Mary Price; or, The Adventures of a Servant Girl — page 34: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= SC. Iv.] MARY PRICE. dl Jemima, open the window—give me air—I choke—that’s right, good girl, | thank you—wider, wider ! (slowly recovering) Re-enter MOTHER LEE with LORD CLAVERING, C. door. Moruer L. Yes, your lordship, she is quite deranged, see how wildly she glares, Lorp C. (R.) She has been too roughly treated by those fellows, but will presently recover. Speak to her. Morner L. (u.) Youare quitesafe, Mary; don’t be frightened. Mary. See, the clouds expand, and from heaven descends an angel form—it hovers o’er my head—joy! it is my mother! she comes to guard her child! Oh! bliss unutterable ! Lorp C. This is becoming wearisome. MARY. (turning towards LORD CLAVERING and shuddering) What demon form is that? Do not leave me, mother! stay— protect your child! Oh! she is gone—gone; and Iam alone— 3 helpless, defenceless. Oh! mercy, heaven, mercy ! MotTuHer L. Pray don’t take on so: you are with friends. — Mary. Friends! Where are they—and what place is this ? My wandering thoughts begin again to rally—reason returns! Where are the murderers who dragged me hither ?—who have -so nearly slain me, in the effort to stifle my cries for aid and succour. Lorp C. It shall be my task to punish chem, charming girl. MOTHER LEE goes off, C. door. Mary. (sees him and recoils) Ah! Clavering! Oh! now and too well do I understand. This is thy den of infamy ; but you shall not hold me; I will shriek for aid. Help !—in heaven’s name—help ! help! Lorp C. You will but awake the forest echoes. Mary. Cowardly libertine! I scorn and defy you now, as oft before. The innocent are ever under heaven’s protection ; but for guilty wretches like to thee, sooner or later the thunder of its wrath descends. Lorp C. More charming than ever in your heroics, Mary Price! I have long adored you; fairly you would not be won; so thank yourself, if you dislike the means by which at last I have secured you. Mary. And you are a lord—by birth a ruler of us common people. Most fit and worthy are you to govern others!—learn first to govern and control your own vile nature! O, my lord—born to wealth and power—what a pity there was not also some hereditary virtue to which you might succeed ! Lorp. C. Insolent girl! I will bend your haughty spirit, and, may be, break your heart. Be wise, and give yourself willingly to my arms; for having gone so far, I shall not stop till you are wholly mine. GCOMIIGIOO SS C@