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_ ACT III SCENE I
Scene I: Interior of Clemm cottage. A large room simply
furnished. Low fire burning in fireplace. Poe at table
writing. Suddenly drops pen and picks up two letters)
Poe.
I must destroy these. She must not know.... My wife....
(drops letters absentmindedly)
... Married. Married? What spirit so subtly fine can
mingle here?... Back, back, ye troops of devils damned
or angels blest--I know not which to call ye--summoning
me to those lone regions of the mind where none
may follow! None?... Helen could tread those airy
worlds with me!... Helen!... Far, far as zenith stars
that ride the blue meridian thou art, and I, deep, deep,
to nadir sink!
(Drops his head to the table)
Virginia.
(Without)
Edgar!
(He lifts his head smiling as she enters)
Vir.
(Holding out a book)
O, I know the alphabet! I can say it all!
(Gives him the book)
Watch now, and see if I make a mistake!
Edgar.
(Smiling.)
I'll hardly need the book, dear.
Vir.
(Pouting.)
O, I forget that you know everything!
Poe.
Not everything.
(Taking her face between his hands as she
sits on his knee, the book falling at their feet)
I do not know how to be happy when this beautiful face
is gone. My wife is the fairest lady in all the world.
Vir.
Then what does it matter about this old Greek, Edgar?
(Touching book with her foot)
Poe.
Just this. You can not always be young and beautiful, and
when you are no longer the fairest I want you to be the
wisest.
Vir.
And if I am you will love me always?
Poe.
Always.
Vir.
Give me the book!
(Picks it up)
O, I will eat Greek! I will breakfast with the
heroes, dine with the bards, and sup with the
gods! But what a pity one must begin with the
alphabet to end with--what were those lovely
lines I found in your book yesterday?
And Helen on the walls rose like a star,
And every Trojan said 'she's worth our blood,'
And every Greek ploughed new his way to her--
Go on, Edgar! I'm sure you know them!
(As she repeats the lines he presses her head to his
shoulder and puts his hand over her eyes. His face is full
of agony, but there is only sweetness in his voice.)
Poe.
Not now, my little wife. Some other time.
Vir.
Helen is such a beautiful name. I wish I had been named Helen.
Poe.
Thank God you are not!
Vir.
(Looking up hastily)
Why--
Poe.
I mean that I want you to be just as you are--my
Virginia--nothing else!
Vir.
(Seeing he is troubled)
I am keeping you from your work.
You should have sent me away. I'll be angry with you,
Edgar, if you let me disturb you. Now I'm going to find
the last rose of summer for you.
Poe.
But you haven't said your lesson.
Vir.
O!
(begins)
Alpha, beta,--now if I say them right you are
to give me a kiss for reward!
Poe.
And if you miss one, I'll give you a kiss for
encouragement.
Vir.
(Seeing letter)
O, a letter from New York! You've made me
your secretary, you know, and of course I
must read your letters!
(Picks it up and glances at it)
He says Mr. Willis will certainly give
you a place on his paper.
(Drops letter and looks at him quietly)
It is your chance for fortune.
Poe.
I am not going, love.
Vir.
If you go now it means success, if you wait failure.
Poe.
I shall not go, Virginia.
Vir.
If you were not married you would go.
Poe.
Then I am glad I can not go.
Vir.
But you can go, Edgar.
Poe.
My darling, I will never take you away from your mocking
birds and roses. Don't you think any more about it. Run
away now and find me a flower. You will have to look sharp
under the leaves, for the wind is whistling to-day. Our
little sham winter has begun to bluster. (Exit Virginia)
She shall not suffer. She shall not! Though my heart
surges like a prisoned sea hers shall not move her bosom's
alabaster!... Why didn't I burn that letter. (Throws it
into the fire. Take up the other one) I must keep the
lawyer's. I shall need it. (Puts it in his pocket) Now
work--work--work--(Resumes writing) 'The Kingdom of the
Sun is peopled with beings whose distinguishing attribute
is color instead of form as with us. This color varies
with each thought of the spirit that it invests, and also
with the eye that beholds it. There is no need to pellet
the ear with rude words, for the most refined meanings and
emotions are conveyed by these subtle variations of color
coming and going like breathing light. Were--'
(Enter Mrs. Clemm)
Mrs. C.
Edgar, dear, your breakfast has been waiting two hours.
Poe.
O, thank you, aunt. Don't trouble about me this morning.
I shall want nothing.
Mrs. C.
But, Edgar, my son, I must speak. You do not sleep and
eat as people should who wish to live long for those who
love them.
Poe.
Dear aunt, pray--we'll talk about it some other time.
I must work now!
Mrs. C.
I am sorry to disturb you, love, but there is one question
I must ask you. Have you heard from the lawyer?
(Poe is silent)
A letter came. I thought you would tell me, and
not force me to ask about what I must know.
Is the place sold?
Poe.
No.
Mrs. C.
But it will be? We must lose our home?
Poe.
No, darling mother! I am going to pay off everything! This
very article I am writing will bring me fame if I finish
it. So please help me by not worrying one bit, and don't
let our Virginia suspect anything.
Mrs. C.
It would kill her! O, Edgar, I have been wanting to tell
you how grateful I am to you for your gentleness to her.
Though she looks so strong, she has been frail from her
birth. I know that she must die early. I ought to have
told you--that day--but I could think of nothing. You will
forgive me, Edgar? She is such a child. I wonder at your
patience. But you will never be impatient with her, Edgar?
Poe.
If I am, may God that moment end my villain's life! Go
now, sweet mother, for I must work, and remember that you
are to be troubled about nothing.
(Exit Mrs. Clemm, right, rear)
Goodbye, Art! Thou pure chrystalline dream! I must
turn my brain into a mint and coin money! O, Poesy, thou
only divine mistress given to man, some day I will return
to thee!
(Writes)
'Were zephyrs made visible by means of
ever changing hues--'
(Bony and Tat rush into the room. Poe glares at
them with a face of fury. They turn to fly
panic-stricken. Tat trips on a chair and lies
moaning. Poe goes to her)
Poe. (Gently) Are you hurt, Tatsy?
Bony.
(At door, turning back, suddenly impudent
at sound of Poe's softened voice)
She jes sullin', Mars Edgah. She play possum like dat wid me!
Poe.
Get out, you little imp!
(Bony vanishes)
Where are you hurt, Tatsy?
(She moans bitterly)
Poor little girl! Her foot is twisted. A sprain perhaps.
(Picks her up and carries her to sofa)
Never mind! I've got a fairy in a bottle will cure
that in a jiffy. Just rub it on, and ho,
Tatsy is well again!
(Enter Zurie, Bony clinging to her)
Zu.
Wha' my chile? Lawdy God, my chile sho' 'nuf hurt!
(Goes to Tatsy)
Poe.
It's the foot, Zurie. Be careful!
Zu.
Yas, I's seen dat foot befoh!
(Gives foot a yank)
Dat's her ol' trick, Mars Edgah. She jes foolin' yo'!
Don' yo' be so soft hearted next time. Yo' jes take
her by de back ob de neck and wring her head off!
Poe.
I certainly will!
(Exit Zurie, drawing Tat. Poe goes back to his work.
Groans, and looks with desperation at his manuscript)
Poe.
O, if this eludes me! I must not lose it now! (Writes)
'In this Kingdom of the Sun there is a central creating
light that plays upon these color-beings with its own
transmuting--'
(Re-enter Mrs. Clemm, bearing a tray)
Mrs. C.
My dear, I've brought you some toast and an egg.
Poe.
(Jumping up and staring at her)
They don't eat toast and eggs in the Kingdom of the Sun!
Mrs. C.
Edgar!
Poe.
Forgive me! It's just something I'm writing here. But for
God's sake take the stuff away!
(Mrs. Clemm turns to go, the tray trembling in her hands.
Poe runs to her and kisses her)
You sweetest and best of mothers, don't you
see that if I eat this I'll spend the next two
hours digesting toast and eggs, and if I don't
eat it I'll be making our fortune, putting a roof
over our heads, and keeping our Virginia happy!
Mrs. C.
I only meant to be kind, Edgar.
Poe.
I know you did, and you're my darling mother,--but don't
be kind any more.
(Exit Mrs. Clemm. Poe sits despairingly at table. Enter
Ethel and Annie)
Eth.
O, Edgar, where is Virginia? We want her to go nutting
with us.
Annie.
We shall have her now! You shan't keep her all to
yourself just because you've married her!
Poe.
Take her by all means!
Eth.
You needn't be vicious about it. Where is she?
Poe.
I don't know,--and pardon if I say that just at this
moment I don't care!
(Gathers up papers and goes toward stairway in corner of room)
Annie.
You needn't run from us. I'm sure we're glad to go.
I'll find Virginia.
Eth.
And I'll write that note to Gladys while you're gone.
(Seats herself in Poe's chair. Exit Annie, left, rear)
Come back, if you want to, Edgar. You won't disturb me at all.
(Writes. Poe pauses on stairway and looks at her.
Ethel lifts her eyes)
You needn't look so far to see me.
I'm not the North Pole! What are you thinking of, Edgar?
Poe.
Of what Anacreon said to a fly that lighted on his brow
when he was composing an ode to Venus.
Ethel.
O! What was it?
Poe.
Away, thou rude and slight impertinence,
That with thy puny and detested bill
Dost think to feed on immortality.
(Goes upstairs)
Ethel.
Beast!
(Writes)
Virginia spoils him. If I had him now I'd
soon make a nice comfortable husband out of him!... An
envelope?... Yes....
(Takes one)
Stamp?... Yes....
(Takes one)
I'll get Bony to mail this for me.
(Exit, right, rear. Poe comes down stairway)
Poe.
Gone? Deliverance! It's too chilly for work upstairs.
(Coughs) What shall I do here this winter with only one
comfortable room in the house? Keep warm by the fire in my
brain, I suppose. (Sits and writes. Virginia is heard
without, humming a song. She enters, left, front, with a
rose in her hand)
Vir.
Darling, I found it deep under the leaves--Oh!
(Starts out softly. Poe writes on without looking
up. At the door she turns and throws the rose towards
him. It falls onto the table and upsets ink over papers)
Poe.
(Leaping up)
By every fiend in hell!
(Mrs. Clemm rushes in, followed by Zurie, Tat and Bony)
Mrs. C.
My son, what is the matter?
Poe.
See what that child has done!
Mrs. C.
(With dignity)
Your wife, Edgar.
Poe.
My wife! Great God! O, Helen! Helen!
(Rushes from the room, left rear)
Bony.
I tol' yo' he wah mad! I done tol' yo' Mars Edgah gone
mad! He look at me jes so!
(Mimics)
Tat.
(Looking through window)
Dah he go now troo de orchard jes a runnin'!
Bony.
Obah de fence!
Tat.
An' no hat on!
Zu.
Stop yo' mouf an' come out o' heah, yo' wussless niggahs!
I make yo' know wha' yo' b'longs!
(Takes them out)
Mrs. C.
O, Virginia! What an hour for you!
Vir.
What an hour for him, mamma!
Mrs. C.
Strange child! Not to think of yourself!
Vir.
How can I, when he is suffering so?
Mrs. C.
My angel daughter!
Vir.
(Kissing her)
We will be brave, my mother. I hear the
girls. Go to them one moment--do!
(Exit Mrs. Clemm) ...
Helen! Dear God above!
(Drops on her knees by a chair. After a moment
of agony, rises, goes to table and looks at papers)
What is it I have ruined?
(Reads silently)
O, what beauty!... I think I can make this out and copy it
for him. But now he may never finish it. The heavenly moment
is gone ... and I robbed him of it.... I, who should guard
him and keep the world away. That is my little part--too
little, God knows! O, if I could really help him!
(Enter Ethel and Annie)
Eth.
O, Virginia, now that we're rid of that troublesome
husband let's have one of our good old-fashioned times!
We'll sit by the fire and tell tales. It's too cold anyway
to go to the woods.
Vir.
(Absently)
Edgar is there.
Annie.
And there let him stay! I'm sure it's better for both of
you. You hang about him too much, Virginia. He'll quit
loving you, mamma says he will, if you're not more
sensible. Help me draw up this sofa, Ethel.
(They pull sofa to the fire.
Annie settles herself comfortably)
I feel just like giving you a lecture, Virginia. You must
make Edgar go out more. Anybody will get queer shut up
here. The other day when mamma asked him to come to our
party he wasn't more than half polite when he refused, and
we were going to have Mr. Melrose Libbie to meet him too.
Said his work would keep him at home! Now you know,
Virginia, that poetry isn't work. It's just dash off a
line now and then, and there you are! Mr. Libbie said so.
O, he had the sweetest thing on the woman's page in last
Sunday's paper! Did you see it? You'd better call Edgar's
attention to it. Mamma read it to all of us at the
breakfast table, and--
Eth.
O, stop your chatter, Annie, and let Virginia tell us one
of her fairy stories just as she used to do. We'll forget
all about Edgar and make believe she isn't married at all.
Vir.
(Painfully)
Forgive me, dear girls, but I've some work
that I must do to-day.
Mabel.
Must do! Who ever heard the like?
Vir.
I was wrong. It is some work that I choose to do--
that it will be my happiness to do.
Ethel.
For Edgar?
Vir.
Yes.
Annie.
You are a little fool!
Vir.
Yes ... I am a little fool.
Ethel.
O, there's help for you if you know it!
Vir.
If I were not a little fool
I could be of more help to Edgar.
Ethel and Annie.
Oh!
Annie.
(Jumping up)
Then we can't stay to-day!
Vir.
I am so sorry--but--
Annie.
O, we might as well give you up first as last!
(Exeunt girls)
Vir.
(Sits at table and stares at the papers)
... A little fool
... a little fool.
(CURTAIN) _
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