The Barretts of Wimpole Street Page #11

Do you suppose I should have guarded my house

like a dragon from this so-called love...

... if I hadn't known from my own life

all it entails of degradation and remorse ?

With the help of God and through years

of tormenting abstinence I strangled it in myself...

... and so long as I have breath in my body

I'll keep it away from those I was given to protect.

Do you understand me ?

Yes.

I understand you.

I understand you.

Very well.

This has been a painful necessity

but I had to speak plainly lest your very innocence...

... should smirch the purity I'm utterly

resolved to maintain in my household.

You're cold as ice. Why are you trembling ?

I shall never forget what you have said.

For the love of heaven, my darling,

don't let this raise any further barrier between us.

I cannot play the coward's part

and take the easier way and shirk my duty.

I'd rather be hated by the whole world

than gain love that way.

Oh, papa, you don't know how I pity you.

Pity ?

I don't want your pity.

If ever I should lose you or your love...

My darling, in our new home

we shall draw close to each other again.

Nothing and no one can come between us,

my child, my darling.

You want me to be happy.

The only happiness I shall ever know is all yours to give or take.

You must look up to me and depend on me and lean on me.

You must share your thoughts with me,

your hopes, your fears, your prayers...

I can't bear it, I can't bear any more.

Let me go papa. Please, let me go !

Forgive me, my dear, I was carried away.

Shall I leave you now ?

Please.

Shall I see you again tonight ?

Not tonight.

I shall pray for you.

Pray for me tonight ?

Yes.

Pray for me tonight if you will.

Did he find anything out ?

Wilson, I'm going. I must.

Now, at once.

Oh, Miss Ba, what's happened ? But we haven't packed.

Well, we must go without.

But we won't have as much as a nightgown.

We can buy them.

Miss Ba...

I can't stay here, Wilson.

I'm frightened. I'm frightened.

Fetch your cloak and bonnet.

But, Miss Ba, if he did catch us...

He can't stop me. I don't belong to him anymore.

He could kill me, but he can't stop me.

Oh, Miss Ba, I daren't just now. I daren't.

Let's go to the other room.

Oh, we can't do that.

Wilson, I must. That's all I know. I must go.

To Robert.

But, miss Ba...

Wilson, until today I've never really known my father.

I've even hoped I might confide in him,

but now I know t would be hopeless.

He'd crush me as he crushed my mother.

Oh, miss Ba...

He's cruel, Wilson, cruel and pitiless and I'm afraid.

If you want to draw back

you needn't ever reproach yourself.

But I must go to Mr. Browning now.

I'll fetch my cloak and bonnet at once, miss.

Wilson.

Oh, miss Ba.

They're all down to dinner now, miss.

The master's just gone in.

All right, Wilson.

Come, Flush.

Henrietta !

I'm going to call Arabel, papa.

Take your place and be seated without her.

Almighty Father, giver of all good gifts...

... who of thy thy divine providence

has provided thy unworthy servants...

... with all things necessary to their bodily sustenance.

Grant, we beseech thee, spiritual grace...

... that we may enjoy it in

quietness of spirit as proof of thy bounty...

... and render unto Thee

most humble and hearty thank. Amen

Amen.

For heaven's sake, what is it ?

Tell us at once !

She's gone. To be married.

What do you mean ?

Arabel !

Arabel, pull yourself together at once !

Where's Ba ? Answer me, where's Ba ?

She's gone. She left this note. Read it.

It's true.

It's true.

She sends us her love

and will write to all of us from Italy.

Italy.

Look !

This letter is for papa.

Papa.

What's to be done ?

Someone must give him Ba's letter.

Let me. I should love to.

What is the meaning of this ?

Who was making that hideous noise ?

Where is Elizabeth ?

You hear me.

Where is your sister ?

She left you this letter.

Left me ?

What do you mean ?

She left a letter for Arabel.

And this for you.

Oh, papa, you must forgive her.

Not for her sake, but for yours.

I thought I hated you, but I don't.

I pity you.

And if you have any pity for yourself, forgive her.

Elizabeth.

Yes, yes, her dog.

Yes, I'll have her dog.

Octavius.

Yes, sir.

Her dog must be destroyed at once.

What ?

You will take it to the vet tonight.

Do you understand me ? Tonight.

Do you understand me ?

Heavens, I don't see what the ppp...poor little beast has done.

Do you understand me ?

In her letter, Ba writes that she has taken Flush with her.

For as much as Robert and Elizabeth

have consented together in holy wedlock...

... and have witnessed the same before God and this company...

... I pronounce that they be man and wife together.

In the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost...

Amen.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost...

Bless, preserve and keep

that ye may so live together in this life...

... that in the world to come

ye may have life everlasting.

Amen.

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