BET. (_looking nervously towards the door_) Oh, I think I’d better go now, sir. MOUS. Don’t be in a hurry, Betsy. He, he, he my pretty little Betsy--for you _are_ pretty--_very_--_very_--he, he! (_laughs to himself, aside_) I’m going it! I feel I’m rapidly becoming a horrid, good-for-nothing little rascal! But I can’t help it. BET. (_trying to disengage her hand_) But, sir, what would Mrs. Mouser think? MOUS. (_recklessly_) Mrs. Mouser may think whatever she likes. There, what d’ye say to that? Ha, ha, ha! who’s afraid? (_suddenly and very loud_) Betsy, embrace your Marma_dook_. BET. (_frightened, takes up her pattens, and holds them out, threatening him_) MOUS. (_rushes at BETSY--she avoids him, leaving the veil in his hand._) CRUM. (_without_) Very well, I shall find him. BET. Oh, lud! (_runs out at door, L. D. F._) MOUS. Cousin Crummy! (_follows her to the door, then crams the veil into his pocket and begins to whistle very loud_) _Enter CRUMMY from Office._ CRUM. (R.) Oh, you’re alone, are you? MOUS. Yes, yes. Amusing myself as well as I can. La, la, la! (_singing_) CRUM. Oh, then, she’s been gone some time I suppose? MOUS. She? who? (_pretending to remember_) Oh, yes--little Betsy--of course--I remember. Ha, ha, ha! How you could have got such an absurd notion into your head, I can’t imagine. The girl never even thought of me! CRUM. (_aside_) The little hypocrite! (_aloud_) Then I must have made a mistake. MOUS. A mistake of the most gigantic dimensions, Crummy. CRUM. Well--by the bye, your wife wants her veil. Where is it? (_looking about_) Where’s the veil? MOUS. Veil? Oh, here it is, but you know it wants mending. CRUM. Oh, never mind a little tear like that. MOUS. (_tearing a large hole in the veil, aside_) A little tear! It’s tremendous! Look here. (_shewing it_) So, I’ll just leave it with the young woman when I go past--(_aside_)--with a note inside, requesting her to come here this evening, when my wife is out. I’m rushing headlong into all sorts of iniquities! But, as I said before, I can’t help it. (_gets hat, &c. from the table_) CRUM. You’re going out again? MOUS. (_imitating him_) Going out again, what a question! Doesn’t Mrs. Major-General Jones expect me? CRUM. (_smiling_) Again? MOUS. Yes, sir, again! This case of Jones _v._ Jones is a very complicated case, sir, and I must get a counsel’s opinion. CRUM. Then, of course, you can’t accompany Anastasia to her sister’s? MOUS. Anastasia! Oh, true, I forgot her. CRUM. (_aside_) Forgot his wife! Better and better. Ha, ha! (_aloud_) Oh, here she comes--you can accompany part of the way. MOUS. Eh? Yes, yes, of course! (_pulling out his watch, and looking at it--then with, pretended surprise_) Goodness gracious! I shall be too late for Mrs. Major-General Jones. (_he rushes out, L. D. F._) _Enter MRS. MOUSER in her bonnet and shawl, L._ MRS. M. (_calling after MOUSER, whom she sees running out_) Mr. Mouser! Marmaduke! Call him back, cousin!