Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The poetical works of Alfred Tennyson. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material is part of the Elmer Belt Florence Nightingale collection. The original may be consulted at University of California Libraries.
816/870 page 780
![But, Eva, why did you write Seek me at the bottom of the river ''? Eva. Why 1 because I meant it! — that dreadful night! that lonely walk to Littlechester, the rain beating in my face all the way, dead miduiglit when I came upon the bridge; the river, black, sHmy, swirling under me in the lamplight, by the rotten wharfs — but I was so mad, that I mounted upon tlie parapet — Dora. You make me shudder! Jlou. To fling myself over, when I heard a voice, Girl, what are you doing there ? It wrs a Sister of Mercy, come from the death-bed of a pauper, who had died in his misery blessing God, and the Sister took me to her house, and bit by bit — for she ])romised secrecy — I told her all. Dora. And what then ? Eva. She would have persuaded me to come back here, but I could n't. Then she ^ot me a place as tmrsery governess, and when the children grew too old for me, and I asked her once more to help me, once more she said, '' Go home ; but I had n't the heart or face to do it. And then — what would Father say ? I sank so low that I went into service — the drudge of a lodging-house — and when the mistress died, and I appealed to the Sister again, her answer— I think I have it about me — yes, there it is ! Dora (reads). My dear Child,—I can do no more for you. I have done wrong in keeping your secret; your Fa- ther must be now in extreme old age. Go back to him and ask his forgiveness be- fore he dies. — Sister Agatha. Sister Agatha is ri<:ht. Don't you long for Fa- ther's forgiveness? Eva. I wonld almost die to have it! Dorn. And he may die before he gives it; may drop off any day, any hour. You must see him at once. {Rings bell. Enter Milly). Milly, my dear, how did you Leave Mr. Steer ? Milly. He's been a-moiinin' and a-groiin- in' in 'is sleep, but I thinks he be wakken- in' oop. Dora. Tell him that I and the lady here wish to see him. You see she is lamed, and cannot uo down to him. Milly. Yeas, Miss, I will. [Exit Milly. Dora. I ought to prepare you. You must not expect to find our Father as he was five years ago. He is much altered i but I trust that your return—for you know, my dear, you were always his fu- vorite— will give him, as they say, a new lease of life Eva {dinging to Dora.) Oh, Dora, Dora! Enter Steer, led bi/ Milly. Steer. Hes the cow cawved 1 Dora. No, father. Steer. Be the colt dead ? Dora. No, father. Steer. He wur sa bellows'd outwi' the wind this muruin', 'at I tell'd 'em to gallop 'im. Be he dead ? Dora. Not that I know. Steer. What hasta sent fur me then, fur? Dora {taking Steer's arm). Well, Fa- ther, I have a surprise for you. Steer. I ha niver been surprised but once i' my life, and I went blind upon it. Dora. Eva has come home. Steer. Hoiim? fro' the bottom o' the river 1 Dora. No, Father, that was a mistake. She's here again. Steer. The Steers was all gentlcfoalks i' the owd times, an' I worked early an' laiite to maiike 'em all gentlefoiilks agean. The land belonged to the Steers i' the owd times, an' it belongs to the Steers ageiin: I bowt it back agean; but I could n't buy my darter back agean when she lost hersen, could I? I eddicated boiith on 'em to marry gentlemen, an' one on 'em went an' lost hersen i' the river. Dora. No, father, she 's here. Steer. Here! she moiint coom here. What would her mother saiiy ? If it be her sihoiist, we mun abide it. We can't keep a ghoast out. Evn {fulling at his feet). 0 forgive me? forgive me! Steer. Who said that ? Taake me awaay, little jjell. It be one o' my bad daays. \Exit Steer led by Milly. Dora {smoothing Eva's forehead). Be not so cast down, my sweet Eva. You heard him say it was one of his bad days. He will be sure to know you to-morrow. Eva. It is almost the last of my bad days, I think. I am very faint. I must lie down. Give me your arm. Lead me back again. [Dora takes Eva into inn■^r ruojiu](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b20452597_0816.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
