Chapter V: Epilogue: Scene--Same as Prologue

TIME--PRESENT.

(_MRS. LATTIN opens her eyes slowly. The DOCTOR, near the bed,
is seen making a gesture with his arms as if lowering a curtain.
MRS. LATTIN shows bewilderment._)

_Mrs. Lattin_

(_Dreamily._) Where am I? Florence … Greece … Egypt … where are they? I am back again. But _who_ am I?

_Doctor_

You are your Past.

_Mrs. Lattin_

I slept? But yet I lived it. I understand at last. I have found life.

_Doctor_

_You_ cannot die, nor can _you_ sleep.

_Mrs. Lattin_

But time.…

_Doctor_

Is the body’s measuring.

[_She looks round the room, and finally into his face. He moves
slowly backwards towards the door._

_Mrs. Lattin_

(_Thinking._) It was not a dream. I was in Greece with Phocion … with Paulo in Italy … with.… Oh, it is too long ago, too far away. It’s fading. (_Eagerly._) Oh, I would not forget!

_Doctor_

The results lie in you. That is memory.

_Mrs. Lattin_

Each time I injured … thwarted the highest in him by my selfish love. How small my love! Oh, tell me it is not now too late.…

_Doctor_

(_By door._) There is no “too late.” What he could do without was added to him. You have taught Menophis, Phocion and Paulo to become … Phillip.

[_He begins to fade._

_Mrs. Lattin_

(_Joyfully._) I understand at last, and I am healed. I delayed Menophis. I shall inspire Phillip. I shall go with him … back to … Egypt. Phocion, Paulo, how happy _they_ will be!

_Doctor_

(_Almost invisible._) _He_ is coming now. I leave you.

_Mrs. Lattin_

But _he_ must see you too.…

_Doctor_

(_Invisible, only a voice heard._) He cannot.

[_Door opens. PHILLIP enters quietly. He shows surprise at
finding her sitting up. Her hands are stretched out towards the
door where the DOCTOR has vanished. As he enters, the clock
strikes the last three strokes of six o’clock._

_Phillip_

You rang. I just slipped back to see----

_Mrs. Lattin_

(_Low._) Phocion … my faithful.…

_Phillip_

Eh? Are you all right? I mustn’t stay. Doctor Ogilvie will be here any minute.

_Mrs. Lattin_

(_Low._) Paulo … my dear one.… I----

_Phillip_

(_Puzzled._) You slept a moment probably. Good! (_Startled by her happy expression._) You look … so much better!

_Mrs. Lattin_

He came. And I am healed.

[_NURSE enters hurriedly._

_Nurse_

(_Whispering to PHILLIP so that MRS. LATTIN does not hear._) Dr. Ogilvie has just telephoned. He is detained. He cannot get here till seven o’clock.

_Phillip_

All right. Hush!

[_Exit NURSE._

_Mrs. Lattin_

He told me … showed me … everything.

_Phillip_

(_Humouring her._) He gave you hope--the best? I see it in your eyes.

_Mrs. Lattin_

It’s not--_I_ am not--too late. That’s all.

_Phillip_

Hush! Hush! Lie quiet a little longer. (_Goes on to ask, still humouring her._) You mean the doctor says----?

_Mrs. Lattin_

I am so happy. I know and understand now. It’s glorious.

_Phillip_

My darling! Gently, gently! Do not excite yourself. Lie still and sleep, if you can, again. He has given you something? Later, you shall tell me----

_Mrs. Lattin_

Ah, your great patient strength! It is too wonderful. And to think that my weakness helped, my selfish----!

[_Sits up and peers closely at him, shading her eyes with one
hand._

_Phillip_

(_Anxious, puzzled._) The lamp is in your eyes. I’ll move it. Do not stir. There, is that better?

_Mrs. Lattin_

Thank you, but I do not mind the light. I mind nothing. Thank you (_the name comes back suddenly_), Phillip. Ah, it _is_ Phillip! I know you again--as you are--to-day!

[_Passes hand over forehead. Sighs and leans back. But face happy
and at peace._

_Phillip_

Mary!

_Mrs. Lattin_

Not Mary: Little Child.

_Phillip_

My--Little Child. (_Doubting and perplexed._)

_Mrs. Lattin_

Phillip, dear heart, I’ve seen--I’ve seen my past--with you.

_Phillip_

(_Soothingly._) Yes, yes. When you’re more rested you shall tell me everything. Your dreams----

_Mrs. Lattin_

I must speak now. I’ve seen _our_ past.

_Phillip_

(_Bewildered._) Tell me, then, dearest, tell me. Then you must lie still----

_Mrs. Lattin_

(_Firmly._) Life!

_Phillip_

(_Impressed._) Life!

_Mrs. Lattin_

I have recovered. I love you more--but differently. I can forgive myself at last.

_Phillip_

Recovery! Forgiveness! I do not understand.

_Mrs. Lattin_

You have not _seen_. I understand for both of us.

_Phillip_

You have had dreams that troubled you. I implore you, dearest----

_Mrs. Lattin_

Look in my face. There is no trouble there--but only joy and life.

_Phillip_

Yes, yes, but--my darling, what _can_ you mean?

_Mrs. Lattin_

He came--and went.

_Phillip_

And left one word behind him only----?

_Mrs. Lattin_

One word--Life.

_Phillip_

(_Almost convinced._) Then----?

_Mrs. Lattin_

(_Radiant, rising from couch._) I shall go back with you.

_Phillip_

To Egypt!

_Mrs. Lattin_

I shall never delay or thwart again. Ah, so many times I have--by my selfish love--(_breaks off_). Your work _is_ a mission--always. It is your soul’s career. I understand at last.

_Phillip_

Hush, hush, Little Child! You say wild things. I could never hear of it. I know your dread, your shrinking fear of Egypt. It would make you ill again. All the doctors agreed----

_Mrs. Lattin_

I have _no_ dread! My shrinking was--a memory. It was instinctive--a cowardice that shirked sweet expiation--_there_, where it is due. (_In spite of him, she rises to her feet. Vigorous._) I am well again. I shall go back with you. Your work--_my_ work--lies out there--in Egypt. Oh, Phillip, be glad with me, for I am forgiven, I am healed!

_Phillip_

(_Stirred._) Dear heart! Your soul is too grand for this frail, precious body. You injure yourself. Such sacrifice from you I could never, never----

[_Breaks off, as he notes the radiant expression in her face.
They stand close together beneath the picture._

_Mrs. Lattin_

(_Inflexibly._) It is no sacrifice. It is love, love, love!

_Phillip_

(_Tenderly._) That deep love I never doubted. But--the ingrained dread, the fear, the shrinking that have undermined your willing strength. How can you----?

_Mrs. Lattin_

They are gone for ever. Phillip, how often must I tell you? I am healed. I go back with you. We go together. Our life is there, in Egypt.

_Phillip_

(_Almost convinced._) I feel some great new reality in you. You are most wonderfully changed. Some star of life is rising over us--again. (_He gazes into her radiant face with a touch of respect and wonder._) If--if----

_Mrs. Lattin_

You must at once withdraw your resignation. There is no “too late”! (_Laughs a little._) You promise me!

[_Amazement in him gives place to dawning belief at last. Yet he
still hesitates._

_Phillip_

I will see the doctor myself. I promise that if he----

_Mrs. Lattin_

_You_ cannot.

_Phillip_

Cannot! (_Awe._) You mean--you have had a vision?

_Mrs. Lattin_

He has--gone.

_Phillip_

(_Convinced._) It _was_ a vision…?

[_She turns slowly and looks up at the picture on the wall above
them. He turns with her. He is speechless. He holds her very
close. They stare together at the palms, the river, the stars,
the temples._

_Mrs. Lattin_

(_Softly._) Egypt--where I first delayed and thwarted him, loving him for myself alone--Egypt, beneath your risen stars, beside your rising river--I _shall undo--at last_.

[_A new expression steals into his face. He gazes at the picture
with her. He holds her still closer to him._

_Phillip_

(_Moved and wondering._) Little Child! It is very strange. Almost, it seems, some dream, some memory of long, long ago stirs in me.

[_A slight pause, as they gaze side by side at the picture._

(_With effort._) It is beyond me somewhere, but there is great beauty--that deep, unearthly Egyptian beauty in it. (_Lowers voice._) Those palms are rustling, those stars seem to move, the Nile flows down towards the sea. Perhaps.… The Tear of Isis falls.…

_Mrs. Lattin_

Listen … yes…!

_Phillip_

(_Turns to her._) Something about you, something new and--and familiar almost--steals upon me. I half believe.…

_Mrs. Lattin_

(_Whispering._) Phillip, my faithful one, I heard another name as you said that. I heard an ancient name--was it Menophis?

_Phillip_

(_Hushed voice._) _I_ thought a name came to me too. It floated past--Nefertiti. It must have been the beating of your heart against my own.

[_They stand motionless, gazing, listening._

_Mrs. Lattin_

Dear, ancient names. How sweet they sound!

_Phillip_

(_Smiling._) I think we are bewitched!

_Mrs. Lattin_

Egypt! (_Pause. Adds softly._) I understand--at last.

[_He draws her head back and looks tenderly into her eyes._

_Phillip_

All but one thing.

_Mrs. Lattin_

Which is----?

_Phillip_

That what you call delay has helped and taught me.

_Mrs. Lattin_

(_Low._) Perhaps I understand that too. That which the soul can do without is added to it. (_Whispers._) Is it not that?

_Phillip_

Ah, you put it so. Perhaps you put it better. I only know that you have given me the thing I needed most--perspective, the longer sight. My vision clears. (_Bends down and kisses her._) I feel new power for my work. I see it whole.

_Mrs. Lattin_

Then my forgiveness is complete.

CURTAIN

End of Project Gutenberg's Karma, by Algernon Blackwood and Violet Pearn