Part 11 (2/2)

FRED. What! Do _you_ defend him?

Enter SELWYN, R. 2 E.

SEL. What's this? Fred confabulating with the duellist!

FRED (to BLITHERS). It's no use! I will fight! Return to your Irishman, and tell him so! (Business. BLITHERS endeavoring to pacify FRED.)

SEL. What's all this about?

BLITH. (who has given up restraining FRED, in despair. FRED down L., in chair). About? About as near to raving madness as ever was seen! Go and buy a straight-jacket, sir, he's a lunatic. While you are at the straight waistcoat shop you may as well purchase half a dozen, for he's not the only madman on the premises.

(Exit BLITHERS, L. U. E.

SEL. I see it all! He would save my life a second time, by challenging this deliberate desperado!

Enter MRS. SELWYN, L. U. E.

MRS. S. What _is_ the matter, Sam?

SEL. I don't know--I'll ask Fred! Fred! my dear boy, what is the matter? (FRED has sunk down with his face in his hands, L.) On what are you meditating, Fred?

FRED. I am meditating why I did not let you stop at the bottom of the lake. I mean to leave this wretched London, where all is perfidy and deceit!

Enter GRACE, L. U. E.

FRED (going up to GRACE). Good-bye, Miss Selwyn, and good-bye, Mrs. Selwyn, good-bye, Sam. If I met the wretch who has supplanted me in her affections I should slay him. Tell her that I return to my native village to avoid having to kill her Cornelius.

MRS. S. and GRACE (horror stricken). Kill Cornelius! (Going R.)

FRED. Yes! I will spare the man she loves--but we must not meet, or I will not be answerable for my acts.

SEL. Oh! bos.h.!.+ What are you talking about? Who is this Cornelius? Cheer up, Fred, and she shall marry _you_--and not _him_!

MRS. S. and GRACE. Never!

FRED. Too late! I know she prefers my rival! It's all settled.

SEL. Settled! It's _not_ settled! It _can't_ be settled without my consent!

MRS. S. (crosses to C.). Consent! You know you have given that! He said he'd seen you just now and you had blessed him!

SEL. Seen _me_!

GRACE. Yes. Now don't change your mind _again_, pa!

SEL. I shall lose my temper presently. (To FRED.) I say you _shall_ have her!

GRACE (throwing herself into her mother's arms). Oh, ma, it's broken off again!

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