my boy, or she wouldn't be here. Take her -and me for her sake. Ger. What! who? Constance !-What does it all mean?-It must be-can it bemy father? William-It is William!William my father!-O father! father! (throwing his arms about him) it was you all the time then! Col. G. My boy! my boy! There!—take Constance, and let me go. I did want to do something for you - but There! I'm too much ashamed to look at you in my own person. Ger. (kneeling). Father! father! don't talk like that! O father! my father! Col. G. (raising him). My boy! my boy! I wanted to do something for you—tried hard -and was foiled. I doubly deserved it. I doubted as well as neglected you. But God is good. He has shamed me, and saved you. Ger. By your hand, father. Col. G. No-by his own. It would all have come right without me. I was un But I was worthy of the honour, my boy. allowed to try; and for that I am grateful.— Arthur, I come to you empty-handed beggar for your love. a Ger. How dare you say that, father?— Empty-handed-bringing me her and yourself-all I ever longed for!-my father and my Psyche! Father, thank you. The poor word must do its best. I thank you with my very soul. How shall I bear my happiness! -Constance, it was my father all the time! Did you know it? Serving me like a slave! -humouring all my whims !-watching me night and day!—and then bringing me Con. Your own little girl, Arthur. why did you not tell me? Ger. Tell you what, darling? But Con. That-that-that you Oh! you know what, Arthur! Ger. How could I, my child, with that! -Shall I tell you now? Con. No, no! I am too happy to listen -even to you, Arthur! But he should never haveI did find him out at last. If I had but known you did not like him! (hiding her face.) Ger. (embracing his father) Father! father! I cannot hold my happiness! And it is all your doing! Col. G. No, I tell you, my boy! I was but a straw on the tide of things. I will serve you yet though. I will be father yet. your Bill (aside). Fathers ain't all bad coves! Here's two on 'em-good sort of old Jacobs -both on 'em. Shouldn't mind much if I had a father o' my own arter all! GERVAISE turns to CONSTANCE-then glances at the Psyche. COL. GERVAISE removes the sheet. GERVAISE leads CONSTANCE to the chair on the dais-turns from her to the Psyche, and begins to work on the clay, glancing from the one to the other -the next moment leaves the Psyche, and seats himself on the dais at CONSTANCE'S feet, looking up in her face. COL. GERVAISE stands regarding them fixedly. Slow distant music. BILL is stealing away. Curtain falls. THE END. LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, J. A Catalogue of American and Foreign Books Published or Crown Buildings, 188, Fleet Street, London, A Selection from the List of Books PUBLISHED BY SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE, & RIVINGTON. ALPHABETICAL LIST. A CLASSIFIED Educational Catalogue of Works pub lished in Great Britain. Demy 8vo, cloth extra. Second Edition, revised and corrected, 5s. About Some Fellows. By an ETON BOY, Author of "A Day of my Life." Cloth limp, square 16mo, 2s. 6d. Adventures of a Young Naturalist. By LUCIEN BIART, with 117 beautiful Illustrations on Wood. Edited and adapted by PARKER GILLMORE. Post 8vo, cloth extra, gilt edges, New Edition, 7s. 6d. Afghan Knife (The). A Novel. By ROBERT ARMITAGE STERNDALE, Author of "Seonee." Small post 8vo, cloth extra, 6s, Alcott (Louisa M.) Jimmy's Cruise in the " Pinafore." With 9 Illustrations. Second Edition. Small post 8vo, cloth gilt, 35. 6d. Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag. Square 16mo, 2s. 6d. (Rose Library, Is.) Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo's Boys. Small post 8vo, cloth, gilt edges, 3s. 6d. (Rose Library, Double vol. 2s.) Little Women. I vol., cloth, gilt edges, 3s. 6d. (Rose Library, 2 vols., Is. each.) Old-Fashioned Girl. Best Edition, small post 8vo, cloth extra, gilt edges, 3s. 6d. (Rose Library, 2s.) Work and Beginning Again. A Story of Experience. (Rose Library, 2 vols., Is. each.) Shawl Straps. Small post 8vo, cloth extra, gilt, 3s. 6d. Eight Cousins; or, the Aunt Hill. Small post 8vo, with Illustrations, 3s. 6d. 3s. 6d. The Rose in Bloom. Small post 8vo, cloth extra, Under the Lilacs. Small post 8vo, cloth extra, 5s. |