New. Good, just the thing. After taps will be the time. Lights out, everything quiet. Can I depend upon you, Gibbs?
Gibbs. You have my word, sir.
New. Ha, ha! word? do you think that yours is worth anything?
Gibbs. Sometime I hope it will be.
New. Remember, you owe much to me. Should you turn traitor, your reckoning will be a sorry one.
Gibbs. I shall not forget all that you have done for me. Some day I will pay it back with interest. (Dor. hides; Gibbs exit C.)
New. I wonder if I can trust him? He seems docile enough; but sometimes I fancy there's a look in his eye—pshaw! what nonsense. Newcomb, my boy, a clever trick, a bold scheme; but you will win it, never fear.
(Exit New., C.)
Dor. (frightened, appears from behind portière). What do I hear? A scheme to take the colonel's life, and by his best friend too. (Goes to window.) There he goes, oh, the hypocrite. Now I know why I hate him so. With all his fine manners, I have not been deceived. Ugh! I hate even to shake hands with him. Oh dear, if I were only a man, that I might be near the colonel. Whom shall I tell? Who will help me? Ruth must not know, she has enough to bear. (Goes to mantel and takes Roger's picture; music.) They call me gay, Roger, frivolous and heartless. Perhaps I am, but if they could only look down deep into my heart, they would find the love for you, burning a strong and steadfast flame. (Places picture on mantel and stands looking at it.) O, Roger, why did you leave me? We all believed in your innocence and could have helped you bear the burden, which now alone must be so heavy. Oh, if you were only here to help me now. (Bows head on hands and stands weeping; music ceases. Enter Bijah and Polly.)
Bijah. That was the best piece of pie, Polly. If I could only have my knapsack as a receptacle for such samples of your cooking, I wouldn't need drum and fife to spur me on.