The Silver Shield Part 23

ALMA. I will prove it. You think I am your enemy, but I'm your best friend. I'll show you, you have done me an injustice, and for my revenge--(_rises_)--I'll give you back your husband, and forgive you.

LUCY. (_rises_) Ned wrote a letter to you.

ALMA. (_at table_) I never received it.

LUCY. Never received it! When I heard you reading it!

ALMA. You heard me!

LUCY. The very words are ringing in my ears, and always will be! "My own dearest Alma!"

ALMA. (_reading from part_) "At last I have a moment to myself----"

LUCY. You said you never received it. You have it there?

ALMA. I have no letter here.

LUCY. What are you reading, then?

ALMA. My part in the new piece.

LUCY. Those were Ned's very words!

ALMA. (_quietly_) It is your husband's play. (_pause_)

LUCY. That letter's in the play? (_s.n.a.t.c.hes part from ALMA_) But "Alma"!

ALMA. Was the heroine. (_LUCY drops the part; stands for a moment as if dazed; then drops her head and falls in ALMA'S arms_)

_Re-enter SUSAN, L.C._

SUSAN. Another visitor!

ALMA. (_sharply_) I can see n.o.body!

SUSAN. But he's coming up.

LUCY. (_trying to walk_) Let me go first! I can't bear to see anyone.

ALMA. Put Mrs. Chetwynd in my room. When you feel stronger, I will talk to you.

SUSAN. (_leading LUCY off_) I'm very sorry!

ALMA. Take another warning! (_picks up puff. Exeunt SUSAN and LUCY, R.C._) Was ever anything so inopportune! (_puffing her face vigorously. Enter SIR HUMPHREY, L.C._) Sir Humphrey! Is it you?

(_crosses to SIR HUMPHREY; comes down with him_) How kind of you to come and see me!

SIR H. I have come to ask you to see someone else, Mrs. Blake.

ALMA. Anyone you like, of course.

SIR H. Even your husband?

ALMA. Tom! (_leans on chair_)

SIR H. I've brought him with me. Once I said I might be of service to you; and I can now, if you will see him.

ALMA. (_leaving chair_) What's the use? When last he saw me he would scarcely speak to me.

SIR H. But I have seen him very often since. I have been thinking a great deal of what you told me, and of what he has told me recently, and I should like to speak to both of you together.

ALMA. As you please.

_Re-enter SUSAN, R.C._

SIR H. Ask Mr. Potter to come here. (_to SUSAN_)

SUSAN. Yes, sir. (_Exit, L.C._)

SIR H. One favour more. If you have kept the portion of the letter you last wrote to him, will you entrust me with it?

ALMA. I will bring it you.

SIR H. I don't think you'll regret the confidence. (_puts hat and gloves down. Exit ALMA, R.C._) How shall I put it to them? (_pacing up and down, his eyes fall on the picture, R._) What's that? His picture!

Ah! the very thing! (_Enter TOM, L.C._) Come in, your wife will see you.

TOM. Very well. But I don't know what purpose it will serve. It's only my respect for you that brings me.

SIR H. Tom, do you recognise that picture?

TOM. (_surprised_) It's my stupid knights!

SIR H. Ned gave it Mrs. Blake. You know the story?

TOM. Didn't I tell it _you?_

SIR H. Yet, you've not learnt its lesson. After you left my house so suddenly, upon your recognition of your wife, I wouldn't meet you. I was like those knights. I didn't see what purpose it would serve. But I was wrong.

TOM. As _I_ am now. You're right. Thank you for bringing me, whatever comes of it.

SIR H. You have your portion of that letter?

TOM. (_putting hat down on sofa_) Here it is. (_gives it to SIR HUMPHREY. Re-enter ALMA, R.C. SIR HUMPHREY goes to meet her, and takes from her the paper in her hand--then leads her near to TOM, and takes his place between them, glancing meanwhile over the note_)

SIR H. Mrs. Blake, I was just reminding Mr. Potter of an old fable you may perhaps have heard. Once on a time there were two knights who fought about a certain silver shield. Silver, as one called it--the other called it gold. When they had killed each other, so the story runs, it was discovered both of them were right, and, at the same time, both of them were wrong. The shield was gold on one side, silver on the other. Years afterwards the spirits of those knights revisited the earth. They took the form, the one of a young husband, and the other of his wife. They loved one another, but they were unhappy. The wife was a coquette. I'm sure she meant no harm but she incurred her husband's anger. He remonstrated with her; and the result was she resolved to say good-bye to her admirers. She wrote to one of them to tell him so. When she had written the first sheet she put it in her desk; and in the middle of the next was interrupted. Her husband, finding it, and thinking it was meant for him, left her. (_pause_) Six years they lived apart. Each had one portion of the letter, and each showed it to a common friend, when it occurred to this same common friend to put the sheets together--(_does so_)--and lo! he found that each of them was right again, and each of them again was wrong. He took upon him to reverse the sheets--(_reverses them_)--and asked to hear them read aloud together. (_looks at TOM_) The husband held the first sheet, and began. (_hands ALMA'S sheet to TOM_)

TOM. (_reads_) "You will consider this a very cruel letter, but I mean it kindly. Something has occurred to show me I've been acting very foolishly, and deceiving both my husband and you. You may think me heartless and fickle; but I haven't really changed. I always loved him in my heart of hearts. I know he doesn't like me seeing you; and to continue seeing you against his will would be like saying to----"

ALMA. (_to whom SIR HUMPHREY hands TOM'S sheet; reads_)--"Tom, I love another more than I love you. (_pause_) Isn't it best that we should say good-bye? I have no right to tell you I will never see you, for the fault is mine; but if I do, it will only be painful, and I leave it to your magnanimity to go away from me for ever."