Fair (draws back with an effort).  I must not.  You hear me!  I must not.

Winth.  But if you love me, Fair.

Fair (looks up with a strange, wild, longing look in her face, then quickly covers her eyes with her hand.  She is trembling so, she can hardly stand.  She raises her face to his:  all the passion is none; she is paler than the dead.  Her words come slowly, hardly above a whisper).  But I—­don’t love you!

[Winthrop takes a step backward, his face very white and drawn. 
He slowly loosens the clasp of her hand as—­

The curtain falls.

ACT II.

The parlor of the Stuart home.  A large room with high ceiling and
  carved doors and mantels.  The room, when in order, is beautiful in
  every appointment.  The furniture, old mahogany, the hangings and
  ornaments are handsome and in good taste.  Now, however, the furniture
  is piled together, as though for moving; the pictures, down from their
  places, stand against the wall; some cut through with sabers.  Many of
  the chairs are broken and overturned.  A large sofa is against the wall;
  this has been slit open and all the bedding torn out.  A table left near
  it, and by the sofa a large fire chair.  At the back and near the right
  stands the great cedar chest.  It, as well as the other things, was
  carried out by the soldiers in Act I. On the right, a desk with writing
  materials.  On the left (back) a door.  At back (center) double doors,
  with heavy curtains, leading to the hall where may be seen a large
  “grandfather clock,” the face smashed in, as though with an ax.  On the
  right, a large bay window with two steps leading up to it, looking out
  on the moonlit garden.  It is after dusk, three days later than Act I.
  The curtain rises on an empty stage.  There is a dreary half light over
  everything.

[Enter from the hall Cupid and Marthy.  He has a candle in a heavy
iron candlestick in his hand.  She carries a large woolen
blanket.  They speak in subdued voices, very low.

Cupid (placing candle near the chest).  Missus say ter bring the silber up stairs ter her room.  She feard it ain’t safe down here.

Marthy (spreads the blanket she carries on the floor, and together they lift out the silver during the following dialogue).  ‘Tain’t nothin’ safe round here, now dem Yankees is come.

[Cupid pauses a moment.

Cupid.  I sho was glad when mistus sent for me and speak rite out ’bout de silber.  ’Pears like hit de fust thing she er Miss Charlotte done notice.

Marthy.  Dey ant neither one ob um cry.  Dat what worry me.  Ef dey could bof brek rite down and have er good long cry, hit ud do um a power er good.

[A slight pause.

Cupid.  I got um dar in time, please Gaud.  He let dis ole nigger do dat much fer Mars George.  He ax bout us all, Old Missus say, in de few minutes he had lef.  He say he powerful glad we git dar.