EDWARD. How obstinate you have become, all of a sudden! But I suppose I must go; I shall find her somewhere, crying, in the road. Hide yourself away; pray do not let any one see you. (Goes out.)
EDITH. Hide! I should like to hide a thousand miles under the ground. Is this the beautiful world I have dreamed so much about? It cannot be—such things cannot be true! Yes, I see them written on the faces of these women—how dreadful they are! O, what can we do?
SARAH. How could you talk to her so, Catharine? See how you have made her feel.
CATHARINE. She'll get used to it soon; that's the way with us all at first. She'll harden to it.
SARAH. It makes me almost cry to see her. Poor child! It was just so with me once; but that's all over now.
EDITH. You are not so bad as you seem. There is something good in you.
SARAH. Once there was.
EDITH. And is now. I am sure you would be good if you could come out, and live where people would love you, and be kind to you.
SARAH. That can never be.
EDITH. O, yes. You shall come and let me take care of you; I am not so poor as I seem. My mother is rich, and you shall come and live in one of her houses, and have books to read, and a little garden, and every thing pleasant.