The Hunchback | Page 8

Julia. And what of that? Have your town-palaces a hall like this?
Couches so fragrant? walls so high-adorned? Casements with such
festoons, such prospects, Helen, As these fair vistas have? Your kings
and queens! See me a May-day queen, and talk of them!

Helen. Extremes are ever neighbours. 'Tis a step From one to the other!
Were thy constancy A reasonable thing--a little less Of constancy--a
woman's constancy - I should not wonder wert thou ten years hence
The maid I know thee now; but, as it is, The odds are ten to one, that
this day year Will see our May-day queen a city one!
Julia. Never! I'm wedded to a country life: O, did you hear what Master
Walter says! Nine times in ten the town's a hollow thing, Where what
things are is nought to what they show; Where merit's name laughs
merit's self to scorn! Where friendship and esteem that ought to be The
tenants of men's hearts, lodge in their looks And tongues alone. Where
little virtue, with A costly keeper, passes for a heap; A heap for none
that has a homely one! Where fashion makes the law--your umpire
which You bow to, whether it has brains or not! Where Folly taketh off
his cap and bells, To clap on Wisdom, which must bear the jest! Where
to pass current you must seem the thing, The passive thing, that others
think; and not Your simple, honest, independent self!
Helen. Ay: so says Master Walter. See I not What can you find in
Master Walter, Julia, To be so fond of him!
Julia. He's fond of me! I've known him since I was a child. E'en then,
The week I thought a weary, heavy one, That brought not Master
Walter. I had those About me then that made a fool of me, As children
oft are fooled; but more I loved Good Master Walter's lesson than the
play With which they'd surfeit me. As I grew up, More frequent Master
Walter came, and more I loved to see him! I had tutors then, Men of
great skill and learning--but not one That taught like Master Walter.
What they'd show me, And I, dull as I was, but doubtful saw, - A word
from Master Walter made as clear As daylight! When my schooling
days were o'er - That's now good three years past--three years--I vow
I'm twenty, Helen!--well, as I was saying, When I had done with school,
and all were gone, Still Master Walter came! and still he comes,
Summer or winter--frost or rain! I've seen The snow upon a level with
the hedge, Yet there was Master Walter!
Helen. Who comes here? A carriage, and a gay one--who alights?
Pshaw! Only Master Walter! What see you, Which thus repairs the arch

of the fair brow, A frown was like to spoil?--A gentleman! One of our
town kings! Mark!--How say you now? Wouldst be a town queen, Julia?
Which of us, I wonder, comes he for?
Julia. For neither of us; He's Master Walter's clerk, most like.
Helen. Most like! Mark him as he comes up the avenue; So looks a
clerk! A clerk has such a gait! So does a clerk dress, Julia!--mind his
hose - They're very like a clerk's! a diamond loop And button, note you,
for his clerkship's hat, - O, certainly a clerk! A velvet cloak, Jerkin of
silk, and doublet of the same, - For all the world a clerk! See, Julia, see,
How Master Walter bows, and yields him place, That he may first go
in--a very clerk! I'll learn of thee, love, when I'd know a clerk!
Julia. I wonder who he is!
Helen. Wouldst like to know? Wouldst for a fancy ride to town with
him? I prophesy he comes to take thee thither!
Julia. He ne'er takes me to town! No, Helen, no! To town who will, a
country life for me!
Helen. We'll see!
[Enter FATHOM.]
Fath. You're wanted, madam.
Julia. [Embarrassed.] Which of us?
Fath. You, madam.
Helen. Julia! what's the matter? Nay, Mount not the rose so soon! He
must not see it A month hence. 'Tis loves flower, which once she wears,
The maid is all his own.
Julia. Go to!
Helen. Be sure He comes to woo thee! He will bear thee hence; He'll

make thee change the country for the town.
Julia. I'm constancy. Name he the town to me, I'll tell what I think on't!
Helen. Then you guess He comes a wooing?
Julia. I guess nought.
Helen. You do! At your grave words, your lips, more honest, smile,
And show them to be traitors. Hie to him.
Julia. Hie thee to soberness.
[Goes out.]
Helen. Ay, will I, when, Thy bridemaid, I shall hie to church with thee.
Well,