ACT I.
SCENE. The drawing-room in the residence of MR. EDWARD ELSWORTH. Garden seen through doors. ROSE ELSWORTH occupied at a small table, stitching. KATE ELSWORTH stretched languidly upon a sofa, with a book in hand. MR. EDWARD ELSWORTH in an easy chair, with newspaper in his lap. Writing materials on table.
KATE. Oh, dullness! dullness! I do wish Harry was at home, or Sir William would march some of his troops this way! What's the use of an army in the country, if one can't have a dance once in a while?
ROSE. What, indeed! All I desire is, sister, that they should be [Enter SERVANT with letters for MR. ELSWORTH.] left to the dance! That much they do very well.
KATE. I'm sure, Rose, I can't see what you find in these rebels to admire. As far as my observation has gone, they are only so many boors. There was Captain Arthur. Was there ever such a dunce? He had no manner whatever. He attempted once to walk a minuet with me, and I really thought he was a bear accidentally stumbled into coat and slippers.
ROSE. You're quite right! he never should have got his appointment until he had served a campaign in the drawing-room. If I were the Congress, I'd appoint none who could not bring diplomas from their dancing-masters.
ELSWORTH. Ha? 'pon my word! Very extraordinary news.
[All coming forward.
ROSE. What is it, papa?
ELSWORTH. There has been a battle.
ROSE. Is it possible? Oh, where, sir?
ELSWORTH. On Long Island. [Reading.] Washington has been defeated—has evacuated the city—is retiring northward. [Speaking.] I feel, my daughters, that our situation is becoming here unsafe. We shall be continually exposed to the assaults of marauders. It would be wiser, in the present aspect of affairs, for us to seek a securer residence in New York, now so fortunately in possession of Sir William Howe.
ROSE. I should prefer remaining here.
ELSWORTH. Would it be safe, Rose?
ROSE. Yes, for we neutralize each other. Your loyalty will secure you with the Tories, and my Whiggism will protect us with the other faction.
ELSWORTH. Your Whiggism, Rose? You shock me by such an avowal; and your brother, too, an officer of the King.
KATE. I don't think there is much danger, if Mr. Armstrong is near to protect us.
ELSWORTH. Mr. Armstrong?
KATE. Oh, yes, papa! He's got to be a captain.
ELSWORTH. Not a rebel, I trust.
ROSE. Not a traitor, I thank heaven.
ELSWORTH. You confound terms strangely. A traitor is one false to his king.
ROSE. False to his country, sir. A king is a creature of to-day—your country a thing of immortality.
ELSWORTH. Your King is your sovereign, by divine right and true succession.
ROSE. Then, sir, serve the Stuarts. How came the house of Hanover upon the throne? You see, sir, that if you zealous loyalists could shift off James, we, with less belief in the divine right of kings, can shift off George.
Enter MR. APOLLO METCALF.
METCALF. Good day, Mr. Elsworth. Good day, young ladies. "Good day" all, I may say.
ELSWORTH. Have you any news of the war, Mr. Metcalf?
METCALF. News—plenty of it, and mad. The country is depopulated. There isn't a youth with the first hope of a beard upon his chin, who hasn't gone with young Armstrong, to join the army.
ELSWORTH. Young Armstrong?
METCALF. To be sure, sir. He's turned out a fiery rebel, after all—and a captain, to boot.
ELSWORTH. Heaven bless me, but this is very sad. A promising youth to be led astray! Dear me, dear me! Rose, I am very sorry to say that this is certainly your fault. You have filled him with your wild, radical, and absurd heroic rhapsodies. You have made him disloyal to his King. You have put a dagger in his hand, to stab at the heart of his country. Alas! I see what the end will be—disgrace and death, ignominy and the gallows.
[ROSE walks back to the window.
KATE. Mr. Metcalf, how are your little charges? How flourishes the birch?
METCALF. They've all caught the spirit of the rebellion, marm, and are as untractable as bulls. Bless you, there isn't a lad over fourteen who hasn't abandoned his horn-book and gone off with Armstrong. And as for the girls, they're greater rebels than the boys. What do you think, marm? The other day they came marching in procession, and demanded to know on which side I was. I said "God save the King;" whereupon they fell upon me like a swarm of bees, armed with a thousand pins, and so pinched, and pricked, and pulled me, that there wasn't a square inch of my skin that wasn't as full of holes as a ten-year old pin-cushion. And I do believe they never would have stopped if I hadn't cried, "Huzza for Washington!"
ELSWORTH. I hope, sir, that you will not be compelled to follow the example of your scholars, and turn soldier.
METCALF. Never, sir. I content myself with teaching the young idea how to shoot, without indulging in such dangerous practices myself.
ROSE. [From the window.] Why, there's Harry—father, Kate—Harry is dismounting at the door.
ELSWORTH. Bless me! Is it possible?
[All gather around the window.
KATE. It is, I declare—and how splendid he looks. Harry! Harry!
[All salute him, and shake their handkerchiefs.
METCALF. [Aside to ROSE.] Hist! Miss Elsworth!
ROSE. Eh!
METCALF. Walter is near—a note—
ROSE. [Seizing it, and reading hurriedly.] Will be with you to-day—
KATE. [Looking towards right, at the window.] Doesn't he look fine?
There's his step in the hall.
[They all go towards door. ROSE conceals WALTER'S note.
HARRY. [Within.] Rose, Kate, father!
Enter LIEUTENANT HARRY ELSWORTH. All gather around him with exclamations of welcome.
METCALF. [Aside.] I'll take occasion to steal down-stairs, and plague Bridget into a kiss or two. Delicious Bridget!
[Exit METCALF.
ELSWORTH. Harry! My brave lad!
ROSE. Dear brother!
HARRY. Dear sister! Father!
ELSWORTH. Stand aside, girls. Let me have a look at him. Harry! Harry! You are a splendid-looking fellow, you are. Ha, ha, ha! Your hand, my boy. You look like a soldier, sir.
HARRY. I have good news for you. I have just rode on before to acquaint you that Major Cleveland will honour your roof to-day.
ELSWORTH. He shall be welcome—open doors and open hands.
HARRY. He will remain until to-morrow. Now, girls, some of us young fellows are dying for a dance—can't we extemporize a ball?
ROSE. Good gracious, Harry! You will have to pit coat against coat—where are your ladies?
HARRY. Oh, we'd drum them up. There are a dozen families within as many miles.
ROSE. A mad idea.
HARRY. A wild one, I confess.
ELSWORTH. It would be a suitable festivity in honour of our Long
Island victory. Come girls, you have my consent.
Enter SERVANT, announcing CAPTAIN ARMSTRONG.
Enter CAPTAIN WALTER ARMSTRONG.
ALL [but ROSE]. Captain Armstrong!
ARMSTRONG. Captain Armstrong!
ALL [but ROSE]. In the Continental service?
ARMSTRONG. In the Continental service!
ELSWORTH. I am somewhat surprised, sir, at this visit. When you were a loyal gentleman my doors were always open to you—now, in that dress, I cannot consent to receive your visits. In happier moments you were a companion of my daughters—a friend of my son—you have selected a course which must terminate that connection with my family.
ARMSTRONG. You will pardon me, sir, I trust, for this intrusion. I have reached this place with some danger, for these parts abound with a set of fellows who have a fancy for wishing everybody else's skin the colour of their own coats. Mr. Elsworth, my sense of duty has compelled me to pursue a path which has estranged me from your friendship. Let me ask frankly, sir, if it must separate me from one who has honoured me with her consideration and affection?
ELSWORTH. You allude to my daughter—to Rose—
ARMSTRONG. I do, sir.
ELSWORTH. Mister Armstrong—for I acknowledge no title bestowed by an unlawful authority—I would rather wed my daughter to a Turk than to one who had so forgotten his duty to his country.
[Goes up.—ARMSTRONG bows.
HARRY. Walter, we were friends once, but, as His Majesty's servant, I can offer no compromise to a rebel. Now you must not think of a union with our family. [Goes up.
ROSE. This is nothing but blind prejudice. It has neither sense nor justice. Hear me. That for which you discard him places him higher in my esteem—shows me how worthy he is of the respect and honour of every true woman. My greatest pride is that he to whom I have pledged my hand wears those colours.
ARMSTRONG. Generous girl!
ELSWORTH. Rose, you pain me inexpressibly!
ROSE. I am not a giddy girl, sir. I'm a woman—old enough to know my own heart, and to decide between right and wrong. Walter, go, and carry with you assurances of my unwavering fidelity.
Enter BRIDGET, hurriedly.
BRIDGET. Oh, my good gracious! dear me, good gracious! gracious, goodness, me! Such a lot of soldiers—all coming down the road.
ARMSTRONG. Eh? Red or blue?
BRIDGET. Bless me, goodness gracious, you here, Mr. Armstrong? You'd better look out, sir, for they are red coats, and there's a big number of them, too.
ARMSTRONG. I must vanish. [Running to the window.] Why, we're surrounded on every side. By Jove, I'm in a trap!
ROSE. What will you do?
ARMSTRONG. To the north of the house. Perhaps I can reach the forest—
BRIDGET. They're all around that way, sir.
HARRY. I wish that you could escape, Walter, without my knowledge. This is the regiment to which I belong. You were foolhardy to venture here.
ARMSTRONG. I believe I'm caged, that's certain. And I've no desire to be caught either, for they bear especial malice against me. If they should know me for the fellow who played a certain trick upon them, an hour's time would suffice for them to make me an ornament to one of your old oaks on the lawn—a style of decoration that might suit their taste, but which wouldn't accord with my fancy.
ROSE. Do they know your person?
ARMSTRONG. From description, probably.
ROSE. We must conceal you, then.
ARMSTRONG. If you've a rat hole into which you can crowd me.
HARRY. I must be ignorant of your movements. I will go and receive them. [Exit.
ARMSTRONG. Whose command is it?
ROSE. Major Cleveland's.
ARMSTRONG. Eh? The man of men who itches to get hold of my insignificant person. He has offered £50 for it.
KATE. [At the window.] Away! They are dismounting at the door.
ROSE. You, Bridget—I can trust you—quick, to the loft with him.
KATE. [Still at the window.] Quick! quick!
ARMSTRONG. Stow me away among your rubbish.
[ROSE urges them off. WALTER snatches a kiss from ROSE'S hand as he exits with BRIDGET.
KATE. I do declare Captain Arbald is below, and I am sadly deranged.
ROSE. Oh, fearfully! Run to your glass, by all means. Set your springes, for these red birds are rare game.
KATE. Sister! But I'll be revenged. [Exit KATE.
Enter MAJOR CLEVELAND, ushered in by LIEUTENANT ELSWORTH, who withdraws.
ELSWORTH. My dear Major Cleveland, let me welcome you zealously to this abode.
CLEVELAND. A great many thanks, my dear Elsworth. I'm delighted to meet so true-hearted a loyalist. We pushed our march to partake of your hospitality. Ah, Miss Elsworth! How shall I express my delight in finding that Time, who deals so inexorably with us, has been induced to favour you. It gives me infinite pleasure, Miss Elsworth, to meet you once again, for the recollection of the occasions we have met previously are bright spots in my memory.
ROSE. Oh, sir, I thank you.
ELSWORTH. And how, sir, comes on the royal cause? Will it be long ere these rebels are taught their duty to their King?
CLEVELAND. Have no apprehensions, my dear Elsworth. Another campaign will scatter them to the mountains, and a live rebel be so great a curiosity, that to cage one and exhibit him would make a showman's fortune.
ROSE. [Aside.] If he knew there were a caged one here now!
ELSWORTH. But come, Major Cleveland, where are your companions? I must see why they have not followed you.
CLEVELAND. They are delayed for a moment with the troop. By the way, Miss Elsworth, I believe that there are a couple of gentlemen without, who are old admirers of yours—Captain Arbald and Lieutenant Marvin.
ROSE. Old, Major! You flatter my taste.
CLEVELAND. Why, with beauty I thought the conquest of the morning stale matter by night.
ROSE. Oh, sir, if staleness went to make their age, they would be proverbed instead of Methuselah.
CLEVELAND. They took very much to you.
ROSE. So did the measles, sir.
CLEVELAND. They are desperately enamoured of you—would do any difficult thing—even die for you.
ROSE. So they once told me, but I courtesied, and replied that I should prefer a live rebel to even two dead loyalists.
CLEVELAND. And then—
ROSE. They vowed to live for me. I begged of them to put themselves to no such inconvenience; that I wouldn't trouble them to do anything of the kind; that if they didn't think it worth while to live for themselves, I shouldn't intrude upon any suicidal intention they might entertain.
CLEVELAND. And so they lived—
ROSE. But I had no hand in it; I am innocent; my skirts are clear of the melancholy fact.
CLEVELAND. They are noble gentlemen, Miss Elsworth. You must bear with me if I defend them. They are good soldiers, and fine-looking fellows.
ROSE. For which I thank their tailors.
CLEVELAND. Gay, dashing; brave of heart, and witty of tongue.
ROSE. Then they have been studying the almanac. When I saw them last, they hadn't a grain of wit—not even by scratching.
CLEVELAND. Really, Mr. Elsworth, your daughter has a sharp tongue.
ELSWORTH. It is her humour, sir. Her passes are but play.
CLEVELAND. I'll be sworn her heart is as true as her wit. She is—
ROSE. Rebel, sir, from top to toe!
[Enter ARBALD, MARVIN, and HARRY.]
Ah, gentlemen, my best welcome. My father will be proud to greet you—
ELSWORTH. And most happy to know you, gentlemen.
[Enter SERVANT, with wine.]
Major Cleveland, will you do me the honour—
CLEVELAND. Sir, I esteem it an honour. Gentlemen, I hope you will all fill in honour of our host. [They gather around, fill, and drink to MR. ELSWORTH.] Fill again, gentlemen, and honour the toast I am going to propose. The ladies! speedy priests and rings.
ROSE. A doubtful compliment, Major Cleveland.
CLEVELAND. Can you think so?
ROSE. Ay, sir; for marriages, though called matches, are mostly sad patch-work.
CLEVELAND. And the unmarried—
ROSE. Oh, they are even worse. Old maids and old bachelors are the tossed about odds and ends of humanity.
CLEVELAND. [Going over to her.] The happiest wit, madam, I ever heard.
ROSE. Captain Arbald, will you grant me your arm? I'm sure you would like a turn in the garden. I shouldn't wonder if my sister were upon the grounds. Lieutenant Marvin, will you go with us? Kate is dying for the sight of a red-coat. [Exit.
CLEVELAND. A merry-hearted woman, Mr. Elsworth. There is a touch of sly deviltry in her composition.
ELSWORTH. I fear lest her indiscreet tongue—
CLEVELAND. Not at all, my dear friend! Lieutenant, I have been informed within an hour, that one Captain Armstrong has been seen this day within five miles of this place. On account of his connection with a certain affair, I wouldn't let him escape me at any sacrifice. I have already dispatched dragoons in his pursuit. At earliest dawn I shall expect you to head a detachment in his search. Meanwhile, sir, I should be grateful for an opportunity to repair my toilet.
HARRY. This way, sir; I myself will conduct you to a chamber.
[Exeunt CLEVELAND and HARRY.
ELSWORTH. This is a situation, indeed, for a royalist gentleman! My house filled with the King's officers, and a proscribed rebel concealed above. If discovered, I tremble to think of the consequences. [Exit.
Enter ROSE.
ROSE. Thank heaven; I am rid of them. Now to Walter, and learn his full danger.
[Enter ARMSTRONG.]
Are you mad? What are you here for? Back to your hiding place at once.
WALTER. No, Rose; I shall not go.
ROSE. Why—what—
WALTER. Hear me, Rose. Ask yourself if it is an honourable course for me, a proscribed and hunted rebel, to suffer myself to be concealed in your father's house when my discovery would involve him in terrible consequences. I cannot consent to expose him to those consequences. I would rather openly deliver myself into the hands of Major Cleveland.
ROSE. Foolish man! You are ruining all. Walter, for my sake go back again. This is a ridiculous and false sense of honour.
WALTER. No, Rose, I am resolved—
ROSE. Walter, I implore you—
[Enter MAJOR CLEVELAND.]
[Aside.] Ha! Lost! [Aloud.] Oh, Major Cleveland, how opportune. Pray let me make you acquainted with Captain Fuller. A friend of my father's, sir—a neighbour. Captain Fuller, Major Cleveland. Allow me to commend you, gentlemen, to each other's better acquaintance.
CLEVELAND. A rebel officer. This is very extraordinary.
ROSE. Let me see you shake hands, gentlemen, for here, you know, you must be friends. If you like to cut each other's throats elsewhere, so be it; but, of course, you sheathe your swords, and swear peace in the presence of a lady.
CLEVELAND. Miss Elsworth well rebukes us. Captain Fuller, for the time being, the red and the blue rejoice under a common auspices—Miss Elsworth smiles.
[They shake hands ceremoniously.
ROSE. Now, gentlemen, sit down. You, Major, shall have a seat upon the sofa by my side. Captain Fuller, please, take the chair near you. [The gentlemen seat themselves.] Now, you see, I am between you, and shall prevent warfare. I here proclaim a truce. The Captain, Major, wants to join our ball to-night. I have promised him my hand the next after yours.
CLEVELAND. [Scrutinizing WALTER closely.] I'm quite ready, Miss
Elsworth, to laugh at a joke, but really I cannot understand—
ROSE. Why two gentlemen cannot meet under my father's roof, as his guests, and not fall to tearing each other to pieces? Is it the modern way to make war in parlours, instead of the field?
CLEVELAND. Strange, very strange. Your pardon, Captain Fuller, but I cannot help remarking that you closely resemble a description I have received of one Captain Armstrong.
ROSE. Dear me, and who is Captain Armstrong, pray?
CLEVELAND. A rebel, madam.
ROSE. I like him for that.
CLEVELAND. A spy.
ROSE. But what has all this to do with Captain Fuller? I have known the Captain, Major, for some years, and I think you can take my word for it, he is no spy.
CLEVELAND. Do Captain Fuller and Captain Armstrong wear the same colours?
WALTER. All Continental officers wear the same colours.
CLEVELAND. Are they all of the same complexion, height, and [Rising
and going over to him.] do they all wear the same love tokens? Does
Captain Fuller wear Captain Armstrong's sash, worked with Captain
Armstrong's name!
WALTER. [Aside.] The sash Rose worked and gave me. Fool! fool!
CLEVELAND. Miss Elsworth, I'm under the necessity of a disagreeable duty. I am compelled to consider our truce at an end. Young sir, you are my prisoner.
WALTER. [Drawing and rushing between the MAJOR and the door.] If you speak aloud or attempt to call aid, I will strike you dead. I shall not yield without resistance. If you molest me, blood will be shed.
CLEVELAND. [Drawing a pistol.] I am better armed than you supposed, sir. It would be awkward for any collision to occur in the presence of a lady, and yet I shall not hesitate to do my duty. If you are really Captain Fuller, I shall be very glad to shake hands and drink a glass of wine with you; if Captain Armstrong, you must become my prisoner.
ROSE. [Standing by her chair, trembling.] Gentlemen! Gentlemen!
WALTER. I have but one reply to make: if you attempt to arrest me, I shall defend myself—and will escape if I can.
[Several shots fired within.
Enter MR. METCALF suddenly, pursued by TWO SOLDIERS.
CLEVELAND. Ha!
METCALF. [Not seeing CLEVELAND, and rushing up to WALTER.] Bless me, Captain Armstrong.
CLEVELAND. Oh, then he is Captain Armstrong.
ROSE. [With great suddenness.] Captain Fuller, Mr. Metcalf—don't play your jests here—Captain Fuller, sir.
METCALF. Eh! Eh! [Looking confused from one to another.] A jest, Captain Fuller—capital—ha, ha, ha—[Aside to ROSE.] What mischief have I tumbled into now, and who is that fellow in a very red coat and a very white wig?
ROSE. [Aside to him.] Major Cleveland.
METCALF. Major Cleveland! We are all hanged and quartered—though for the matter of that, in my capacity of expounder of the alphabet, I've been quartered—on the neighbourhood, these ten years past. Your obedient servant, sir, your very obedient—
CLEVELAND. That will do, fellow. What was the cause of those shots just now? [To SOLDIERS.
METCALF. 'Pon my word, sir, it was the guns.
CLEVELAND. Pshaw!
SOLDIER. This fellow attempted to pass without the countersign.
METCALF. You see, sir, I was just about to enter to call on my friend, Mr. Elsworth, to sip an afternoon glass with him, when a big-booted fellow cried out, halt. Now, sir, the idea of asking a man well in both legs to halt, is preposterous. So I said, and walked on as straight as I could, when bang, bum, whiz, came one, two, three bullets scattering after my hide—
CLEVELAND. Have done, sir. [To WALTER.] I am desirous of giving you, sir, every opportunity to disprove your identity with Captain Armstrong. I chance to know that gentleman's handwriting. There is a desk with pen and ink. Will you stand that test?
WALTER. [Aside to ROSE.] That would never do. There isn't one of my pot-hooks that wouldn't hang me.
ROSE. [Quickly.] Really, Major Cleveland, you might require a more reasonable test. Don't you see the Captain has a rheumatic hand?
CLEVELAND. For a rheumatic hand, Miss Elsworth, he handled his sword somewhat skilfully, just now. You see, sir, resistance is useless. You will resign your sword, I trust.
[The two SOLDIERS, at a sign from CLEVELAND, have come up behind WALTER. He is seized.
WALTER. Ha! I am your prisoner, sir.
Enter MR. ELSWORTH and HARRY.
ELSWORTH. What's this?
CLEVELAND. I regret to say, my dear Elsworth, that this gentleman must, for a few hours, remain my prisoner. A mere form, sir. He will, doubtless, be free in a few days. I shall have to make use of one of your barns, sir. It is really a pity that the Captain must be deprived of the dance to-night, but I will take care that his confinement shall not be severe.
ROSE. This, sir, is a shameful breach of hospitality. Captain Armstrong is my father's guest, no less than yourself. Every consideration of delicacy and honour requires you to consider him so.
CLEVELAND. Miss Elsworth, I could wish you not to consider me wrong or cruel in this.
ROSE. I judge, sir, by what I see.
CLEVELAND. You are severe.
ROSE. I am glad you find me so.
CLEVELAND. Will you not say peace?
ROSE. War, Major Cleveland, to the last.
ELSWORTH. Daughter, more courtesy.
ROSE. Oh! father, they may chain and bind our poor country, but they cannot find a way to chain a free woman's free tongue.
CLEVELAND. Lieutenant Elsworth, I place the Captain in your charge.
Conduct him to a safe place.
HARRY. This is the hard necessity of duty.
ELSWORTH. And this will really be nothing serious?
CLEVELAND. A bagatelle, I do assure you, sir.
WALTER. [Aside.] I thank him for calming the fears of the family—but I know how hard it will go with me.
HARRY. Walter—
WALTER. I go, Harry. Rose!
ROSE. [Aside, with a sudden thought.] Go! Say nothing.
WALTER. Come, sir. [To HARRY.
ROSE_ assumes an air of cool indifference, and flings herself carelessly in a chair._ MAJOR CLEVELAND appears astonished. MR. ELSWORTH and the others look surprised and incredulous.