Part 14 (1/2)

BLITH. I never knew a man termed an heirloom before!

SEL. I am speaking of your hat.

BLITH. Oh! I was referring to Fred.

SEL. Fred!

BLITH. The poor child has opened her heart to me--and says she has written to him, asking him to seek me out, but he seems to deny all knowledge of the letters.

SEL. The letters? (A suspicion crossing his mind.)

BLITH. The messenger says he gave them to a servant here.

(Goes, L.)

Enter DIBBS.

SEL. (aside). Messenger! Letters! It is getting worse and worse! This Tompkins must be the father of the girl Lottie who wrote to me!

DIBBS (re-entering, C.). No signs, sir!

BLITH. (to DIBBS). Oh! Do you know anything, young man, of any letters left here to-day? (DIBBS looks across at SELWYN, who is making signs to him.)

BLITH. Why don't you listen?

DIBBS. The master was making signs----

SEL. (angrily). Making signs! I? (Makes more signs.) Bos.h.!.+

BLITH. The letters were addressed to Mr. Frederick Bellamy and came from a young lady----

SEL. (aside). More proof! This _must_ be my incognita's parent!

DIBBS. Oh! Yes! I took them in right enough! (To SELWYN, who continues to gesticulate.) What's the matter, sir? Is it _fits_ coming on?

SEL. (aside). I should like to strangle him!

BLITH. (to DIBBS). What did you do with them?

DIBBS (pointing to SELWYN). I gave them to the governor!

SEL. To me!! (Aside.) Get out, or I will discharge you!

DIBBS (aside). More of it! This is a good-tempered family!

(Exit, L. U. E.)

BLITH. (to SELWYN). Then _you_ must have opened them?

SEL. Not exactly--but of course----(embarra.s.sed.)