Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2048 page)

MISS G. (
rising, and trying to change the subject
).

How are you getting on, Doctor, with your business in London? You were occupied with two speculations when I last saw you. You were starting a newspaper, and you were going to open a Sanatorium. Is the newspaper getting on?

DR. D. (
ironically
).

The newspaper is deaf for the present to your kind inquiries. (
Suddenly changing his tone.
) Are you in love with Midwinter?

MISS G. (
persisting
).

Are you making money by the Sanatorium?

DR. D. (
aside
).

Damn her obstinacy! I am a ruined man if I haven’t got the handling of Armadale’s money in three months’ time! (
To
MISS G.,
throwing aside all restraint.
) Do you know what you are doing? You are turning your back on your own interests — you are destroying your own prospects. You are in love with Midwinter!

MISS G. (
appealing to the
DOCTOR).

Don’t blame me till you hear what I have to say. I can’t resist the sympathy which draws me to that man! I am like a prisoner who feels the sun, I am like a drowning wretch who rises to the air, when I am with
him!
He thrills me with the noblest thoughts; he reconciles me to my better self; he lifts me above the atmosphere of meanness and misery in which I have stifled so long! Can you wonder that I love him? Oh, Doctor, Doctor, don’t expect too much of me! I’m only a woman after all! (
She hides her face in her hands and bursts into tears.
)

DR. D. (
resuming his fatherly manner
).

And women are occasionally hysterical, my dear. Try this smelling-bottle again.

MISS G.

I know I have offended you.

DR. D.

No; you have only surprised me. After your sad experience of the delusions of love, and the perfidy of man; after the rash attempt on your own life that followed —
 
—

MISS G. (
interrupting him with a low cry of despair
).

Oh!

DR. D.

Pardon me for recalling the painful remembrances of the past.

MISS G.

You
don’t recall them. It all came back upon me in its bitterness and its shame when Midwinter asked me to be his wife.

DR. D.

Bitterness? shame? You talk as if there was no excuse for you! Remember that I once knew the scoundrel who betrayed your trust in him. With my personal experience of Captain Manuel —
 
—

MISS G. (
in sudden alarm
).

Where is he now?

DR. D. (
affecting not to understand her
).

Captain Manuel? Late of the Brazilian Navy?

MISS G.

Yes!

DR. D.

Make your mind easy. He is out of the country. (
Aside.
) He is waiting for me behind the fishing-house at this moment, and I am afraid I shall want him! (
To
MISS G.) My dear girl, let me appeal for the last time to your better sense. The golden opportunity of your life is before you. Pause before you throw it away!

MISS G. (
irritably
).

Armadale again?

DR. D. (
persuasively
)

Ten thousand a year, my sweet friend, while he lives. Two thousand a year to his widow when he dies.

MISS G.

Oh, Doctor! Doctor! you force me to tell you everything. There is no contending against impossibilities. Armadale is privately engaged to Miss Milroy.

DR. D. (
thunderstruck
).

Engaged to Miss Milroy? Nonsense! It can’t be.

MISS G.

It
is.
I know it.

DR. D.

Does Major Milroy know it?

MISS G.

Certainly not! Major Milroy believes that Armadale is in love with
me.

DR. D. (
walking aside in triumph
).

The game is not lost yet! The Major shall know of his daughter’s engagement. Where is he? (
He turns towards the door and confronts
MAJOR MILROY
and
MISS MILROY,
who enter at the same moment.
)

MAJOR M.

Dr. Downward? Welcome to Thorpe-Ambrose! How long have you been here?

DR. D.

I have visited my patient, Major, and I have been gossiping with Miss Gwilt. (MISS GWILT
slowly withdraws into the reading-room, and takes up a newspaper.
DR. DOWNWARD
addresses
MISS MILROY.) And how is this dear young lady? Ah, I needn’t ask. She is as bright as the sun, Major; she is as happy as the birds; she is as fresh as the grass. Thank you, my child — thank you, for feasting an old Doctor’s eyes on the charming spectacle of youth, beauty, and health!

MAJOR M. (
laughing
).

Hush! hush! Doctor! You’ll turn her head.

MISS M. (
aside
).

He
turn my head! Fawning old wretch! I hate a patriarch in a coat and trousers!

DR. D.

What news of our friends here, Major? How is the happy possessor of this beautiful place?

MAJOR M.

I have some news for you in that quarter, Doctor. (
He looks significantly after
MISS G.,
and lowers his voice.
) Mr. Armadale is in love!

DR. D.

Natural enough at his age. (
He bows pointedly to
MISS MILROY,
who turns aside in confusion and alarm.
) The fair object of his devotion, Major, is not far to seek.

MAJOR M. (
astonished
).

My daughter? Why, she was only sixteen last birthday. Absurd!

MISS M. (
faintly
).

Papa — I’m not very well — I’ll go back to the house.

DR. D. (
aside
).

I’ve done it!

MAJOR M. (
stopping her
).

My dear, if you are ill here is the doctor. (
To
DR. D.) Do
you
understand this?

DR. D.

My dear sir, surely it’s plain enough. (
To
MISS M.) There is only one excuse for my blunder, Miss Milroy. Your father was the first to mention Mr. Armadale’s name.

MAJOR M. (
sternly
).

What!

MISS M. (
bursting into tears
).

Oh, papa, papa! forgive me! Allan would have spoken to you if you had only waited a little longer.

MAJOR M.

Allan? She speaks of Mr. Armadale by his Christian name! (
Calling.
) Miss Gwilt! (MISS G.
advances from the reading-room.
) Have you seen anything going on between my daughter and Mr. Armadale?

MISS G.

I am not in your daughter’s secrets, Major Milroy.

MAJOR M.

I asked you a question, Miss Gwilt.

MISS G. (
haughtily
).

I have answered your question, sir.

MISS M. (
rousing her courage
).

Don’t ask Miss Gwilt, papa! If I have done wrong, I can own it, without Miss Gwilt coming between us. (MISS G.
turns away contemptuously.
) Mr. Armadale made me an offer in the garden last week, and — and I did’nt say No.

MAJOR M. (
indignantly
).

And I hear of it now for the first time! — hear of it by an accident!

MISS M.

It’s my fault, papa. Allan proposed speaking to you; and I said, “No! I shall be sent to school if you do.”

MAJOR M.

Mr. Armadale shall answer it to me before another hour is over his head.

DR. D. (
looking towards the verandah
).

Mr. Armadale is here.

(
Enter
ALLAN,
followed by
MIDWINTER. ALLAN
advances to the front.
MIDWINTER
remains at the back with
MISS GWILT.)

ALLAN.

Good morning, Doctor! Good morning, Major! Good morning, ladies! I’m delighted to see you all in my little museum. Major! you have heard me talk of my yacht? Come here, and I’ll explain the model to you. (
The
MAJOR
looks sternly at
ALLAN,
without moving.
) What’s the matter? What’s wrong with Miss Milroy?

MAJOR M.

I don’t know what the code of honour may be, Mr. Armadale, in the world in which
you
have lived. In the world in which
I
have lived, a man who visits at another man’s house, and who entraps his daughter into a private engagement, is a man who has betrayed a trust that has been placed in him. Consider yourself, if you please, a stranger to me and to my daughter from this time forth. (
He turns to go. The
DOCTOR,
standing apart, rubs his hands in triumph.
)

ALLAN.

Stop a minute, Major. If I deserve harsh words, you have the consolation of knowing that you have given me my deserts. I own I have done wrong, and I ask your pardon with all my heart. But I can’t resign Miss Milroy. Treat me as you may, I shall still aspire to the honour of winning your daughter’s hand.

DR. D. (
aside, looking at the
MAJOR).

He has shaken the Major!

MISS M. (
to her father
).

Break
my
heart if you like, papa; but give Allan another chance!

MAJOR M. (
hesitating
).

Does he deserve a chance?

MISS M.

Yes, papa, I have studied his character, and I ought to know.

MAJOR M. (
smiling
).

You are a little fool!

MISS M. (
humbly
).

I am anything you like, papa!

DR. D. (
aside
).