You must leave me? And what, then, do you wish, shall become of me? As I am now, I am your creature; do, then, what becomes a creator; he may not withdraw his hand from the work until he wishes to destroy it utterly. Alas, Hannah, I see now, my entreaties alone are too feeble. Go, bring my intercessor, who will now, perhaps, return to me more than she ever received from me. (_Exit_ Hannah). MELLEFONT. What intercessor, Marwood? MARWOOD. Ah, an intercessor of whom you would only too willingly have deprived me. Nature will take a shorter road to your heart with her grievances. MELLEFONT. You alarm me. Surely you have not---- Scene IV. Arabella, Hannah, Mellefont, Marwood. MELLEFONT. What do I see? It is she! Marwood, how could you dare to---- MARWOOD. Am I not her mother? Come, my Bella, see, here is your protector again, your friend, your .... Ah! his heart may tell him what more he can be to you than a protector and a friend. MELLEFONT (_turning away his face_). God, what shall I have to suffer here? ARABELLA (_advancing timidly towards him_). Ah, Sir! Is it you? Are you our Mellefont? No, Madam, surely, surely it is not he! Would he not look at me, if it were? Would he not hold me in his arms? He used to do so. What an unhappy child I am! How have I grieved him, this dear, dear man, who let me call him my father? MARWOOD. You are silent, Mellefont? You grudge the innocent child a single look? MELLEFONT. Ah! ARABELLA. Why, he sighs, Madam! What is the matter with him? Cannot we help him? Cannot I? Nor you? Then let us sigh with him! Ah, now he looks at me! No, he looks away again! He looks up to Heaven! What does he want? What does he ask from Heaven? Would that Heaven would grant him everything, even if it refused me everything for it! MARWOOD. Go, my child, go, fall at his feet! He wants to leave us, to leave us for ever. ARABELLA (_falling on her knees before him_). Here I am already. You will leave us? You will leave us for ever? Have not we already been without you for a little "for ever." Shall we have to lose you again? You have said so often that you loved us. Does one leave the people whom one loves? I cannot love you then, I suppose, for I should wish never to leave you. Never, and I never will leave you either. MARWOOD. I will help you in your entreaties, my child! And you must help me too! Now, Mellefont, you see me too at your feet.... MELLEFONT (_stopping her, as she throws herself at his feet_).