Part 16 (1/2)

SEL. Fred!

MRS. S. Fred! Oh! I have locked the hussy in with _him_!

Where is the young woman?

FRED. Oh! _She's_ all right! Had a cry at first, but I soon consoled her! Don't look astonished--it's all correct--we have been alone together before!

MRS. S. (to SELWYN). You hear! A nice character you have picked up!

Enter BLITHERS, C., still with hat.

MRS. S. Mr. Tompkins!--I cannot stay here to be degraded in the presence of a poet! (Exit MRS. SELWYN, R. 2 E.)

BLITH. (to FRED). Welcome, son-in-law! Welcome! Come to my arms!

FRED. Oh! Father-in-law!

SEL. (aside). They have made it up!

BLITH. My girl has confessed that she loves you--and you alone--she never cared for that Captain Katskill.

FRED. I knew she didn't!

SEL. (aside). Oh! So Fred knew Lottie all this while!

BLITH. When will you be married?

FRED. Oh, we've arranged all that!

SEL. Fred's going to marry her!--oh!

BLITH. We had better make haste back to her--for she was rather impatient.

FRED. No occasion--she's here!

SEL. (aside). He saved my life!--In common justice I ought to tell him. (Taking him aside.) Pause before you link yourself with this man's daughter. _She_ is the girl I had supper with last night.

FRED (leaping upon SELWYN and pinning him on chair).

Calumniator!

BLITH. Hullo! This _is_ a sudden out-break!

SEL. (half choked). Let--go--my--throat!

FRED. Confess you have slandered her!

BLITH. Slandered whom? (Dodging round them.)

SEL. Yes! Yes! Anything you like! (FRED releases SELWYN, who then produces letters.) But look at those proofs.