SCENE.—Mrs.Selby'sChamber.

scene.—mrs.selby'schamber.

mrs.frampton,katherine,working.

mrs.frampton

iamthinking,child,howcontraryourfates

havetracedourlotsthroughlife.anotherneedle,

thisworksuntowardly.anheiressborn

tosplendidprospects,atourcommonschool

iwasasoneaboveyouall,notofyou;

hadmydistinctprerogatives;myfreedoms,

deniedtoyou.pray,listen—

katherine

imusthear

whatyouarepleasedtospeak!—howmyheartsinkshere!

[aside.]

mrs.frampton

mychambertomyself,myseparatemaid,

mycoach,andsoforth.—notthatneedle,simpleone,

withthegreatstaringeyefitforacyclops!

mineownarenotsoblindedwiththeirgriefs

buticouldmakeashifttothreadasmaller.

acableoracamelmightgothroughthis,

andneverstrainforthepassage.

katherine

iwillfityou.—

intolerabletyranny![aside.]

mrs.frampton

quick,quick;

youwerenotoncesoslack.—asiwassaying,

notayoungthingamongye,butobservedme

abovethemistress.whobutiwassoughtto

inallyourdangers,allyourlittledifficulties,

yourgirlishscrapes?iwasthescape-goatstill,

tofetchyouoff;keptallyoursecrets,some,

perhaps,sincethen—

katherine

nomoreofthat,formercy,

ifyou'dnothaveme,sinkingatyourfeet,

cleavethecoldearthforcomfort.[kneels.]

mrs.frampton

thistome?

thisposturetoyourfriendhadbettersuited

theorphankatherineinherhumbleschool-days

tothethenrichheiress,thanthewifeofselby,

ofwealthymr.selby,

tothepoorwidowframpton,sunkassheis.

come,come,

'twassomething,or'twasnothing,thatisaid;

ididnotmeantofrightyou,sweetestbed-fellow!

youoncewereso,butselbynowengrossesyou.

i'llmakehimgiveyouupanightorso;