m. If I had him now I'd
soon make a nice comfortable husband out of him!... An
envelope?... Yes.... (Takes one) Stamp?... Yes.... (Takes
one) I'll get Bony to mail this for me.

(Exit, right, rear. Poe comes down stairway)

Poe. Gone? Deliverance! It's too chilly for work upstairs.
(Coughs) What shall I do here this winter with only one
comfortable room in the house? Keep warm by the fire in my
brain, I suppose. (Sits and writes. Virginia is heard
without, humming a song. She enters, left, front, with a
rose in her hand)

Vir. Darling, I found it deep under the leaves--Oh! (Starts out
softly. Poe writes on without looking up. At the door she
turns and throws the rose towards him. It falls onto the
table and upsets ink over papers)

Poe. (Leaping up) By every fiend in hell!

(Mrs. Clemm rushes in, followed by Zurie, Tat and Bony)

Mrs. C. My son, what is the matter?

Poe. See what that child has done!

Mrs. C. (With dignity) Your wife, Edgar.

Poe. My wife! Great God! O, Helen! Helen! (Rushes from the
room, left rear)

Bony. I tol' yo' he wah mad! I done tol' yo' Mars Edgah gone
mad! He look at me jes so! (Mimics)

Tat. (Looking through window) Dah he go now troo de orchard jes
a runnin'!

Bony. Obah de fence!

Tat. An' no hat on!

Zu. Stop yo' mouf an' come out o' heah, yo' wussless niggahs!
I make yo' know wha' yo' b'longs!

(Takes them out)

Mrs. C. O, Virginia! What an hour for you!

Vir. What an hour for _him_, mamma!

Mrs. C. Strange child! Not to think of yourself!

Vir. How can I, when he is suffering so?

Mrs. C. My angel daughter!

Vir. (Kissing her) We will be brave, my mother. I hear the
girls. Go to them one moment--do! (Exit Mrs. Clemm) ...
Helen! Dear God above! (Drops on her knees by a chair.
After a moment of agony, rises, goes to table and looks at
papers) What is it I have ruined? (Reads silently) O, what
beauty!... I think I can make this out and copy it for
him. But now he may never finish it. The heavenly moment
is gone ... and I robbed him of it.... I, who should guard
him and keep the world away. That is my little part--too
little,