Collected Works (Vol. III)

WHY JESUS WEPT 4! SIR PERCY. Come, rich, come overrolling ecstasy ! I am like to die with joy of everything. ANGELA. Die, then, and kiss me dead ! Sirk PERCY. Idie! I die! ANGELA. Thy flower-life is shed Into eternity, A waveless lake. SiR PERCY. Sleep, sleep ! [He sleeps. ANGELA. I am awake— And being awake I weary somewhat of these jejune platitudes, these rampant ulula- tions of preposterous puberty. These are the very eructations of gingerbread ; they are the flatulence of calf-sickness. I thought I had taught the boy more sense. He weakens, and I weary. As you will, my Lady Glen- strae! Hortense! (HORTENSE enters with a glass of brandy.) Brandy! HORTENSE. Iiere, milady. ANGELA. Not enough, you she-devil. More! More! [Exit. ANGELA falls back ¢o sleep. SCENE XI. Paris. ANGELA, LORD and LADY GLEN- STRAE, SIR PERCY DE PERCIVALE. ANGELA. You will not believe what I tell you? These friends will tell you what I mean, and if I mean it! You had your dismissal this morning. Never dare to address me again ! SIR PERcy. What! I have loved you, and you me— No?—it cannot be so! and now—I am ill— you cast me away! (7Zurns his face away.) Forgive me, I am very weak. ANGELA (goes to him and stands over him). You shall have truth, you blind little fool. I hate you. From the hour you kissed that village drab, I hated you. I wanted your youth, your strength, your life, your name on my list, your scalp at my girdle. Enough ! Do you understand? These friends will teach you. May I never see your pale pasty face again ! [She spits at him and goes. Sir Percy (Aadf rises and falls back). Oh! oh! It is impossible. Lord Mar- quis, you are a good man. Tell me, it isa hideous dream. GLENSTRAE. No dream, my boy. You are the hundredth she has treated after this fashion. But cheer up now. There! There! Women are all the same. Eh, Maud? LADY GI.ENSTRAE. Who calls? What do you want? Leave me alone ! GLENSTRAE, Ah, nothing! Nothing, my dear. LADY GLENSTRAE. Pull down the blinds. GLENSTRAE. Certainly, certainly, my dear, I will ring. [Aings.