Stella. But Sir Francis? Muriel? Do they know
this?

Frank. No, they must never know it never know it,
I say, it would be worse than ruin if they did.

Stella. And you you, my cousin Frank you are
going to marry Muriel.

Frank (in low tone). I am, I must if I don't die
first.

Stella (with contempt). You, a man of honour. Oh,
Frank, Frank.

Frank. Not reproaches, Stella. I am utterly crushed.
This marriage, or my father's sin and shame revealed to
the world. Hush ! (whispers) trusts betrayed fraud,
felony a breath of suspicion cast on the bank, and all is
destroyed. I was a brave man once. I could have met
shame face to face with defiance, but all manhood has
left me now.

Stella (with sympathy). Frank, poor Frank dear
cousin Frank

Frank. That secret that awful secret swear to me
that secret. I have saved you, thank God for that.

Stella. I do swear, I will never betray it. Bless you,
Frank, for this confidence. (Looks round) Here comes
Talbot for my answer, and Muriel. Oh, Heaven ! give
me strength give me strength !

(Muriel enters, followed by Talbot.)

Muriel (beckoning). Frank. Here Frank.

Frank (going to Muriel). Yes, dearest.

Muriel. Here, come away leave them, don't you see
he has made her an offer. Has she told you ?

Frank. Yes.

Muriel. Of course she will accept him. Won't it be
sweet, Frank dear? Poor Talbot, he trembles like an



196 LAND AND LO VE :



aspen we'll give them time to settle it, and then we'll
come back just a short turn in the lime avenue. Oh,
Frank, I am so happy (Muriel leads off Frank).

Talbot (approaches Stella], Stella Miss Grierson,
have I your uncle's consent ?

Stella. I have not seen my uncle, Captain Cheverley.
I have been thinking of what you said.

Talbot Yes

Stella. Of the offer you did me the honour to
make

Talbot. Honour ! don't speak in that cold way.

Stella. The honour to make. I deeply appreciate
the feeling you have the preference you have expressed
for me but

Talbot. But you love me. Oh, Stella, you love me !

Stella. No, Captain Cheverley, not love. I esteem
you, very much, as a friend, you know but not love
not love. I can never love you (bursts into tears}.
Never ! Never !

Talbot. But, Stella, why not ? Why, as far as manner
went, you have accepted me, you have indeed.

Stella. You must not judge from manner. I am very
sorry if my manner has deceived you.

Talbot. I am not a bad fellow, Frank will tell you
that. You would make me a better man I would give you
the devotion of a life. I'm not a fellow to talk much, I
can't use fine words

Stella. Let this cease, please ; I am very sorry to have
given you pain.

Talbot. But why, why? Give me a reason, for
mercy's sake. Do you love another ?

Stella (starts). Another? (After a pause] I do love
another.

Talbot. This man ? Does he love you ?

Stella. Yes, yes, I cannot tell you any more. Indeed,



A STORY OF ENGLISH LIFE. 197

I cannot. I must leave you. Let us be friends, friends,
you know always friends (she hurries off crying).
(Frank and Muriel enter?}

Muriel (going up to Talbot). Talbot, dear, where's
Stella?

Talbot. Gone ! Refused !

Muriel. Impossible !

Talbot. Eefused, I say.

Muriel (to Frank}. Talbot says Stella has refused
him.

Frank (with assumed surprise). Refused him !

Muriel (to Talbot}. You've muddled it somehow
that's the reason !

Talbot. Some other man, she says.

Muriel (to Frank) . Frank, what other man ?

Frank. I don't know !

Muriel. It's all nonsense about some other man. I
am sure Stella really loves Talbot. I shall talk to her,
Frank will talk to her won't you, Frank? (To Talbot]
Leave us don't run away though where we can get
hold of you.

Talbot. I have some pride, Muriel.

Muriel. Pride ? fiddlesticks ! Be off with your pride,
and come back when I call you.

Talbot (clasping Muriel's hand). Set it right, Muriel,
I do love her. I'm a fool to talk about pride I do love
her. (Exit.}

Muriel. Who can this man be ?

Frank. Really, Muriel !

Muriel. It must be known to some of the family.
(Stella passes at back of stage ', trying to avoid observation.)
There she is, trying to escape ; but she shan't. (Muriel
runs up to Stella.) Caught, Stella, caught !

Stella. Muriel, dear, let me go. I have refused your
brother ; I know you won't forgive me.



198 LAND AND LO VE :

Muriel. I shall forgive >ou as soon as you accept
him. Talbot says you love some one else ; I tell you
there is no better man living than Talbot ; is there,
Frank?

Frank. Certainly not.

Muriel. The best and dearest boy in the world, a
little brusque on the surface, but as gentle and tender
as a woman. I'm his sister, I mustn't say all I feel and
know ; you are his friend, Frank, you can speak ; you
tell Stella what a dear, good fellow my brother is. Speak,
Frank, speak.

Frank. Yes, Stella, Captain Cheverley is as good a
fellow as ever breathed.

Muriel. Tell her he would make a good, true, noble
husband. Tell her, Frank

Frank. Indeed, Stella, he is all that Muriel says
all.

Muriel. Say she ought to marry him for her own
happiness. Speak out ; you're not speaking from the
heart, I'm sure you're not.

Frank. You are refusing a good, true man, Stella;
I assure you, you would be very happy if you married
Talbot. (Aside.) Oh my God !

Stella. Frank, Frank, I can bear this no longer ; not
from your lips your lips.

Muriel. His lips ! not from his lips ? (A pause.) Then
Frank is the man you love ?

Stella. No, Muriel ; on my honour, no.

Frank. Muriel

Muriel. Your words of hesitation convict you. I
have quick eyes, quick apprehension. My father, Tal-
bot ; you were induced by them to make me an offer.

Frank. Are you mad, Muriel ?

Muriel. No, very sane. You really loved your
cousin ; she loved you ; and now that you are about to



A STORY OF ENGLISH LIFE. 199

lose her, the force of your love, 'of her love, can be
restrained no longer.

Stella (with fervour]. Before Heaven, I swear to you
that I do not love my cousin, beyond the love I rightly
bear him.

Muriel. But, Frank ; you and he were together before
you refused Talbot ; you had told Frank of the offer,
and then you said " no."

Stella. Frank, speak out; for Heaven's sake speak
out ! Clear me, clear yourself, from this awful accusa-
tion.

Frank. Muriel, can you think ? Can you ? (Breaks
down.)

(Talbot enters.)

Muriel (turns from Frank and Stella, and goes up to
Talbot.} Yes, Talbot, it is quite true; Stella does love
another man.

Talbot (to Muriel}. Do you know his name ?

Muriel. No, I cannot tell you his name; I don't
know his name (clutches Talbot' s arm} I don't know his
name ! (They turn away}

Stella (to Frank). Oh, the shame this fearful charge
of disloyalty, treachery ; and then Talbot's contempt ; the
contempt and scorn of the man I love !

Frank. Poor Stella ! poor Stella ! Heaven help her.
Muriel ! Heaven help us all ! (They turn away}
(Enter Lady Marian, Sir Francis, and Grierson, who
shows a jewel-case}

Lady M. (to Sir Francis}. Sweet, Sir Francis, per-
fectly sweet. These millionaires, like our good host,
know how to make a splendid use of their wealth.

Sir Francis. Too handsome, by half; too handsome,
I say.

Grierson. Procured in a hurry country jeweller.
Not what I intended, not what I mean ; I must go to



200 LAND AND LO VE :

London for that. (Presents case to Muriel,} My dear
Muriel, do me the favour to accept this small gift at my
hands.

Sir Francis. Small, egad !

Grierson. A mere bagatelle, Sir Francis, a mere
bagatelle !

CURTAIN.



ACT III.

NEXT DAY WITH MEN AND WOMEN'S HEARTS.

Morning room in Grier son's house.

Lady M. and Ireton discovered ; Lady M. working South-
Kensington needlework. Ireton with Ids hat on his
knees.

Lady M. This is most unexpected, Mr. Ireton.

Ireton. It is, my lady. If any man had told me, I
should have laughed in his face.

Lady M. Many people will laugh in your face, M r .
Ireton. Only yesterday morning we were complete
strangers.

Ireton. We were.

Lady M. And to-day, you, Mr. Ireton, of Molton
Mills

Ireton. Offer you my hand and fortune.

Lady M. You are not a young and impulsive man ;
how do you account for this sudden outburst of feeling ?

Ireton. Political economy !

Lady M. Political economy and love !

Ireton. Political economy is the central feeling of
my heart ; touch that, and you touch every chord of my
being. The poetry of my life is the practical, the con-
crete. You are practical



A STORY OF ENGLISH LIFE. 201

Lady M. And concrete.

Ire ton. I found you as a lamb straying from the true
fold of economic doctrine ; I began to teach you the
truth. You were very grateful ; your gratitude won my
heart.

Lady M. But your friends would never forgive you
your glorious race after freedom.

Ireton. I'm tired of running.

Lady M. You have been overrunning, perhaps. No,
no, Mr. Ireton, this offer is impossible.

Ireton. Queen of Molton Mills !

Lady M. Queen of a republic ?

Ireton. That's not a republic ; that's my kingdom.

Lady M. My family would never consent.

Ireton. Houses here, there, everywhere carriages,
dresses, diamonds ; can family pride give you all that ?
Your nephew working for his own bread

Lady M. Poor Felix !

Ireton. He shall work no longer. My son the
Honourable Felix De Beauvoir, my adopted son.

Lady M. Felix has a special destiny I know he has
land agency.

Ireton. He shall be my agent. I'll re-open negocia-
tion with Sir Francis foxes, I'll give in to foxes ; real
hedges ; no wire fences ; game, lots of game. The
burning principles of a life

Lady M. Burnt out for my sake ! But no, impossible.
(Enter Servant.)

Servant (to Ireton). If you please, sir, Mr. Grierson
is ready to see you in his study. (Exit Servant.)

Ireton. I have brought the ultimatum from the Liberal
hundred for Grierson's acceptance. But that land ; I'll
buy the land. Remember, my lady, a latent Com-
munist, but saved by me by political economy and by
me ! (Exit. )



202 LAND AND I OVE :

Lady M. What a wonderful method of salvation I
Seriously, I am the daughter of a great family; but
fathers die, and brothers, and nephews reign in their
stead, and the daughter becomes a stranger in her
fathers house. Queen of Molton Mills wealth, after
years of penury and dependence ; and poor Felix saved
from a life of toil a real gentleman at last ! But no, I
must be firm. From the fourteenth century to the pre-
sent hour, we have never made a mesalliance ; is it for
me to be false to the family tradition ? No ; for ever,
no !

(Enter Felix^ with two MSS. under his arm, and a
letter in his hand.)

Felix. It's all up, by Jove ! This letter Rianzares
and Company, Limited, have dismissed me from their
agency.

Lady M. Felix, dear, impossible !

Felix. Too true. I'm driven to the pen at last.

Lady M. The what ?

Felix. The pen, by Jove ! (Lays two MSS. before
Lady Marian.}

Lady M. And this scrawl ?

Felix. A novel !

Lady M. And this ? Good heavens !

Felix. A play !

Lady M. And you have positively written these
things ?

Felix. I have.

Lady M. From the fourteenth century has it come
to this ?

Felix. But literary men, don't you know. Every-
where dining out, by Jove !

Lady M. I've seen them in our set, but not of it.
Oh, Felix, you will dine out ; when you open your mouth,
people will laugh at your humour, and your wit, and your



A STORY OF ENGLISH LIFE. 203

brilliant repartees : and I shall sit by, and see it, hear it,
with an aching heart.

Felix. But intellect. Egad !

Lady M. At one time we kept domestic fools, and
laughed when we chose ; but in our family we have never
demeaned ourselves by trying to amuse other people
by saying clever things, or witty things, or brilliant things
never !

Felix. If I can't be an author, what's left ?

Lady M. Your aunt's devotion. I can save you, but
I can make you rich, save you from the melancholy
necessity of earning your own bread, from ignoble labour
but yes, Felix, with one word one word

Felix. The deuce !

Lady M. Mr. Ireton has made me an offer.

Felix. By Jove ! I'll kick him. An offer, egad !
Confound his impudence !

Lady M. An offer. Molton Mills ; wealth, wealth !

Felix. But blood ! Oh, aunt, I will be an author, by
Jove ! They shall laugh at my wit, at my humour, at
my brilliant repartees ; feed me, if they will better a
bad dinner than a mesalliance. You shall not make this
sacrifice for my sake.

Lady M. Dear, good, generous Felix.

Felix. Yes, aunt, an author plays, dramas, farces,
burlesques !

Lady M. No, Felix, a sacrifice must be made. I
will make it, if it must be. Mr. Ireton's hand and for-
tune ! But an author, no ! {Ireton enters, Lady M.
hurries towards him.) Oh, Mr. Ireton, my nephew; he
desires to be an author. Save him novels, plays !

Ireton. Good heavens ! Be serious, young man. A
false step on the threshold of life : works of fiction, which
lead to penury; works of fact, which lead to wealth.
Look at me. Suppose I had been an author ; suppose



204 LAND AND LOVE:

I had spent my youth in trifling with works of the imagi-
nation, poetry, fiction ; do you suppose I should be what
I am now? Molton Mills, rich, honoured, respected,
patron of the arts. Not a single ounce of imagination
in my whole body, not a single idea in my head to divert
me from the real, practical work of life own business,
own interests, own town, own parish, own vestry. A
banker's book, young man, the poetry of a big balance is
the only poetry that pays. (To Lady M.) Grierson will
push matters forward with Sir Francis ; and then your
nephew

Lady M. You are too kind, Mr. Ireton ; too kind.
Ireton. But you, my lady. That one word.
Lady M. Let me think.

Ireion. Let me talk Molton Mills, Belgravia. Let
me talk.

Lady M. It would be ungracious not to listen.
Ireton (to Lady M.) Some quiet spot where we shall
be undisturbed figures, material interests, balances,
calculations. Oh, joy !

Lady M. Some shady grove, Mr. Ireton, if you will.
Ireton. Bliss ! Floating capital ; deposits ; solid in-
vestments; real happiness. (They go out.}

Felix. By Jove ! (Lights cigarette^] If it must be,
it must be. I'm better fitted for a man of fashion than
anything else ; come cheaper in the end, just a hand-
some allowance. But no trade risks; no broken banks,
except at Monte Carlo. (Takes up MSS.} Literature,
egad ! A gentleman at large ! a gentleman at large !
(Exit.}

(Stella and Frank enter in conversation.}
Frank. You see, they put off the inspection, so I
caught the first train. Have you seen Muriel ?

Stella. Not since yesterday. Not from the time she
left with Talbot.



A STORY OF ENGLISH LIFE. 205

Frank. Any letter ?

Stella. No.

Frank. Poor girl. This is too terrible. What an
awful night I've passed. And you, Stella, poor cousin !
Poor Talbot !

Stella. Thank heaven, you saved me from accepting
his offer. I am not entangled in the fearful net which
binds you. Oh, Frank, I do feel for you in this terrible
hour of doubt and anguish.

Frank. I'm not a coward, at least, men have never
called me so ; but now, with this horrible fatality, forced
on relentlessly to shame, to deceive her, to marry her
the veriest craven has more bravery than I possess. (He
looks at her] And you so calm ; a woman, and so calm
and brave !

Stella. We can suffer pain better than men, and,
being weaker than men, perhaps we are more ready to
seek that other strength. I can't guide you through this
entanglement. Only be patient, brave, and faithful, and
you will be guided ; be sure of that.

Frank. Thank you, Stella ; thank you for those
words. (Pause.) That ten thousand pounds, Muriel's
fortune, weighs fearfully on my mind. I tried to pre-
vent my father from accepting it ; but he is forced to
play out this devilish game to the end.

Stella. Can't you induce him to return the
money ?

Frank. All in vain, he catches at every straw to stave
off the fatal day. He says there may be a turn in time ;
foreign speculation it seems, some syndicate in Paris ; he
won't say more.

Stella (with vehemence). He must, he shall. Sir
Francis will lose it. Oh, Frank ! and we stand here with
full knowledge of this shameful wrong. When Talbot finds
that I knew it, that I did nothing I can't endure the



2o6 LAND AND LOVE:

thought of that If your father won't listen to you, he
shall listen to me.

Frank. As well talk to granite. I tell you, I have
talked, begged, prayed, threatened hard bitter words,
Heaven help me but all in vain, he will not return that
money.

Stella. What's to be done ? Something must be
done ! Something shall be done ! I will do anything
endure anything.

Frank. Anything? To the bitter end? Think
before you speak.

Stella. Anything, so that that money be returned.

Frank. It shall be returned.

Stella. Forthwith?

Frank. Forthwith !

Stella. But if your father ?

Frank. My father will be compelled to pay it to save
his credit.

Stella. What do you mean ?

Frank. I shall break off my engagement !

Stella. But the fearful truth will be revealed. Your
father

Frank. No, not that reason. Another reason.

Stella. What reason ?

Frank. The reason of a falsehood. I shall accept
that poor girl's hasty imputation. I shall admit that I do
love you.

Stella. Frank ! for Heaven's sake !

Frank. It will break off the match. Reason enough
for that.

Stella. But treachery, disloyalty, shame

Frank. I shall endure all that.

Stella. But for me she has clung to me, worshipped
me, if ever a girl was worshipped what can I say ?

Frank. Be silent.



A STORY OF ENGLISH LIFE. 207

Stella. What will he think ? What will Talbot think
of me, of my disgrace to womanhood ? Have mercy,
Frank, have mercy. Not this fearful way.

Frank. Tell me some other way.

Stella. It will kill Muriel.

Frank. Sooner or later the blow must come.

Stella. But, Talbot, her brother ! What will Talbot do?

Frank. I will tell you what I should do if a man
acted towards you as I am going to act towards her. I
should horsewhip him !

Stella. Horsewhip him ?

Frank. Horsewhip that man !

Stella. A soldier and bear this shame !

Frank. Yes, when that blow is struck, my father will
be forced, for his credit's sake, to fling back that money
to Sir Francis. Could he in face of the world hold that
bank account after his own son has been so dishonoured ?
The money will be saved, but I shall not be the betrayer
of my father's crime.

Stella. But you ! The scorn of the world, ?our friends,
comrades. The dishonour of the future.

Frank. But my honour, Stella. True to Muriel not
my life, I'm not asked to give that ; but my honour, for
her sake.

Stella. But she will never know.

Frank. But I shall know. Enough for me to know
that in the hour of doubt and temptation I was true to
her ; that henceforth in my own conscience no thought
of her will be dim with shame.

Stella. Frank, dear Frank, come what may, I shall
never be ashamed of bearing the name we bear. And I
may love him too, as you love her.

(Servant enters and announces " Miss Cheverley."
Frank and Stella break away from one another. Frank
sinks into a chair ', Stella continues standing. Muriel enters ,



208 LAND AND LOVE :

in riding-habit, she advances timidly towards Frank, she
lays her riding-whip on table with mechanical action.
Servant goes out. )

Mm iel (in low tone). Frank ! (he makes no response,
in trepidation and anguish she turns towards Stella]
Stella ! (she clings to Stella, in low tone) Forgive me, Stella,
those wicked cruel words of yesterday.

Stella. With all my heart, Muriel. (Aside] Poor
Muriel, alas, alas !

Muriel. Bless you. But Frank. Stella, take me to
him. Ask him to forgive me, Stella, dear ; make it right
between us. Help me, help me !

Stella (in painful tones], Frank, Muriel is here.

Muriel (flying to Frank]. Your Muriel, who loves
you so dearly that the thought of losing you, the thought
of your not loving her, drove her half mad with wicked,
foolish jealousy ; your Muriel, who begs, and prays, and
kneels for love and forgiveness ! (kneels at his side].

Frank (aside). To cast her from me now. Oh,
Heaven ! give me strength strength.

Muriel Oh, Frank, dear for support in her weak-
ness, for the mercy of a wiser head than hers, for the love
of a true heart.

Frank (in tones of agony). Muriel, I am forced to
speak hard, cruel words. I scarcely know how to say
what I must say ; but the fact is I say, the fact is, I am
obliged to admit that I was induced induced to make
you an offer. (Muriel starts to her feet.)

Muriel. Induced !

Frank. Induced, you said so yesterday.

Muriel. I said so, but I never thought so. Heaven
help me ! I never thought so.

Frank. Well, I was induced, in a thoughtless
moment

Muriel. A thoughtless moment !



A STORY OF ENGLISH LIFE. 209

Frank. Painful as it is, I cannot any longer with-
hold the truth. Your suspicions were well founded. I
do love my cousin Stella.

Muriel. Love Stella ! You say, you love Stella.
Again, again, I can't believe it.

Frank. I love Stella !

Muriel. Merciful Heaven ! But Stella (turns to
Stella), Stella, tell me this isn't true- tell me. Oh, this
is some cruel punishment for my wickedness yesterday ;
but I can't bear it indeed, I can't. Stella, spare me,
spare me ! Mercy, mercy ! One word, one word ! (she
clings for a few moments to Stella, but meeting with no
response, she leaves Stella and stands half dazed.) And
yesterday I clung to her, and she gave me love and com-
fort, and it was a lie. Oh, miserable, dreary world !
Henceforth, no light of faith, no truth, no confidence ;
only lies. My dream of love, and honour, and chivalry,
a lie ; only meanness, and treachery, and deceit left
behind. I am not angry. I am too sad to be angry, too
sorrowful in the thought that the fairest promise which
ever filled a girl's heart has ended in falsehood and
shame ; too sorrowful to think that such things can be in
God's world. Farewell. (She turns to leave the room ;
Talbot meets her at the threshold, she flies into his arms!)
Talbot, dear Talbot ! (she bursts into hysterical tears)
Take me away, Talbot take me away.

Talbot. Take you away. What do you mean,
Muriel ?

Muriel. Take me away away from this house.

Talbot. From Frank, your affianced husband ?

Muriel. From this house.

Talbot. From him ? (To Frank) Frank, what does
this mean ?

Muriel (eagerly). I will tell you presently everything,
but not now not now. When we get home home

14



210 LAND AND LOVE:

(He leaves her, and approaches Frank. Muriel struggles
to sofa.)

Talbot. Frank, once more, what does this mean?
(Silence] Can't you speak ?

Frank (in tremulous voice]. It means that our engage-
ment is broken.

Talbot. Man alive ! what do you say ?

Frank. Broken !

Talbot. Why, why ? The reason ! the reason ! Out
with it, man ! By Heaven ! my patience

Frank. I love another.

Talbot. Scoundrel ! Mean, pitiful scoundrel ! Your
cousin ?

Frank. My cousin.

Talbot. Oh, Frank, Frank, no, no, impossible. And
I loved you next to kith and kin. Better ! better ! And
I thought my sister too good for any other man ; but I
was proud for her to marry you ; and now what do you
say ? you say you love your cousin ?

Frank. My cousin.

Talbot. Oh, Heaven ! and I loved this girl ; and
she Oh, Miss Grierson, is this a woman's work, to
steal away a man's heart ? But he how awfully have I
been deceived. They were right : not a gentleman by
birth, they said, varnish it as you may. Pitiful, mean,
trade habits at the core. But I said no, a gentleman by
nature, and my father said so too, and we were miserably
wrong.

Stella (with sudden impulse]. No, Captain Cheverley,
it is false false, I say. Frank is a gentleman a true
gentleman.

Frank (in tone of deprecation]. Stella !

Talbot. And you, madam, honourable enough con-
duct for you, I doubt not ; worthy of your hand and
heart.



A STORY OF ENGLISH LIFE. 211

Frank. Leave her alone ; no words with her ; the
fault is mine.

Muriel (comes up to Talbot). Come away, Talbot,
come away ; it will kill me if you stay ; indeed, you have
no right to interfere.

Talbot. No right !

Muriel. This is my affair, not yours.

Talbot. Our affair, Muriel our honour.

Muriel. Talbot, if you love me

Talbot. Well, well, we'll go. Oh, by Heavens, Grier-
son, this sister of mine, and she loved you so deeply
loved you, you mean, lying dog ! And this cousin, who
has won your false heart, let her take you with shame
upon your face shame before the world, hounded from
your regiment, driven from society. (Goes suddenly back
to table. In a frenzy of rage seizes Muriel's riding-whip