PATRICK. Please shake hands with me, Master Morris.

ANDREW. And me too.

EDWARD. Good-by, good-by; all my dear friends!

_Enter the real_ MORRIS.

EDWARD (_who has turned away and don't see him_). And this is the dress I am always to wear. I am Morris, son of Mary and big Peter! Oh, I can bear that; but to leave Mrs. Langdon--to be no longer her son--to have no right to her love--oh! oh! I shall die!

MORRIS. Good morning, brother.

EDWARD (_without turning round_). Good morning, Master Edward.

MORRIS. You seem angry with me; but you are wrong. If I have injured you, it is not my fault. _I_ did not do it of my own will; and yet I have come to beg your pardon.

EDWARD. It is not your fault.

MORRIS. But--don't you love me?

EDWARD. Why do you ask, sir?

MORRIS. I call you "_brother_," and you call me "_sir_."

EDWARD (_with effort_). Well, if you wish it, I will call you _brother_.

MORRIS. And love me like one?

EDWARD. Yes.

MORRIS. Well, now, I'm going to try you. Here, do you see these things?

I found them in your pockets. This gold watch, this pocket book full of money, this yellow pin, with a little ball in the middle of it, which looks like gla.s.s--I really thought it was gla.s.s, and the pin copper, but they say it is a diamond set in gold, and worth more than all the rest.

Then I asked Mrs. Langdon if she had given me all these grand things to do just as I pleased with. She said, "Certainly"--and I have come as fast as ever I could with them to you!--take them!

EDWARD. Thank you. I'd rather you kept them.

MORRIS. Do you refuse your brother?

EDWARD. What could I do with such finery--they do not suit my humble station?

MORRIS. But it is not for yourself that I give them.

EDWARD. I don't understand you.

MORRIS. They are for your poor mother; for your father who works so hard, and is so patient and good. To sc.r.a.pe together money enough to pay his rent troubles him dreadfully; and so the very first time the landlord comes, give him all these gimcracks, on condition that he leaves him alone for the rest of the year.

EDWARD. Yes, I will do this; give them to me.

MORRIS. Here they are. Will you promise me one thing more?

EDWARD. What is it?

MORRIS. It is that you will love your father and mother dearly.

EDWARD. Yes, Morris; I will try.

MORRIS. And tell them every day that I shall never forget them; and when I am a man, and you are too, you shall all come and live with me, and you and I will have everything together, just like two brothers--will you?

EDWARD. Yes, brother--(_Morris clasps him in his arms, and says_)--"Oh, how happy you have made me!"

_Enter_ MRS. LANGDON, MR. SHERWOOD, _and_ MARY.

MRS. L. Ah! that is a pleasant sight. I am delighted to see you such good friends. I wish you to love each other always.

MORRIS. I promise you we will, ma'am--I mean, mother. We are friends and brothers from this day.

MRS. L. (_to_ EDWARD). All is ready for your departure, Morris. I would like to have kept you for some days; but Mary says she must take you with her. Be a good boy; respect and love your father and mother, and help them in their work all you can. Remember me; and, be sure, I shall never forget you.

EDWARD(_throwing himself at her feet, and weeping convulsively_).

Mamma--madam, grant me one favor, I implore. Oh! my heart is breaking.

MRS. L. (_with emotion_). What is it?

EDWARD. I cannot leave you. Keep me here, for pity's sake! I will be your servant. I will wait on your son. I will obey him. I will obey every one in the house. Let me stay!--oh! let me stay!

MORRIS (_kneeling by him_). Oh! since you are my mother, be his mother, too! do not send him away. See! we ask it on our knees! You will have two sons, and he shall be the best.

MRS. L. (_aside to_ MR. SHERWOOD). This is killing me. I cannot bear it! I must speak! (_She covers her face, sobbing_).

_Enter_ ANDREW, JANE, _and_ PATRICK.

ANDREW. Mrs. Langdon, we come to make you an offer, which we beg you to agree to, or else we shall all three feel obliged to quit your service.

MRS. L. Well--what is it, Andrew?

ANDREW. Well, ma'am, it is that you will keep this poor little fellow, Morris, with you, and give us leave to treat him the same as Master Edward; and as we do not want any one to lose by this, we offer to have a third of our wages taken off, which you will please give to Mary and big Peter every month, to make up to them for the loss of their son's services.

EDWARD. Oh, my kind, generous friends! never will I forget this proof of your love!

MRS. L. But only this morning you all three made terrible complaints about him.

ANDREW. But we don't bear malice, and he is so unhappy! We have forgotten all he did to annoy us. Please, ma'am, to keep him.

EDWARD. No, Andrew; you have taught me what is _my_ duty. I belong to my father and mother, and I am ashamed that in my misery I forgot it. The poorer they are, the less I ought to leave them. Good-by, all my friends: love and protect Mrs. Langdon and my brother, and forget my many faults if you can. Good-by, Edward. Come, mother, let us go.

MRS. L. (_weeping_). Mr. Sherwood!

MR. S. Yes, it is enough. Embrace your son! he has proved himself worthy of you!

MRS. L. (_throwing her arms around him_). _My son, my darling!_