JESSIE. Oh, you kindest, best of aunties! (_kissing her_). MRS. T. Well, Jack, have _you_ nothing to say to me? JACK. Only this: that you can't form the faintest idea what a trump you are! MRS. T. (_suddenly_). But what about poor Mr. Chirper? He'll be here presently. JACK. Of course, the sooner we put Dicky's pipe out the better. MRS. T. I will speak to Dr. Jogtrot myself, and beg him to break the intelligence to his young friend. JACK. Very well (_seeing BLUNT, who crosses at back_). Blunt, by Jove! (_Exchanges a sign with BLUNT, who disappears._) Excuse me for a few minutes--I'll be back directly (_hurries up towards C., running against JOGTROT, who enters_). Beg pardon. (_Aside to him._) My aunt's got a little bit of news for you that'll rather astonish your upper works. [_Runs out at C._ MRS. T. You had better retire, Jessie. (_Aside to her._) Leave everything to me! [_JESSIE exits at R. H._ JOGTROT. It seems, my dear lady, you have a communication to make to me? MRS. T. I have; a very important one! I have just made a discovery which I confess has given me the greatest possible pleasure. In a word, my nephew loves Jessie, and Jessie loves my nephew! JOGTROT (_very quietly_). In other words, Mr. Chirper is expected to resign his pretensions in your nephew's favor? MRS. T. Exactly! JOGTROT. My answer, madam, will be brief! I presented Mr. Chirper as a candidate for the hand of your niece, and, _my_ word, you received him graciously. I cannot, therefore, become an accomplice in your inconsistency, not to say _caprice!_ MRS. T. (_impatiently_). But don't I tell you the young people _love_ each other? JOGTROT (_very quietly_). What of that? MRS. T. (_indignantly_). What of that? JOGTROT. I myself have loved, madam! MRS. T. But perhaps the lady did not love you in return? JOGTROT. She did, madam, intensely! and married her dancing-master! MRS. T. (_in a compassionate tone_). Dear, dear! Of course you were inconsolable! JOGTROT. No, madam, I went in for trigonometry, and that cured me! Why should your nephew not do the same? MRS. T. Jack go in for trigonometry? ha! ha! Come, my dear doctor, you'll explain the state of affairs to Mr. Chirper, won't you? (_coaxingly_). JOGTROT (_very stiffly_). Certainly not, madam! MRS. T. (_angrily_). Then _I_ will--and in the mean time I beg to assure you that I consider you a very uncivil, unamiable, and intensely disagreeable person! [_Exit at L. H._ JOGTROT. Umph! a decided check for Chirper--who, if he loses the young lady, will also lose the thousand pounds I owe him. But it isn't necessarily check_mate._ No, no! as the young lady's legal guardian I shall have something to say yet! _Enter JACK hastily at C., putting on his coat._