You See I Am No Ghost

You See I Am No Ghost Lyrics

You See I Am No Ghost Song Lyrics

---

Anne:
Walter Hartright I remember you.

Hartright:
Are you of this world? Have I imagined you?

(She touches him)

Anne:
You see I am no ghost before you
I am flesh and blood
Believe your eyes
Kind sir, my name is Anne,
Anne Cath'rick
And believe my words
I tell no lies
Limmeridge was my home in childhood
Though I didn't live there long
Locked away while still a girl
Although I'd done nothing wrong

Imprisoned in a dark asylum
By a man of guile and treachery
The truth will see the light
I vow it
Though he thinks that he can silence me
I told you that I have a secret
One I cannot share with you
I must find the one I seek to spare her
What I've been through!
I'll tell you of my cruel tormentor
When I think of him I'm filled with shame
I'll tell you who he is this instant
If you swear you won't forget his name

Hartright:
I swear.

Anne:
Sir Percival Glyde
Sir Percival Glyde

Hartright:
Sir Percival Glyde

(Anne takes fright from a sudden noise and exits)

Hartright:
No please- wait!

(The formal gardens, Limmeridge House. Morning. An autumnal feel. A servant escorts Hartright to Marian. Hartright enters)

Marian:
Mr. Hartright, there's a very private matter
We must speak of right away-

Hartright:
Pray it isn't serious?

Marian:
This is hard for me to say.
In the days before you came her
You were out of money out of spirits then?

Hartright:
I was down but rarely out of spirits
You'd have found me in a Holborn drinking den

Marian:
Then it's safe to say
You value your position?

Hartright:
More than anything at all

Marian:
Since we both were children
Laura sometimes sleep walks
I would wake and find her
On the stair unaware of how she got there.
More than her half sister
I am her whole family
And I must protect her

Hartright:
What reason do you tell me this?

Marian:
I know, sir, what your secret is.

Hartright:
I have no secrets here.

Marian:
My sister is engaged!
To a man of sterling character
A titled man of property-
A man her father chose.

Hartright:
What?

Marian:
It was my duty to tell you this.

Hartright:
Then… Laura will marry another?

Marian:
You must crush all feelings for her.
There can be no hope of an attachment.
No hope of any future…
I'm sorry if this hurts you.

Hartright:
Are you sorry, Miss Halcombe?

Marian:
What do you mean?

Hartright (pointedly at her):
Perhaps I'm not the only one with secrets.
Feelings that I'd rather hide?

Marian:
You are most unkind.
You should go, you've said enough.
I'm only doing this to help you,
To save you from yourself!

(He goes to go, stops, turns)

Hartright:
I'd like to know his name.

Marian:
His name is not your business.

Hartright:
Please let me know his name.

Marian:
His name is Glyde.
Sir Percival Glyde.

(The next day. Mr. Fairlie's study. Laura and Marian wait with their uncle. A servant announces the visitor's arrival.)

Servant:
Sir Percival Glyde.

Glyde:
With all my heart
I'm glad to be here

Mr. Fairlie:
Sir Percival Glyde
Here in this house
You're always welcome

Glyde (to Fairlie):
The picture of health!
I've never seen you look so well sir

Mr. Fairlie:
Is he talking to me?

Glyde:
You're such a hale and a hearty fellow

Marian:
You, sir, it's true, are a tonic
It does us good to see you

Glyde:
Thank you my friend, and me – you.
But Laura my dear
Second to none you're the one I miss most
It's perfectly clear
With all my heart
I need you.
Which brings me to my purpose:
Why must we wait till spring?

Laura:
What?

Glyde:
Let's have a Christmas wedding
And the joy that it would bring us
My home and heart are ready
So now it's up to you.

Laura:
It's my father's dying wish
And I will do as I have promised to.

Glyde:
In all of this world
There's not a man as thrilled as I am
Or as lucky as I.
Not on this earth is a man more joyful

Marian and Mr. Fairlie:
Sir Percival Glyde!
Good luck to you and your bride

Glyde:
My dearest friend Count Fosco
Shall act as our best man
You'll see he has no better
When you meet tonight
And there's no better plan!

Marian:
Sir Percival Glyde!

Glyde (to Marian):
You from this day shall be my sister

Marian:
With pleasure and pride!

Glyde:
And we shall see that our home is your home.

Mr. Fairlie:
There's nothing to decide.
My niece will marry Glyde
A Christmas wedding
Is where we're heading
And Marian will go
And live with them, no fear
The instant she become his spouse
They both will exit Limm'ridge House
Which will be quiet as a mouse
At last I'll like it here!

(Later the same day Cont Fosco arrives at Limmeridge House. His luggage includes various bird and animal cages. He pulls a mouse seemingly out of the air and addresses it)

Fosco:
Well my friend at last we have arrived
It seems that I was born to be a house guest
You might choose this moment to get out of sight.
For now, they need not know they have a mouse guest

(He kisses the mouse and then places it in his pocket. Marian arrives to greet him)

Fosco:
I am pleased to meet the blushing bride.

Marian:
Actually I'm just the blushing bridesmaid.

Fosco:
Pardon me it's just that you're so beautiful
Which is why I thought you might be Glyde's maid

Marian:
There is no mistaking you're Count Fosco!

Fosco:
I've a reputation which proceeds me?

Marian:
I am Laura's sister sent to welcome you.

Fosco (kissing her hand):
May I nibble on the hand that feeds me?

Marian:
You may dine on any single thing you wish
Though I'd wait for dinner we are serving fish

Fosco:
There's no time to state my many appetites

Marian:
You might consider taking smaller bites

Fosco:
It so very kind of you to have me here

Marian:
You, sir, add some interest to the atmosphere

Fosco:
I detect a fire beneath your prim veneer

Marian:
I regret there's no more time to tarry

Fosco:
But I presume that we'll resume this thrust and parry!

(He smiles at her, winks. She shows him in.)

(After dinner the same evening. The drawing room. Laura is playing the piano, with Sir Percival Glyde sitting close to her. Marian, Mr. Fairlie, Fosco, and Walter Hartright are looking on. Hartright sits on his own in a corner of the room. Laura finishes playing and there is enthusiastic applause led by Fosco)

Fosco:
Bravissima, my dear! You play like an angel.

Laura:
I play only moderately well.

Fosco:
My dear, don't hide your light!
If you have talents, you must flaunt them!

Marian:
Pray sir, what are your talents?
Perhaps I could persuade you
To come out from under your bushel?

(Fosco looks away modestly)

Fosco:
No, no, no! Well, if you insist.