_Yardsley._ You haven't anything to do with the subject in hand, my dear Barlow, not a thing. _Dorothy._ Jennie--what--what have you to say? _Jennie._ Me? Oh, mum, I hardly knows what to say! This is suddenter than the other; but, Miss Dorothy, I'd believe him, I would, because--I--I think he's tellin' the truth, after all, for the reason that--oh dear--for-- _Dorothy._ Don't be frightened, Jennie. For what reason? _Jennie._ Well, mum, for the reason that when I said "yes," mum, he didn't act like all the other gentlemen I've said yes to, and--and k-kuk-kiss me. _Yardsley._ That's it! that's it! Do you suppose that if I'd been after Jennie's yes, and got it, I'd have let a door-bell and a sofa stand between me and--the sealing of the proposal? _Barlow_ (_aside_). Oh, what nonsense this all is! I've got to get ahead of this fellow in some way. (_Aloud._) Well, where do I come in? I came here, Miss Andrews, to tell you-- _Yardsley_ (_interposing_). You come in where you came in before--just a little late--after the proposal, as it were. _Dorothy_ (_her face clearing and wreathing with smiles_). What a comedy of errors it has all been! I--I believe you, Mr. Yardsley. _Yardsley._ Thank Heaven! And--ah--you aren't going to say anything more, D--Dorothy? _Dorothy._ I'm afraid-- _Yardsley._ Are you going to make me go through that proposal all over again, now that I've got myself into so much trouble saying it the first time--Dorothy? _Dorothy._ No, no. You needn't--you needn't speak of it again. _Barlow_ (_aside_). Good! That's _his congé_. _Yardsley._ And--then if I--if I needn't say it again? What then? Can't I have--my answer now? Oh, Miss Andrews-- _Dorothy_ (_with downcast eyes, softly_). What did Jennie say? _Yardsley_ (_in ecstasy_). Do you mean it? _Barlow._ I fancy--I fancy I'd better go now, Miss--er--Miss Andrews. I--I--have an appointment with Mr. Wilkins, and--er--I observe that it is getting rather late. _Yardsley._ Don't go yet, Jack. I'm not so anxious to be rid of you now. _Barlow._ I must go--really. _Yardsley._ But I want you to make me one promise before you go. _Dorothy._ He'll make it, I'm sure, if I ask him. Mr. Yardsley and I want you--want you to be our best man. _Yardsley._ That's it, precisely. Eh, Jack? _Barlow._ Well, yes. I'll be--second-best man. The events of the afternoon have shown my capacity for that. _Yardsley._ Ah! _Barlow._ And I'll show my sincerity by wearing Bob's hat and coat into the street now and letting the fury of Hicks fall upon me. _Jennie._ If you please, Miss Dorothy--I--I think I can attend to Mr. Hicks. _Dorothy._ Very well. I think that would be better. You may go, Jennie. [_JENNIE departs._ _Barlow._ Well, good-day. I--I've had a very pleasant afternoon, Miss--Andrews. Thanks for the--the cambric tea. [Illustration: HICKS] _Dorothy._ Good-bye, and don't forget.