Chapter IV: Act I

SCENE: _Interior of widow Felton’s cottage. Table, C. Rocking-chair, L. C. Door Pract. in F., windows, etc. Time, morning. Mrs. Felton discovered seated in rocking-chair; Em’ly standing R. facing L._

EM’LY.――Mother, I was never so insulted in my life; she threw the dress on her toilet stand, and fairly ground her teeth with rage.

MRS. FELTON.――Dear! dear! dear! what shall we do! I depended on the money for making that dress to pay at least a month’s rent. Did you explain our distressed condition to Miss Philp?

EM’LY.――Mother, dear, I did my best to reason with her, but she only stamped her foot, and bade me hold my saucy tongue. She said the dress was ruined.

MRS. FELTON.――Our lot is indeed hard. What a dreadful misfortune my sickness has proved to be.

EM’LY.――Dorothy Clyde stopped me on the road opposite the mill; she saw that my eyes were red, and pressed me so hard that I made a clean breast of the whole matter. She said she would be over about ten o’clock with her father, the Squire.

MRS. FELTON.――Oh, if your poor, dear papa had only lived, how different our lot would be to-day. Alas! I fear we shall soon be homeless.

EM’LY (_Kneels at her side_).――Do not give way to such gloomy thoughts; God has promised to care for the widow and the fatherless; let us trust in His goodness.

MRS. FELTON.――My child, your mother is justly rebuked. We will trust in the Lord, come what may.

[_Knock at the door._]

EM’LY (_Rises and opens door_).――Oh! walk in, Miss Philp.

(_Enter Miss Philp and Mercy, the latter bearing a bundle._)

MISS PHILP.――Walk in! Do you suppose I would run in, crawl in or creep in? Walk in! Of course I’ll walk in, and when I am ready, I shall walk out again. Humph!

MRS. FELTON.――Em’ly, dear, give the lady a chair. Pray be seated, Miss Philp.

MISS PHILP (_Dusts the chair with her handkerchief_).――I think I shall stand.

EM’LY.――The chairs are perfectly clean, Miss Philp; I carefully dusted them early this morning.

MISS PHILP.――I prefer to stand, however.

MRS. FELTON (_To Mercy_).――Sit down, Mercy.

MERCY.――Thank you. (_Attempts to sit on chair._)

MISS PHILP.――Stop! how dare you sit when your mistress is standing! Place that bundle on the table; such brazen conduct is intolerable. And as for you, madam, you have not only ruined my robe, but you have prevented my attendance at the ball to-night.

MRS. FELTON.――Mercy!

MERCY (_starts_).――Eh?

MRS. FELTON.――It was merely an ejaculation. (_To Miss Philp_).――I deeply regret having incurred your displeasure.

EM’LY.――Perhaps we can remedy the defect if it is but trifling; it is yet early in the day.

MERCY (_Places bundle on table_).――Why yes; I will open it (_Begins to untie bundle_).

MRS. FELTON.――That’s it; how stupid we are.

MISS PHILP.――Don’t include me; I am not willing to be classified with dolts.

EM’LY.――Oh, dear, no!

MRS. FELTON.――I meant no offense.

MERCY (_Takes dress from paper_).――Look at it, Mrs. Felton.

MISS PHILP.――Silence! Stop talking all together like quacking ducks; your din will drive me distracted. Have you no refinement, no breeding? How I dislike to mingle with vulgar persons. Young woman, ah, that is, Em’ly, hold up that dress.

EM’LY (_Takes up dress_).――Yes, miss.

MISS PHILP.――Just try it on, so that I may show your mother her stupid work.

MRS. FELTON.――Pardon me, but――

MISS PHILP.――Silence! I am talking.

MERCY (_Aside_).――Shame upon you, you spitfire!

EM’LY (_Putting on dress_).――I am sure we can fix it in time for this evening.

MERCY (_Assisting Em’ly_).――How well you become fine clothes; you were intended to be a lady. Just see what a graceful figure.

MISS PHILP.――Ridiculous; the idea! Why the girl looks like a jointed doll.

MRS. FELTON.――Em’ly, dear, hold still.

EM’LY (_Raises dress to her eyes_).――Mother――

MISS PHILP.――Here, don’t wipe your eyes on that dress, if you please.

EM’LY.――Mother, I do not think it womanly in Miss Philp to thus take advantage of our reverse in fortune.

MRS. FELTON.――There, there, Em’ly! Never mind, let me examine the dress. Where is the fault, Miss Philp?

MISS PHILP.――The sleeves are too long, the neck is too small, and the skirt is too short.

MRS. FELTON.――Alas! I fear it is spoiled. My mind has been so burdened with trouble that I am beside myself.

MERCY.――It fits Em’ly to perfection.

EM’LY.――How can we ever pay you for the material? What shall we do?

MISS PHILP.――Madam, what is your bill for making this dress?

MRS. FELTON.――I sent you the bill.

MISS PHILP.――Ah, yes, I recollect. (_Draws bill from pocket_ _and reads._) “To making dress, twelve dollars.” Well, it is of no use to me; you may keep it――take the dress and receipt the bill.

MRS. FELTON.――But our rent――if we do not pay something to-day we may be turned out into the world, homeless.

MISS PHILP.――I am not a charity visitor; you should study economy. Ahem! Mercy, follow me. [_Exits door F. followed by Mercy._]

MRS. FELTON.――My child, my child! (_They embrace and stand weeping._) [_Enter Squire and Dorothy; they pause and observe Mrs. Felton and Em’ly._]

SQUIRE (_Aside_).――This is, indeed, a tableau. (_Aloud_) Ladies!

MRS. FELTON.――} (_Start_) Oh!
EM’LY.―― }

DOROTHY (_Taking their hands_).――Why are you weeping? Papa will fix things all right. Do not worry.

SQUIRE.――Mrs. Felton, your husband was a man whom I esteemed highly. He at one time rendered me a valuable service, and it is but common gratitude that I now befriend his family. Here is a check for double the amount of all arrears of rent due on your cottage. (_Hands her check._) Accept it as a loan until you are able to return it.

MRS. FELTON.――I could not think of it.

SQUIRE.――You must!

DOROTHY.――Take it for my sake; do not refuse; take it and welcome.

MRS. FELTON.――Oh, what kindness!

EM’LY (_Kisses Dorothy on forehead_).――My own, dear Dorothy.

SQUIRE.――Now for a little talk on another subject. Be seated. (_All take chairs_) Mrs. Felton, you are aware that I am agent for the Dingle estate, of which your cottage is a part. I have long acted in that capacity as a matter of courtesy to my old friend, Caspar Dingle. I shall look after his property no longer.

MRS. FELTON.――No doubt it is a great annoyance to you――

SQUIRE.――Not at all. Listen. I am rich, and my friend Dingle, in order to augment his already immense estate, desires his son Morley to become the husband of my daughter.

DOROTHY (_Confused_).――Oh, papa, how can you talk of that horrid young man! You know I detest his very name.

SQUIRE.――My dear child, if you will allow me to talk, I can easily show you the necessity of taking these ladies into our confidence.

DOROTHY.――Pardon me, papa, dear; although I have never met Mr. Morley Dingle, yet from your description of his interview with you, I am sure he is very rude and ill-bred.

SQUIRE.――True. Now in order that he may have a pretext for visiting our village, he will in future collect his rents in person. He will be here to-day, perhaps may now be on his way to your cottage.

MRS. FELTON.――} Oh, horrors!
EM’LY.―― }

SQUIRE.――You have my check.

MRS. FELTON.――True, true, kind sir; I had for the moment forgotten it.

SQUIRE.――Morley Dingle knows that my daughter has a generous nature and abhors meanness in any guise; therefore, he would act his best were he introduced to her. I prefer Dorothy should see him in his ordinary character.

DOROTHY.――And how can I, papa?

SQUIRE.――He will call here for the rent. He knows Mrs. Felton is largely indebted. Ladies, my plan is this: You and I will take a walk in the grove back of the cottage. Dorothy will remain and represent herself to be Em’ly; she can promise the rent within a week; plead for time, anything, so that his manliness may be thoroughly tested.

DOROTHY.――No, no, papa!

SQUIRE.――Take off your hat, throw an old shawl over your shoulders. (_Points through window._) See! there he comes. Let us be off.

EM’LY (_Aside_).――I wish I could stay and peep.

MRS. FELTON.――I hope he will not be cross to the dear child――

SQUIRE.――Come, quick! [_Exit all except Dorothy._]

DOROTHY (_Hurriedly searching_).――What can I get? (_picks up apron_) Ah, this will do! (_removes hat_) I hear his footstep on the gravel walk. (_Listens._) Gracious, how my heart beats!

[_Loud knock at the door._]

I wish papa was here. [_Prolonged knock._]

Well, he can’t eat me, anyhow. (_Opens door._)

[_Enter Dingle._]

DINGLE (_Surveying Dorothy through eye-glasses_).――Ah! I presume you are the daughter of the, ah――

DOROTHY.――Yes, sir; I am the daughter.

DINGLE.――Is it possible!

DOROTHY.――Sir, will you be seated?

DINGLE (_Aside_).――What airs these poor creatures assume. (_Aloud_) Miss, (_takes card from case_) this will probably explain both who I am and the nature of my business.

DOROTHY (_Takes card and reads aloud_).――“Morley Dingle, Dingleton, Dingle Township, Pennsylvania,” (_aside_) Dingle, dong, dingle―― (_Aloud_) I am not prepared to pay you anything to-day, Mr. Dingle. There has been very little money earned in this house since the last payment was made.

DINGLE (_Sits on a chair and puts feet on table_).――You must settle with me before I leave this village, or give up the house (_pulls book from pocket_). Let me see; yes, here it is――Felton――March, April, May, June――twelve dollars a month, just forty-eight dollars. What do you take me for?

DOROTHY (_Aside_).――How I would like to tell you. (_Aloud._) O sir, if you but knew the sufferings of the poor I am sure your sympathy would guide your action.

DINGLE.――Not a bit of it. The laws of this State protect the defenseless landlord more effectively than any other government on the globe――except Ireland. I’m proud that I am a Pennsylvanian.

DOROTHY.――Surely, sir, you would not invoke the law to distress a poor widow and her child?

DINGLE.――John Felton signed a lease giving me the right to sell all his effects for any arrears of rent due upon this house.

DOROTHY.――Does not the law exempt a certain amount of household chattels?

DINGLE.――John Felton waived the benefit of the exemption law.

DOROTHY.――But he is dead.

DINGLE.――Young woman, his family must suffer the consequences of his act.

DOROTHY (_Indignantly_).――This is unjust; it is contrary to the letter and spirit of the law.

DINGLE (_Looking through eyeglass_).――You talk like a member of the bar; that is, a country member――a squire.

DOROTHY.――The exemption law was enacted as a merciful barrier against the sweeping tide of adversity――a life-boat for helpless castaways: how then dare any man’s hand thwart the law and defeat its purpose? To waive that law repeals it: is this an absolute monarchy?

DINGLE.――This government is run upon a solid cash basis: if you have cash, you can smile at waivers. The remedy, young woman, is cash. That’s my prescription for landlords’ warrants; it’s a powerful antidote. (_Taps his pocket and laughs_).

DOROTHY.――You shock me, sir; you fill me with alarm; would you strip us of these poor household necessities.

DINGLE.――I am a benefactor to women. If I see they have no possibility of keeping house I resort to heroic measures――I sell ’em out. What’s the result? They get situations, get plenty to eat and comfortable quarters.

DOROTHY.――And the little children?

DINGLE (_Pulls out watch_).――It is time to end this nonsense. Have the rent by to-night. Good morning. [_Exit door F._]

DOROTHY (_Sits in chair_).――So that’s the suitor for my heart and hand! Whew!

[_Enter Squire, followed by Mrs. Felton and Em’ly_].

SQUIRE (_Pointing with cane_).――There he goes! Look at him; see how pompously he struts; observe the elevation of his nose! [_All look towards window_]. Take care! down he goes! [_All laugh boisterously_].

DOROTHY.――Poor fellow, I wonder if he is hurt!

EM’LY.――His hat is completely demolished.

MRS. FELTON.――Rather a bad fall.

SQUIRE.――Off he starts again. There goes the strut――up goes the nose――the lesson is lost. (_To Mrs. Felton_) Madam, now that we have arranged for the masquerade, banish your sorrows: forget the trials of the day in the pleasures of the evening. Your daughter knows her part well; she will personate Dorothy in her conversation with Dingle, until all unmask.

DOROTHY.――And my voice will convince him that I am his delinquent tenant.

EM’LY.――Dorothy, dear, do you really think Miss Philp will not recognize this dress?

DOROTHY.――She will be too eager to be seen by Morley Dingle, Esquire, to even waste a thought on the toilet of any one save her precious self. [_All listen._]

WEATHERSPOUT (_From without_).――This way, Leslie, this way; I’ve not forgotten the art of climbing rail fences, even if I am seventy-five.

SQUIRE.――My old friend Weatherspout, as I live!

[_Enter Weatherspout_].

WEATHERSPOUT (_Pausing on the threshold_). I――I――beg pardon!

SQUIRE.――Come in, my long-tried friend.

WEATHERSPOUT.――The door was open and it seemed kind o’ natural to walk right in――so Leslie and――(_turning to door_) why, I thought he came in! We have just helped ourselves to a draught of your delicious spring water.

EM’LY (_Goes to door_).――Come in, Leslie.

[_Enter Leslie Raymore._]

LESLIE.――Pardon my intrusion, ladies; I assure you I had no idea you were engaged.

MRS. FELTON.――You are welcome.

DOROTHY.――} No apology is necessary. EM’LY.―― }

WEATHERSPOUT.――Ladies, Mr. Raymore has been in my employment for a number of years; in fact, since his boyhood. I have every confidence in his honor and integrity.

SQUIRE.――We all know Leslie, and every one is acquainted with you, Mr. Weatherspout: and it is exceedingly gratifying to hear of the cordial relations which exist between two such worthy men――but you were about to say――

WEATHERSPOUT.――I was about to remark that I have come here solely for the purpose of attending the masquerade ball to-night.

LESLIE.――Mr. Weatherspout has stated the fact. I showed him the invitation from Squire Clyde, and he gave me permission to accept only on condition that I would allow him to accompany me.

SQUIRE.――Which I take as a high compliment to myself, and shall do all in my power to make you remember the hospitalities of Clyde Hall. [_All make show of conversing._]

DOROTHY (_To Leslie_).――I am so glad you have come.

LESLIE.――I am more than glad; I cannot express my happiness.

DOROTHY.――And papa wrote his consent――were you not surprised?

LESLIE.――No, Dorothy, love; your father is sensible, and judges a man by his personal worth rather than by the weight of his purse.

DOROTHY.――You have told no one?

LESLIE.――Only my employer.

DOROTHY.――You rogue! No wonder he came with you.

SQUIRE.――Yes, yes; that is so, we had better go to the mansion. Mrs. Felton, we will depart. Recollect, Em’ly, until we unmask you are Dorothy Clyde――that is, to Morley Dingle. Good day, ladies. [_All exit except Mrs. Felton and Em’ly._]

MRS. FELTON.――Em’ly, my child, God is good. Something seems to tell me that there are better days in store for us.

EM’LY.――Let us hope, mother; (_takes her hand_) my heart, too, seems lighter.

MRS. FELTON.――We will hope.

[CURTAIN.]

_End of the first act._