Complete Works of Wilkie Collins (2079 page)

Rachel.
If I consent to wait, how shall I know when I may see Franklin?

Mr. Candy.
I will ring the bell in Mr. Blake’s bedroom. Can you hear it down here, or in your own room?

Rachel.
Yes, if there is no noise at the time. (
She pauses, considers a moment, and speaks to herself.
) I will say something to Franklin — somehow! (
She takes an ornamental drinking-glass from the curiosities placed on the cheffonier turns it till she sees a flower painted outside near the rim, kisses the rim there, and approaches
MR. CANDY.) Please, Mr. Candy, let him have this glass at his supper, and turn it so that he drinks on that side, where the flower is. I hope I have not done anything that looks unladylike in your eyes. It will comfort me to think that I have given him a kiss, even in that way!

Mr. Candy
(
smiling
). He shall take your kiss, Miss Rachel, as certainly as he takes his brandy-and-water. (
Aside.
) A charming girl! I wish I was Mr. Franklin Blake! (
He ascends the stairs, and enters
FRANKLIN’S
room.
RACHEL
watches him until he disappears.
)

Rachel
(
alone
). He is with Franklin now. He is speaking to Franklin at this moment. And I am left down here by myself! A doctor has no feeling; Mr. Candy is a hateful man! (BETTEREDGE
appears at the hall door.
)

Betteredge.
Miss Rachel —

Rachel.
What is it?

Betteredge.
Mr. Godfrey’s compliments —

Rachel
(
with a cry of horror
). Oh! I had forgotten Godfrey! (
She pauses, terror-struck by the remembrance of her engagement to
GODFREY. BETTEREDGE
approaches her in alarm.
)

Betteredge.
You’re not ill, miss, are you?

Rachel.
No! no! (
Aside.
) Godfrey has my promise! Godfrey is engaged to marry me! It’s like a frightful dream. What
am
I to do?

Betteredge
(
aside, watching her
). Miss Rachel as pale as ashes; Mr. Candy nowhere to be seen; Sergeant Cuff and the policeman whispering together in a corner! There’s something serious on foot; and I am kept out of it!

Rachel
(
rallying her courage, and returning to
BETTEREDGE). Where is Mr. Godfrey?

Betteredge.
In the morning room. He wants to know when you can conveniently see him.

Rachel
(
to herself
). I can’t see him! I daren’t see him! Drusilla must speak to him for me. (
to
BETTEREDGE.) Go up to Miss Clack’s room. Knock at the door, and say I want to speak to her instantly.

Betteredge
(
aside, as he approaches the stairs
). Even Miss Clack is in the conspiracy. Everybody but me! (
He goes out by the gallery on the left.
)

Rachel
(
alone
). Oh, what fools women are! We are always saying what we ought not to say. We are always doing the wrong thing at the wrong time, and then repenting when it is too late! I don’t care. If I can’t marry Franklin, I will marry nobody else. What right had Godfrey to take advantage of me when I was half mad with misery? Shameful! shameful! Where
is
Drusilla? (
She looks round.
MISS CLACK
appears in the gallery, followed by
BETTEREDGE.) Be quick! You walk as if you were following a funeral. Be quick! (MISS CLACK
deliberately descends the stairs. She has a quill-pen behind her ear, and letters and papers in her hand. Her manner towards
RACHEL
is cold and dignified, as if still resenting the interview which she overheard in the Second Act.
)

Miss Clack
(
aside
). I hope I am incapable of using unladylike language. But, if she ventures to speak of her marriage to Mr. Godfrey — ! (
to
RACHEL.) Be as brief as you can, Rachel. I am immersed in correspondence with my Societies. The public interests must not suffer on account of any little personal troubles of yours, my dear.

Rachel
(
to herself
). What have I done to offend her? (
to
MISS CLACK.) My dear Drusilla, I am going to appeal to your long-tried friendship — (
She observes
BETTEREDGE
listening eagerly, and addresses him sharply.
) Go to Mr. Godfrey, and say that I will receive him here in five minutes’ time.

Betteredge.
I beg your pardon, miss. As an old servant, may I say a word relative to what is going on in this house — ?

Rachel.
As an old servant, do what I tell you.

Betteredge
(
offended
). After fifty years’ service, miss, it’s a little hard to be cut short —

Rachel.
Will
you go? or must I ring for Andrew?

Betteredge
(
aside
). I shall give warning to leave at the end of the month! (
He goes out indignantly by the hall door.
)

Rachel.
Drusilla! I am in dreadful trouble, and I have no friend to help me but you.

Miss Clack.
My humble advice has been offered again and again, and has been repelled again and again in the rudest manner.

Rachel.
I beg your pardon, Drusilla —

Miss Clack.
Pray don’t mention it!

Rachel.
I will always take your advice for the future.

Miss Clack.
No, Rachel, no! I feel that I took a liberty, in my humble position, when I offered advice to a lady who hires me at a salary — paid by the quarter, I hasten to acknowledge, punctually when it’s due.

Rachel
(
seizing her by the arm
). Don’t drive me mad! I am half mad already! I am engaged to be married to Godfrey Ablewhite.

Miss Clack
(
solemnly
). May you be happy! Heaven knows I don’t expect it!

Rachel
(
throwing her arms round
DRUSILLA’S
neck
). Oh, you darling! The very thing I wanted you to say! I don’t expect it either. I hate Godfrey! When I said “Yes,” I meant “No.” I would rather throw myself out of the window than marry him. Get me off the engagement, Drusilla, and you will be the dearest friend I ever had in my life.

Miss Clack
(
eagerly
).You really mean it?

Rachel.
Yes! yes! yes!

Miss Clack
(
embracing
RACHEL). My beloved Rachel is restored to me! (
With a burst of enthusiasm.
)
I’ll
give him his dismissal, my dear. Your life shall not be sacrificed to a man who is, to my certain knowledge, quite unworthy of you. He shall find an immovable obstacle in his way. And the name of that obstacle is Drusilla Clack. (
Hurrying her to the left.
) Go to your room, dearest. Not a word of thanks; this is a labour of love. Go to your room! (
She hurries
RACHEL
into her room, and closes the door on her.
)

Miss Clack
(
alone
). Now, Mr. Godfrey, the Mothers’-Small-Clothes-Conversion-Society will be even with
you!
How do I look? (
She goes to the glass.
) A pen behind my ear! (
She throws it into the fire.
) These tiresome papers are of no use! (
She throws them into the fire. Then arranges her hair and smooths out her dress.
) I should like to put on my best black silk dress, in honour of the occasion. Would it take too long? (GODFREY
appears at the hall door.
) Yes! Here he is!

Godfrey
(
to himself
). Miss Clack! (
He advances and addresses
MISS CLACK.) Do you know where Rachel is? I expected to find her here.

Miss Clack
(
with extreme politeness
). Pray take a seat.

Godfrey.
I beg your pardon; I have an appointment with Rachel.

Miss Clack
(
mysteriously
). I beg
your
pardon, Mr. Godfrey. You have an appointment with
me.
Dear Rachel is not well enough to see you. I am the chosen representative of her views and wishes. Her inmost secrets are lodged in my bosom. Pray sit down.

Godfrey
(
aside, seating himself
). What does this mean?

Miss Clack
(
seating herself, with the highest relish of the pain she is about to inflict
). Mr. Godfrey, as an affectionate well-wisher and friend, as one long accustomed to arouse, convince, prepare, enlighten, and fortify others, permit me to take the liberty of composing your mind.

Godfrey
(
coldly
). Be good enough to state your business with me plainly.

Miss Clack.
Quite impossible, without preparing your mind first. My precious friend, I know your sensitive nature — I know how unequal you are to sustain a sudden shock. I have undertaken to scatter all your fondest hopes to the winds, but I have
not
undertaken to see you rolling on the floor in hysterics at my feet.

Godfrey
(
rising
). You have something to say to me from Rachel. I presume you know that we are engaged to be married?

Miss Clack.
Oh, don’t! don’t! You go through me like a knife! Engaged to be married to Rachel? Poor Mr. Godfrey! poor Mr. Godfrey!

Godfrey
(
impatiently
). Once for all, Miss Clack, will you deprive yourself of the pleasure of hearing your own voice? Will you speak briefly, and speak out?

Miss Clack
(
irritated into speaking out abruptly, and with the greatest rapidity
).Your engagement with Rachel is at an end, Mr. Godfrey. Is that brief enough for you?

Godfrey
(
thunderstruck
).What!!!

Miss Clack
(
as before
). Rachel regrets her rash acceptance of your proposal. Rachel respects, but can never love you. Rachel withdraws her promise, and positively refuses to be your wife. Is that plain enough, Mr. Godfrey?

Godfrey.
Miss Clack, I have nothing to say to you. I insist on seeing Rachel immediately. (
He approaches
RACHEL’S
door.
MISS CLACK
places herself before the door.
) Let me pass, if you please.