Melinda

“ The gorgeous Melinda, therefore, was not a person calculated to inspire a lady of her high-toned mind with any deep feeling of regard or esteem. The elder woman, who, from her long probation at service, before she was fortunate enough to secure William Brown, the grocer's apprentice, had caught that cringing obsequiousness that we so often see in those accustomed to serve, and could have borne patiently, any slights or rebuffs that opposed her entrance into the charmed circle which [18] she had determined to invade at all hazards. ”

“ Why should I call another man master? And my poor Melinda, she is taken away from me, and I dare not ask the tyrant where she is. It is childish to stand here weeping. Why should my eyes be filled with tears, when my brain is on fire? I will find my wife—I will; and wo to him who shall try to keep me from her!
Scene 5.—Room in a small Cottage on the Poplar Farm.
(Ten miles from Muddy Creek, and owned by Dr. Gaines.)
Enter Melinda, R.
Melinda. Here I am, watched, and kept a prisoner in this place. Oh, I would that I could escape, and once more get [33] with Glen. Poor Glen! ”

“ As the two children went down the stairs together, Nelly said,
“Isn’t she good, Melindy?”
Melinda was not accustomed to behave herself for so great a length of time; her stock of good conduct was now pretty nearly exhausted, so she answered rather sharply,
“Of course she is. I know that as well as you, without bein’ told.”
Nelly felt something choking her in her throat.
“I will not,” she said firmly to herself, “I will not answer back. I’ll do as Martin says, and make a friend of Melindy, if I can. She isn’t so very bad, after all. Why, I do believe I rather like her.” ”

“ The best book that Helen Campbell has yet produced is her latest story, 'Miss Melinda's Opportunity,' which is especially strong in character-drawing, and its life sketches are realistic and full of vigor, with a rich vein of humor running through them. Miss Melinda is a dear lady of middle life, who has finally found her opportunity to do a great amount of good with her ample pecuniary means by helping those who have the disposition to help themselves. ”

“ She knows you put her first, and she knows you're a clever man and wouldn't put her first if there wasn't a reason. And her father be going to die presently and—and God knows what's in her thoughts, of course. And then to hear that Miss King be worth all the women you've ever seen in your life put together, and be the top flower of the bunch, and such a wonder as was never seen by mortal man—why, of course, Melinda took it to heart a bit. ”

“ Gaines, R.
Scene 3.—Forest at Night—Large Tree. Enter Melinda, L.
Melinda. This is indeed a dark night to be out and alone on this road. But I must find my husband, I must. Poor Glen! if he only knew that I was here, and could get to me, he would. What a curse slavery is! It separates husbands from their wives, and tears mothers from their helpless offspring, and blights all our hopes for this world. I must try to reach Muddy Creek before daylight, and seek out my husband. ”

“ Melinda said, crimsoning. "This is a respectable neighborhood, and I'm not answering any Kinsey report, understand?"
The little man nodded, scribbling. "Personal habits are tabu? I so regret. The demonstration." He waved grandly at the tray. "Anti-grav sandals? A portable solar converter? Apologizing for this miserable selection, but on Capella they told me—" He followed Melinda's entranced gaze, selected a tiny green vial. "This is merely a regenerative solution. You appear to have no cuts or bruises."
"Oh," said Melinda nastily. "Cures warts, cancer, grows hair, I suppose." ”

“ Harrow’s son, Sidney, has come home, and oh, Miss Milly and Miss Elinor are so glad!”
“And so am I,” cried Nelly; “if ever there was good luck, that is.”
“I am not so sure about that,” said Melinda, with a sage, grown-up air; for she liked to seem like a woman, and often told her companions, “dear knows, if she wasn’t big enough to be thought one, she would like to know who was!”
"Why, isn’t Mr. Sidney a nice young man, Melindy?" asked Nelly, in bewilderment.
“Hush!” said Melinda, drawing her into a corner; “don’t talk so loud. ”

“ Melinda’s eyes grew round with eagerness. She had no doubts respecting what Miss Hackett advised her to do, and there was nothing for it but to take the risk. Then and there Dolores sat down and pencilled a note, directing Ludmilla to put on the red ulster after her performance, if possible, when people were going away, and slip out among them, joining Melinda, who would convey her to Miss Hackett’s. This was safer than for Gerald to be nearer, since he was liable to be recognized. Still it was a desperate risk, and Dolores had great doubts whether she should ever see her red Maori again. ”

“ She wanted to produce a good impression upon them. Her vocation, so she thought, was that of an authoress. She had sent several poems to the Atlantic Monthly and Harper’s Magazine at various times, but with singular unanimity both periodicals had “respectfully declined” them all. Melinda understood the reason well enough.
“It is because I am a Western literati,” she exclaimed to her brother, with a lofty contempt for grammar. “If I were a Boston or New York literati, they would be glad to get my productions.”
“I reckon you’re right, Melindy,” said her brother Ichabod. ”

“ Just see how that hemlock sticks out!”
“Well,” said Miss Elinor, “I like to see stump fences, very much indeed, Melinda. I think they are beautiful. The great roots look like the hands of giants, with the fingers stretched out to grasp something. So you see, I don’t mind if you make my wreath look like them.”
“Father says stump fences are the very best kind,” remarked Melinda, knowingly.
“I guess not the very best, Melindy,” Nell ventured to say.
[86] “Yes, they are,” persisted Melinda, with a toss of her head; “father says they last forever,—and he knows, for he has tried ’em!” ”

“ For once Melinda was speechless. But Uncle Joe was likely to be fluent when he got started. He cleared his throat and turned mild, suffused, half-shamed blue eyes on his shrinking niece. "Yes, your piece has come out in the paper, Melinda, and your folks are all-fired pleased with you. I told Lucy this morning I wisht your poor Pap could come back to earth for just this one day."
"Ah-h!" Melinda took a firm grip on the side of the buggy. "But I guess you'll have to write another right off. There is some jealousy amongst them that aren't in it," Uncle Joe went on. ”

“ Gaines, “and tell Dolly to kill a couple of fat pullets, and to put the biscuit to rise. I expect Brother Pinchen here this afternoon, and I want everything in order. Hannah, Hannah, tell Melinda to come here. We mistresses do have a hard time in this world; I don’t see why the Lord should have imposed such heavy duties on us poor mortals. Well, it can’t last always. I long to leave this wicked world, and go home to glory.”
At the hurried appearance of the waiting maid the mistress said: “I am to have company this afternoon, Melinda. ”

“ She could dance, execute a few showy pieces upon the piano without a blunder, utter glibly French and Italian phrases, and had, with the help of her teacher, finished, creditably, a landscape, a gorgeous sunset, of amber and crimson, and purple-tinted clouds, which hung in the most conspicuous position in her mother's drawing-room. Melinda read novels, frequented theatres, and talked slang, like the "girl of the period," and was the idol of her weak mother, whom she ruled like a queen. Unfortunately, "my lady Graystone," as she was called in the clique over which Mrs. ”

“ And on this afternoon of all others! Melinda wrote a very pretty hand. She was an ambitious girl, and had done her very best, that she might win the prize. Nelly saw the tears rise in her eyes, and her cheeks flush with the bitterness of her disappointment.
“Oh, dear!” cried Lucy Rook, a little [77] girl, who sat next; “Oh, dear! there’s a blot, Melindy!”
“Yes,” was the answer; “I wonder if I could scratch it out, so that the page will look neatly again. Lucy, lend me your knife, will you?”
Mistress Lucy looked straight at Melinda, and laughed a little cruel, mocking laugh. ”

“ Plume. Pho! let me see it. [Opening the Letter.] If she be a jilt—Damn her, she is one—there's her name at the bottom on't.
Wor. How! then I'll travel in good earnest—By all my hopes, 'tis Lucy's hand.
Plume. Lucy's!
Wor. Certainly—'tis no more like Melinda's character, than black is to white.
Plume. Then 'tis certainly Lucy's contrivance to draw in Brazen for a husband—But are you sure 'tis not Melinda's hand?
Wor. You shall see; where's the bit of paper I gave you just now that the devil wrote Melinda upon?
Kite. Here, sir.
Plume. 'Tis plain they are not the same ”

“ Melinda Honeysett it was who appeared and expressed pleasure.
"So you've come then, Mr. Chaffe. What a man of your word you are!"
"I hope so, Mrs. Honeysett. And very pleased to do anything for you and your father."
"Come in and sit down for five minutes. 'Tis a climb from Lower Town. But people say you can fly so easy as you can walk, and a hill's nought to you."
"We thin blades have the pull of the beefy ones in this country. I sometimes think I'll start a pony; but I like to use my legs and ban't often too tired." ”

“ Wilfred Vaughn is a catch for any young lady. It won't be my fault if Melindy isn't the belle of the evening, for I'm determined that no expense shall be spared."
The lady's dear friend vouchsafed her only a spiteful glance in return for this proof of confidence. She was thinking of her own beauteous Lucinda, and mentally declared that her daughter should outshine Melinda Brown on that momentous occasion, if the worthy contractor had to go into bankruptcy the next day. ”

“ Whereas I am informed that you make love to Miss Melinda Goosetrap. This is to let you know, that she is under promise of marriage to me; and that I am at this present waiting, at the back of Montague-house, with a pair of good pistols in my hand; and if you will keep your appointment, I will make your tongue confess (after the breath is out of your body) that you do not deserve her as well as ”

“ Takes an East-India Man, ib. The Particulars of the Action in Captain Mackra’s Letter, 119 to 122. Captain Mackra ventures on Board the Pyrate, 122. Is in Danger of being murder’d; 123. Preserv’d by a pleasant Incident, ib. The Pyrates Generosity to him, ib. Captain England deposed, and why, 124. Maroon’d on the Island Mauritius, ib. Some Account of that Island, ib. The Adventures of the Company continued, 124 to 126. Angria, an Indian Pyrate, 127. his Strength by Land and Sea, ib. The East-India Company’s Wars with him, 127, 128. The Pyrates go to the Island of Melinda, 129. ”

“ Delia (smiling, on Belinda's L.) . I'll be your mother if you like.
Belinda. Oh no, that wouldn't do, because then Mr. Baxter would feel that he ought to ask your permission before paying his attentions to me. He's just that sort of man. A niece is so safe–however good you are at statistics, you can't really prove anything.
Delia. All right, mummy.
Belinda (enjoying herself) . You'd like to be called by a different name, wouldn't you? There's something so thrilling about taking a false name. Such a lot of adventures begin like that. How would you like to be Miss Robinson, darling? ”

“ It isn't the sort of thing you shout through the window to a man on his way to America.
TREMAYNE (taking her in his arms) . Oh, Belinda, don't let me ever go away again.
(DEVENISH and DELIA enter from up L. and pass the windows on the way to the swing doors.)
BELINDA. I'm not going to, Jack. I'm going to settle down into a staid old married woman.
TREMAYNE. Oh no, you're not. You're going on just as you did before. And I'm going to propose to you every April, and win you, over all the other men in love with you.
BELINDA. You darling! (They embrace.) ”

“ When one's daughter has just returned from an expensive schooling in Paris, one likes to feel—
DELIA. What I meant, dear, was, am I to have a stepfather at last?
BELINDA. Now you're being too French, darling.
DELIA. Why, do you still think father may be alive?
BELINDA. Why not? It's only eighteen years since he left us, and he was quite a young man then.
DELIA. Yes, but surely, surely you'd have heard from him in all those years, if he'd been alive?
BELINDA. Well, he hasn't heard from me, and I'm still alive.
DELIA (looking earnestly at her mother, rises and moves L.C.) . ”

“ Tremayne exits to R., behind yew hedge. Belinda stays looking after him, then moves down to back of table and picking up the book of poems, gives that happy sigh of hers, only even more so.) O-oh!
(Enter Betty from porch.)
Betty. If you please, ma'am, Miss Delia says, are you coming in to tea?
Belinda (looking straight in front of her, and taking no notice of Betty, in a happy, dreamy voice) . Betty, ... about callers .... If Mr. Robinson calls–he's the handsome gentleman who hasn't been here before (puts book down) –you will say, "Not at home." And he will say, "Oh!" ”

“ Oh, I said it to Betty, but she only said, "Yes, ma'am."
DELIA. Poor mother!
BELINDA (jumping up suddenly, crossing to L. of and kissing DELIA again) . I simply must have another one. And to think that you're never going back to school any more. (Looking at her fondly, and backing to L.) Darling, you are looking pretty.
DELIA. Am I?
BELINDA. Lovely. (She kisses her once more, then she takes the cushion from the hammock, moves at back of table and places it on the head of the deck-chair.) And now you're going to stay with me for just as long as you want a mother. ”