Part 8 (1/2)

(MISS SUSAN _also is overcome, but recovers as the children crowd in._)

MISS SUSAN. Hats off, gentlemen salute, ladies curtsy--to the brave Captain Brown.

(CAPTAIN BROWN _salutes them awkwardly, and they cheer him, to his great discomfort, as they pa.s.s out._)

VALENTINE (_when they have gone_). A terrible ordeal, ma'am.

(_The old friends look at each other, and there is a silence_.

VALENTINE _feels that all the fine tales and merry jests he has brought back for the ladies have turned into dead things. He wants to go away and think._)

PHOEBE. I wish you very happy at the ball.

VALENTINE (_sighing_). Miss Susan, cannot we turn all these maps and horrors out till the vacation is over?

MISS SUSAN. Indeed, sir, we always do. By to-morrow this will be my dear blue and white room again, and that my sweet spare bedroom.

PHOEBE. For five weeks!

VALENTINE (_making vain belief_). And then--the--the das.h.i.+ng Mr. Brown will drop in as of old, and, behold, Miss Susan on her knees once more putting tucks into my little friend the ottoman, and Miss Phoebe---Miss Phoebe----

PHOEBE. Phoebe of the ringlets!

(_She goes out quietly._)

VALENTINE (_miserably_). Miss Susan, what a shame it is.

MISS SUSAN (_hotly_). Yes, it is a shame.

VALENTINE (_suddenly become more of a man_). The brave Captain Brown!

Good G.o.d, ma'am, how much more brave are the ladies who keep a school.

(PATTY _shows in two visitors,_ MISS CHARLOTTE PARRATT _and_ ENSIGN BLADES. CHARLOTTE _is a pretty minx who we are glad to say does not reside in Quality Street, and_ BLADES _is a callow youth, inviting admiration._)

CHARLOTTE (_as they salute_). But I did not know you had company, Miss Susan.

MISS SUSAN. 'Tis Captain Brown--Miss Charlotte Parratt.

CHARLOTTE (_gus.h.i.+ng_). The heroic Brown?

VALENTINE. Alas, no, ma'am, the other one.

CHARLOTTE. Miss Susan, do you see who accompanies me?

MISS SUSAN. I cannot quite recall----

BLADES. A few years ago, ma'am, there sat in this room a scrubby, inky little boy--I was that boy.

MISS SUSAN. Can it be our old pupil--Ensign Blades?