ROSE. [With a sigh.] Oh, sir!

CLEVELAND.  Miss Elsworth!  Rose!  Confide in me!  I am your friend.

ROSE. [With affected confusion.] I believe you, Major Cleveland.  I—­I—­really, sir—­I implore you to believe me—­I have nothing to confide.

CLEVELAND.  Do not be offended, Miss Elsworth.  I have your interest at heart.  Pardon me—­but Captain Arbald—­[ROSE starts and appears agitated.] believes, or at least hopes, that he is acceptable to you.  I am very deeply his friend—­very deeply yours.

ROSE.  It is very pleasant to hear you say so, Major Cleveland.

CLEVELAND.  Then you do look upon him with favour?

ROSE.  Alas, Major Cleveland, these wars, these wars!

CLEVELAND.  They separate us from those who are dearest to us—­they come between us and our hearts’ affections.

ROSE.  Do they not daily threaten us with a heart widowhood?

CLEVELAND.  Ah, Miss Elsworth—­Rose, let me call you—­I see you are thinking of the young Captain.  You love him!

ROSE. [Aside.] Walter, I must save you by whatever means! [Aloud.] Oh, Major, let me beg of you one thing—­let me hear you promise what I will ask you.  You assure me you are my friend.  Then grant me a pledge.  Promise me to—­to protect—­

CLEVELAND.  The Captain—­

ROSE.  Who is to be my husband.

CLEVELAND.  You delight me.  Are you then pledged?

ROSE.  We are.

CLEVELAND.  The young rascal.  He never told me so.  And jealous enough,
I’ll be sworn he is, to see me monopolize your society, as I do.

ROSE.  His life is almost in your hands.  Often you can save him from danger.

CLEVELAND.  You will marry him?

ROSE. [Abashed.] Yes.

CLEVELAND.  I give you the pledge, then, you ask.  Make him your husband, and for your sake I will defend and protect him to the extent of my power.

ROSE.  Oh, sir, you make me happy.  I am, Major, a foolish girl.  I place, perhaps, absurdly, so much confidence in your ability to rescue him from many dangers—­that I should like—­should like, sir, to wear this ring [Slipping one from his finger.] as a friendly pledge that you will be his guardian, his watchful protector.

CLEVELAND.  Let me kiss the ring upon your finger as a formal seal to my pledge.

ROSE.  It becomes an oath now.

CLEVELAND.  It does—­sworn upon this hand.

ROSE.  That you are his friend—­ever to be my husband’s friend.

CLEVELAND.  That is the oath.  I take it again!

ROSE. [Aside.] Now, Major Cleveland, I have you!

CLEVELAND. [Aside.] She shall be his—­then—­why then to make her mine.

ROSE. [Aside.] There is some libertine scheme behind all this, I feel assured.  He is playing the villain.  Well, well!  Shall we go in?