Page:Representative American plays.pdf/844
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WILLIAM VAUGHN MOODY
827
pression gradually changing from passionate excitement to brooding distress. Vaguely, as the music grows fainter and dies away.) I—we were saying—. (He grasps her arm in nervous apprehension.) For God's sake, tell me.—Are there many people—waiting—out there?
Rhoda. Hundreds, if not thousands.
Michaelis. (Walks about.) Thousands.—Thousands of thousands!— (He stops beside her.) You won't leave me alone?
Rhoda. (Hesitates, then speaks with decision.) No.
Michaelis. (Continuing his walk.) Thousands of thousands!
(The hall door opens, Dr. Littlefield and a Clergyman, the Rev. John Culpepper, enter. The latter stares inquiringly from Michaelis to the Doctor, who nods affirmatively, and adjusts his glasses.)
Culpepper. (Mutters to Littlefield.) Nonsense! Sacrilegious nonsense!
Littlefield. (Same tone.) I've done my best.
(Behind them comes Mrs. Beeler, supported by her Husband. At the same moment Martha enters from the kitchen, with tea; Uncle Abe and Annie follow.)
Beeler. (On the threshold.) Mary, take another minute to consider.
(Mrs. Beeler, as if without hearing this protest, gazes at Michaelis, and advances into the room with a gesture of the arms which causes her supporter to loosen his hold, though he follows slightly behind, to render aid if necessary.)
Mrs. Beeler. (To Michaelis.) Tell me that I may go out, and stand before them for a testimony!
Littlefield. As a physician, I must formally protest.
Culpepper. And I as a minister of the Gospel.
Mrs. Beeler. (To Michaelis, with a nervous, despairing gesture.) Speak to them! Explain to them! I am too weak.
(There is a sound of excited voices outside, near at hand, then a sudden trample of footsteps at the entrance door. As Beeler goes hurriedly to the door it bursts open and a young woman with a baby in her arms crowds past him, and stands looking wildly about the room.)
Beeler. (As he forces the others back.) You can't come in here, my friends! Stand back!
(The woman gazes from one to another of the men. The old negro points at Michaelis. She advances to him, holding out the child.)
Mother. Don't let my baby die! For Christ's sake, don't let him die!
(He examines the child's face, touches the mother's head tenderly, and signs to Rhoda to take them into the inner room.)
Michaelis. Take her with you, I will come.
Rhoda. (With gentle urgency, to the woman.) Come with me.
(She leads the woman out through the hall door.)
Michaelis. (To Mrs. Beeler, as he points outside.) Tell them to wait until to-morrow at sunrise. (Mr. and Mrs. Beeler move toward the entrance door; some of the others start after, some linger, curious to know what will happen to the child. Michaelis turns upon them with a commanding gesture.) Go, all of you!
(The room is cleared except for Littlefield, who goes last, stops in the doorway, closes the door, and approaches Michaelis. He speaks in a friendly and reasonable tone.)
Littlefield. You're on the wrong track, my friend.
Michaelis. I asked you to go.
Littlefield. I heard you. I want to say a word or two first. For your own sake and for that woman's sake, you'd better listen. You can't do anything for her baby.
Michaelis. Is that for you to say?
Littlefield. Yes, sir! It is most decidedly for me to say.
Michaelis. By what authority?
Littlefield. By the authority of medical knowledge.—You are a very remarkable man, with a very remarkable gift. In your own field, I take off my hat to you. If you knew yourself as science knows you, you might make the greatest doctor living. Your handling of Mrs. Beeler's case was masterly. But—come right down to it—you did n't work the cure.
Michaelis. I know that.
Littlefield. Who do you think did?
Michaelis. (Raising his hands.) He whom I serve, and whom you blaspheme!
Littlefield. No, sir! He whom I serve,