MAR. Lord, it's Polly! Oh, Polly dear, is it you? Oh! how glad I am to see you. Well now, only to think! LADY P. My dear old friend! MAR. It is she! Oh, I'm so glad! Oh! that I should see you again--oh my gemini! (_to SIR WILLIAM_) My dear, she's my old, my dear, my dearest friend--she was at school at the big house where I used to take fruit from the farm to all the girls, and she took a fancy to me--didn't you, Polly? and I took a fancy to her, and we used to play together, and sing together, and then she came to my father's and stopped a whole month when she had the measles. Oh dear! oh! I'm going to cry now--I'm so happy. SIR W. (_to LADY PLATO_) Old acquaintance I perceive, my lady. LADY P. Indeed we are! I cannot express the pleasure, the delight I experience at once more meeting the playmate of my infancy. MAR. Don't you remember blind man's buff, and puss in the corner? Oh, I do, so well! And only to think that you should be married to my husband's uncle! Lord, you're my aunt! Oh what fun! (_takes LADY PLATO up the Stage_) SIR W. You see, my lord, the choice I have made; but you are aware of my feelings, my motives--I have been disappointed hitherto, but still I hope to succeed. PLATO. Don't allude to the matter, I beg. In the refined society of Lady P., your wife will receive more instruction from the force of example than could be accomplished by any system. We'll leave them together, as I wish to have a little conversation with you on the state of the nation. SIR W. I'll attend your lordship with pleasure. PLATO. (_to LADY PLATO_) Adieu, my dearest, for a few moments--you will, I know, prefer a little freedom with your old acquaintance. Lady Evergreen will, I'm sure, excuse us. MAR. Oh yes! and thank you for going. PLATO. Frank, at any rate! You'll be delighted with Lady Plato. (_to SIR WILLIAM_) Such refinement! such intellect! Gigantic, Sir, gigantic!--and such angelic sweetness! SIR W. Ah! all education--all education! _Exeunt LORD PLATO and SIR WILLIAM at the back, L.H._ MAR. Oh, Polly dear! I never thought to see you any more! Let me look at you all over! Yes, it is the same--the same eyes, the same mouth, the same nose--all the same! But you don't laugh as you used--not look so merry. What's the matter, dear?--don't you do as you like? ar'n't you happy in your mind? LADY P. A sadness oppresses me that I find very difficult to conquer. MAR. Your husband worries you, I dare say--mine does sometimes, though he's very good to me, one way and another. But I don't like his wanting me to learn so much about nouns, and pronouns, and history--and then he gives me such dull books to read, all about astrology, and chronology, and physiology, and conchology, and etymology, and how many miles the moon's off--just as if one wanted to know, as long as it shines. I can't bear it! Give me Robinson Crusoe and the Seven Champions--that's what I like! But with all his learning I can do what _he_ can't.