SCENE I.
A room in Ashfield's House.
Dame Ashfield discovered at work with her needle, Henry sitting by her.
Dame. Come, come, Henry, you'll fret yourself ill, child. If Sir Philip will not be kind to you, you are but where you were.
Henry. [Rising.] My peace of mind is gone for ever. Sir Philip may have cause for hate;—spite of his unkindness to me, my heart seeks to find excuses for him—oh! that heart doats on his lovely daughter.
Dame. [Looking out.] Here comes Tummas home at last. Heyday what's the matter with the man! He doesn't seem to know the way into his own house.
Enter Ashfield, musing, he stumbles against a chair.
Tummas, my dear Tummas, what's the matter?
Ash. [Not attending.] It be lucky vor he I be's zoo pratty behaved, or dom if I—
[Doubling his fist.
Dame. Who—what?
Ash. Nothing at all; where's Henry?
Henry. Here, farmer.
Ash. Thee woultn't leave us, Henry, wou't?
Henry. Leave you! What, leave you now, when by my exertion I can pay off part of the debt of gratitude I owe you? oh, no!
Ash. Nay, it were not vor that I axed, I promise thee; come, gi'us thy hand on't then. [Shaking hands.] Now, I'll tell ye. Zur Philip did send vor I about the money I do owe 'un; and said as how he'd make all straight between us——
Dame. That was kind.
Ash. Ees, deadly kind. Make all straight on condition I did turn Henry out o'my doors.
Dame. What!
Henry. Where will his hatred cease?
Dame. And what did you say, Tummas?
Ash. Why I zivelly tould un, if it were agreeable to he to behave like a brute, it were agreeable to I to behave like a man.
Dame. That was right. I wou'd have told him a great deal more.
Ash. Ah! likely. Then a' zaid I shou'd ha' a bit a laa vor my pains.
Henry. And do you imagine I will see you suffer on my account? No—I will remove this hated form—— [Going.]
Ash. No, but thee shat'un—thee shat'un—I tell thee. Thee have givun me thy hand on't, and dom'me if thee sha't budge one step out of this house. Drabbit it! what can he do? he can't send us to jail. Why, I have corn will zell for half the money I do owe'un—and han't I cattle and sheep? deadly lean to be zure—and han't I a thumping zilver watch, almost as big as thy head? and Dame here a got——How many silk gowns have thee got, dame!
Dame. Three, Tummas—and sell them all—and I'll go to church in a stuff one—and let Mrs. Grundy turn up her nose as much as she pleases.
Henry. Oh, my friends, my heart is full. Yet a day will come, when this heart will prove its gratitude.
Dame. That day, Henry, is every day.
Ash. Dang it! never be down hearted. I do know as well as can be, zome good luck will turn up. All the way I comed whoam I looked to vind a purse in the path. But I didn't though. [A knocking at the door.]
Dame. Ah! here they are, coming to sell I suppose—
Ash. Lettun—lettun zeize and zell; we ha gotten here [Striking his breast.] what we won't zell, and they can't zell. [Knocking again.] Come in—dang it, don't ye be shy.
Enter Morrington and Gerald.
Henry. Ah! the strangers I saw this morning. These are not officers of law.
Ash. Noa!—Walk in, gemmen. Glad to zee ye wi' all my heart and zoul. Come, dame, spread a cloth, bring out cold meat, and a mug of beer.
Gerald. [To Morrington.] That is the boy. [Morrington nods.]
Ash. Take a chair, zur.
Mor. I thank, and admire your hospitality. Don't trouble yourself, good woman.—I am not inclined to eat.
Ash. That be the case here. To-day none o'we be auver hungry: misfortin be apt to stay the stomach confoundedly—
Mor. Has misfortune reached this humble dwelling?
Ash. Ees, zur. I do think vor my part it do work its way in every where.
Mor. Well, never despair.
Ash. I never do, zur. It is not my way. When the sun do shine I never think of voul weather, not I; and when it do begin to rain, I always think that's a zure zign it will give auver.
Mor. Is that young man your son?
Ash. No, zur—I do wish he were wi' all my heart and zoul.
Gerald. [To Morrington.] Sir, remember.
Mor. Doubt not my prudence. Young man, your appearance interests me;—how can I serve you?
Henry. By informing me who are my parents.
Mor. That I cannot do.
Henry. Then, by removing from me the hatred of Sir Philip Blandford.
Mor. Does Sir Philip hate you?
Henry. With such severity, that even now he is about to ruin these worthy creatures, because they have protected me.
Mor. Indeed! misfortune has made him cruel. That should not be.
Ash. Noa, it should not, indeed, zur.
Mor. It shall not be.
Ash. Shan't it, zur? But how shan't it?
Mor. I will prevent it.
Ash. Wool ye faith, and troth? Now, dame, did not I zay zome good luck would turn up?
Henry. Oh, sir, did I hear you rightly? Will you preserve my friends?—will you avert the cruel arm of power, and make the virtuous happy? my tears must thank you.
[Taking his hand.
Mor. [Disengaging his hand.] Young man, you oppress me—forbear! I do not merit thanks—pay your gratitude where you are sure 'tis due—to Heaven. Observe me—here is a bond of Sir Philip Blandford's for 1000l.—do you present it to him, and obtain a discharge for the debt of this worthy man. The rest is at your own disposal—no thanks.
Henry. But, sir, to whom am I thus highly indebted?
Mor. My name is Morrington. At present that information must suffice.
Henry. Morrington.
Ash. [Bowing.] Zur, if I may be so bold—
Mor. Nay, friend——
Ash. Don't be angry, I hadn't thanked you, zur, nor I won't.—Only, zur, I were going to ax, when you wou'd call again. You shall have my stamp note vor the money, you shall, indeed, zur. And in the mean time, I do hope you'll take zomeit in way of remembrance as 'twere.
Dame. Will your honour put a couple of turkies in your pocket?
Ash. Or pop a ham under your arm? don't ye zay no, if it's agreeable.
Mor. Farewell, good friends, I shall repeat my visit soon.
Dame. The sooner the better.
Ash. Good bye to ye, zur,—Dame and I wool go to work as merry as crickets. Good bye, Henry.
Dame. Heaven bless your honour—and I hope you will carry as much joy away with you, as you leave behind you—I do indeed.
[Exeunt Ashfield and Dame.
Mor. Young man, proceed to the Castle, and demand an audience of Sir Philip Blandford. In your way thither, I'll instruct you further.—Give me your hand.
[Exeunt Morrington, looking stedfastly on Henry, Gerald following.