allan’s. (
He reads.
) “My confession must follow these explanatory words. It is the confession of a crime.” (
He speaks.
) A crime! Dare I read any further? (
He reads.
) “While you and your cousin were still infants, a mortal quarrel divided my brother and myself. Of the cause I shall say nothing; it was equally disgraceful to him and to me. We were both husbands; we were both fathers at the time. Friends and relatives will tell you that my brother died, at the period of the quarrel, by an accident. To you alone I confess it — that accident was the work of my hand.” (
He starts to his feet shuddering.
) Oh, God! I see it now. The one friend I have made in the solitude of my life, is the son of the man who died by my father’s hand, and that man his own brother! Horrible! horrible! Let me get to the end! (
He reads.
) “Why do I darken your young life at its outset with the shadow of your father’s crime? Because the fear is on me that
you
may pay the penalty of the crime. It is written that the sins of the father shall be visited on the children. I tremble for what may happen if you and your cousin ever meet. Hide yourself from him in the future, as I have hidden you from him in the past — - under your assumed name. Put the mountains and the seas between you and the other Allan. Never let the two Armadales meet in this world — never! never! never!” (
A pause. He folds the letter and speaks.
) Put the mountains and the seas between me and the man to whom I owe the first happiness of my life. (
He places the letter in the breast of his coat, and looks towards the cottage; his grief overpowering him while he looks.
) Dearest of cousins, first and last of friends, farewell! (
He turns towards the back of the stage. A pause before he speaks again.
)
Must
I leave him? (
He returns towards the cottage.
) Why may I not atone for my father’s crime by giving him the service of my life? Trouble may be coming to him, and I may avert it. Danger may lie in his path, and I may be the man who saves him! (
His head sinks on his breast; he stands thinking.
ALLAN
appears at the door of the cottage.
)