"Mother, Mother, I am so happy!" Sibyl Vane whispered. She put her face on her mother’s lap. They were in a small, dark room. Mrs. Vane sat in an old chair. She looked tired.
"I am only happy when you act, Sibyl," Mrs. Vane said. She touched her daughter’s hair. "You must think about your acting. Mr. Isaacs gave us money. We have many debts."
"Money does not matter, Mother!" Sibyl cried. "Love is more important than money." Sibyl stood up and walked to the window.
"Mr. Isaacs gave us fifty pounds," Mrs. Vane said. "We used it to pay for James’s clothes. Fifty pounds is a lot of money. Mr. Isaacs is very kind."
"He is not a gentleman, Mother," Sibyl said. "I hate the way he talks to me." Sibyl laughed. "We do not need him now. Prince Charming is here."
Sibyl was very much in love. Her face turned red when she thought of him. "I love him," she said simply. Her mother did not understand. Mrs. Vane only thought about the theatre and money.
Sibyl was very happy. She felt like a bird that was finally free from its cage. She did not listen to her mother’s advice. She only thought about her "Prince Charming." She remembered his kiss.
Mrs. Vane thought about the young man. She thought he might be rich. If he was rich, Sibyl should marry him. Mrs. Vane watched her daughter and smiled.
"Mother," Sibyl said. "Why does he love me? I am not as good as him. But I feel very proud. Did you love my father like this?"
Mrs. Vane turned pale. It was painful for her to talk about Sibyl’s father. Sibyl ran to her mother and kissed her. "I am sorry, Mother," Sibyl said. "I am just so happy."
"You are too young to be in love," Mrs. Vane said. "You do not even know his name. And your brother James is going to Australia today. You should think about James."
The door opened and a young man came in. This was James Vane. He had brown hair and big hands. He was strong and rough. He did not look like his beautiful sister.
"Give me a kiss, Sibyl," James said. Sibyl ran to him and hugged him.
"Come for a walk with me, Sibyl," James said. "I am leaving London today. I don’t think I want to see this city again."
Mrs. Vane was sewing an old dress. "Don’t say that, James," she said. "I want you to make a lot of money in Australia. Then you can come back to London and be a gentleman."
"I don't care about being a gentleman," James said. "I want to earn money to help you and Sibyl. I want you both to stop acting. I hate the theatre."
Sibyl laughed. "That is unkind, Jim! But I will go for a walk with you. Let’s go to the park."
"I look too poor for the park," James said. "Only rich people go there."
"That is not true, Jim," Sibyl said. She went upstairs to get ready. James walked up and down the room.
"Is everything ready, James?" Mrs. Vane asked. She felt nervous when she was alone with her son. James was very serious.
"Yes, Mother," James said. "I chose this life at sea. But you must watch over Sibyl. Do not let anything happen to her."
"I always watch over her, James," Mrs. Vane said.
"I heard a gentleman comes to the theatre every night," James said. "Is that true? Who is he?"
"He is a perfect gentleman," Mrs. Vane said. "He is very polite. He is very rich, too. He sends beautiful flowers to Sibyl."
"But you do not know his name," James said.
"No," Mrs. Vane answered. "He is very romantic. I think he is a member of the aristocracy."
"Watch over her, Mother," James said again. He was worried.
Sibyl ran into the room. "Why are you both so serious?" she asked. James did not answer.
Sibyl and James went outside. They walked down the street in the sunlight. People looked at them. Sibyl looked like a beautiful rose. James looked like a common gardener.
Sibyl talked about James’s future. She imagined him finding a nugget. She thought he would become very rich and marry a beautiful woman.
James was silent. He was sad to leave home. He was also worried about Sibyl. He did not trust the "gentleman." He hated rich men.
"You are not listening, Jim!" Sibyl said. "I am making great plans for you."
"You have a new friend," James said. "Who is he? He is not a good man for you."
"Stop, Jim!" Sibyl cried. "I love him. His name is Prince Charming. He is wonderful. I am playing Juliet for him tonight."
"He is a gentleman," James said. He was angry.
"He is a prince!" Sibyl said. "I love him and I trust him."
They sat down on two chairs in the park. There were many people and many beautiful flowers. Sibyl watched the carriages go by. Suddenly, she saw a young man with golden hair.
"There he is!" Sibyl cried.
"Who?" James asked.
"Prince Charming!" she said. She looked at a carriage. James stood up quickly. He tried to see the man. But a large carriage with horses moved in front of them. The man was gone.
"He is gone," Sibyl said sadly.
"I wish I had seen him," James said. "If he ever hurts you, I will kill him."
Sibyl was afraid. "James, don't say that!" she said. "You are being jealous. Love makes people good. You should not be so mean."
"I am sixteen years old," James said. "I know what I am doing. Mother does not know how to look after you. I want to stay here and protect you."
"Don't be so serious, Jim," Sibyl said. "I love him and he loves me. We will be happy forever."
They went back to their home. Sibyl went to her room to rest before the play. James went to his mother. He sat down and ate a small meal.
James looked at his mother. "Tell me the truth," he said. "Were you married to my father?"
Mrs. Vane let out a long sigh. "No," she answered.
"My father was a bad man then!" James said. He was very angry.
"We loved each other," Mrs. Vane said. "He was a gentleman. He was from a very good family."
James stood up to leave. "I am sorry I asked you about my father," he said. "But listen to me. If that man hurts my sister, I will find him. I will kill him like a dog. I swear it."
Mrs. Vane watched her son leave. She liked the way he spoke. It was very dramatic. She thought it was like a scene from a play.
She went to tell Sibyl that James was gone. She did not tell Sibyl about James’s threat. She thought they would all laugh about it one day.