ACT I.

(In Three Scenes.)

FIRST SCENE. —The exterior of the Foundling Hospital. A dark night. The wind heard moaning. “THE LADY,”plainly dressed,is discovered waiting at the door by which the nurses of the Foundling enter and leave the institution. THE LADYlistens at the door,then takes a turn on the stage,and returns to the door. At the same moment two or three nurses pass out. THE LADY,after eyeing them carefully,one by one,under the lamp which is over the door,lets them go,without speaking to them.A pause after the last nurse has gone out. SALLY GOLDSTRAWappears at the door. THE LADYrecognises and stops her. The dialogue begins.

The Lady. Stop!

Sally. What do you want, ma’am?

The Lady. A word with you in private.

Sally. Are you mistaking me for somebody else? I have never seen you before.

The Lady. I sawyou this morning. You were pointed out to me by a friend who was willing to assist me so far. You are known here as Sally Goldstraw. And you first entered this institution, on this very day, twelve years since. It was impossible for me to speak to you this morning, for it was impossible for me to see you in private. I must speak to you now.

Sally. You seem to know all about me, ma’am. Might I make so bold as to ask, whoyou are?

The Lady. Come and look at me under the lamp.

Sally (looking at her under the lamp). I don’t know you. I never saw you before to-night.

The Lady. Do I look like a happy woman?

Sally. No, ma’am. You look as if you had something on your mind.

The Lady. Ihave something on my mind. I am one of the many miserable mothers who have never known what a mother’s happiness is. If my child is still living, he is in the Foundling Hospital — he has grown to be a boy, and I have never seen him!

Sally. I am heartily sorry for you, ma’am. But what can I do?

The Lady. You can carry your memory back through twelve years. You can recal the day when you first entered that house.

Sally. Twelve years is a long time, ma’am.

The Lady. Is it long toyou? Think how long it has been tome!