king root,
Grow strong as flowers. He might be right or wrong!
I thought him right; and therefore did his bidding.
Most certainly he loved you--so did I;
Ay! well as I had been myself your father!

[His hand is resting upon his knee, JULIA attempts to take it--he
withdraws it--looks at her--she hangs her head.]

Well; you may take my hand! I need not say
How fast you grew in knowledge, and in goodness,--
That hope could scarce enjoy its golden dreams
So soon fulfilment realised them all!
Enough. You came to womanhood. Your heart,
Pure as the leaf of the consummate bud,
That's new unfolded by the smiling sun,
And ne'er knew blight nor canker!

[JULIA attempts to place her other hand on his shoulder--he leans from
her--looks at her--she hangs her head again.]

Put it there!
Where left I off? I know! When a good woman
Is fitly mated, she grows doubly good,
How good soe'er before! I found the man
I thought a match for thee; and, soon as found,
Proposed him to thee. 'Twas your father's will,
Occasion offering, you should be married
Soon as you reached to womanhood.--You liked
My choice, accepted him.--We came to town;
Where, by important matter summoned thence,
I left you an affianced bride!

_Julia_. You did!
You did! [Leans her head upon her hand and weeps.]

_Wal_. Nay, check thy tears! Let judgment now,
Not passion, be awake. On my return,
I found thee--what? I'll not describe the thing
I found thee then! I'll not describe my pangs
To see thee such a thing! The engineer
Who lays the last stone of his sea-built tower,
It cost him years and years of toil to raise--
And, smiling at it, tells the winds and waves
To roar and whistle now--but, in a night,
Beholds the tempest sporting in its place--
May look aghast, as I did!

_Julia_. [Falling on her knees.] Pardon me!
Forgive me! pity me!

_Wal_. Resume thy seat. [Raises her.]
I pity thee; perhaps not thee alone
It fits to sue for pardon.

_Julia_. Me alone!
None other!

_Wal_. But to vindicate myself,
I name thy lover's stern desertion of thee.
What wast thou then with wounded pride? A thing
To leap into a torrent! throw itself
From a precipice! rush into a fire! I saw
Thy madness--knew to thwart it were to chafe it--
And humoured it to take that course, I thought,
Adopted, least 'twould rue!

_Julia_. 'Twas wisely done.

_Wal_. At least 'twas for the best.

_Julia_. To blame thee for it
Was adding shame to shame!