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 honor? 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! (_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. BOX. Agreed! There's my hand upon it--join but yours--agree that the house is big enough to hold us both, then Box--