The Profligate 24
[_The man is heard again singing to the mandolin. LESLIE shudders and
tries to go._]
DUNSTAN RENSHAW.
Don’t leave me! You won’t leave me! I can’t live away from you. Have
mercy on me! Have mercy on me! Mercy! [_He kneels to her._] I repent!
Help me to begin a new life! I’m young; I won’t die till I’ve made
amends. I won’t die till I’ve done some good act to make you proud of
me! Oh, give me hope!
LESLIE.
[_As if in a dream._] Deny it!
DUNSTAN RENSHAW.
I’m guilty--you know it! Have mercy! Give me a faint hope! A year hence
you’ll pardon me? Two years--ten? A little hope--only a little hope!
LESLIE.
Deny it.
DUNSTAN RENSHAW.
I can’t deny it!
LESLIE.
Go!
[_After a moment he goes quietly away, then she falls to the ground
in a swoon. The voice of the singer rises in the distance._]
END OF THE THIRD ACT.
THE FOURTH ACT.
THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LIFE.
_The scene is HUGH MURRAY’S private sitting-room in an old-fashioned
Holborn hotel, comfortably and solidly furnished, but with an
antiquated look about the place. It is evening, the lamps are
lighted and the fire is burning. HUGH is playing a plaintive melody
upon the piano, and watching LESLIE, who sits with a listless air._
LESLIE.
Mr. Murray.
HUGH MURRAY.
Yes?
LESLIE.
Wilfrid is very late.
HUGH MURRAY.
He will be back soon.
LESLIE.
With the worn, hopeless look upon his face which makes my heart ache
so. Do you guess why the poor boy is out and about from morning till
night?
HUGH MURRAY.
Do I guess?
LESLIE.
Ah, you _do_ guess. You know that my brother is searching for Janet
Preece.
HUGH MURRAY.
Something of the kind has crossed my mind. Why does he look for her
here?
LESLIE.
He ascertained that she left Florence before we hurried out of that
dreadful city; but she has not returned to her home in the country, and
so he prays that the whirlpool has drawn her to London again and that
he may find her.
HUGH MURRAY.
Does he confide in you?
LESLIE.
No, poor fellow--but I know, I know, I know. Oh, it’s horrible that he
can’t forget her--horrible!
HUGH MURRAY.
Hush! you must try not to think.
LESLIE.
I do try--I do try. How long have my brother and I been here? I can’t
reckon.
HUGH MURRAY.
You left Florence ten days ago; you’ve been sharing an old bachelor’s
solitude almost a week.
LESLIE.
Dear friend, your solitude must be far better than such dismal company.
HUGH MURRAY.
Better! No.
LESLIE.
Ah, yes. I wanted Wilfrid to be with me when I told you--but, I leave
you early to-morrow.
HUGH MURRAY.
To-morrow!
LESLIE.
Yes. I’ve written to my old schoolmistress at Helmstead begging her to
take me again--not to learn; I’ve nothing more to learn! But I want to
sit amongst the girls again, to walk with them, and to run down to the
brook with my hands in theirs as I did--only six weeks ago. Only six
weeks ago.
HUGH MURRAY.
And Wilfrid?
LESLIE.
Wilfrid has promised to visit me very often, as he used to. So
everything will be as it was--just as it was.
HUGH MURRAY.
I knew you could not remain in this dreary hotel, but still--why so
suddenly?
LESLIE.
Because I’ve been thinking that if _he_ should try to see me--you know
whom I mean?
HUGH MURRAY.
Yes.
LESLIE.
If he should try to see me again it is to you he would first come to
ascertain my whereabouts.
HUGH MURRAY.
And surely you would grant him an interview?
LESLIE.
Not yet! I’m not cruel--I used not to be cruel--only I’m not ready to
meet him yet.
HUGH MURRAY.
When will you be prepared to meet him?
LESLIE.
How can I tell? I am like a dead woman dreaming after death. What good
would it do him to look upon a soulless woman!
HUGH MURRAY.
Is there no hope left for him?
LESLIE.
Yes, a miracle--when there is hope for me.
[_WILFRID enters, looking very weary and careworn._]
LESLIE.
Wilfrid dear.
WILFRID BRUDENELL.
Well, Les. [_He kisses her listlessly._]
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