Mrs. C. Edgar does not want you to leave home, dear.
Poe. Tell her all, aunt. (Mrs. Clemm is silent. Poe takes Virginia’s hand)
Poe. Virginia, you who have the face of a houri, the form of a sylph, and the heart of an angel, will you be my wife?
Mrs. C. Edgar!
Poe. My gentle one, can I not teach you to love me?
Vir. Teach me? Ah, I love you now, Edgar!
Mrs. C. Virginia!
Vir. I do! I do, mama! And oh, what happiness beyond my dream—to be—his wife!
(Poe embraces her gently and draws her toward the garden, right. They go out slowly. Mrs. Clemm turns toward the cottage, weeping. At the step she hesitates, looks toward the garden, and slowly goes after them, murmuring distractedly)
Zu. (Who has observed the scene with growing horror) Fo’ de Lawd, fo’ de Lawd, bless dem two babies! O, de signs am all wrong! Miss Babylam’ came back when she done start away! An’ Freddy bird hop right on my ol’ wool dis mawnin’, kase why, he want tell me sumpin gwine happen to Babylam’. An’, oh, dis po’ ol’ niggah is kilt, kase dis is de day Miss Babylam’s fadder done die! De missus she go ’bout cryin’ dis mawnin, an’ I allus ’member she do dat dis bery day! Wha’ make Mars Nelson come fo’ Babylam’? O, fo de Lawd, fo de Lawd! (Tat and Bony stare at their mother in terror as she proceeds) I see de black hawk what flies outen de dead swamp! Ooo! I see knives a drippin’ an’ guns a poppin’! Oooooooo! I see de coffin, de coffin—an’ it ’s all dark night, an’ de rain comin’ down de chimney—an’ de wind—de wind—it say “Ooooooooooo!” (Bends her knees and body, and stares moaning. Tat and Bony cling to her skirts. She turns on them with a scream, at which they tumble to the ground) Wha’ yo’ doin’ heah, yo’ black no ’count niggahs?