ROSE.  We must conceal you, then.

ARMSTRONG.  If you’ve a rat hole into which you can crowd me.

HARRY.  I must be ignorant of your movements.  I will go and receive them. [Exit.

ARMSTRONG.  Whose command is it?

ROSE.  Major Cleveland’s.

ARMSTRONG.  Eh?  The man of men who itches to get hold of my insignificant person.  He has offered L50 for it.

KATE. [At the window.] Away!  They are dismounting at the door.

ROSE.  You, Bridget—­I can trust you—­quick, to the loft with him.

KATE. [Still at the window.] Quick! quick!

ARMSTRONG.  Stow me away among your rubbish.

[ROSE urges them off.  WALTER snatches a kiss from ROSE’S hand as he exits with BRIDGET.

KATE.  I do declare Captain Arbald is below, and I am sadly deranged.

ROSE.  Oh, fearfully!  Run to your glass, by all means.  Set your springes, for these red birds are rare game.

KATE.  Sister!  But I’ll be revenged. [Exit KATE.

Enter MAJOR CLEVELAND, ushered in by LIEUTENANT ELSWORTH, who withdraws.

ELSWORTH.  My dear Major Cleveland, let me welcome you zealously to this abode.

CLEVELAND.  A great many thanks, my dear Elsworth.  I’m delighted to meet so true-hearted a loyalist.  We pushed our march to partake of your hospitality.  Ah, Miss Elsworth!  How shall I express my delight in finding that Time, who deals so inexorably with us, has been induced to favour you.  It gives me infinite pleasure, Miss Elsworth, to meet you once again, for the recollection of the occasions we have met previously are bright spots in my memory.

ROSE.  Oh, sir, I thank you.

ELSWORTH.  And how, sir, comes on the royal cause?  Will it be long ere these rebels are taught their duty to their King?

CLEVELAND.  Have no apprehensions, my dear Elsworth.  Another campaign will scatter them to the mountains, and a live rebel be so great a curiosity, that to cage one and exhibit him would make a showman’s fortune.

ROSE. [Aside.] If he knew there were a caged one here now!

ELSWORTH.  But come, Major Cleveland, where are your companions?  I must see why they have not followed you.

CLEVELAND.  They are delayed for a moment with the troop.  By the way, Miss Elsworth, I believe that there are a couple of gentlemen without, who are old admirers of yours—­Captain Arbald and Lieutenant Marvin.

ROSE.  Old, Major!  You flatter my taste.

CLEVELAND.  Why, with beauty I thought the conquest of the morning stale matter by night.

ROSE.  Oh, sir, if staleness went to make their age, they would be proverbed instead of Methuselah.

CLEVELAND.  They took very much to you.

ROSE.  So did the measles, sir.

CLEVELAND.  They are desperately enamoured of you—­would do any difficult thing—­even die for you.