est man; somewhat quick and fiery, but warm-hearted and generous, and whoever represents this part should bear these characteristics in mind and endeavor to embody them. Malcolm is a handsome, brave, studious youth. Madeleine a fair, accomplished lovely girl-too much purity and loveliness cannot be imparted to this character. COSTUMES.-James-green cloth over-shirt, high dark riding boots, sword and leather belt, Scotch bonnet, short staff in hand; Malcolm Young, a gray cloth shirt, long, black, arm-hole coat, student's cap. Madeleine, white, walered silk, trimmed with blue and cherry checkers, plaid scarf, and a veil.] SCENE-The lawn at Laichmont. Enter MALCOLM YOUNG, with a book, R. MAL. It tells me to forget the world;-forget! For self, apart from life's soft charities No hope-no object! (reads.) Enter behind, JAMES and MADELEINE, R. "MADE. I have a mind to try "To make him gay. Shall I put both my hands "MADE. Oh he's so dull, "You shall not get a smile into his face, "Nor smoothe his brow by all that you can do. "JAMES. Nay, I need hardly try, if you have failed. "But I can scarce believe there breathes the man, "The stock, the stone, that would not feel the power "Of words like yours. Why, the dull night as well Might try to keep its gloom on, when the day "Laughs from the east. He must be cold as ice, "Harder than steel, that melts not at such looks: Try him again." 66 MADE. Oh, no! I scarce can venture:" He looks with such sad melancholy eyes, I almost grow as sorrowful as himself. (sighs.) JAMES. Do you ?—I'll see what efforts I can make To chase his sadness. MADE. Do, and I'll be by To aid you. Oh! I wish you had known him, Sir, Before he thought of turning priest. JAMES. A priest ! He's a good soldier spoilt. I'll speak to him. JAMES. Good morrow, master Young; JAMES. Then your trusty staff played sentinel JAMES. Yes, many thanks; thanks warm and true. MAL. Oh, pardon, Sir, 'Twas nothing, JAMES. And you won't shake hands with me? JAMES. Well, now we're plighted friends, I cannot bear to see you moping thus. MAL. Oh, Sir, it-I am very JAMES. Tush, man, tush! You're wretched-very wretched; what's the matter?·· Is not your kinsman kind? MAL. Yes; he is kind. JAMES. Have you no powerful friend to plead your cause, And raise you in the church? MAL. I would not rise; "I tell you, sir, I have no wish to rise; 66 66 Enough that I am in the church without Being raised; I would not have a powerful friend "To plead my cause." JAMES. Oh! MAL. If Sir Adam Weir Had deigned to ask my thoughts,-but no-no-no He used the power, wrung from my poverty My orphan youth,-but 1 am wrong-most wrong-! JAMES. Ah! but that were unkind To friends like me: for, trust me, though so short MAL. But I know you not I never saw you till an hour ago. JAMES. Oh !-so suspicious? Look on me, my friend"See you a lurking devil in my eyes?" tell you I would serve you if I could, "And sympathy is all that I can offer. "Reject it not. I'm but a simple yeoman; "But I would know your grief, if happily "I might relieve it. If it come to the worst, • I can but share it." Come, come! hide no more MAL. Why-I-I have no sorrow to reveal. MAL. Oh, forgive me, Sir; My heart was full. I do not scorn your friendship, JAMES. Now, then, 'tis as I thought. You'll not repent Your trusting me. MAL. There's something in your eye Moves confidence. I love the very sound Of your bold voice. You have no gloomy thoughts- JAMES. Ah! You know not-but-enough! Poor Malcolm Young! Tell me what weighs so heavy on your heart. MADE. (behind). Now I shall hear what makes poor Malcolm sad. MAL. Sir, 'tis but three weeks since that I came homeHome! no, I dare not call it home,-came here; After long tarrying at St. Andrew's school, By order of my kinsman, "at the last "A month since,-'tis one little month ago." MADE. (aside). Now comes the hidden grief. To draw the sword 'neath gallant James's eye, And rouge it to the hilt in English blood! JAMES. Heaven bless you, boy!-your hand again-your hand! Would you have served the king? MAL. Ay! died for him! JAMES. And he'd have cherished you, believe me, boy, "And held you in his heart, and trusted you— "And you'd ha' been true brothers;-for a love "Like yours is what poor James has need of most.' Is this your grief? MAL. Alas, my grief lies deeper! "I might have bent me to my cruel fate, "With pray'rs that our brave king find Scots as true 'Mid well-known scenes, in the remembered rooms, MADE. (aside). To love! to love! How strange this is! JAMES. HOW found you this, poor friend? MAL. By throbbings at the heart, when I but heard 66 'Spread o'er the childish charms I loved so well, MADE. (aside). My head goes round, my heart will burst! MAL. I saw A world lie open-and an envious spell Fencing it from me; day by day, I felt Grief and the blackness of unsunn'd despair Closing all round me. JAMES. And the maiden's name? MAL. Was Madeleine Weir. (MADELEINE recoils, and leans for support on the side scene, L.) JAMES. (goes to MADELEINE). You're faint; you're dead ly pale! MADE. "Tis nothing,-'twas a pain-a sudden pang Shot through my head-but, I am better now. MAL. She was not listening! MADE. No; I heard nothing-nothing; "Twill soon be gone. I pray you, leave me nowI'm strong, I'm strong! (she tries to walk, but sinks.) Help, Malcolm! I am dying! JAMES. (catching her ere she falls). Run, run for aid! and come not back again; Perhaps she heard you. I will guard her here. MAL. Help, help! for Madeleine-"help, Widow Barton!" [Exit MALCOLM, R. JAMES. Wake, Madeleine-he's gone. MADE. What was't I said! Did he hear aught, "or see me-how I fell ?" JAMES. No, no; he heard yon not-come, cheer you, lady, What can I say to cheer her? Droop not so, There shall come happier days. Made. Oh! never, never! JAMES. Ay, but there shall, tho'! "Gather up your heart, "And brace you for a struggle with your grief. "What! hopelessness sit on a brow like this;. "And sorrow blight the roses on these lips ?" I tell you, do not sigh, poor Madeleine; I tell you-nay, I lay command on you. By heaven! I'd trample on all laws in the world MADE. Oh, Sir, by your voice I guess how kind you are! JAMES. Ay, kind and true, And you shall never know me aught than kind, "MADE. Oh, Sir, I'm weak! "A moment with myself would strengthen me,"I think I'm better now. "JAMES." Come, lean on me! MADE. No, no; I'd be alone! JAMES. Then droop not, girl; "Tis a black night that lets no starlight through; A hapless pair that knew not their own hearts, In tears. MADE. For me !-for me and I the while, [Exit, L. |