COX. [_Stopping him._] It's obviously for me to retire.--Not for worlds would I disturb the rapturous meeting between you and your intended. Good morning! BOX. You'll excuse me, sir--but our last arrangement was, that she was _your_ intended. COX. No, yours! BOX. Yours! TOGETHER. Yours! [_Ten o'clock strikes--noise of an omnibus._ BOX. Ha! What's that? A cab's drawn up at the door! [_Running to window._] No--it's a twopenny omnibus! COX. [_Leaning over BOX'S shoulder._] A lady's got out-- BOX. There's no mistaking that majestic person--it's Penelope Ann! COX. Your intended! BOX. Yours! COX. Yours! [_Both run to door, L. C., and eagerly listen._ BOX. Hark--she's coming up stairs! COX. Shut the door! [_They slam the door, and both lean up against it with their backs._ MRS. B. [_Without, and knocking._] Mr. Cox! Mr. Cox! COX. [_Shouting._] I've just stepped out! BOX. So have I! MRS. B. Mr. Cox! [_Pushing at the door--COX and BOX redouble their efforts to keep their door shut._] Open the door! It's only me--Mrs. Bouncer! COX. Only you? Then where's the lady? MRS. B. Gone! COX. Upon your honour? BOX. As a gentleman? MRS. B. Yes, and she's left a note for Mr. Cox. COX. Give it to me! MRS. B. Then open the door! COX. Put it under! [_A letter is put under the door; COX picks up the letter, and opens it._] Goodness Gracious! BOX. [_Snatching letter._] Gracious Goodness! [_COX snatches the letter, and runs forward, followed by BOX._ COX. [_Reading._] "Dear Mr. Cox, pardon my candor"-- BOX. [_Looking over, and reading._] "But being convinced that our feelings, like our ages, do not reciprocate"-- COX. "I hasten to apprise you of my immediate union"-- BOX. "With Mr. Knox." COX. Huzza! BOX. Three cheers for Knox! Ha, ha, ha! [_Tosses the letter in the air, and begins dancing. COX does the same._ MRS. B. [_Putting her head in at door._] The little second floor back room is quite ready! COX. I don't want it! BOX. No more do I! COX. What shall part us? BOX. What shall tear us asunder? COX. Box! BOX. Cox! [_About to embrace--BOX stops, seizes COX'S hand, and looks eagerly in his face._] You'll excuse the apparent insanity of the remark, but the more I gaze on your features, the more I'm convinced that you're my long lost brother. COX. The very observation I was going to make to you! BOX. Ah--tell me--in mercy tell me--have you such a thing as a strawberry mark on your left arm? COX. No! BOX. Then it is he! [_They rush into each other's arms._ COX. Of course we stop where we are? BOX. Of course! COX. For, between you and me, I'm rather partial to this house. BOX. So am I--I begin to feel quite at home in it. COX. Everything so clean and comfortable-- BOX. And I'm sure the mistress of it, from what I have seen of her, is very anxious to please. COX. So she is--and I vote, Box, that we stick by her.