CLEVELAND. Both were done by the same move.
ELSWORTH. And you are married, Rose?
ROSE. I will bear Walter’s name when we are publicly married, sir—which now, I trust, will be with your sanction.
ELSWORTH. You have it. You have won a husband, if ever woman did.
LIEUTENANT ELSWORTH. Walter, if you were only more true to the right—
WALTER. Oh, Harry! We will discuss that question yet. I shall make you [In his ear.] a convert; be sure of it.
Enter CAPTAIN ARBALD and KATE.
KATE. Why, the company is breaking up. We missed you all, sadly. Here come the guests.
CLEVELAND. Ah, Arbald, I’m afraid you will have to forego Miss Rose, here—
ARBALD. To pluck a flower no less sweet.
ROSE. What? Why, Kate—
ARBALD. I have your sister’s consent, Miss Elsworth, conditioned only that you all accord with her decision.
ROSE. And so you have been making love under the rose all this while. Do not doubt our good wishes.
METCALF. I wonder where Bridget is. I’ll pop the question before morning.
ELSWORTH. Rose, you have neglected your friends. Let us go in.
ROSE. Our first duty is to the friends before us—
WALTER. To which faction do they adhere—red or blue?
ROSE. True blue and rebel, I’ll be sworn—but I will ask them! [Comes forward. To ARMSTRONG.] You see, sir, they respond already. [To the Audience.] Do you approve the Whiggish maid, and sanction her schemes so boldly played? The heart of love is heroic in every age; and after all
What difference can we affix,
Twixt love to-day, and Love in ’76?
CURTAIN.
The End.