The Heiress Page #7

- He won't forgive us. I know it.

I know it now. I have good reason to.

- What reason?

- My father doesn't like me.

What an unhappy thing to say.

Of course he does.

- No.

- He must love you very much

or he wouldn't try so hard

to protect you from me.

No, Morris, in this one thing

I know I am right.

I couldn't say it unless I was sure.

I understood it tonight

for the first time in my life.

You can tell when a person speaks

to you as if... as if...

- As if what?

- As if they despised you.

Despised?

We must be very happy together and

you must never despise me, Morris.

- Catherine.

- We must never ask him for anything

or depend upon him for anything.

We must be very happy

and expect nothing from him ever.

No.

I will try to be

the best wife in the world.

- I know you will.

- I will get ready immediately.

Catherine, dear.

He can't dislike you that much.

He's bound to come round.

No, Morris, he will not.

But even if he would, I would not.

I see.

I will try to be punctual, Morris.

I know you like that.

- So, 12:
30, then.

- Hurry, my darling!

- Catherine.

- Shhh.

What are you doing?

I'd like it if you'd go back to bed.

But I want to know what you're doing.

I am eloping with Morris.

That's impossible, it's for tomorrow.

- Hush.

- No, you've got everything wrong.

Now, Morris will be here

tomorrow evening.

No, he will be here

in the next two minutes.

- Have you seen him?

- Yes.

Oh, Catherine. Will you spend

the night with him unwed?

We are going directly to

Reverend Lispenard on Murray's Hill.

If he will marry us

perhaps we may stay with him.

If not, we will drive all night.

I don't care.

Oh, Catherine. How romantic.

- Morris is so daring.

- I think I heard a carriage.

No.

Wouldn't you like me to dress

and come with you?

There's no time.

Morris will be here any instant.

But I should.

You must have a chaperone.

- Your father would be shocked.

- Serves him right.

Father, he finds me so dull.

It would surprise him to have such

a dull girl disgrace his name.

Catherine, are you quite yourself?

It was just a shutter blowing.

Think of it. I may never stand

in this window again.

I may never see Washington Square

on a windy April night.

Why won't you?

Because I will never be

in this house again.

Nonsense. You and Austin

will be reconciled within the year.

I will never see him again

in my life.

What?

I'm leaving tonight

instead of tomorrow

because it is one time less

I will ever have to lay eyes on him

or he on me.

We dislike each other too much, Aunt.

Good heavens, child.

You are disinheriting yourself.

- Yes. Completely.

- Have you told Morris this?

Of course. I told him everything.

He is to be my husband.

Oh, you should have waited.

Did... Did he understand?

There he is. Goodbye, Aunt.

I will write to you.

- Aunt?

- Yes, dear?

Why shouldn't I have told Morris?

Oh, dear girl. Why were you

not a little more clever?

Clever? About what?

Oh, Catherine.

Why shouldn't I have told him?

Morris would not want to be the cause

of your losing

your natural inheritance.

He could not see you impoverished.

Impoverished?

I have ten thousand a year.

That is a great deal of money.

Not when one has expected 30.

You think what my father thinks.

Well, you are wrong. Morris loves me.

I am everything

he ever yearned for in a woman.

- Oh, Catherine.

- I am. I am. He has told me so.

He thinks I am pretty. He wants me.

He could not wait for tomorrow night.

He said we must go tonight.

No, I said that, didn't I?

But he agreed. He was willing.

You can see that for yourself.

He was very willing.

Well, then, perhaps he will come.

Perhaps? He must come.

He must take me away.

He must love me. He must.

Please take hold of yourself.

No, no. Morris must take hold of me.

Morris will love me

for all those who didn't.

Morris! Morris! Morris!

Morris! Morris! Morris!

I'm sorry,

the Doctor's office is closed.

I heard he came back from Europe.

He did, but he's confined to his bed.

Try Dr. Isaacs in Great Jones Street.

Thank you.

- Doctor. You shouldn't be up, sir.

- Now, stop fluttering about.

- Doctor, please go back to bed.

- You just go about your business.

Yes, sir.

Ah, Catherine.

I haven't seen you since I returned.

No, Father.

Of course, if he were ill,

he could not write.

Perhaps you should send him

a brief note.

- No, Aunt.

- But I'd gladly deliver it for you.

Stay out of it, Aunt.

I want to help, if I can.

Can you bring him back

from California?

California?

I went to Mrs. Montgomery's

to see him.

You didn't?

She told me.

He borrowed the passage money

from his cousin Arthur... and left.

You had better go to your market.

- Oh, one moment, Maria.

- Yes, Doctor?

If you will interrupt your

embroidery for a moment, Catherine.

I... I think you both

should know this.

I am ill.

It's not just a simple congestion,

there are rales in the lungs.

I shall need very good nursing.

I shall not recover but I wish

everything to be done as if I should.

- I hate an ill-conducted sickroom.

- Maybe you will get well.

Now, in a few days you will need

a doctor. Get Dr. Isaacs.

If the street noises make me

restless, see the tanbark's put down.

Catherine, I don't want your

Aunt Lavinia in my room at all.

Unless I should go in to a coma.

As for food, don't overload me. Keep

me on soup. Beef broth and gruel.

Yes, sir.

Find a small lamp. Put fresh wicks

in it so that it doesn't smell.

Doctor.

Now, will you please make up my bed

for me? I'll be up in a moment.

Yes.

- I will help you, Maria.

- Will you stay a minute, Catherine?

I can only assume

that your departure is imminent.

Is it soon? This week?

No.

Has he asked you to keep your plans

secret from me?

I am not leaving.

- Not leaving?

- Will you excuse me, Father?

Come here for a moment.

Here, in the light.

You are flushed. Your eyes look sick.

You have been weeping.

You have broken your engagement.

Oh, if you have, I must tell you,

Catherine,

that I admire you greatly for it.

I know the effort you must have made.

- Do you, Father?

- But in time the pain will pass.

I cannot begin to tell you

how proud of you I am.

- Are you?

- Oh, deeply. Most deeply proud.

He deserted me.

What?

Morris deserted me.

- Now do you admire me, Father?

- Oh, Catherine.

Don't be kind to me.

It doesn't become you.

Are you blaming me

because I tried to protect you?

Yes.

Someday you will realize

I have done you a great service.

I can tell you now what you

have done. You have cheated me.

You thought any handsome, clever man

would be as bored with me

as you were.

It was not love that made you

protect me, it was contempt.

Morris Townsend did not love you,

Catherine.

I know that now, thanks to you.

Better to know it now

than 20 years hence.

Why? I lived with you for 20 years

before I found out

you didn't love me.

Morris may not have have hurt me

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