The Stepmother | Page 5

sight of Pauline) Ah! Here you are, darling.
Gertrude Doesn't she look beautiful?
Godard Madame.
Gertrude Forgive me, sir. I had no eyes excepting for my handiwork.
Godard Mademoiselle is radiant!
Gertrude We have some people to dinner to-day, and I am something
more than a stepmother to her; I love to deck her out, for she is to me
like my own daughter.
Godard (aside) They were evidently expecting me!
Gertrude (aside to Godard) I am going to leave you alone with her.

Now is the time for your declaration. (To the General) My dear, let us
go out on the veranda and see if our friend the doctor is coming.
The General I am at your service, as usual. (To Pauline) Good-bye, my
pet. (To Godard) I shall see you later.
(Gertrude and the General go to the veranda, but Gertrude keeps her
eye on Godard and Pauline. Ferdinand shows his head at the door of
Pauline's chamber, but at a quick sign from her, he hurriedly withdraws
it unobserved.)
Godard (at the front of the stage) Let me see, what fine and dainty
speech can I make to her? Ah, I have it! (To Pauline) It is a very fine
day, mademoiselle.
Pauline It certainly is, sir.
Godard Mademoiselle--
Pauline Sir?
Godard It is in your power to make the day still finer for me.
Pauline How can I do that?
Godard Don't you understand me? Has not Madame de Grandchamp
said anything to you about the subject nearest my heart?
Pauline While she was helping me to dress, an instant ago, she said a
great many complimentary things about you!
Godard And did you agree with her, even in the slightest way?
Pauline Oh, sir, I agreed with all she said!
Godard (seating himself on a chair, aside) So far so good. (Aloud) Did
she commit a pardonable breach of confidence by telling you that I was
so much in love with you that I wished to see you the mistress of
Rimonville?

Pauline She gave me to understand by her hints that you were coming
with the intention of paying me a very great compliment.
Godard (falling on his knees) I love you madly, mademoiselle; I prefer
you to Mlle. de Blondville, to Mlle. de Clairville, to Mlle. de Verville,
to Mlle. de Pont-de-Ville--to--
Pauline Oh, that is sufficient, sir, you throw me into confusion by these
proofs of a love which is quite unexpected! Your victims make up
almost a hecatomb. (Godard rises.) Your father was contented with
taking the victims to market! But you immolate them.
Godard (aside) I really believe she is making fun of me. But wait
awhile! Wait awhile!
Pauline I think at least we ought to wait awhile; and I must confess--
Godard You do not wish to marry yet. You are happy with your parents,
and you are unwilling to leave your father.
Pauline That is it, exactly.
Godard In that case, there are some mothers who would agree that their
daughter was too young, but as your father admits that you are
twenty-two I thought that you might possibly have a desire to be settled
in life.
Pauline Sir!
Godard You are, I know, quite at liberty to decide both your own
destiny and mine; but in accordance with the wishes of your father and
of your second mother, who imagine that your heart is free, may I be
permitted still to have hope?
Pauline Sir, however flattering to me may be your intention in thus
seeking me out, that does not give you any right to question me so
closely.
Godard (aside) Is it possible I have a rival? (Aloud) No one,

mademoiselle, gives up the prospect of happiness without a struggle.
Pauline Do you still continue in this strain? I must leave you, sir.
Godard Thank you, mademoiselle. (Aside) So much for your sarcasm.
Pauline Come sir, you are rich, and nature has given you a fine person;
you are so well educated and so witty that you will have no difficulty in
finding some young person richer and prettier than I am.
Godard How can that be when one is in love?
Pauline Well sir, that is the very point.
Godard (aside) She is in love with someone; I must find out who it is.
(Aloud) Mademoiselle, will you at least permit me to feel that I am not
in disgrace and that I may stay here a few days?
Pauline My father will answer you on that score.
Gertrude (coming forward to Godard) Well, how are things going?
Godard A blunt refusal, without even a hope of her relenting; her heart
is evidently already occupied.
Gertrude (to Godard) Her heart occupied? This child has been brought
up by me, and I know to the contrary; and