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man to die with a night…cap on? I've done with this。 Over
yonder; across the great ocean; is a new land; with new
characters; and perhaps new lives。 The sun shines; and the bells
ring; and it's a place where men live gladly; and the Deacon
himself can walk without terror; and begin again like a new…born
child。 It must be good to see day again and not to fear; it must
be good to be one's self with all men。 Happy like a child; wise
like a man; free like God's angels 。 。 。 should I work these
hands off and eat crusts; there were a life to make me young and
good again。 And it's only over the sea! O man; you have been
blind; and now your eyes are opened。 It was half a life's
nightmare; and now you are awake。 Up; Deacon; up; it's hope
that's at the window! Mary! Mary! Mary!
SCENE X
BRODIE; MARY; OLD BRODIE
(BRODIE has fallen into a chair; with his face upon the table。
Enter MARY; by the side door pushing her father's chair。 She is
supposed to have advanced far enough for stage purposes before
BRODIE is aware of her。 He starts up; and runs to her。)
BRODIE。 Look up; my lass; look up; and be a woman! I 。 。 。 O
kiss me; Mary I give me a kiss for my good news。
MARY。 Good news; Will? Is it changed?
BRODIE。 Changed? Why; the world's a different colour! It was
night; and now it's broad day and I trust myself again。 You must
wait; dear; wait; and I must work and work; and before the week
is out; as sure as God sees me; I'll have made you happy。 O you
may think me broken; hounds; but the Deacon's not the man to be
run down; trust him; he shall turn a corner yet; and leave you
snarling! And you; Poll; you。 I've done nothing for you yet;
but; please God; I'll make your life a life of gold; and wherever
I am; I'll have a part in your happiness; and you'll know it; by
heaven! and bless me。
MARY。 O Willie; look at him; I think he hears you; and is trying
to be glad with us。
BRODIE。 My son … Deacon … better man than I was。
BRODIE。 O for God's sake; hear him!
MARY。 He is quite happy; Will; and so am I 。。。 so am I。
BRODIE。 Hear me; Mary。 This is a big moment in our two lives。
I swear to you by the father here between us that it shall not be
fault of mine if this thing fails; if this ship founders you have
set your hopes in。 I swear it by our father; I swear it by God's
judgments。
MARY。 I want no oaths; Will。
BRODIE。 No; but I do。 And prayers; Mary; prayers。 Pray night
and day upon your knees。 I must move mountains。
OLD BRODIE。 A wise son maketh … maketh …
BRODIE。 A glad father? And does your son; the Deacon; make you
glad? O heaven of heavens; if I were a good man。
ACT…DROP
ACT III。
TABLEAU V。 KING'S EVIDENCE
The Stage represents a public place in Edinburgh。
SCENE I
JEAN; SMITH; AND MOORE
(They loiter in L。; and stand looking about as for somebody not
there。 SMITH is hat in hand to JEAN; MOORE as usual。)
MOORE。 Wot did I tell you? Is he 'ere; or ain't he? Now; then。
Slink by name and Slink by nature; that's wot's the matter with
him。
JEAN。 He'll no be lang; he's regular enough; if that was a'。
MOORE。 I'd regular him; I'd break his back。
SMITH。 Badger; you brute; you hang on to the lessons of your
dancing…master。 None but the genteel deserves the fair; does
they; Duchess?
MOORE。 O rot! Did I insult the blowen? Wot's the matter with
me is Slink Ainslie。
SMITH。 All right; old Crossed…in…love。 Give him forty winks;
and he'll turn up as fresh as clean sawdust and as respectable as
a new Bible。
MOORE。 That's right enough; but I ain't agoing to stand here all
day for him。 I'm for a drop of something short; I am。 You tell
him I showed you that (SHOWING HIS DOUBLED FIST)。 That's wot's
the matter with him。 (HE LURCHES OUT; R。)
SCENE II
SMITH and JEAN; to whom HUNT; and afterwards MOORE
SMITH (CRITICALLY)。 No; Duchess; he has not good manners。
JEAN。 Ay; he's an impident man。
SMITH。 So he is; Jean; and for the matter of that he ain't the
only one。
JEAN。 Geordie; I want nae mair o' your nonsense; mind。
SMITH。 There's our old particular the Deacon; now。 Why is he
ashamed of a lovely woman? That's not my idea of the Young
Chevalier; Jean。 If I had luck; we should be married; and retire
to our estates in the country; shouldn't us? and go to church and
be happy; like the nobility and gentry。
JEAN。 Geordie Smith; div ye mean ye'd mairry me?
SMITH。 Mean it? What else has ever been the 'umble petition of
your honest but well…meaning friend; Roman; and
fellow…countryman? I know the Deacon's your man; and I know he's
a cut above G。 S。; but he won't last; Jean; and I shall。
JEAN。 Ay; I'm muckle ta'en up wi' him; wha could help it?
SMITH。 Well; and my sort don't grow on apple…trees either。
JEAN。 Ye're a fine; cracky; neebourly body; Geordie; if ye wad
just let me be。
SMITH。 I know I ain't a Scotchman born。
JEAN。 I dinna think sae muckle the waur o' ye even for that; if
ye would just let me be。
'HUNT (ENTERING BEHIND; ASIDE)。 Are they thick? Anyhow; it's a
second chance。'
SMITH。 But he won't last; Jean; and when he leaves you; you come
to me。 Is that your taste in pastry? That's the kind of
harticle that I present。
HUNT (SURPRISING THEM AS IN TABLEAU I。)。 Why; you're the very
parties I was looking for!
JEAN。 Mercy me!
SMITH。 Damn it; Jerry; this is unkind。
HUNT。 'Now this is what I call a picter of good fortune。' Ain't
it strange I should have dropped across you comfortable and
promiscuous like this?
JEAN (STOLIDLY)。 I hope ye're middling weel; Mr。 Hunt? (GOING。)
Mr。 Smith!
SMITH。 Mrs。 Watt; ma'am! (GOING。)
HUNT。 Hold hard; George。 Speaking as one lady's man to another;
turn about's fair play。 You've had your confab; and now I'm
going to have mine。 'Not that I've done with you; you stand by
and wait。' Ladies first; George; ladies first; that's the size
of it。 (TO JEAN; ASIDE。) Now; Mrs。 Watt; I take it you ain't a
natural fool?
JEAN。 And thank ye kindly; Mr。 Hunt。
SMITH (INTERFERING)。 Jean 。 。 。 !
HUNT (KEEPING HIM OFF)。 Half a tick; George。 (TO JEAN。) Mrs。
Watt; I've a warrant in my pocket。 One; two; three: will you
peach?
JEAN。 Whaten kind of a word'll that be?
SMITH。 Mum it is; Jean!
HUNT。 WHEN you've done dancing; George! (TO JEAN。) It ain't a
pretty expression; my dear; I own it。 'Will you blow the gaff?'
is perhaps more tenderer。
JEAN。 I think ye've a real strange way o' expressin yoursel'。
HUNT (TO JEAN)。 I can't waste time on you; my girl。 It's now or
never。 Will you turn king's evidence?
JEAN。 I think ye'll have made a mistake; like。
HUNT。 Well; I'm 。。。 ! (SEPARATING THEM。) 'No; not yet; don't
push me。' George's turn now。 (TO GEORGE。) George; I've a
warrant in my pocket。
SMITH。 As per usual; Jerry?
HUNT。 Now I want king's evidence。
SMITH。 Ah! so you came a cropper with HER; Jerry。 Pride had a
fall。
HUNT。 A free pardon and fifty shiners down。
SMITH。 A free pardon; Jerry?
HUNT。 Don't I tell you so?
SMITH。 And fifty down? fifty?
HUNT。