CRUM. At any rate her eyes seem good enough to have noticed _you._ But, knowing you to be free from blame in the matter, I reasoned with her, told her the folly of fixing her affections upon a married man, but all in vain--so _you’d_ better take her in hand. MOUS. Do you think so? CRUM. Certainly--you can talk to her seriously, but kindly. MOUS. Of course, I shouldn’t go and behave like a brute to her! I shouldn’t go to blow Betsy up. CRUM. Certainly not--for, after all, the poor girl is more to be pitied than blamed. MOUS. Crummy, that sentiment does you honour! It shows that the milk of human kindness flows in your bosom, Crummy. (_shaking CRUMMY’S hand_) BETSY. (_without, L. H._) Very well, ma’am, I’ll be sure to remember it. CRUM. That’s her voice! There’s something lively and cheerful about it, eh? MOUS. Yes, yes, it’s a pleasant voice, Crummy. (_arranging his cravat, &c._) CRUM. She _might_ have gone out by the back door, but, of course, she knew that _you_ were here. Ha, ha! (_nudging MOUSER, then retires up_) MOUS. Pooh! Go along! I believe you’re about right, though, ’pon my life I do! _Enter BETSY BAKER, L. D._ BET. (_seeing MOUSER_) There stands my wretched victim! He little knows what’s going to happen to him. CRUM. (_C. aside to BETSY_) Now then, attention! (_aloud_) Well, my dear, Mrs. Mouser was pleased with her veil I hope? BET. (_crossing C._) Oh, yes, sir; but in getting it up, somehow or other, I run the iron through it. I suppose I was thinking of something else. (_looking languishingly at MOUSER, then aside to CRUMMY_) How’s that? CRUM. (_aside to her_) Capital! MOUS. (_in a plaintive tone, and approaching BETSY_) Dear, dear, so you run the iron through it, did you? What a pity! BET. (_with pretended emotion_) Oh, sir! (_letting the veil fall--aside to CRUMMY_) How’s that? CRUM. (_aside to her_) Can’t be better! MOUS. (_aside_) It’s a clear case! Poor _creetur!_ (_picks up the veil, and offers it to BETSY_) BET. Oh, sir! (_taking the veil, and squeezing his hand_) I’ve done it! (_aside_) MOUS. (_aside_) She squeezed my hand! CRUM. (_to BETSY_) Perhaps you’ve seen Mr. Mouser before. (_aside to her_) Sigh! (_CRUMMY crosses behind to R. C._) BET. Heigho! (_aloud_) Oh yes, sir. I often see Mr. Mouser. I saw him go out yesterday at thirteen minutes past four, and come in again at twenty-seven minutes and a half past five. CRUM. (_aside to MOUSER_) You see, she counts the very minutes. (_aloud_) This is the young person who’s going to marry our clerk, Joseph Harris. MOUS. Soon? (R.) CRUM. That depends on her. Harris wishes the marriage to take place immediately, but there seems to be some _slight obstacle_ on her part--and, strange to say, she won’t tell _me_ what it is. MOUS. (_aside_) The thing’s evident. I’m the slight obstacle. CRUM. Perhaps _you’ll_ be more fortunate. (_turning L., as going up to L. D. F._) MOUS. (_aside to him_) Good gracious, Crummy, don’t go, and leave us alone.