SCENE.—­The Apartment of Miss Flyn.

MISS FLYN.  BETTY.

MISS FLYN
’Tis past eleven.  Every minute I expect Mr. Pendulous here.  What a
meeting do I anticipate!

BETTY
Anticipate, truly! what other than a joyful meeting can it be between
two agreed lovers who have been parted these four months?

MISS FLYN
But in that cruel space what accidents have happened!—­(aside)—­As
yet I perceive she is ignorant of this unfortunate affair.

BETTY
Lord, madam, what accidents?  He has not had a fall or a tumble, has he? 
He is not coming upon crutches?

MISS FLYN
Not exactly a fall—­(aside)—­I wish I had courage to admit her to my
confidence.

BETTY
If his neck is whole, his heart is so too, I warrant it.

MISS FLYN
His neck!—­(aside)—­She certainly mistrusts something.  He writes me
word that this must be his last interview.

BETTY
Then I guess the whole business.  The wretch is unfaithful.  Some creature
or other has got him into a noose.

MISS FLYN
A noose!

BETTY
And I shall never more see him hang——­

MISS FLYN
Hang, did you say, Betty?

BETTY
About that dear, fond neck, I was going to add, madam, but you
interrupted me.

MISS FLYN
I can no longer labour with a secret which oppresses me thus.  Can you be
trusty?

BETTY
Who, I, madam?—­(aside)—­Lord, I am so glad.  Now I shall know all.

MISS FLYN
This letter discloses the reason of his unaccountable long absence from
me.  Peruse it, and say if we have not reason to be unhappy.

(Betty retires to the window to read the letter, Mr. Pendulous enters.)

MISS FLYN
My dear Pendulous!

PENDULOUS
Maria!—­nay, shun the embraces of a disgraced man, who comes but to tell
you that you must renounce his society for ever.

MISS FLYN
Nay, Pendulous, avoid me not.

PENDULOUS (Aside.) That was tender.  I may be mistaken.  Whilst I stood on honourable terms, Maria might have met my caresses without a blush.

(Betty, who has not attended to the entrance of Pendulous, through her eagerness to read the letter, comes forward.)

BETTY Ha! ha! ha!  What a funny story, madam; and is this all you make such a fuss about?  I should not care if twenty of my lovers had been——­ (seeing Pendulous)—­Lord, Sir, I ask pardon.

PENDULOUS
Are we not alone, then?

MISS FLYN
’Tis only Betty—­my old servant.  You remember Betty?

PENDULOUS
What letter is that?

MISS FLYN
O! something from her sweetheart, I suppose.

BETTY
Yes, ma’am, that is all.  I shall die of laughing.

PENDULOUS
You have not surely been shewing her——­